2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems

POWER TRAIN

I purchased a new 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit equipped with the new 2.0L Hurricane 4 Turbo. The vehicle has a repeatable and potentially dangerous accelerator-response problem. From a complete stop, I can apply substantial/full accelerator input and the vehicle initially provides little or no expected acceleration. The vehicle may begin creeping forward and the tachometer may begin moving, but there is little corresponding engine sound or vehicle acceleration. After approximately two seconds, the vehicle begins responding and accelerating however it is still extremely sluggish and dangerous. The condition has been repeatedly reproduced in both Normal and Sport modes. I have also experienced delayed RPM increase and delayed transmission response/downshift while already moving. The condition has occurred when attempting to enter traffic and creates a safety concern because the vehicle does not immediately respond as expected to accelerator input. The dealership initially told me the vehicle was operating normally based on diagnostic readings amd that because of the computers and software there is no direct throttle response on these drive by wire vehicles anymore. That is simply intrue. The dealership subsequently had the shop foreman test drive with me in the vehicle. The foreman experienced the condition and agreed there was an issue with the lack of throttle response. I repeated the issue multiple times from stop, ehile turning, and at speed. The dealership is now involving a technical advisor. The dealer has told me that a Stellantis service bulletin concerning similar drivability symptoms does not apply to my VIN. I am not alleging that the bulletin applies to my vehicle. I am reporting the actual safety-related behavior because I believe it warrants investigation regardless of whether my VIN is currently included in that service action.

NHTSA complaint #11758823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I purchased a new 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit equipped with the new 2.0L Hurricane 4 Turbo. The vehicle has a repeatable and potentially dangerous accelerator-response problem. From a complete stop, I can apply substantial/full accelerator input and the vehicle initially provides little or no expected acceleration. The vehicle may begin creeping forward and the tachometer may begin moving, but there is little corresponding engine sound or vehicle acceleration. After approximately two seconds, the vehicle begins responding and accelerating however it is still extremely sluggish and dangerous. The condition has been repeatedly reproduced in both Normal and Sport modes. I have also experienced delayed RPM increase and delayed transmission response/downshift while already moving. The condition has occurred when attempting to enter traffic and creates a safety concern because the vehicle does not immediately respond as expected to accelerator input. The dealership initially told me the vehicle was operating normally based on diagnostic readings amd that because of the computers and software there is no direct throttle response on these drive by wire vehicles anymore. That is simply intrue. The dealership subsequently had the shop foreman test drive with me in the vehicle. The foreman experienced the condition and agreed there was an issue with the lack of throttle response. I repeated the issue multiple times from stop, ehile turning, and at speed. The dealership is now involving a technical advisor. The dealer has told me that a Stellantis service bulletin concerning similar drivability symptoms does not apply to my VIN. I am not alleging that the bulletin applies to my vehicle. I am reporting the actual safety-related behavior because I believe it warrants investigation regardless of whether my VIN is currently included in that service action.

NHTSA complaint #11758823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I purchased a new 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit equipped with the new 2.0L Hurricane 4 Turbo. The vehicle has a repeatable and potentially dangerous accelerator-response problem. From a complete stop, I can apply substantial/full accelerator input and the vehicle initially provides little or no expected acceleration. The vehicle may begin creeping forward and the tachometer may begin moving, but there is little corresponding engine sound or vehicle acceleration. After approximately two seconds, the vehicle begins responding and accelerating however it is still extremely sluggish and dangerous. The condition has been repeatedly reproduced in both Normal and Sport modes. I have also experienced delayed RPM increase and delayed transmission response/downshift while already moving. The condition has occurred when attempting to enter traffic and creates a safety concern because the vehicle does not immediately respond as expected to accelerator input. The dealership initially told me the vehicle was operating normally based on diagnostic readings amd that because of the computers and software there is no direct throttle response on these drive by wire vehicles anymore. That is simply intrue. The dealership subsequently had the shop foreman test drive with me in the vehicle. The foreman experienced the condition and agreed there was an issue with the lack of throttle response. I repeated the issue multiple times from stop, ehile turning, and at speed. The dealership is now involving a technical advisor. The dealer has told me that a Stellantis service bulletin concerning similar drivability symptoms does not apply to my VIN. I am not alleging that the bulletin applies to my vehicle. I am reporting the actual safety-related behavior because I believe it warrants investigation regardless of whether my VIN is currently included in that service action.

NHTSA complaint #11758823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2026 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving and making a right turn, the vehicle hesitated and jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was turned off and restarted and responded as intended upon shifting into drive(D). No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a loss of battery communication with the computer due to a dead battery. The battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under an unknown recall. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for a third time, but no further diagnostic information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact not to trade the vehicle due to the safety risk. The service manager informed the contact that another repair attempt was required before the vehicle could be considered under the Lemon Law. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10.

NHTSA complaint #11753837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2026 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving and making a right turn, the vehicle hesitated and jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was turned off and restarted and responded as intended upon shifting into drive(D). No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a loss of battery communication with the computer due to a dead battery. The battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under an unknown recall. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for a third time, but no further diagnostic information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact not to trade the vehicle due to the safety risk. The service manager informed the contact that another repair attempt was required before the vehicle could be considered under the Lemon Law. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10.

NHTSA complaint #11753837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

This is for Jeep's brand new Hurricane 4 engine. The buyer has no option to chose the reliable 3.6L 6 cylinder in the 2026 Summit model. Theis 4 cylinders throttle response lag, from a stop or slow speed, is EXTREMELY dangerous! When trying to move into traffic from a street or driveway the Jeep just rolls slowly as if it was in Neutral; there is no acceleration. I can floor the accelerator pedal & it takes literally a full 2 seconds every time before the engine responds. All the while the traffic you are trying to safely merge into is rapidly approaching. I took my Jeep to the Jeep Service Department & their response was "NO DTCS. COMPARE TO LIKE VEHICLE, AT THIS TIME WORKING TO SPEC . NOTE ENGINE IS TURBO EQUIP AND MAY HAVE A SLIGHT DELAY UNTIL TURBO KICKS IN". No throttle response for 2 seconds does not fall into the category of a "SLIGHT DELAY". When a vehicle is approaching at 45-50+ MPH and you have no throttle response ... it's an accident waiting to happen.

NHTSA complaint #11752942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated and started blinking quickly before remaining continuously illuminated. The vehicle was jerking, and while it was in park, it vibrated excessively. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer; however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. STAR engineers later determined that the spark plugs were inoperable. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred shortly afterwards. The vehicle was then towed back to the local dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact requested a loaner vehicle, but the request was denied. The manufacturer had not been contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 788.

NHTSA complaint #11749938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Vehicle was purchased new from a franchised dealer. Six days after purchase, at approximately 105 miles on the odometer, the vehicle experienced a transmission failure while being driven with my family, including a young child, on board (warning message displayed - Service Transmission, loss of forward motion, harsh shifting, inability to shift gears while driving on the street). The vehicle was taken to the selling dealer, whose service department diagnosed a failure of the transmission valve body. The diagnosis was made and documented by the dealer's service department, and service records exist confirming the failure. The failed component was NOT on the dealer's possession as part of the repair process; availability for inspection is UNKNOWN, as the dealer subsequently replaced the entire vehicle with a new unit rather than returning the original vehicle to me. Prior to the failure, A WARNING MESSAGE stating "Service Transmission" appeared. The manufacturer was notified of the failure through its customer care process. To my knowledge the vehicle was not inspected by police or insurance representatives. Safety risk: a drivetrain failure on a vehicle in its first week of service presented a risk of unexpected loss of motive power in traffic with passengers aboard, including a child.

NHTSA complaint #11747920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I bought the vehicle less than 60 days when it had a major engine failure. The spark plug broke off into the engine and bounced around causing a failure. This is a known problem with this vehicle from the factory, from which I was not aware. At first they said they were putting a new engine in and now corporate is trying to get it out the door asap so they cant be forced to buy back the vehicle as a lemon, which I requested through corporate and started an arbitration process per the contract. The vehicle is being serviced at diehl of moon. The service manager there I am dealing with is James. They have had my vehicle since the check engine light came on and was flashing on June 17th.

NHTSA complaint #11747473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Odometer fraud: On [XXX], I purchased 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee VIN [XXX] from Clay Cooley Dallas Dodge as "new." Federal Odometer Disclosure Statement and Retail Installment Contract stated 10 miles. Actual odometer at delivery: 124 miles after dealer disclosed dead battery replacement delayed delivery. No corrected Federal Odometer Disclosure Statement was provided as required by 49 USC 32705. Vehicle delivered was non-conforming to advertised characteristics: 1. Dealer digital showroom pictured 2026 Grand Cherokee with captain's chairs, 3rd row seating, chrome accents, silver wheels. I contracted based on those images. 2. Delivered: bench seat, no 3rd row, black painted 20" wheels. Salesman Cesar Ortiz confirmed "third row" by phone 6/16/2026 while viewing same images. 3. Delivery included Used Car Buyer's Guide and AS-IS disclosure prohibited on new vehicle sales under Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act 15 USC 2301, plus VTR-271 Limited Power of Attorney improper for new retail under TX Transp Code 501.147. 4. No executed Retail Installment Contract, Odometer Disclosure Statement, or Buyer's Guide provided at [XXX] delivery as required by TILA 15 USC 1638(b). Documents provided 6/23/2026 still falsely state 10 miles. Vehicle rejected under UCC INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11747173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

I purchased a new 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee on May 9, 2026. On June 4, 2026, less than one month after purchase, the vehicle experienced a sudden brake system failure while I was driving. The brake pedal became hard and unresponsive, the ABS warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle had very limited stopping power. Fortunately, I was able to safely drive the vehicle to the dealership without an accident or injuries. The dealership diagnosed the problem as a failed brake booster (part # 68734134AB) requiring replacement. However, the replacement brake booster is on backorder, and Stellantis has confirmed that there is currently no estimated delivery date and no assigned distribution for the part. As a result, my vehicle has been out of service for 4 weeks with no repair timeline. Stellantis has acknowledged that this involves a critical safety component but has been unable to provide a meaningful resolution beyond monitoring the backorder. I continue to make lease payments, insurance payments, and other vehicle-related expenses for a brand-new vehicle that I cannot safely operate because of a warranty-covered safety defect. This is a serious safety concern because the failure involved the vehicle's braking system and significantly reduced the vehicle's ability to stop. Had this occurred at highway speeds or in heavy traffic, the consequences could have been catastrophic. I am submitting this complaint because I believe this brake system failure warrants investigation to determine whether it affects other 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles and whether the lack of availability of replacement brake boosters for a critical safety component creates an ongoing risk to consumers. A vehicle with a brake system failure should not remain out of service indefinitely because a safety-critical replacement part is unavailable.

NHTSA complaint #11747221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

After 3 months and less than 800 miles the service transmission light came on. While driving to the dealership, the engine light came on, followed by bells and buzzers. The dealership said our transmission valve connector was defective. It’s been there 2 weeks still waiting for the part to come in. We paid nearly 70 thousand for this vehicle and now there’s a transmission issue

NHTSA complaint #11744438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

Purchase the vehicle May 19th and on arriving home later that week realize the passenger rear wheel well had no plastic nuts holding it on which also holds the bumper support beam so therefore the rear bumper was blowing in the wind. Contacted Capital City Chrysler Dodge Jeep ram about it and they offered no solution to this so I ended up having to buy parts from Mopar parts online to attempt to correct. The wheel liner could have easily blown out of the wheel Arch and caused a safety issue had we not taken one of the nuts from the driver side and put on the passenger to hold it more firm. Dealership sent an email saying that they simply cannot check all of these safety issues in a 15 minute inspection when they come off the truck.

NHTSA complaint #11741208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

First, after a trip of approximately 100 miles, the vehicle would not advance after stopping at a STOP sign. I had to shift from DRIVE to PARK and back to DRIVE before the vehicle would move. In the second case, again after a trip over 100 miles, primarily on the highway, the vehicle failed to shift out of first gear while the engine revved to over 7,000 RPM when I left an intersection. In that instance a warning light came up on the dash indicating RPMs in the red zone. Once again I had to pull over, put the vehicle in PARK and re-engage DRIVE before the vehicle would drive in a more normal fashion. It was the following day, when I entered the dealership for a service appointment, that the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle did not run smoothly. The service department determined it was a spark plug issue and claims the problem has been resolved. They also said this issue is fairly common on new (2026) Jeep Grand Cherokee models. There is less than 1,200 miles on the vehicle. I feel I was very lucky that the situation in both instances was relatively safe and there was minimal risk of injury, death and/or property damage. I have lost all confidence in the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11737390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

First, after a trip of approximately 100 miles, the vehicle would not advance after stopping at a STOP sign. I had to shift from DRIVE to PARK and back to DRIVE before the vehicle would move. In the second case, again after a trip over 100 miles, primarily on the highway, the vehicle failed to shift out of first gear while the engine revved to over 7,000 RPM when I left an intersection. In that instance a warning light came up on the dash indicating RPMs in the red zone. Once again I had to pull over, put the vehicle in PARK and re-engage DRIVE before the vehicle would drive in a more normal fashion. It was the following day, when I entered the dealership for a service appointment, that the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle did not run smoothly. The service department determined it was a spark plug issue and claims the problem has been resolved. They also said this issue is fairly common on new (2026) Jeep Grand Cherokee models. There is less than 1,200 miles on the vehicle. I feel I was very lucky that the situation in both instances was relatively safe and there was minimal risk of injury, death and/or property damage. I have lost all confidence in the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11737390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Heavy vibration of entire vehicle when in reverse. Occasional lack of power when accelerating. Issues with the transmission occasionally failing to shift gears.

NHTSA complaint #11722714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

Heavy vibration of entire vehicle when in reverse. Occasional lack of power when accelerating. Issues with the transmission occasionally failing to shift gears.

NHTSA complaint #11722714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Heavy vibration of entire vehicle when in reverse. Occasional lack of power when accelerating. Issues with the transmission occasionally failing to shift gears.

NHTSA complaint #11722714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.