What 685 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Srt

In September 2025, the vehicle was shaking upon idle when we started it. We did a test and learned it was somehow losing coolant. We took it to a mechanic who discovered it was burning coolant in the 5th cylinder. They diagnosed the issue as blown head gaskets caused by the engine being machined incorrectly by the manufacturer. This resulted in the need for a short block removal and replacement, resurfacing the cylinder heads, replacing the head gaskets, among with many smaller repairs. The cost was over $8,000 total for a manufacturing error. If left unresolved, this could have caused further mechanical issues and potentially a crash or other safety issues.

NHTSA ODI 11697308

My 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland is experiencing serious electrical malfunctions related to the Uconnect radio head unit. This component appears to control or influence multiple vehicle systems beyond just audio, including climate control, backup camera, navigation, and possibly driver assistance features. The system malfunctions frequently and erratically — settings change on their own, the screen goes black or freezes, and controls become unresponsive while driving. These distractions create a serious safety hazard, as I am forced to take my attention off the road to regain control of basic functions like defrost or audio volume. I have discovered that this issue is widely reported by thousands of Jeep owners from this model year and earlier, particularly those with Uconnect systems. Jeep has refused to address or recall the problem despite it clearly impacting driving safety and vehicle usability. This malfunction significantly impairs my ability to operate the vehicle safely. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate this issue as a potential safety defect. I have taken my car to the dealership and was advised that the whole radio unit needs to be completely replace. I have contacted Jeep and inquired about it, they told me they are aware of the issue but at this time, unless the car is under warranty, they do not offer any financial assistance. And it is a rather expensive issue to fix considering there is no fault of the car owners that the items installed in their vehicles are faulty.

NHTSA ODI 11679192

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at unknown moderate speeds, the vehicle shuddered upon depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the failure occurred violently while driving at high speeds. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the brake and wheel systems were serviced on 5 separate occasions; however, the failure persisted. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V838000(Service Brakes, Hydraulics); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and informed that the contact would be notified by mail once the parts became available. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and referred the contact back to the dealer to make an appointment; however, he dealer informed the contact once again that the parts were not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

NHTSA ODI 11678478

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V838000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11677727

Rockers & cam shaft are worn and making ticking noise. I only have 86k on my 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and am diligent with upkeep on the maintenance. This is a very known issue and should be recalled as I have not driven it anymore to prevent further damage to the engine, and also don't have the funds to fork out almost 5k.

NHTSA ODI 11677687

I own a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the Uconnect 8.4" touchscreen. The screen has begun to delaminate—a well-documented and widespread issue in 2017–2019 Jeep models. As the touchscreen separates from the display, it causes ghost inputs and malfunctions in key systems: - The radio and Apple CarPlay are unusable - The screen randomly calls contacts, including emergency services like 911 without my consent - I’ve had to disable Bluetooth on my phone to prevent unintended calls and inputs - The issue prevents safe and legal use of my Drive Safe & Save Bluetooth beacon from my insurance company Multiple Jeep dealerships quoted between $1,000–$2,000 for repairs, despite this being a known defect. The vehicle is out of warranty, but this malfunction poses a safety hazard. I am filing this complaint to request that NHTSA investigate this issue and encourage Jeep/Stellantis to issue a recall or extended warranty coverage. This issue is not cosmetic—it compromises driver focus, emergency call systems, and critical controls. Many owners are experiencing the same failure with no accountability from the manufacturer.

NHTSA ODI 11676336

I have been without a vehicle for over 5 months. Paying on a vehicle that I cannot even get out of the garage. Paying storage insurance on a vehicle. There is a major issue with camshafts right now. I have had the spark plugs changed, coils, oil and I was waiting on the camshaft which is on back order for who knows how long. This needs to be addressed and recalled. With the amount being over 14,000 parts on back order I think this should be recalled. Even people who have had the camshaft fixed are still having engine issues with the 3.6L. Please do something about this, I have put so much money into this and I need a vehicle. At 75,000 miles this should not be happening.

NHTSA ODI 11676177

The contact's fiancé owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the gear shifter would move out of the park(P) without depressing the brake pedal. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V838000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); 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 failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11673933

While driving 2018 jeep grand cherokee the transmission will shift its self into neutral and say select desired gear. Then it will shut it self down in the middle of the road.

NHTSA ODI 11672142

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact had pulled up to the curve and placed the gear shifter in park(P). The contact exited the vehicle and walked to the rear of the vehicle to place his wife's luggage in the back. The vehicle rolled backwards, knocked the contact down, and the vehicle ran over the contact's legs. The vehicle came to a stop while the wheels were on top of the contact's legs. The contact's wife entered the vehicle and moved the vehicle off the contact. The contact's wife stated that the gear shift lever had moved independently. Unknown if any warning lights illuminated. The airport police responded. The contact was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The doctor diagnosed that the contact had sustained damage to the nerves, contusions, and a wound that the doctor was unable to close on his legs. The contact had road rash on his legs, back, and elbows. The contact's wife drove the vehicle to the hospital, and the vehicle functioned as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The vehicle was parked at the residence. The contact related that failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V838000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

NHTSA ODI 11670771

As many others have reported, only 56K miles on this 3.6L Grand Cherokee. When I engage the passing gear an auto stop/start light comes on on the dash followed by the check engine light. Vehicle rides very rough (from a misfire). Taken to an independent shop; they changed plugs and coils but the problem persists. Also a knocking / ticking noise can be heard when accelerating.

NHTSA ODI 11670468

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light started flashing on and off and the vehicle decelerated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who examined the engine and informed the contact that there were metal shavings inside the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 109,000.

NHTSA ODI 11670579

Sensors that activate when objects are close to vehicle and are supposed to warn collision do not work at all. Sometimes they activate when there are no obstacles at all and the vehicle is stationary. Pedestrians are not noticed nor are objects/vehicles that are in the way as the vehicle is in motion (and even stationary). Also the system seems to reboot at will while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11669662

The Jeep Uconnect System control screen has delaminated form normal use which is a well documented issue on thousands of jeeps from online research. The delamination now has the vehicle pushing buttons on the screen by itself and changing safety parameters while driving. I have a video showing that while I am driving and not pushing any buttons the screen is frantically changing steering parameters, braking parameters, collision avoidance, lane departure, blind spot, etc. I have a video of the incident and screen doing this by itself. I can not upload it due to size, but please contact me for the video and I will send it.

NHTSA ODI 11669120

I purchased a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee on [XXX] unaware that the vehicle was subject to a federal safety recall and stop-sale order. The recall (NHTSA 24V-838 / Manufacturer 94B) was issued on November 7, 2024, for a defect in the ABS control module that may disable the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and cause unintended vehicle movement even while stationary. A stop-sale order (VIR 2024-11-14) was issued by Stellantis on November 14, 2024, prohibiting the sale or delivery of affected vehicles until repaired. Despite this, the dealership sold me the vehicle while the recall was still open and unrepaired. In the months following my purchase, I began experiencing issues with the Electronic Throttle Control (ETC). On June 15, 2025, I paid $770 out-of-pocket for ETC sensor repairs after a loss of throttle response. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, but this defect may be linked to the broader electronic issues cited in the recall. No warning lights appeared in advance. I have been driving this vehicle daily without knowing it could malfunction in a way that puts myself and others at risk. I only learned of the recall on June 22, 2025, when I searched the VIN through NHTSA’s database. This has caused emotional distress, financial harm, and a complete loss of trust in the vehicle’s safety. I am seeking appropriate accountability for the illegal sale of this recalled vehicle and want to ensure others are not put in similar danger. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11668509

I was driving my 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x4 on the highway at approximately 65-70 MPH, when suddenly the car started sputtering and my check engine light came on and started blinking. The car was essentially not drivable, so I pulled over at a gas station and had the car towed. This is dangerous as I was going uphill, and could have caused an accident, or worse. I did not have a check engine light prior to this! The next day the car was inspected and diagnosed by independent service center, who said there was a cylinder 4 engine misfire, so they replaced the spark plugs and the coils. Car was fixed, or so I thought, fast forward a couple months later while driving to work, same issue (misfires and sputtering) occurs again and coolant now runs low even though there are no visible signs of coolant leakage. I spoke to the independent service center and they mentioned there might be an issue with the engine such as a head gasket or fuel system. I got the Jeep towed to get checked, it was confirmed that it was an engine issue, especially the head gasket, camshaft, pistons, and lifters, and that I was going to need a new engine and it would cost between $8500 - 13000. My Jeep has approximately 83K miles. The issues I describe here with this engine are all similar to those that have been reported.

NHTSA ODI 11668153

The 2018 grand Cherokee has issues with mother board and electrical ghosts. 1st it was headlights and dome lights. they would flicker. i had to change the front lights 2x in a year. i thought this was odd. never did this with any car before. then I was driving home from work during rush hour and it started to rain. started the wipers front and back. the back wiper started and went halfway and got stuck. what happen? the front wipers went on for several revolutions (say 10-20 ) then stopped. started again. then stopped again. the rain intensity grew. Now the -wipers would only work when turned in opposite direction (the manual 1 pass move). this happened as i was trying to get home and stuck bumper to bumper on [XXX] . on this dangerous highway in middle of now a torrential downpour the front wipers now decided it wouldn't work AT ALL. i couldn't see anything and veered off to the shoulder thank god - waiting for rain to stop and then safely proceeded home. the next day the wipers worked. no check engine or anything. this goes on for a week or so with no issue. then out of nowhere the driver seat decides it has a mind of its own and pushes me all the way to the steering column. it wouldn't return when pushing the back button. i had to drive like that for my trip and then it magically went back upon restart. i take to dealer. pump motors bad on front and back. i say not sure your correct and explain. motor changed on front. not fixed. ok we think its the BCM. changed not fixed. finally the PDM was changed and wow it worked. 2 weeks at dealer and this shows that this issue with the control module is certainly risking peoples safety. i hope Jeep does the right thing and prevents a serious catastrophic event. read on the jeep electric issues and my vehicle had a previous "corrected" recall for Electrical Cruise Control. I dont think the fireware updates or software changes fixed all the bugs. be safe out there jeep INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11666425

The Head gaskets are leaking. Cost of parts to replace is $200 and cost of LABOR is over $4000 quoted from Cross Motors Jeep.

NHTSA ODI 11666141

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with ABS system failure. The contact was informed that the ABS system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V838000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); 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 failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 57,216. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11663117

Head gasket/engine failure. Constant check engine light. First it was for a misfire and my engine was overheating. Had oil clogging the filter even though it was changed within the appropriate mileage. I got the check engine fixed April of 2024. May 20,2025, head gasket blew, causing me to now have to replace my engine completely. Same issues as previously reported

NHTSA ODI 11662845

The main screen in the vehicle delaminated and caused quite a number of issues. Heated seats would randomly turn on and off and the temp on gbe seats would not go down, phone would call people over and over including 911, compartment heat would randomly turn on the highest setting and would not turn down, goo like substance came out of screen into the storage compartment below the screen, getting all over items stored. The radio would constantly change stations. All the issues became true safety hazards. I called their 800# and was referred to a dealer who charged me over $1000 with no remorse from Jeep. I am a 25 year owner of jeeps and not too pleased with the lack of response from Jeep. My next car will not be a Jeep!

NHTSA ODI 11662037

The active headrest on the driver's seat deployed spontaneously on it's own during normal operation of my vehicle. The headrest is now unable to be reset as it appears some components of the active headrest mechanism were faulty. This put my safety at risk as a driver as the active headrest can not activate in the event that it needs to activate during a possible collision. The headrest and seat causes strain and injury to my neck while driving as it is now positioned forward from the seat. This also causes strain to the rest of my spine. This issue is not covered by the original dealer that sold me my vehicle. There are no warning lamps or messages that have appeared since this problem first occurred.

NHTSA ODI 11661963

The head gasket blows around 80,000 miles. This is a known problem consumers have with this vehicle. My estimate to have this fixed is over $6,000.00.

NHTSA ODI 11660603

The Screen has delaminated and is not functional. If on while driving it goes haywire and has to be turned off. This effects hands free, gps, climate control, etc. This is a known issue with these jeeps but has not merited a recall as of yet. It needs to be recalled.

NHTSA ODI 11659713

The UCONNECT screen has delaminated due to a known manufacturing defect. This causes ghost touches on the screen, posing safety risks from distraction, inability to make hands-free phone calls, and unusable navigation tools.

NHTSA ODI 11658546