4,805 of the
39,991 complaints filed about the Jeep Grand Cherokee
are about the transmission —
12% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2014.
4,805
Complaints
12%
Share of all complaints
786
Crashes
58
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
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.
CODES C1490-00 REAR DIFFERENTIAL ACTUATOR INITIALIZATION FAILURE. SERVICE INFORMATION STATES TO REPLACE THE ELSD (ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP DIFF.) BEFORE REPLACING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. REMOVED FILL AND DRAIN PLUGS FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL, ACQUIRED A FLUID SAMPLE. FLUID SAMPLE WAS CLEAN WITH NO SIGNS OF METAL CONTAMINATION, OR EVIDENCE OF AN INTERNAL Differential failure (ESLD) *key word INTERNAL
NHTSA complaint #11758304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
The transmission goes into neutral. It has gone into neutral on the highway,local streets, also from a stop. From a stop in drive the electronic D on the instrument panel starts flashing. I turn on the hazards put transmission shifter in Park and start engine. This problem is intermittent, it can be cold or hot, it has happened 4x in 2 years. No accidents thankfully. The engine does not stall, the transmission goes into neutral.
NHTSA complaint #11756332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee suffers from an intermittent but severe 2-to-3-second acceleration lag as well as lunging when attempting to accelerate. This occurs specifically during low-speed or rolling left-hand turns, or when accelerating from a complete stop to execute a left turn across traffic. When the accelerator pedal is depressed to clear the intersection, the engine and transmission momentarily fail to provide propulsion, leaving the vehicle stranded mid-intersection. This defect represents an immediate, severe collision hazard. Because the power cuts out while the steering wheel is turned, I have experienced multiple near-miss accidents where oncoming traffic had to slam on their brakes to avoid a broadside/T-bone collision. The dealer has not yet been able to permanently resolve this dangerous, unpredictable loss of driving power.
NHTSA complaint #11756082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On the 26th of April 2026, the transfer Case on my 2020 Grand Cherokee (with less 114,000 miles) failed during highway travel. This resulted in a sudden downshift and temporary deceleration followed by illumination of “Service 4wd” display. A short time after, the “Service Electronic Stability Control” indicator displayed followed by another downshift and the unattended transition of the 'Select_Terrain' from 'Auto' to 'Snow'. We were unable to turn off these settings. On the next day, we returned the Jeep to our CDJR dealer for repair. After inspection, the service agent reported that the Jeep experienced a “Transfer Case failure” and further recommended that I consider [purchasing] a new vehicle as these issues seem to be piling up. Failure of this nature is not normal wear. I have purchased 5 Jeep vehicles over the past 40 years and 4 of our Jeeps had over 250,000 miles of service without dangerous, catastrophic engine or drive-train failure such as this. This situation should remediated by the manufacturer and any affected components repaired or replaced. Finally, it should be noted that 3-days prior to the failure, the same CDJR dealer provided a 100,00-Mile 'service' that included "Op1 DMS All wheel Drive Fluid Exchange".
NHTSA complaint #11755784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On August 8, 2026, at approximately 23,959 miles, my 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe experienced a significant loss of propulsion while accelerating in Hybrid mode to merge onto a highway. During acceleration, the check engine light began flashing, then remained illuminated, and the vehicle displayed a “Service Hybrid System Required” warning. The vehicle then provided little to no effective motive power despite accelerator input, making it unsafe to continue the highway merge. I was forced to pull off the roadway and stop the vehicle. The vehicle could not be safely driven and required towing to a Jeep dealership. This vehicle has a prior history of hybrid-system-related repairs and recalls. Previous service included high-voltage battery recall work, control module programming, replacement of the electric coolant heater, and replacement of the auxiliary coolant pump and coolant temperature sensor after earlier check-engine-light, EV-mode, and Hybrid-mode drivability complaints. A prior repair order also documented jerking during deceleration and reacceleration while operating in Hybrid mode. The current dealer has been unable to reproduce the loss-of-propulsion event. During diagnosis, one or more vehicle control modules may have been reset or cleared, which may have removed stored diagnostic trouble codes or other event data associated with the failure. I am reporting this because the sudden loss of propulsion occurred during highway entry and created a serious safety concern.
NHTSA complaint #11755636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was initially traveling at the posted speed limit of 65 when all of a sudden the engine started shaking profusely, and I lost total power of the vehicle. Therefore, I had to immediately jump onto the shoulder without being rear ended and come to a complete stop while trying to coast safely to a place so I wouldn’t be hit by traffic . My car was then brought to the local Jeep dealership and they had told me that my left camshaft needs to be replaced also the lifters rockers and oil cooler need to be replaced as well. I have not drove my vehicle since it’s been seen by the dealer , I was told that any type of Driving could completely mess up my engine, so it’s been sitting for a couple of months .
NHTSA complaint #11755335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Electronic Throttle Control warning light comes on upon starting vehicle while extended crank occurs. When starting car, the push to start feature will not turn over and continuously cranks multiple times. Issue is intermittent- never know when it will happen which makes it difficult to replicate at service center. Took car into 2 mechanics on separate occasions and finally to the Jeep dealership for service. Because issue couldn’t be duplicated- nothing was done. However, recently while driving, same extended crank pattern noise and unstable/rough propulsion occurred while driving on the highway. Same Electronic throttle control warning light came on along with the check engine light. Also cruise control and the auto On Off feature became disabled. I scheduled service with my mechanic as soon as possible and they found the stored code was related to Technical Service Bulletin 2014-004-25 REV.B. This bulletin lists the symptoms I described yet the dealership did not perform the fuel pressure Test and Replace Fuel Pressure Regulator. I called the dealership to schedule warranty service for this TBS and they gave me difficulty acknowledging the TSB was issued for my make/model/year and scheduling a service appt. I spent the last few hours reading all of the complaints on NHTSA for 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee and it is alarming how many of the complaint are for this specific issue. It is dangerous for anyone on the road to be driving in a vehicle you can’t rely on to propel you forward when you press the gas or stall due to faulty fuel pressure regulator amid traffic. An investigation should be done. Furthermore, in reviewing other recalls, I found this is a recurrent issue for Jeep. It appears they’ve been various safety recalls issued for this in the past for vehicles made from 2011-2020. How they haven’t addressed it in new models is appalling. For owners of the vehicle, it’s difficult to have any leverage with dealership since it is not easy to replicate on demand.
NHTSA complaint #11754729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
My 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe suffered a catastrophic internal engine failure and set DTC P2338 ("Cylinder 3 Above Knock/Combustion Vibration Sensor Threshold"). Although my VIN is not included in Safety Recall 78C (NHTSA 25V-766), my vehicle experienced the same failure mode, symptoms, and diagnostic code associated with the recall. Stellantis' STAR Center reviewed the case, confirmed internal engine damage, and recommended complete engine replacement. While driving at highway speed, the vehicle suddenly lost power and entered limp mode. I was able to safely exit the highway, but this defect created a serious safety risk and could have resulted in a crash. Stellantis has already expanded the recall population after identifying additional affected vehicles. My vehicle was built during the same production period, experienced the identical failure, and has a manufacturer-confirmed engine replacement recommendation. Chrysler's XC2 program provides unlimited years/unlimited mileage engine coverage for this defect, which is linked to engine manufacturing issues. Based on the identical failure characteristics and confirmed diagnosis, I believe my vehicle is affected by the same defect and should be included in Recall 78C and the associated XC2 warranty coverage. I am submitting this complaint to request that NHTSA investigate whether additional vehicles outside the current recall population are experiencing the same defect and whether Recall 78C should be expanded to include affected vehicles such as mine.
NHTSA complaint #11753344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While the contact’s daughter was reversing the vehicle, the hybrid vehicle suddenly changed direction, and the vehicle drove forward approximately 3 feet and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The contact was informed that the part needed to repair the vehicle was on back order. No further information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,000.
NHTSA complaint #11753005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle is an active fire hazard subject to the high-voltage battery recall (NHTSA 24V-718). The manufacturer's safety instructions require me to stop charging the vehicle and park it away from homes and structures. Because I am currently leasing this vehicle from Chrysler Capital and have no alternate transportation, I am forced to drive an active fire risk for daily transit. The local Jeep dealership has refused to provide a temporary loaner vehicle or rental accommodation while a final remedy is pending. The lack of a timely repair, combined with the refusal of the manufacturer to provide safe, alternative transit, forces me to operate a defective vehicle that poses an immediate safety risk to myself, my family, and the general public.
NHTSA complaint #11752280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There is a serious malfunction between the hybrid and electric systems. The engine is making a loud noise, and neither the hybrid nor electric mode functions properly. In addition, the fuel and oil refresh warning remains on, even after refueling. These issues are ongoing and substantially impair the use, value, and safety of the vehicle.On January 2, 2026, and march 8 my Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe shut down twice while I was driving home on the freeway. This vehicle is not safe to operate under these conditions.Despite these concerns, the issues have not been resolved. Stellantis has removed 4xe models from the Jeep website due to safety concerns, recalls, and a high volume of customer complaints. At this time, there appears to be no effective remedy, and a simple software update will not correct these defects.My vehicle continues to produce an extremely loud engine noise, even while operating in hybrid mode. I am very familiar with how a Jeep should perform—this is my fifth Jeep Grand Cherokee—and I have never experienced anything like this before. Even my previous gasolineonly models operated much more quietly. In contrast, both the hybrid and gas modes on this vehicle sound like a diesel truck. Additionally, the fuel and oil warning light remains on constantly. I have contacted Jeep Customer Care multiple times, as well as the servicing dealer, and I was repeatedly told to “add more gas and continue driving the vehicle.” Despite following those instructions, the issue persists. The warning light does not turn off, the engine remains excessively loud, and the fuel consumption is unreasonable. The situation worsens in cold weather. The battery drains rapidly from 100% without explanation, even when the vehicle has been properly charged. At this point, I am genuinely afraid to charge the vehicle and even more concerned about driving it.In addition, the vehicle feels sluggish while driving and frequently does not pick up power as it should. There is a noticeable delay
NHTSA complaint #11752292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I just experienced a 2nd engine stall event. I was driving thru a neighborhood at 25 mph in 5th gear, lifted off the gas pedal as I approached a 90 degree uphill turn, and in the middle of the turn (approx 20 mph) the engine stalled and I lost all propulsion. I retired from Stellantis after 16 years working as a contract transmission calibrator, so I am very familiar with what happened. When I lifted off the gas pedal the engine attempted to enter decel fuel shut off (dfso). I was watching the real time gas mileage and right before the corner I saw the mpg approaching 99 mpg (a clear indication the engine is entering fuel shut off). A second later the real time mpg started decreasing (indicating it was attempted to exit dfso) when the stall occurred. This is a MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE in need of a recall.
NHTSA complaint #11751595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle has a severe, life-threatening safety defect where it randomly drops into neutral while driving at speed, physically locks the shifter, and actively engages the electronic braking system on its own, stranding me in active traffic. I brought the vehicle to a certified Jeep dealership to resolve this exact symptom. They misdiagnosed the vehicle and charged me nearly $3,000 to replace the valve body and connectors. The dangerous symptom remains completely unchanged, meaning the vehicle is unsafe to operate and the manufacturer-certified repair facility has failed to remedy a critical safety defect. The issue hasn’t been fixed and it has been 5-6 months.
NHTSA complaint #11749415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
After the 68C recall software update upon getting my Jeep back I can no longer drive in the electric mode without the Jeep surging into and out of the gas mode at slow speeds or fast speeds. My jeep does hesitate or bogs down prior to engaging the gas mode.
NHTSA complaint #11746633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
System Failed: Total engine failure caused by a defective Recall W79 EGR Cooler, which is available for physical inspection at my residence.Safety Risk: The vehicle suffered a sudden, complete loss of motive power at speed. This caused an immediate traffic hazard, risking a catastrophic rear-end collision due to lost propulsion, power steering, and braking.Dealer Verification: The vehicle is currently undrivable. Jeep Corporate is actively giving me the runaround and refusing to tow or diagnose the vehicle under the EcoDiesel Settlement Extended Warranty.Inspections: No inspections have been conducted yet by police, insurance, or the manufacturer; the vehicle is fully preserved.Symptoms/Warning: No long-term warning lights appeared. The vehicle suddenly lost AC cooling and instantly stalled out without advanced mechanical warning.
NHTSA complaint #11746547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.