Home · 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk · Complaints

What 361 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (361)Crash / fire / injury (32)Engine (100)Transmission & drivetrain (87)Electrical system (86)Fuel system (31)Brakes (29)Speed control (21)Seats (20)Steering (18)Airbags (15)Lights (14)

20 of 361 complaints match · Seats · clear filters

Jan 18, 2026Electrical systemSeatsFire

It was cold out and my sister was driving my car with the heated seats on when she started to smell fire as well as her back got really hot. She pulled over and leaned forward and discovered a flame/fire coming through the seat back. She burned my hand and had visible ash on it trying to put the fire out. There is now a hole in the seat back from where the fire burned through.

NHTSA ODI 11711710

Dec 23, 2025Seats1 injury

Active head restraint deployed unexpectedly while driving at very slow speed. In addition to the immediate shock, it hit the back of my head and neck very hard. Still experiencing neck pain.

NHTSA ODI 11706825

Oct 6, 2025Seats

Driver's side head restraint exploded as I was pulling out of my driveway with no advance warning. Thankfully I was facing forward when it deployed, or it would have slammed into the back of my head. I found my extended warranty notice from FCA regarding this issue. Contacted my dealership and scheduled an appointment for repair/replacement on 11/1.

NHTSA ODI 11691597

Aug 7, 2024Seats

When using the heated seat feature, there was a faint electrical smell. It got worse after about 5 minutes. I shut the heated seats off and the smell started to disappear. I read some jeep forums and this seems a common issue in the jeeps with suede & leather seats for there to other be an electrical short, or “hot spot” on a certain part.

NHTSA ODI 11607002

Jul 29, 2024Seats

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger's seat headrest deployed. The contact's minor child was seated in the rear seat was struck by fragments. The contact stated that the fragments landed in the minor child's lap. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 166,455.

NHTSA ODI 11605267

Nov 5, 2023AirbagsSeats

Headrest airbag deployed for no reason, no accident

NHTSA ODI 11553674

Sep 27, 2023Seats

Headrest failure, it deployed on its own and the base that holds it broke

NHTSA ODI 11546884

Aug 16, 2023Seats

Automatic head rest randomly activated and head rest “exploded”. It only happened with the driver headrest

NHTSA ODI 11538955

Nov 11, 2022Seats

I was sitting in my car and my active rest deployed for no reason

NHTSA ODI 11493242

Jan 17, 2021Seats1 injury

WHILE I WAS DRIVING 25MPH ON HWY95 TURNING RIGHT EXITING THE HWY THE FRONT PASSENGER HEAD REST POOPED OPEN STRIKING MY 16 TEEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE HEAD WITH FRIGHTENING FORCE WHICH HAS CAUSED HEADACHES SINCE THE INCIDENT.*DT CONSUMER STATED CASE NUMBER FROM FDA IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ODI 11388613

Jan 4, 2021Electrical systemSeatsCrash

I I WAS DRIVING IN MY MOMS 2017 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE SEAT SETTING BUTTON ON THE DRIVERS SIDE PANEL DOOR ITS POSITIONED IN A TERRIBLE PLACE FOR PEOPLE WITH LONGER LEGS, I HAD DROPPED A MILK SHAKE AFTER PICKING IT UP OUT OF THE CUP HOLDER AND IT SLIPPED OUT OF MY HAND AND BETWEEN MY LEGS ROLLING BEHIND THE BRAKE, IT HAD A LID ON IT SO I WASN'T WORRIED ABOUT IT SPILLING OR MAKING A MESS. I JUST CASULLY TRIED TO PICK IT UP BY SPRESDING MY LEGS AND REACHING DOWN TO PICK IT UP WHILE KEEPING MY EYES ON THE ROAD. BUT, THAT ENDED UP BEING THE WRONG THING TO DO ,MY KNEE HIT THE S BUTTON FOR THE DRIVERS 1 AND 2 MEMORY. THE SEAT STARTED GOING FORWARD AND I COULDN'T STOP IT. I HAD MY LEGS SPREAD TO PICK UP THE SHAKE I HAD NO TIME TO DO ANYTHING WITH THEM THE NEXT THING I KNEW I WAS PINNED BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR SEAT MY LKNEES AND LEGS WERE SCRUNCHED. I COULDN'T STEER,I COULDN'T HIT THE BRAKES,I WAS, PINNED VERY TIGHT AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. IM A BIG GU, IT WAS TIGHT,I COULDN'T BRAKE BECAUSE MY LEGS WERE PINNED AS WELL, I WAS HELPLESS., I WRECKED INTO A CAR AND THEN HITTING A BRIDGE BEING SO CLOSE TTO THE STEERING WHEEL THE AIR BAGS ALL WENT OFF ALL I REMEMBER WAS THE SEAT GOING DOWN AFTER GOING ALL THE WAY TO FRONT AND THEN DROPPING DOWN AND STAYING THERE I WAS DROPPING DOWN WHEN THE BAGS HIT ME . I KNEW THAT THE SEAT CONTROLS WERE DOWN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF ME. TRIED TO MAKE IT STOP, SO I COULD. IM WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HAS EVER HIT THIS BUTTON BY ACCIDENT AND THE SEATS STARTED DOING THE SAME THING TO THENM AS IT DID TO ME. IS THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL DEFEACT OR IT WAS JUST A FLUKE? AND WHY DOES THE SEAT DO THAT WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING. I THINK IT SHOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY TURNED OFF WHILE MOVING. IF THE BUTTON IS GOING TO BE THERE. IM SO SORRYFOR THE FAMILY. WE ALL SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11386349

Nov 12, 2020Seats

WHILE DRIVING THE JEEP ON THE CITY STREET, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I FELT THE DRIVERS SEAT WARMER GET REALLY HOT, FELT IT WITH MY HAND AND GOT SHOCKED. I RIGHT AWAY TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER. ONCE I GOT HOME, I NOTICED THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND PART OF MY SWEATER GOT BURNED.

NHTSA ODI 11374398

Sep 21, 2020Seats

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT HAD THE ACTIVE HEAD REST PLASTIC BREAK AROUND THE RETAINING PIN. NOW THE HEADREST IS DEPLOYED FORWARD AND THE LATCH IS STILL IN CLOSED POSITION WITH THE METAL PIN STILL IN PLACE. JUST POPPED FORWARD ON IT'S OWN. CAR WAS PARKED AND NOT MOVING.

NHTSA ODI 11360240

Sep 1, 2020Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ENTERING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE HEAD REST HAD DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO ONE PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE TURNED ON. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE LOCAL DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11352563

May 6, 2020AirbagsSeats

HI! I WROTE IN APRIL 26, 2020 EXPLAIN MY SITUATION AND I DON'T RECEIVE ANSWER FROM US. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323527

Apr 26, 2020AirbagsSeats

MY SUV IS STATIONARY IN CITY STREET. I PUT THE IGNITION IN ACCESSORIES AND I START TO CLEAN WITH A DRY CLOTH THE PASSENGER SEAT AND PASS A CLOTH FOR THE HEAD OF SEAT, IS ACTIVATE THE HEAD RESTRAINT. MY SUV NEVER HAVE A CRASH. I GO IN 23 APRIL 2020 TO AUTOCENTRO SERVICE CENTER DODGE, JEEP AND CHRYSLER IN CAGUAS, PUERTO RICO AND EXPLAIN MY SITUATION AND THEN TELL ME I HAVE TO PAID THE PARTS (ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT) AND THE COST IS $994.00 AND LABOR IS $140.00 BECAUSE THE WARRANTY OF MY SUV IS EXPIRE. I REFUSE TO PAID THAT BECAUSE I THINK IS DEFECT OF MANUFACTURE BECAUSE MY SUV I DON'T HAVE ANY CRASH. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW THIS SITUATION CAN BE RESOLVED. THANKS

NHTSA ODI 11322323

Feb 3, 2020Seats

POWER SEAT WAS ADJUSTED ALL WAY BACKWARDS AND STOPPED WORKING. CAN NOT ADJUST SEAT TO DRIVE IT CORRECTLY.THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING STILL IN A PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ODI 11306730

Aug 22, 2019Seats

HEADREST-ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINTS - MOPAR (6LR08PS4AA) THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEADREST 'EXPLODED' DUE TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE FAULTY MATERIAL. I GOT THE PART NUMBER FROM THE DEALER USING THE VIN NUMBER. A PLASTIC COMPONENT SIMPLY BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS SPECIFIC FAILURE APPEARS TO BE THE PLASTIC THAT HOLDS A PIN IN PLACE. DEALER INDICATES THIS IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY COMPONENT. A FAILURE WHILE DRIVING COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. SOMEONE COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED EITHER BY THE IMPACT OR IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THIS FAILED IT FORCED THE HEADREST TO MOVE FORWARD SEVERAL INCHES. OURS SELF DESTRUCTED WHILE IT WAS PARKED, THANK GOODNESS. NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR. HOWEVER IF WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON A BUSY FREEWAY, THIS COULD BE A DISASTER, ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS THE DRIVERS SIDE.

NHTSA ODI 11245789

Sep 4, 2017Body & structureSeatsEngine

WE WERE SOLD A RUSTED BRAND NEW CAR BY HUFFINES JEEP DEALERSHIP IN LEWISVILLE, TX. WE IDENTIFIED THE RUST IN THE CAR WITHIN 3 WEEKS ( AND LESS THAN 700 MILES) AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DENIED HELPING US OUT AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE CAR FOR US AND THE ONLY OPTION THEY PROVIDED US WAS " WE WILL FIX THE CAR AND YOU TAKE IT BACK" . WE HAVE ESCALATED THE CASE TO "FCA NORTH AMERICA" AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THE CASE . HOWEVER WE ARE AFRAID THAT SINCE THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE A RAPO ESTABLISHED WITH THE COMPANY THEY MIGHT OVERLOOK THIS CASE AND SINCE WE ARE ONE CUSTOMER VS THE DEALERSHIP THERE ARE MORE CHANCES THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO SUFFER AND TAKE THE CONTINUOUS THREATS FROM THE DEALERSHIP. WE WOULD LIKE TO APPROACH NHTSA TO PROVIDE US A RECOMMENDATION ON THIS AND HELP US RECEIVE JUSTICE ON THIS CASE . OUR CASE NUMBER WITH JEEP IS [XXX] . THIS IS OUR FIRST BRAND NEW VEHICLE AND WE HAVE HAD ISSUES FROM DAY ONE ON THE VEHICLE AND WITH DEALERSHIP TREATING US IN AN EXTREMELY DISRESPECTFUL WAY AND LITERALLY THREATENING US WE DONT KNOW HOW TO PROCEED IN THIS CASE . WE DID NOT REALIZE IT TILL OUR DAUGHTER DROPPED STUFF UNDER THE SEATS AND CAME OUT FEW TIMES WITH RUSTED HANDS . SHE HAS BEEN TRAVELLING AND BREATHING IN THE RUSTED CAR FOR FEW DAYS AND THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE HEALTH HAZARD FOR THE KID. WE ARE CONFUSED AT THIS POINT AND FEEL HELPLESS . DO WE JUST WAIT FOR FCA TO COME BACK TO US OR DO WE FILE A COMPLAINT IN THE LOCAL COURT AND FIGHT A CASE AGAINST THE DEALER SHIP ? PLEASE ADVISE. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11021358

Aug 26, 2017Electrical systemSeats

THE VEHICLE MEMORY SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING AT ALL, WE BOUGHT IN 12/2016 AND SOMEWHERE IN 6/2017 IT STOPPED WORKING, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CARS THE MEMORY SYSTEM CONTROLS MANY ASPECTS OF THE VEHICLE THAT DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SEAT, STEERING WHEEL, MIORROR'S, AND RDS, IT ALSO CONTROLS ENGINE FUNCTIONS AND SAFETY SYSTEMS, AIR BAGS, SEATBELTS, BRAKES., WHY THE VEHICLE LEARNS YOUR DRIVING HABITS AND WHEN YOU USE DIFFERENT SETTINGS FOR DIFFERENT DRIVERS, NOW IT HAS CONTROL OVER YOUR VEHICLE AND DRIVING HABITS OR ANOTHER DRIVERS HABITS. (I HAD A 15 OVERLAND THAT WOULDN'T SYNC THE REMOTES TO THE MEMORY SETTINGS AFTER MULTIPLE ATEMTS, I ALSO HAVE A 14 RAM LIMITED THAT WORKS JUST FINE.) SO THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR THE GRANDELAY CHEROKEE LINEUP. PER SAY THE SYSTEM BE LIVES IT IS WORKING BUT HASN'T MOVED YOUR SEAT OR THINKS YOUR SEAT IS IN AN ALTERNATIVE POSITION AND YOU GET IN TO AN ACCIDENT, AND THE SAFETY SYSTEM OVER OR UNDER REACTS TO PROTECT ITS OCUPANTS DUE TO SYSTEM ERRORS, EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONING, AND VEHICLE COPONENTS NOT COMMUNICATING PROPERLY. THIS COULD END IN A CATASTROPHE AND POTENTIALLY INJURIES, DEATH, AND DESTRUCTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY. SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE SUMMIT I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH MY RAM (REGARDING SURVICE), A ELDERLY GENTLEMAN BROUGHT HIS 17 GC INTO THE SERVICE DEPTH COMPLAIN ABOUT THE MEMORY SYSTEM NOT OPERATING, I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT IT "BUT THIS OLD MAN CAN'T KEEP UP WITH TECHNOLOGY AND JUST NEEDED ASSISTANCE" I HAVE ALSO SPOKEN TO MULTIPLE GC OWNERS AT GAS STATION'S, PARKING LOTS, AND RANDOM SHOPS AND ALMOST EVERY 2017 STARTS MALFUNCTIONING AFTER ABOUT 1 TO 6 MONTHS AND DOES NOT FIX/DEFAULT ON ITS OWN, I HAD RDS ISSUES ON MY 14 GC REMEDY HOLD BOTH VOLUME AND TUNER AT THE SAME TIME TO RESET THE SYSTEM, THIS DIDN'T HELPMY 17, I HAVE A A POINT MENTIONED TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 11019825

Working with the data? Download all 361 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk verdict →