Home · 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Srt · Complaints

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

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 (685)Crash / fire / injury (61)Electrical system (281)Engine (97)Transmission & drivetrain (59)Brakes (49)Fuel system (42)Speed control (33)Seats (28)Airbags (16)Fuel System, Diesel (15)Lights (15)

Newest first · 685 complaints · page 28 of 28

Apr 12, 2018BrakesEngineFuel systemCrash

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF MY JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LEADS TO TOTAL LOSS ON ON MARCH 30 , 2018. THIS IS MY STORY: I BOUGHT MY JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 2018 TRAILHAWK FROM THE ORANGE PARK CHRYSLER, JEEP, DODGE, RAM DEALERSHIP AKA DARSCARS OF JACKSONVILLE AT 7233 BLANDING BLVD (904) 777-5500 ON OCTOBER 21, 2017 UNDER A THREE YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT WITH ALLY AUTO FINANCE (1-888) 925-2559. ON MARCH 30, 2018 WITH APPROXIMATELY 3700 MILES I WAS AT THE GATEWAY PISTOL AND RIFLE RANGE AT IN JACKSONVILLE WITH MY FRIEND CHARLIE FOR PISTOL SHOOTING. MY CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF ONE OF THE STEEL SHEDS. WHEN RAIN STARTED WE DECIDED TO DRIVE MY CAR AROUND AND UNDER THE SHED. I TOOK THE CAR AROUND BUT COULDN'T QUITE MAKE IT INTO THE SHED AND HAD TO BACK UP. WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE I HEARD A STRANGE NOISE AND MY FRIEND TOLD ME LATER THAT MY REAR WHEELES STARTED SPINNING, WHICH THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO. WHEN MY CAR WAS IN THE RIGHT POSITION MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BREAK I SHIFTED TO "DRIVE". AT THIS MOMENT THE ENGINE ROARED UP AND RACED FORWARD. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. I STEERED IT INTO THE NEXT EMPTY SHOOTING BAY IN 1/2 CIRCLE INTO THE BACKSTOP ENDING UP AT THE WALL WHICH WAS DAMAGED IN THE PROCESS. ALL FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. IT WAS AN ABSOLUTELY HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE. IT WAS PLAIN LUCK THAT NOBODY WAS HURT. THE CAR IS PRESENTLY IN THE HANDS OF MY INSURER AAA WHO DECLARED THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN OBVIOUS CASE OF PRODUCT LIABILITY FOR WHICH THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE! I FOUND OUT YESTERDAY THAT THERE IS A SPECIAL PHONE NUMBER FOR CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE IN CHARGE OF LEMON CAR ISSUES 1-844-521-8188. MY COMPLAINT HAS A CASE NUMBER 33880270.

NHTSA ODI 11084771

Apr 9, 2018Electrical systemFuel systemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RIVER OAKS CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (4807 KIRBY DR., HOUSTON, TX 77098, (713) 524-3801) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V048000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ANOTHER AUTHORIZED CHRYSLER DEALER TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V048000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,593.

NHTSA ODI 11083951

Apr 6, 2018Visibility & wipers

ON JANUARY 25, 2018 I WROTE A LETTER TO MY LOCAL DEALER (ANCHORAGE CHRYSLER CENTER) ASKING FOR THEIR HELP IN WORKING WITH JEEP CHRYSLER TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS OF MY BRAND NEW 2018 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SUMMIT FREEZING TO THE WINDSHIELD WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON CITY STREETS WITH FULL DEFROST WHILE OPERATING IN FRIGID COLD TEMPERATURES. ALONG WITH THE LETTER I INCLUDED A FEW PHOTOS THAT SHOWED THE PROBLEM, THOUGH THEY HARDLY DID IT JUSTICE. ON FEBRUARY 7, 2018 I RECEIVED A REPLY FROM FCA THAT THEY "UNDERSTOOD WHY THIS MIGHT CAUSE A CONCERN, BUT THE CHARACTERISTIC I DESCRIBED WAS NOT RELATED TO A DEFECT IN MATERIALS, WORKMANSHIP, MANUFACTURING OR FACTORY PREPARATION AND THEREFORE THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE (PARAPHRASED)." ON FEBRUARY 13, 2018, I WROTE FCA A REPLY DISAGREEING WITH THEIR FINDINGS AND CITED THE DESIGN FEATURE THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY DID IN FACT PROVIDE THE OPTION ON THE 2018 CHEROKEE'S, BUT NOT THE GRAND CHEROKEE'S. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC AND ASKED FOR THEIR HELP IN IDENTIFYING A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM "ON MY NEW $50,000+ AUTOMOBILE." IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN A MONTH AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REPLY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AT THEIR LACK OF A REPLY. I REMAIN CONVINCED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ODI 11083537

Apr 3, 2018

I WOULD LIKE JEEP TO HAVE A SETTING ADDED TO THE CAR SETTINGS TO HAVE THE DEFAULT STATUS OF THE THE START STOP ENGINE SET TO OFF SO THAT THE DRIVER HAS THE OPTION TO HAVE IT OFF RATHER THAN PRESSING THE BUTTON EVERY SINGLE TIME. I WAS DRIVING THE YESTERDAY AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE LAG BETWEEN THE ENGINE STARTING UP AND ME PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. IT POSES A DANGER TO THE DRIVE/PASSENGER AND OTHER MOTORISTS. THIS IS A SIMPLE SOFTWARE FIX THAT FIAT/CHRYSLER COULD SEND OUT TO ALL VEHICLES EQUIPT WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY.

NHTSA ODI 11082672

Mar 21, 2018EngineFire

I DROVE THIS VEHICLE TO WORK AND PARKED IT IN A PARKING STRUCTURE AT 8:00 IN THE MORNING. BY 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON, THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE SAT ALL DAY IN THE STRUCTURE. UNKNOWN AS TO WHY IT CAUGHT FIRE, BUT THE FIRE ORIGINATED SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I TOOK DELIVERY OF THIS VEHICLE 8 DAYS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED AND IT ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES ON IT. *TT *JS *DT *JB

NHTSA ODI 11080759

Mar 17, 2018BrakesFuel systemDriver assistanceCrash

DRIVING THE AUTO AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AT A RED LIGHT AND THE BRAKES ONLY PARTIALLY ENGAGED AND THE AUTO WENT THROUGH THE RED LIGHT. DROVE UP TO THE NEXT LIGHT AS THE CAR WAS JUST ABOUT TO STOP IT ACCELERATED FORWARD INTO THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. THERE IS A SAFETY FEATURE CALLED "FORWARD COLLISION WARNING" WHICH SHOULD APPLY THE BRAKES AND DID NOT WORK (INSTEAD OF BRAKING WITH THE JEEP SAFETY FEATURE THE AUTO ACCELERATED). THE DEALER REPAIRED THE DAMAGE PAID BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY BUT COULD NOT TELL ME WHY THIS HAPPENED OR PROVIDE ASSURANCE THAT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE WITH THE NTSB AND REVIEW THE "BLACK BOX". IF THE TRUCK WAS NOT IN FRONT OF OUR VEHICLE WE WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE RED LIGHT INTO A HIGHWAY INTERSECTION. THE CAR HAD SLOWED TO 5 MPH AND WAS TEN FEET FROM AUTO IN FRONT AND THEN ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 15 MPH IN A FEW SECONDS.

NHTSA ODI 11079986

Mar 1, 2018Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

I HAVE A FEW OCCURRENCES TO TELL ABOUT. 1. WHEN TAKING IT THROUGH A DRIVE THROUGH CAR WASH IT WAS PROPELLED FORWARD AT AN UNSAFE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL BUT STILL WAS SHOT FORWARD AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE APPLIED QUICKLY. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. 2. AFTER COMING OFF A FREEWAY AND COMING TO THE FIRST STOPLIGHT, WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER HIT 0 THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. I TURNED THE AUTO STOP OFF AND PROCEED DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN I HIT THE NEXT STOPLIGHT, IT DID THE SAME THING, LURCHED FORWARD HARD, WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER HIT 0. 3. WHILE GETTING UP TO SPEED, 70, ON A FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO "MISS" GEARS AND IT LURCHED A FEW TIMES. 4. WHEN APPROACHING A TURN, AT SLOW A VERY SLOW SPEED, I TAPPED THE GAS FOR A LITTLE MORE SPEED AND IT PROPELLED ME FORWARD HARD AND I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES. 5. IN THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP AN ALERT POPPED UP ON THE CENTER SCREEN INDICATING THE CONTROL PANEL HAD DETECTED A PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SYSTEM AND IT WAS A FIRE HAZARD. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND THIS IN THE COMPUTER MEMORY ANYWHERE AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. AT TIMES I FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AND THE WHOLE REASON I BOUGHT IT IS TO FEEL SAFE AND SECURE. RIGHT NOW THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 1,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11075571

Feb 12, 2018Electrical system

DISPLAY DASH SCREEN SHUTS OFF AND ON APPX EVERY 30 SECONDS, REBOOTS, AND OVERHEATS, DRIVING OR STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 11072268

Feb 12, 2018Electrical system

UNCONNECT SYSTEM IN MY 2018 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE OVERLAND TURNS OFF AND ON BY ITSELF EVER 60 SECONDS WHETHER YOU ARE DRIVING OR STATIONARY. I BELIEVE IT STARTED THIS MORNING OR LAST NIGHT. YOU CANNOT USE BLUETOOTH, THE HEAT OR THE RADIO. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE LESS THAN 1 MONTH AGO AND THEY SAID I WAS THE 6TH REPORT TODAY AND THE VEHICLES IN THEIR LOT WERE DOING IT AS WELL. THEY STATED THAT THE UNCONNECT SYSTEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN HACKED.

NHTSA ODI 11072270

Dec 10, 2017Electrical systemInterior Lighting

DASH AND RADIO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY

NHTSA ODI 11053802

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Working with the data? Download all 685 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 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Srt verdict →