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

I was driving to work with the heated seat on. I began to feel my lower back getting extremely hot. I leaned forward and when I did I could smell something burning and my back began to burn. I quickly pulled over and jumped out of the car as quickly as possibly to see that my seat had physical flame coming from it. I contacted Jeep about the situation and was ultimately told it was somehow not a manufacturing issue. In addition to the seat fire my touch screen has completely delaminated and sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. Making it a safety hazard with the back up camera only showing when screen is operational. The screen also does things on its own. Changing radio stations, blasting radio volume, turning on/off. This is extremely distracting while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11609997

Car caught on fire while engine was off

NHTSA ODI 11524559

The contact owned a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while at a complete stop at the traffic light, with the START/STOP mode engaged, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly and crashed into the rear of another vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bags deployed. The contact stated that the forward collision automatic braking system failed to engage. The contact sustained back pain. The contact also sustained trauma and had been seeking assistance from a therapist. The occupant of the other vehicle did not sustain injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot where it was totaled. The contacted related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V426000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.

NHTSA ODI 11493111

The UConnect display on my vehicle is phantom pressing buttons, going to different screens, turning things on and off as I drive. Yesterday, I was put in a EXTREMELY unsafe situation with my vehicle where the UConnect screen turned off my blind spot detection. I was unaware until I attempted to merge into another lane and hit another car!!! I called UConnect and Jeep and they told me they won’t do anything because I’m not the first owner of the car and that it can’t be replaced but for 1,000 of dollars. I feel like this should be repaired by Courtesy because this is a safety issue.

NHTSA ODI 11471491

The battery under my passenger seat caught on fire. The car was completely turned off and parked in my driveway. When I went to leave I opened the car door and black smoke was rolling out. 30 minutes prior I drove the car and there was no warning lights or issues. It was driving like normal. The car is currently being inspected by Jeep and my insurance. My husband and I's safety would have been at risk if we did not catch the fire as soon as we did, not only our lives but it could have hurt our neighbors who live close. As we were outside working when the fire started you could not smell or see the smoke coming out of the car.

NHTSA ODI 11457647

PUT MY TRUCK IN PARK OPEN MY DOOR WALK IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK TO OPEN MY GATE. TURN AROUND ONLY TO SEE MY TRUCK LEAPING TOWARDS ME. LUCKILY FOR ME THE TRUCK RAN INTO THE GATE BEFORE I SLIDE THE GATE.. THERE IS CLEARLY A BIG PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER DON'T WANT TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI 11394453

THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ERUPTED IN FLAMES BY ITSELF WHILE IT WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF.......SEE ATTACHMENTS

NHTSA ODI 11388483

THE MAIN JEEP BATTERY HAD A THERMAL RUNAWAY AND MELTED TO THE POINT IT STARTED A FIRE. THE BATTERY IS LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT AND MELTED THE BATTERY COVER, SEAT COVER, CARPET,SEAT TRIM.BOTH BATTERY CABLES JEEP WOULD NOT COVER THIS UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. 2018 JEEP WARRANTY STATEMENT FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE, A JEEP BASIC LIMITED WARRANTY (OR JEEP BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY) COVERS THE COST OF REPAIRS THROUGHOUT MOST OF YOUR VEHICLE. IT ALSO COVERS THE COST OF PARTS AND LABOR DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIALS, WORKMANSHIP, OR FACTORY PREPARATION. A BASIC WARRANTY ALSO COVERS JEEP ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR TOWING TO A DEALERSHIP DURING THE FIRST THREE YEARS OR 36,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.

NHTSA ODI 11307878

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO/INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM CONTROLLED SEVERAL FUNCTIONS IN THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING HEATING AND AIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM OVERHEATED AND CAUSED SEVERAL OF THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. ALSO, ON OCCASION, THE HEAT OR AIR WOULD ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY AND COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO WOULD THEN ATTEMPT TO REBOOT UNTIL THE BATTERY DISCHARGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GARDEN CITY JEEP (283 N FRANKLIN ST, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550, (516) 336-4712) TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO EAST HILLS JEEP AND BAYSIDE JEEP IN NEW YORK FOR ADDITIONAL INQUIRIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM WAS SAFE TO OPERATE AT 80 DEGREES; HOWEVER, THE TEMPERATURE OF THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SHOWED AT OVER 100 DEGREES DURING OPERATION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16.

NHTSA ODI 11290299

SEE NOTE TO INSURANCE COMPANY I RECEIVED MY 2018 JEEP BACK YESTERDAY 7/10/19 AFTER MONTHS OF WAITING FOR FARMERS TO REGAIN POSSESSION AFTER STOLEN AND RECOVERED IN MEXICO AND REPAIRS TO BE DONE. I DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM BUMPER TO BUMPER LAST NIGHT. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME FROM THE GYM TODAY THE WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE STATING GOING UP AND DOWN BY ITSELF. I WAS GOING 45 MILES AN HOUR. WHEN I TRIED TO STOP IT WITH THE SWITCH THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AND ALL POWER DIED. THE CAR SKIDDED 10-15 FEET TOWARD A INTERSECTION. I ALMOST WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. LUCKY I AM STRONG ENOUGH TO STOP MYSELF. I AM REQUESTING YOU THAT YOU TOTAL THIS VEHICLE RETURN MY DOWN PAYMENT AND MAKE PAYMENT TO CHRYSLER IN ARREARS. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE.

NHTSA ODI 11230852

THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND PLACED INTO PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. I EXITED THE CAR AND IT ACCELERATED IN REVERSE IN A FAST SPEED AND STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE. I WAS CAUGHT BEHIND THE OPEN DOOR IN PANIC AND WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT KNOCKED DOWN AND RUN OVER BY THE WHEELS.I AM ADAMANT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED INTO PARK AND NOT IN REVERSE. I WAS SHOCKED AT HOW FAST THE CAR WAS TRAVELING. THE INCIDENT WAS WITNESSED BY MY HUSBAND AND MY BROTHER IN LAW. MY HUSBAND LATER TALKED TO A MAN THAT WAS NEARBY AND WAS TOLD THAT HE HAD THE EXACT SAME CAR AND YEAR AND THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM. AN INVESTIGATOR WAS SENT OUT AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY PART IN THE VEHICLE. THE MAN LIVED IN THE STATE OF COLORADO WHICH IS WHERE IT HAPPENED. MY HUSBAND FORGOT TO GET HIS NAME. THIS HAPPENED IN AN RV PARK ON FLAT TERRAIN, PRIVATE PROPERTY.

NHTSA ODI 11210737

VEHICLE EXHIBITED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE, WHICH HAD BEEN ON CRUISE CONTROL, WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED IN TRAFFIC FOR 30-45 SECONDS ON I-95 IN SOUTH CAROLINA. THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD WHILE THE DRIVER YELLED AT ME 'MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE'. IT SUBSIDED ONCE, THEN SURGED AHEAD AGAIN, LEAVING SKID MARKS AND COLLIDING WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. IT THEN SURGED A THIRD TIME, PLOUGHING THAT CAR AHEAD, BEFORE THE DRIVER COULD SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK

NHTSA ODI 11174478

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