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

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 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

Component Failure: The control screen is going through a process of delamination. It creates "ghost touches" and behaves erratically. Safety at Risk: In one instance the backup camera came on and stayed on randomly, while I was driving forward. Another time it activated the phone and began calling down the contact list. It called, then hung up. Dialed the next person and hung up. And continued through the contact list. People began "returning my call" and it got worse. I was driving on the interstate during heavy traffic and couldn't just pull over anywhere. It was distracting, alarming, and unnerving. It also randomly turns the radio on. It will randomly change heat/ac turning it on/off. Turns the heated/cooled seats on/off. All of the controls in that panel are subject to these ghost touches. It's distracting when driving but also could be dangerous. Dealership Confirmed: The dealership has looked at it, analyzed it, and confirmed the issue. They see it frequently. Jeep customer service is kicks you to the dealer and the dealer kicks you to customer service. No resolution except to pay out of pocket for this manufacturing defect. Warnings or Symptoms: There was no warning that the delamination was going to occur. And it first happened at the end of 2024. My car is a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

NHTSA ODI 11647672

Active head restraint went off while parked in a parking lot with individual sitting in affected seat. No accident/collision happened, no warning lights or other symptoms prior.

NHTSA ODI 11610723

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

While I was driving home from work the headrest deployed and hit me on the back of the head. I thought that I was hit from behind due to how my head jerk forward. When I inspected the headrest to try and reset it back to the normal position but realized that the plasitc clip had snapped off. In searching online I noticed that others were having the same issue. The vehicle did not and currently does not have any warning lights turned on.

NHTSA ODI 11591403

Crash safety feature in the headrest deployed on its own. Dealer verified the headrest deployed but Jeep is refusing to repair/replace the unit. Jeep has a limited recall on this problem already but says my vehicle doesn't qualify (see attached). Dealer charged $209 for evaluation and wants an additional $290 to repair the headrest.

NHTSA ODI 11590903

I was driving down the interstate and heard a very loud pop and got smacked in the back of the head. Later inspection seems that plastic ears connected to the foam portion of my headrest broke off both sides of a horizontal pin they were connected to

NHTSA ODI 11580191

Front passenger headrest popped out (exploded out) for no reason. I was not in an accident and nothing happened to make it pop out.

NHTSA ODI 11568823

passenger front headrest basically seemed to explode for no reason. Like a jack in the box. Like it sprung forward. Now you can see the insides and broken plastic pieces inside.

NHTSA ODI 11557000

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH and turning into a parking lot, the front driver’s side head rest deployed without impact. The contact was struck on the back of the head but reported no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11551018

Component: Active headrest suddenly exploded and hit my head pilot seat while driving in a highway at 55 MPH, the head restraints inadvertently deploy without crash impacts. Safety: I was driving with my wife and my kid 6 years old, when the headrest exploded I lost control of the vehicle for second, lucky they were not cars close to me. Dealer: I went to the dealer, and they check the part and they explained that it has to be replaced for a new one and that I need to pay around $800. Inspected: I called JEEP/FCA number they gave me a case number never called me back and then I called them again after 4 days and they said even 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee have this problem, my VIN number is not cover with their warranty. Warnings: Zero warnings, no lamps, messages, sounds, etc...

NHTSA ODI 11547444

While driving in town my passenger side seat headrest exploded suddenly making a very loud noise causing me to think something had hit my vehicle which caused me to swerve in traffic.

NHTSA ODI 11545788

I was driving on the highway today and my driver side active headrest popped open for no reason forcing my head into a very awkward position. I had to immediately exit to a gas station to adjust my seat because I felt very unsafe.

NHTSA ODI 11539666

The computer screen (radio, climate control, back up camera, etc.) The screen has a mind of its own. It will go on and off by itself all the time. It changes the radio stations and climate control by itself. The back up camera will be on and then as we are baking up it goes out, or won't work at all. Its very dangerous and distracting for the driver. In contacting Jeep, they will not cover the cost to repair or replace. We even purchased an extended Certified Added Care Warranty when we purchased the Jeep and they won't cover it either.

NHTSA ODI 11537496

The active head restraint deployed on its own as I was preparing to start the vehicle (2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee). Fortunately, I was not driving the vehicle when the headrest bursted and hit me in the back of my head. The NHTSA site identifies this problem associated with 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokees, but my VIN is not included with this defect for some reason.

NHTSA ODI 11524219

On 01/31/2023, the driver side headrest spontaneously deployed and is no longer functional. The two parts that separated cannot be put back together. The were no indicators present of the headrest being faulty. The dealer was notified and stated that the repair would not be covered due to no current recalls for the headrest

NHTSA ODI 11505087

My Jeep started skipping through screens on the display randomly in August 2022, but since has increasingly doing it nearly everyday now. There is a visible big “drip” look on the screen in the top right corner. The screen now will call contacts on my phone and has also activated the SOS calls 4-5 times. I have to drive without connecting my phone to stop the inadvertent calls but the screens continue to flip through on its own. This is very frustrating and distracting while driving and the obnoxious ding it makes with each switch. The seat warmers flipping on constantly is also very distracting when the high setting is hot enough to make me hop to prevent injury and pain.

NHTSA ODI 11500400

There is an ongoing malfunction with the infotainment screen. While driving, it causes the heated seats to turn on, the heat to turn on and increase to hot, the radio to change stations randomly every 3-5 seconds, the placing of phone calls people randomly & repeatedly, the navigation to repeatedly leave the map so that it doesn't work, and the backup camera to come on and stay on while driving forward. All these things are extremely distracting while driving causing it to be very dangerous, especially on the highway or when many other cars are present. The problem has been reproduced at the dealer. They tried to update the software for the infotainment system, but this did not fix the problem. Also, the screen is delaminating which could be a part of the problem. The problem has not been confirmed by police, insurance reps, or manufacturer. There were no warning lamps/messages prior to the failure. The incidents first began about 9 months or more ago.

NHTSA ODI 11477175

Screen first started delaminating after 2 years / 18000 miles, but remained functioning so didn't act at the time. This week (3.5 years / 31000 m) while on a roadtrip the touch screen started randomly 'pushing' options on the screen. It started heating the seats, dialled 911 and started changing the navigation, all while I was on the highway with no way to exit. Had to make an emergency stop alongside the highway where it was not safe to stop but could not disable the screen or stop it from dialing random phone numbers. Had to break off my vacation and turn back home. Car is now in the shop (Jeep Kearny Mesa San Diego) for diagnosis. Service specialist tells me it could be a 3000 dollar repair out of pocket. I bought this car new at this dealership, but if this is not covered I'll not buy FCA again.

NHTSA ODI 11470254

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while seated in the driver’s seat with the engine off, the driver’s seat headrest deployed without warning. The contact was struck in the head by the headrest but was not injured. The contact called the dealer and was given an appointment for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11469579

The headrest popped forward unexpectedly and hit my husband in the head.

NHTSA ODI 11445869

My 2018 Jeep GC has the delaminating screen It has 88,000 miles & I was told since I am not the first owner it’s not going to be fixed. Hard to believe I paid $30,000 for a vehicle with everything to be reduced to having nothing. The screen gets very hot & sticky stuff melts onto the console!! Once a screen comes up about clock settings then nothing can be accessed. The preset radio stations randomly & constantly change, the temperature goes from hot to cold, it switches from xm to regular radio, it saves favorite songs & artists, seat warmer comes on & you cannot turn it off or down, when starting the vehicle it randomly makes phone calls from the recent list or calls the first person in my contacts list. (She is used to it, I now have to text her if I really want to call her) it beeps constantly, when trying to use hands free phone calls it switches itself to the phone and back to the car over & over & constantly hangs up the screen randomly changes to the rear camera so your whole screen is you looking behind your vehicle it constantly switches where the air is blowing from the floor to the face to the windshield back to the floor then the face then the windshield and I have asked for help from service & the dealer but nothing they didn’t even return my call. I have written letters & called every number including Chrysler cares (case# 81357273) but no one will help. When I ask why because I am the second Owner they won’t fix it & they say it’s company policy. So if I was the first owner they would fix it under Chrysler Good Will. It’s been a year. Very disappointed in Chrysler & Jeep. After I purchased mine a co-worker purchased one & my son but I will never recommend Jeep again. How is a defect the first, second, or third or twentieth persons fault? The company policy excuse is just their way of not having to fix it. I wish I would have sold it back to them when they offered after Covid started. I asked my family to sue if I get hurt I have documented it ALL!!!

NHTSA ODI 11444545

The computer screen has delaminated causing computer system failure

NHTSA ODI 11426600

DRIVER SEAT IS UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACK IN MOTION OR STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 11399853