What 1,638 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Srt

On February 3, Tuesday drove home from work. The battery light came on. I Drove to AutoZone and they placed it on Diagnostic reader. The diagnostic reader said that the battery had no charge. They told me I need a new battery. I replaced the battery. The next morning, I placed the jeep into auto start. So the Jeep can warm up. When I went outside, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood of the Jeep. I quickly turn off the Jeep and pop the hood. My husband open the hood and can see smoke coming from the alternator. He turned around to turn off his vehicle that was running. I started to video recording the incident and stopped it right away when I started to see flames coming out of the alternator. My husband and I quick action was to grab snow that was next to the Jeep to throw it onto the alternator to put the fire out. It took multiple piles of snow that the husband went and grabbed the fire extinguisher and sprayed the alternator to extinguish the fire. Once the fire was extinguished. We kept an eye out to make sure everything was good. We left the hood up to cool things down. We called morgan Towing to have the Jeep towed to their location to look at the situation. Morgan Towing picked the jeep up on February 4 Wednesday. They replaced the serpentine belt and the alternator. They called us to let us know the Jeep was done. Picked up the Jeep today, February 5 Thursday. I Drove it literally down the street and I can smell strong odor of smoke along with the battery light came back on. I turned back around and brought it back to Morgan Towing. I called my auto insurance and waiting to hear back from them. I am going to call the Dodge Jeep dealership and see what they have to say if if there’s was any recall on the Jeep. Upon my research so far, I didn’t see no recall but again I’m gonna call the dealership.

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Alternator caught fire

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 50 MPH WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE WHEN I PRESSED THE BREAK PEDAL I REALIZED MY BRAKES DIDN'T WORKED THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR WITH NO STOP AT ALL WHEN I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE WITH EMERGENCY BRAKES MY TRUCK STARTED SMOKING FROM FRONT OF ENGINE I OPENED THE HOOD AND IT EXPLODED IN MY FACE ALMOST BURN INSIDE THIS VEHICLE THANK GOD WE MADE IT OUT ALIVE FROM THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN HIS DRIVEWAY FROM A SHORT DISTANCE, THERE WAS A ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH SMOKE. THE CONTACT THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE COOLANT OVERFLOWED TO THE ALTERNATOR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (VISION AUTOMOTIVE GROUP LOCATED AT 920 PANORAMA TRAIL S , ROCHESTER, NY 14625) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM FAILED CAUSING THE COOLANT TO OVERHEAT AND REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, THE DRAIN TUBE AND THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE ENGINEERING OF THE DRAIN TUBE FOR THE COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK WAS DESIGNED TO BE DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ALTERNATOR AND IF THE COOLANT OVERFLOWS IT WOULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE ELECTRIC ALTERNATOR CAUSING A POSSIBLE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IF HE WOULD HAVE DROVE A LONG DISTANCE HIS VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE AND SUGGESTED THE CONTACT CALL NHTSA AND GET A SERVICE MANUAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER, HOWEVER SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN OFF OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT STATED AS SHE WAS MAKING THE TURN, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AS IT STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LIGHTENING BOLT (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL) WARNING LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE CONTACT'S COMPANION OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS ON FIRE AND BURNT OUT COMPLETELY. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RIVER OAKS CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (4807 KIRBY DR, HOUSTON, TX 77098) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ON-LINE AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V43500 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, WHITE SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE AS THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER SOME TIME, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT TO EASTCHESTER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (4007 BOSTON RD, THE BRONX, NY 10466). THE DEALER INITIALLY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT. SEEKING A SECOND OPINION, THE CONTACT WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO THEN DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPAIRED BY THE MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED THAT HER VEHICLE HAD BEEN PLACED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER :19V813000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS THAT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

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MY VEHICLE HAS STALLED TWICE WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR DUE TO THE LISTED RECALL IN WHICH CHRYSLER HAS ALREADY REPLACED ONCE! THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AGAIN FOR DIAGNOSES BECAUSE I AM SCARED FOR MY LIFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP! I WAS IN MOTION GOING 55 MILES AN HOUR IN THE FAST LANE WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED FOR NO REASON. THE JEEP SERVICE TECH HAS LINKED IT BACK TO THE SAME FUEL RELAY AND THIS COULD BE A FATAL PROBLEM IF NOT FIXED. PLEASE I HAVE THREE KIDS AND MYSELF THAT COULD BE INJURED IF THIS IS NOT ADDRESSED ASAP!!*DT*JB CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 188,723 2011 DODGE DURANGO AND JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SUVS IN THE U.S. BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE FUEL-PUMP RELAY INSIDE THE POWER MODULE THAT CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLES TO "STALL WITHOUT WARNING," ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. THE SUVS ARE EQUIPPED WITH EITHER A 3.6-LITER V6 OR 5.7-LITER V8 ENGINE. "IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE FUEL-PUMP RELAY INSIDE THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE MAY FAIL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING," SAID NHTSA IN ITS SUMMARY OF THE PROBLEM. "A VEHICLE STALL INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH." THIS IS PART OF A GLOBAL RECALL OF AN ESTIMATED 230,760 CHRYSLER SUVS, INCLUDING 15,898 IN CANADA, 7,126 IN MEXICO AND 19,013 OUTSIDE THE NAFTA REGION. CHRYSLER SAID IT IS UNAWARE OF ANY ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES LINKED TO THE RECALL. IT ADDED THAT NO OTHER VEHICLE FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, ARE AFFECTED BY THE FUEL-PUMP RELAY. THE AFFECTED SUVS WERE BUILT FROM JANUARY 5, 2010 TO JULY 20, 2011. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL-PUMP RELAY WITH ONE EXTERNAL TO THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OCTOBER 24. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.*DT*JB *DT

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK, BUT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A POLICE TOW YARD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,832. *JS

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CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. COLLIDED WITH TREE, MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE. NO POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, NO AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED, SEAT BELTS DID NOT TENSION. VEHICLE HAD STALLED PREVIOUSLY AND TAKE TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION COILS AND SAID PROBLEM WAS FIXED.

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2011JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE OVERLAND HAD STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION LOSING POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES, AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH TELLING ME ANYTHING ABOUT JEEP BEING TURN OFF. VERY SCARY! I HIT THE CURB AND ALMOST HIT THE ATOP SIGN.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE, ETC, AND ESC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND DISCOVERED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE HAD BEEN A FIRE NEAR THE AIR FILTER AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

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ON 10/18/13 I WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH ON A MAIN ROAD AND AN F-250 PULLED OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM BEING STOPPED ON A SIDE ROAD AND WE COLLIDED. BOTH OUR VEHICLES HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY. I HIT HIS DRIVER SIDE AREA AND MY WHOLE FRONT END WAS SMASHED, BUMPER TORN OFF, FLUID LEAKING FROM THE CAR. IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE. I HAD MY BABY IN THE CAR SEAT IN THE BACK BUT HE WAS FINE. I WAS FINE TOO ASIDE FROM BEING SORE FOR 3 WEEKS AND GETTING WHIPLASH BUT THE MAIN ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG NEVER WENT OFF. IT SEEMS TO ME IT SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF AND I'M WONDERING IF SOMETHING IS FAULTY. WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT IT WHILE IT WAS IN THE SHOP, DIDN'T DO THAT, NOW THEY WANT US TO BRING TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE CODE READ AND IN THE MEANTIME I'M STILL DRIVING AROUND IN A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE VEHICLE. AND SOMEONE ELSE OUT THERE WITH THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE MIGHT BE AS WELL....... *TR

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OUR 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HAS EXHIBITED MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA). IT HAS OCCURRED TO MY WIFE, ONE OF OUR SONS WHO IS AND AEROSPACE ENGINEER AND MYSELF ON DIFFERENT DAYS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND LOCATIONS. I PERSONALLY HAVE EXPERIENCED IT ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONE OF WHICH CAUSED A MINOR ACCIDENT AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND IT LUNGED FORWARD OF ITS OWN ACCORD, THERE WERE TWO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CAR AND A WITNESS OUTSIDE THE CAR WHO REPORTED IT JUST LUNGED AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE STILL ON. CHRYSLER INSPECTED THE CAR, FOUND NOTHING AND HAS CLOSED THE CASE. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND ASKED THAT WE DISCUSS THE ISSUE THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTING, FIXED NOTING AND THUS THE CASE IS CLOSED. SO THEY ARE CALLING THREE PEOPLE BOLD FACE LIARS AND MY CONCERN IS THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING SO THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND CAN HAPPEN AGAIN AND MY WIFE IS AT RISK EVERY TIME SHE GETS IN THE CAR. THERE ARE OVER 1,000 COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS FORUMS ABOUT SUA INSTANCES ON JEEP CHEROKEES, CHANNEL 7 NEWS EVEN DID A SEGMENT ON IT A FEW YEARS BACK. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP AT ALL ON THIS ISSUE? THANK YOU. *TR

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