Jeep Grand Cherokee engine problems

4,383 of the 40,071 complaints filed about the Jeep Grand Cherokee are about the engine — 100% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2014.

4,383

Complaints

100%

Share of all complaints

93

Crashes

158

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

Median failure at 190,000 miles

Median failure at 102,000 miles

Median failure at 143,500 miles

Median failure at 139,683 miles

Median failure at 125,500 miles

Median failure at 125,000 miles

Median failure at 150,000 miles

Median failure at 118,000 miles

Median failure at 97,057 miles

Median failure at 79,806 miles

Median failure at 76,000 miles

Median failure at 94,000 miles

Median failure at 78,085 miles

Median failure at 80,000 miles

Median failure at 74,500 miles

Median failure at 70,000 miles

Median failure at 65,875 miles

Median failure at 60,890 miles

Median failure at 92,860 miles

Median failure at 67,000 miles

Median failure at 70,759 miles

Median failure at 74,000 miles

Median failure at 60,200 miles

Median failure at 65,704 miles

Median failure at 41,000 miles

Median failure at 37,650 miles

Median failure at 20,526 miles

Median failure at 31,316 miles

Median failure at 10,673 miles

Median failure at 16,500 miles

Median failure at 22,500 miles

Median failure at 27,000 miles

Median failure at 17,500 miles

Median failure at 4,690 miles

Median failure at 37,894 miles

What owners said

2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee North Ogden, UT

ENGINE

2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited - Once I shut down engine, when I opened the door to exit, it started beeping at me. After a few minutes looking around to make sure I hadn't left a door open or something, I thought maybe it hadn't registered that it was in Park, and Shut Off. I pushed the "Start" button, and the dash had a message "Ignition On". When I tried to put it in Reverse, it moved on it's own back into Park, and again displayed "Ignition On". I tried putting it in Drive, and the "D" just flashed at me and finally moved back to "P". I'm not sure exactly when this was displayed, but there was a message at one point that said something about the "Start/Stop" function, but it wasn't visible long enough for me to catch what it said. I called my son who came over and we troubleshooted (I was afraid to remove my foot from the brake due to other horror stories I've heard about, so I sat there for several minutes with my foot on the brake waiting for my son to hopefully know what to do). Once he was there, he asked me to slowly remove my foot from the brake. When I did, he could feel the Jeep trying to move forward. After some other testing/troubleshooting, he asked me to lock the door and see what happened. I did so, waiting a few minutes and turned it back on. This time it worked as expected and started. I'm driving this car all the way to Texas next week, and I'm terrified (especially now that I see ANOTHER recall - that's 3 since I bought the car 60 days ago) that something horrible is going to happen! I do not feel safe in this car, and I just spent ALOT of money on it!

NHTSA complaint #11763979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Wood Ridge, NJ

ENGINE

Jeep is violating federal recall mandates under Case #97911550. My 3-month-old vehicle was grounded at the dealership for two mandatory safety recalls, and the dealer had no loaner cars available. While my third-party rental stayed well under the company's $60 daily cap, Stellantis has refused to fully reimburse the mandatory, non-discretionary state fees (New Jersey Domestic Security Fee and Vehicle Recovery Fee), as well as an uber transportation cost to retrieve a third party loaner, leaving me with a $58.20 out-of-pocket balance. The manufacturer has failed to provide a zero-cost remedy as required by the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act despite several requests for them to do so.

NHTSA complaint #11764173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Salt Lake City, UT

ENGINE

While travelling on [XXX] in [XXX], and exiting on to I-80 [XXX] the vehicle failed to accelerate past 60mph almost causing a major accident during high traffic. The vehicle failed to respond above 60 in Hybrid and E-Save mode and I had to exit immediately. This incident is following 12 recalls with the vehicle (2024 Jeep GC Plug-in Hybrid 4xe). The vehicle is currently at Salt Lake Valley under major engine repair and a claim was submitted to Jeep Customer Care. No warning messages occurred at the time of the incident. I have not been told what actually happened or the reason for the failure from Salt Lake Valley Jeep. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11763174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee at 75,000 miles Detroit, MI

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact had received an undisclosed recall; however, the recall repair was not performed while the contact was out of town. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The check engine warning light was illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer; however, it was indicated that the recall repair was claimed at another authorized dealer, LaFontaine Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Walled Lake (1111 S Commerce Rd, Walled Lake, MI 48390). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA complaint #11763164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Mansfield, MA

ENGINE

We found a huge spillage in our driveway and it had a color of yellowish Brown. Took it to the dealership tech found oil and coolant were mixed together and coming out of the overflow tank. Because the oil in the coolant mixed together, it went through all the components in the engine and it is a total loss. The car does not work and it needs a new engine. Had another independent car shop. Look at the car in they agreed. We had no signs of warning of anything being wrong with the car. It ran fine. The temperature gauge remained normal and never overheated. I am reading about a class action lawsuit about this situation that happened to multiple Jeep Grand Cherokees. Since the dealership told us it's a total loss. If you wanted to fix it, it will cost us over $10,000. The mechanic told us that this is not drivable even if you try to drive the engine will 09lock up and you can get into a major accident or even cause one.

NHTSA complaint #11761870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee San tan, AZ

ENGINE

Subject: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee – Sudden Loss of Power, PCM Failure, Electrical Failures, and Concern Regarding Recall-Related Symptoms I am filing this complaint because my 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee experienced a sudden and unexpected loss of power while I was driving, and I am very concerned about the safety implications and the possible connection to the recall-related electrical problems associated with this vehicle. Before the final failure, my Jeep had been experiencing electrical and starting problems. The alternator failed, the batteries went bad, and I had already paid for multiple diagnostics and repairs. At the time, we did not understand that these problems could potentially be leading to or connected with a PCM failure. I have spent approximately $800 on diagnostics and parts trying to determine and repair the cause of these issues. The most serious incident occurred when I was driving near a school and approaching a stop sign. The Jeep suddenly began losing power and would no longer operate normally. I did not receive an adequate warning that the vehicle was about to completely shut off. The dashboard/screen began flashing, electrical functions began going out, and the vehicle progressively lost power. I was able to slowly move the Jeep toward the right side of the road before it completely shut off. The Jeep then would not start again. This was extremely frightening because the vehicle lost power while I was operating it in an area where there were other vehicles and children nearby. I was concerned about my ability to safely get the vehicle off the roadway and about what could have happened if the Jeep had completely lost power in moving traffic or at a higher speed. The vehicle has since been diagnosed as having a PCM failure. I have already paid for diagnostics rather than simply bringing the vehicle in without any prior information about the problem. Despite this, the Jeep dealershiphas my vehicle now to determine if this is part of recall

NHTSA complaint #11761114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Golden Valley, AZ

ENGINE

CRITICAL VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLAINT - CHRONIC MULTI-SYSTEM DEFECTS The vehicle is a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe operating under severe chronic safety non-compliance. The vehicle has an active, un-remedied engine block casting sand contamination fire/loss of propulsion and crash risk (FCA 78C / NHTSA 25V-766) listing 'Parts Unavailable.' It also carries an open side-curtain airbag deployment failure recall (NHTSA 26V-328). Furthermore, the vehicle experiences intermittent climate control and HVAC failures where the heating, air conditioning, and windshield defroster loops completely disable while in motion on the highway. This directly mirrors the safety vulnerabilities detailed in federal recall 24V-111 (FCA 04B), where faulty hybrid control processor software leaves the front windshield defogger inoperable. When this occurs, the windshield instantly fogs over at high speeds, resulting in an unrecoverable, immediate loss of forward visibility. In addition, temperatures in the summer are between 100 and 120 degrees. Having no air conditioning during this time is a health and safety concern. Dealership technicians state they 'cannot replicate' the issue, forcing me to operate a vehicle that routinely violates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 571.103. Operating this highly volatile hybrid asset on a regular 4.5-hour remote highway commute to act as a caregiver for an elderly parent presents a life-threatening environment. The vehicle is a severe liability threat due to active fire and crash risk, structural airbag failure, and sudden visibility blinding.

NHTSA complaint #11760893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Tinley Park, IL

ENGINE

I have purchased brand new a 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee The engine is the new 4 cylinder hurricane engine with turbo I have had multiple incidents of flat to dull pick up when in motion between the speeds of 15-30 mph resulting in multiple near misses for serious accidents. I submitted a ticket with Jeep, had the vehicle reviewed by my dealer only to be told this is within normal limits Two days ago my vehicle went into full rattle mode and shut down on me in an intersection causing another near miss. My jeep is in the shop again as of this writing i also have had multiple shutdowns of my electronic screens when the vehicle is under load.

NHTSA complaint #11761030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee New Berlin, WI

ENGINE

Vehicle was unable to be shutdown and was locked in park. Can was not responding to turning off while in the garage and engine running. Since the vehicle was inside an attached garage, we were concerned about Carbon Monoxide getting into the house. No way to turn car off and had to involve police/fire department. Disconnected the battery terminal in the trunk which was unable to be opened, so we had to crawl through the side passenger door to get into the trunk. The vehicle is now at the dealer (Wilde Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, at [XXX] in [XXX]). No police report #, but CAD entry from officer in having to assist. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11759988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Rye, NY

ENGINE

This engine does not run smoothly, it jerks coming out of a stop so there is delayed acceleration and it jerks every time you change gears. So I am almost rear ended at every stop light and stop sign. It also can lose acceleration or fail to accelerate on highways.

NHTSA complaint #11760147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee at 55,000 miles Whitickers, NC Crash

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while test driving at an undisclosed speed, an unknown warning light flashed on the instrument panel. The dealer informed the contact that the battery was low and that the light had been replaced, while also informing the contact that the vehicle had experienced difficulty starting prior to purchase. Days later, upon starting the vehicle, all warning lights illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure, cleared the codes, and returned the vehicle; however, the failure recurred. While driving, the steering wheel became inoperable, causing the driver to lose steering control, and the vehicle crashed into a Ford Mustang. A red steering warning light illuminated. A police report was filed. There were no reported injuries, airbag deployment, or fire. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, where it was determined that the vehicle was undrivable, could not be inspected in the service bay, required an unknown replacement part, and that the steering wheel computer failed to communicate. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that the vehicle did not qualify under the lemon law, prompting the contact to report the issue to the Attorney General, who referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

NHTSA complaint #11759787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee San tan Valley, AZ

ENGINE

The Jeep was giving me a warning sign. It said stop slowly. Your jeep will shut off so I replaced the two batteries. As my Mechanic told me I replaced the alternator. I also replaced the ground wires. Nothing is making my jeep start. We ran the codes on the jeep and it came back as a U0100 code with the PCM system. No connection error. we looked up the recall information and a recall popped up for this 2018 jeep Grand Cherokee. I am being told that I am not affected by this recall.. the jeep was giving warning Saenz before I replaced the battery and alternator. After that. It did not give warning Saenz Anymore. It’s just completely Shut Off With no warning. Leaving me on the side of the road stranded twice. It will not start and it is reading these codes.

NHTSA complaint #11759288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Suwanee, GA

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.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Kenai, AK

ENGINE

This complaint is being filed regarding a failed and botched remedy of two federal safety recalls: the Crankshaft Position Sensor recall and Safety Recall Z46 (High-Pressure Fuel Pump) on my Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel.The vehicle was delivered to Kendall DCJR of Soldotna, AK for the recall services. The technician performed the recalls, but the high-pressure fuel pump failed immediately, resulting in systemic fuel leaking directly into the engine's crankcase oil pan. The fuel contamination thinned the motor oil, dropped oil pressure, caused the oil filter to collapse, and resulted in a catastrophically blown motor.Physical inspection confirms the entire fuel system is filled with destructive metal shavings and debris ("glitter") from the disintegrating pump, requiring a complete replacement of all fuel components and the engine assembly. The vehicle has been rendered entirely undrivable and has been sitting out of service at the authorized dealer for over 30 cumulative days. The manufacturer (Stellantis/Jeep) has failed to provide a safe, effective, and timely remedy for these safety recalls, and is refusing to issue a Corporate Rental Authorization (CRA) or alternative transportation while my vehicle remains grounded due to the safety defect's failure. This is a complete failure to execute a federal safety recall remedy in a reasonable timeframe.

NHTSA complaint #11758075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Billerica, MA

ENGINE

On November 23, 2025, I was driving approximately 60 mph in the middle lane of I-495 near Exit 62 in Marlborough, Massachusetts, with a passenger in the vehicle. I signaled to change lanes to pass a slower vehicle, selected Sport Mode, and accelerated. The engine RPM increased sharply and, almost immediately, I heard an extremely loud bang from the engine area. Multiple warning lights began flashing on the instrument panel, the vehicle made abnormal noises, and the engine lost power. The loss of propulsion was immediate while I was traveling at highway speed. Because that section of I-495 slopes slightly downhill and I was already close to Exit 62, the vehicle's momentum allowed me to reach the exit and pull onto the shoulder. Had this occurred in heavier traffic or in a location without a safe shoulder or exit nearby, the sudden loss of propulsion could have resulted in a collision. The vehicle became inoperable and required towing. It was later inspected by an authorized Jeep dealership. The dealer documented a hole in the side of the engine with engine fluid leaking out and determined that the engine requires replacement. The vehicle had approximately 94,298 miles at the time of the incident and had been regularly maintained. The same vehicle had previously experienced a significant engine problem in 2023 at approximately 67,987 miles, involving white smoke, a head gasket leak affecting cylinder 5, and replacement of the cylinder head. I am reporting this because the catastrophic engine failure caused a sudden and complete loss of propulsion at highway speed. The vehicle and failed engine remain available for inspection.

NHTSA complaint #11757968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Everett, WA

ENGINE

Component Failure & Inspection: The engine water pump assembly failed. This specific failure is a documented factory defect explicitly covered under manufacturer Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) #9100212 and tracked under NHTSA ID #10244344. The failed component was replaced by an authorized dealership; the physical part is not available, but full diagnostic logs and proof of failure are stored in the manufacturer database under University Auto Center invoice #6044139/1. Safety Risks: The water pump suffered a sudden, catastrophic structural failure while operating at highway speeds—a known vulnerability detailed in TSB #9100212 and NHTSA ID #10244344. This caused an immediate loss of engine coolant and a rapid spike in engine temperature. The vehicle lost power and was forced to make an emergency pull-off onto a busy highway shoulder, stranding occupants in a highly vulnerable position. A sudden cooling failure at highway speeds creates an immediate risk of engine seizure, vehicle fire, or traffic collision while disabled on the roadside. Dealer Confirmation & Inspection: Yes. The failure was inspected, reproduced, and confirmed by an authorized manufacturer dealership (University Auto Center). The dealer confirmed that the water pump assembly completely failed and required replacement, perfectly mirroring the defect parameters outlined in TSB #9100212. Warning Lamps & Prior Symptoms: There were no prior symptoms, noises, or early warning indicators. The component failed instantly without warning. The first indication was a sudden, rapid flashing of the engine temperature warning light and an "Engine Overheating" message on the dashboard cluster, immediately followed by a loss of power.

NHTSA complaint #11757853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Snellville, GA

ENGINE

My 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee equipped with the 3.6L Pentastar v6 has a persistent cylinder 2 misfire (P0302). The cylinder 2 spark plug, ignition coil, and fuel injector have already been replaced, but the misfire continues. Diagnostic testing with a scan tool confirmed that cylinder 2 accumulated 61 misfires during a single test while cylinders 1,3, 4, 5, and 6 recorded zero, and the misfire monitor reported " Fail this trip" the vehicle can appear to drive normally despite the active misfire. I became aware that Chrysler issued warranty bulletin x56 concerning the 3.6L left cylinder head on certain 2011- 2013 vehicles including select 2013 Jeep grand Cherokees. I contact a jeep dealer and advise that my VIN is not included in that warranty extension. I am reporting this because my vehicle is experiencing a similar cylinder specific misfire concerns and I believe this condition should be documented and investigated.

NHTSA complaint #11757745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee at 125,000 miles Davison, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that since the vehicle was purchased, there was an abnormally strong coolant odor coming from the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the coolant reservoir was recently refilled, and the odor might be due to an overflow. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the water pump was replaced. The contact stated that the water pump had been replaced approximately nine times under warranty due to the strong coolant odor and a water pump leak; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

NHTSA complaint #11757611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Gray, ME

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V766000 (ENGINE); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11757534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee La Habra, CA

ENGINE

Vehicle Information: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 3.0L V6 EcoDiesel 4x4Component Affected: Fuel/Propulsion System (High-Pressure Fuel Pump) Safety Incident Narrative: The vehicle previously underwent a mandatory manufacturer safety recall replacement for the Bosch CP4 High-Pressure Fuel Pump under FCA Safety Recall Z46 (NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V-406). At 111,948 miles, while operating the vehicle, the engine suffered a sudden, catastrophic mechanical failure accompanied by an immediate and total loss of engine oil pressure. This caused the engine to suddenly stall and lose all propulsion while in motion, creating an immediate and severe highway safety hazard to myself and surrounding traffic.The vehicle was towed to an authorized Jeep dealership under Repair Order #5823328. The manufacturer (Stellantis) and the dealership are currently refusing to authorize diagnostic teardown labor or a mechanical review of the internal safety recall componentry to investigate an acute internal fuel-pump shaft seal leak or residual micro-particle metallic debris from the prior campaign. An internal drive-shaft seal failure on this replacement pump architecture dumps raw diesel fuel directly into the engine's internal oil crankcase, causing severe oil dilution, an immediate collapse of structural oil pressure, and catastrophic engine seizure. The manufacturer is attempting to shift 100% of the financial burden ($25,000 engine replacement cost) onto the consumer, actively obstructing an essential safety failure investigation into a federally recalled component.

NHTSA complaint #11756569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Jeep Grand Cherokee problems