What 71 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

While my wife was driving our 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee on [XXX] northbound in NY on the way with our children to school, she experienced a loss of steering as the wheel became almost impossible to turn. At the same time, the power steering light came on. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11746605

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger's seat lumbar system independently inflated and failed to deflate as intended. The contact stated that the excessive inflation caused the seat back pocket to fracture. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure was a safety hazard because of the air bags. The dealer was made aware of the failure, and an appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure with similar vehicles. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 11745614

This is the second time I got into an accident and the (ADAS) made me crash.. I was far enough to brake safely but the system keeps me going forward..it drags me as if there is ice on the ground..if it was off my car would not have been in any of these accidents..this feature is not safe..I feel like my life is in danger when it is on

NHTSA ODI 11743798

THE PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT ALERT WHEN OPENING OR CLOSE . THE TBM MODULE DOES NOT UPDATE CAUSING A FEE OF $198.95

NHTSA ODI 11739246

Multiple switches that make the windows go up and down in the car all broke around the same time. The switches are inoperable meaning the doors cannot be locked or unlocked and the windows cannot be rolled up or down in for multiple windows.

NHTSA ODI 11737940

My AC compressor and condenser have stopped working without any reason. The air conditioner does not work at all, it does not make the air cold and the heat in [XXX] is lethal. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11737943

When a car in front of me is slowing down while the adaptive crusie control is on and I have the distance set to 3 or 4 lengths, the farthest one available, and the adaptive cruise control is set, the car will start slwoing down like the cars ahead of me and if I switch lanes to go around of the car that is slowing down and there is another car in front of me of the lane I move into that adaptive crusie control acts as if there is no car in front of me in the lane and will begin to accelerate until I engage the brake. So for example I'm traveling in the far right lane of a four lane road, two going north and two going south. I have my adaptive crusie control on and set to 50 MPH and the distance set to 4 car lengths (max) and then the car in front of me starts to slw down. The adaptive crusie control will adjust and start to slow down as well. So I decide to get into the next lane over to my left, where there also happens to be another car 1 or 2 car lengths in front of me, the adaptive crusie control will not detect that car after lane change and will begin to accelerate back up to 50 MPH when it should still be slowing down to avoid a collision. This has happened multiple times.

NHTSA ODI 11737947

On April 24,2026 , as pull out my driveway heading to work only to get a 1/4 mile from home car stopped in highway. As I power and restarted tried to select a different gear never went in gear. Towed by to dealership as confirmed transmission was stuck with inly 67000. They replaced with new transmission & drive shaft, costing over $7,000. Warranty company paid part of rent car but still out of $300

NHTSA ODI 11737978

Passenger seat will always become inflated and will not deflate at times. The vehicle is shut down and seat is properly deflated, overnight it will return to inflated. This seems very unsafe for any passenger.

NHTSA ODI 11737557

I brought my 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L to the dealership for its scheduled ~40,000 mile service. During that visit, I specifically reported that something felt off with the transmission/drivetrain. The dealership inspected the vehicle and stated that no issues were found. Approximately one week later, the vehicle experienced a sudden and severe drivetrain failure. While driving approximately 45 mph on a surface street and accelerating to cruising speed, the vehicle began shaking violently. There were loud mechanical noises from underneath the vehicle consistent with components coming apart. At the same time, the vehicle lost all ability to accelerate. Pressing the accelerator produced no forward movement. Due to the loss of power, I was forced to coast out of active traffic and onto a side street where I was able to safely stop. The condition was sustained and the vehicle was not drivable after the incident. When attempting to assist the tow truck driver, I shifted the vehicle to drive and pressed the accelerator. The engine revved but the vehicle did not move. When shifting back to park, the vehicle displayed an error message: “Cannot shift to Park, vehicle moving too quickly,” despite being stationary. This failure created a safety hazard due to loss of acceleration and unpredictable vehicle behavior. This is particularly concerning because a drivetrain issue was reported during a service visit shortly before the failure and was not identified. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the failure. The issue occurred suddenly and without advance indication. The vehicle had recently been serviced and cleared by the dealership despite a reported drivetrain concern. A failure of this nature at speed could significantly increase the risk of a crash, depending on traffic conditions.

NHTSA ODI 11735755

In May 2025 the vehicle randomly, and without warning, the instruments, gauges, and displays switched to Italian, changed to Metric, and we got the update and FCW Off light stuck on. Numerous other settings had been reset. Took to dealer and had to pay for the fix - they noted a STAR bulletin on my invoice. Then this past weekend (May 2, 2026) it happened again. At least this time it didn't go Italian and Metric on me, but lots of other settings were changed. Did not test the paddle shifters but will do that soon. Current software version says FCA-MY24.U29.42-PROD. I've seen other posts with a newer version - not sure if / why not on my Jeep yet.

NHTSA ODI 11735441

While stopped at a red light, the auto start/stop feature of the vehicle failed to re-start the car causing complete failure. My wife was the first vehicle at a the light in a busy intersection with a [XXX] old in the vehicle. The electronics of the vehicle completely failed causing complete shutdown and unable to restart. Vehicle was towed after blocking intersection for 30 minutes. This has happened before but not for total and complete failure. This failure caused a complete battery drain leading to the need for two new batteries. The vehicle has a history of electronics/software issues and failures and associated start/stop system issues. This failure was diagnosed to be caused by a faulty relay and costed me $2000 in repairs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11732439

Vehicle: 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Issue Type: Electrical System / Loss of Power / Braking System While operating my 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L on Interstate 40 at approximately 70 miles per hour, with two minor children in the vehicle, the vehicle suddenly and without any prior warning began to rapidly decelerate, despite continued pressure on the accelerator pedal. At the time the deceleration began, there were no warning lights, alerts, or indications of any malfunction. The vehicle exhibited a significant loss of power, and it felt as though it was being mechanically restricted or “dragging,” severely limiting its ability to maintain highway speed. Only after the vehicle had already begun to decelerate did a brake system warning indicator appear on the dashboard. This sequence of events indicates that the warning system did not provide advance notice of the failure. This sudden and uncommanded deceleration created an immediate and serious safety hazard, particularly given the vehicle’s speed and surrounding interstate traffic. The inability of the vehicle to respond appropriately to acceleration input placed occupants at risk of a rear-end collision or other serious traffic incident. Although the warning indicator later turned off, the vehicle continued to operate abnormally, with ongoing reduced acceleration and diminished responsiveness. This incident occurred without prior warning, and the delayed activation of the brake warning indicator raises serious concerns regarding a potential defect involving the vehicle’s electrical, braking, and/or powertrain control systems, including possible failure of system monitoring or alert mechanisms. Given the circumstances including highway speed, sudden loss of propulsion, delayed warning notification, and the presence of child passengers. I respectfully request that this issue be formally investigated as a safety-related defect.

NHTSA ODI 11728679

At 78,800 my truck started experiencing "stuttering" trying to pick up speed like the transmission wouldn't shift into gear and the Uconnect stopped working simultaneously. Also seems to be burning through more oil. It happens every single time you take off from a stop until the vehicle finally shifts into gear, it's very scary and very dangerous when you're trying to merge onto a beltway and you can't pick up speed correctly.

NHTSA ODI 11727878

I just traded for this car! I am a [XXX] male! After I had already signed the Paperwork Then and only then I was told there was only one key FOB! Living in a remote area of the mountains I would have Never bought the car if I had known this! Not having a back up key is like not having a spare tire! It could actually be life threatening for a [XXX] ! I was told I could get a Fob online and any locksmith could program it! Then I find out it is not true! Only the Jeep dealer can do that! I then take the OEM Fobs I got to the Jeep dealership and was told they would not program them! Then give me extremely high quote in the hundreds of dollars! A quote so high that as a [XXX]I could never afford! They were extremely hateful! So now I am dependent on a car that could leave me stranded on a desolate mountain road! After some investigation I was told that certain car dealerships actually will purposely throw one of the keys into a refurbish box and then charge extremely high fees for a key to replace it! My Father always warned me about used car salesmen but this is a new level of evil! The literally take away the safety of a second keep for Money! A unreliable vehicle for [XXX] , or for that matter anyone, should be criminal! This transaction has left me with a car I am scared to drive in a remote mountain area with poor cell phone service! For [XXX] life is hard enough without being taken advantage of by predatory car dealerships! This is one of the largest Dealership groups in NC! I know I am probably wasting my time but whether you or they think this a safety issue just imagine you [XXX] are out driving and suddenly their only remotes malfunction! Since I cannot afford to replace a Second FOB I am at risk everytime I drive! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11726888

The contact’s wife owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee L. The contact was informed that the “Service 4WD” message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the contact was not informed of which part had failed or needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because parts were not available to perform the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 75,700.

NHTSA ODI 11725776

I am reporting a failure of the Steering Column Control Module (SCCM) in my 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland. The failure is manifesting as an error message saying "service transmission" and the code that it is throwing says that the paddle shifters are overheating. This component is identical to the modules currently under Safety Recall 36B (NHTSA 24V-199) and Equipment Recall 15B (NHTSA 24E-025). The manufacturer has admitted that these modules possess an internal weld defect that prevents the driver’s side airbag from deploying in the event of a crash. Despite the clear safety risk and the fact that this model year/body style (WL) is the primary population for this defect, the manufacturer (Stellantis/Jeep) refuses to cover the repair, stating my specific VIN is not "flagged" in their internal database. I am concerned that the scope of the existing recalls is too narrow and that my vehicle is currently being operated with a non-functional or unreliable driver's airbag system due to this known hardware defect. I am requesting an investigation into why 2021 Grand Cherokee L models with these exact symptoms are being excluded from the safety remedy.

NHTSA ODI 11723299

After the vehicle was parked on my driveway overnight, I started driving and i got this Steering warning lights Service power steering messages Multiple electronic systems glitching at the same time I had to stop in the middle of the street because the steering wheel was super hard. I was not able to turn any way. after a few minutes I turned off the vehicle and called the dealership to see if there was anything I could do. A temporary fix after restarting the car happened and I was able to take it nd have it looked at, but they wanted to charge me $250 to do an inspection.

NHTSA ODI 11723426

I was driving my vehicle home after a nearby out of town errand. I was on US-95 between Potlatch ID and Moscow ID which is a very hilly, curvy 2-lane 60mph highway with little to no cell service. As I ascended my first big hill, my engine light came on flashing and the ride became noticeably bumpy. I could not call anyone for many miles yet, so I put on my safety hazards and continued driving, hoping to make it to town. With each hill my car became more unstable and seemed to be struggling to accelerate. Once I had cell service just outside of Moscow I called my husband to tell him what was happening, where I was at and proceeded to head to an auto repair shop. Once I drove into Moscow, my car was incredibly shaky and noisy and the engine seemed to struggle to stay engaged at stop lights. I brought it to Hive auto repair and they told me that my engine was misfiring, but that they would run a level 1 diagnostic that day. When they called with the results, they confirmed the following information: Scanned for DTCs and found P0301 - Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected. On this 3.6L engine, Cylinder 1 is located beneath the intake manifold, requiring intake removal for further access and testing.-- I continued to level 2 inspection and removal of the manifold which showed significant problems within the engine at Cylinder Head 1. There was oil intrusion and low compression, consistent with warping of the head. They said that this was a known issue with this engine on Stellantis vehicles because of an EGR valve on cylinder 1 2018/2022. Even though I had my Jeep regularly serviced at McGee Jeep in Barre VT, they never tested for this because it wasn't recommended or in the scheduled maintenance. But when I spoke with them they confirmed this is a known issue. I understand it is a severe, dangerous and expensive repair, but usually occurs after the warranty expires. I now have an unsafe, undriveable vehicle with a $14k repair pending.

NHTSA ODI 11720408

I experienced electrical issues that resulted in loss of steering and difficulty turning my 2021 Jeep Cherokee Laredo. The steering became very hard to turn, and warning lights were present. This created a safety concern because the vehicle was difficult to control. I took the vehicle to an authorized Jeep dealership in Midwest City, Oklahoma. The dealership diagnosed the issue as a fuse array and attempted a repair. The vehicle remained at the dealership for approximately five days. After the repair attempt, I was informed that the fuse blew and that the vehicle now requires replacement of the power steering assembly. I was unable to afford the additional repair. The vehicle was returned to me with the original steering problem unresolved and remains difficult or unsafe to operate. I am reporting this because the vehicle experienced loss of steering, a serious safety issue, and was returned unrepaired after a failed diagnosis and repair attempt. I am concerned about a potential safety defect involving the steering and electrical system.

NHTSA ODI 11711195

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The contact stated that while attempting to latch the front driver’s side seat belt, the seat belt buckle pretensioner failed to remain latched. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed as needing a seat clasp replacement; however, parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.

NHTSA ODI 11710583

Backing out of the driveway after an evening of heavy rain, water started to leak from several places. Passengers side sun visor Rear passenger mic I am fearful this water leaking will cause unseen damage to side curtain air bags and electrical overhead components. This could also cause a serious distraction for the operator and cause an accident.

NHTSA ODI 11710231

Started the vehicle and while pulling down the driveway the power steering suddenly went completely out. Warning lights began flashing and I was unable to steer vehicle. Stopped vehicle and turned off several times, however unable to overcome power steering loss, or reset warning lights. No other issues, considering the vehicle was just recently serviced for same complaint four weeks earlier and batteries replaced stemming from another recent issues with DTCS issues. Considering I was in a rural wooded area, I was forced to drive the vehicle home without power steering. I parked the vehicle waiting for appointment from dealer, and upon starting the vehicle, power steering returned, however a check engine fault light remained. The dealer found "many DTCS communication loss codes again", but stated nothing further they could do with the these factory defects at just 26,000 miles. I have all all documentation on these ongoing safety issues, with no help from Stellates.

NHTSA ODI 11705112

Started driving home and heard the vehicle making clinking noises. Then the service 4wd light came on. It slips in shifting almost like the vehicle shuts down for a sec and then comes back. When you are sitting the vehicle will randomly jerk forward even in park mode. Like the brake releases and then comes back. It's very unsafe and with it shifting the way it does the actuator is failing which in return will cause a very bad accident. This car can just shut down at any given moment.

NHTSA ODI 11700225

Randomly, and without warning, the instruments, gauges, and displays will switch to Italian along with cluster and radio display settings reverting to default settings, auto door locks and paddle shifter becomes inoperative (with no menu to enable), pedestrian emergency brake (peb) lamp or forward collision warning (fcw) lamp turns on with no way to disable, units of measurement including speed, temperature, etc. change to metric and many other random settings change as well. ***This is clearly a dangerous situation because of all the functions and gauges that change, and the fact it is difficult if not impossible to recover from this due to the language of the setting menus, and the complexity of discovering and navigating through all these changes. The dealer charge me $300 diagnostic fee before resetting the software. Time goes by and it happens again. Dealer says there is nothing they can do and to wait for a software update from Stellantis, but none has come and it has been over a year. When this happens, I can change "some" of the settings back but some items cannot be reset like the FCA off lamp and paddle shifters. Back to the dealer I go for another $300 charge. Here is an example Jeep forum discussion, indicating many if not all vehicles are affected: https://www.jeepgarage.org/threads/forward-collision-warning-off-light-is-stuck-on.250301/#replies From personal experience, all of these issues started several years ago with an over the air software. This is a well known and widespread problem, and there is even a DOT Bulletin on the issue: dot.report Bulletins Because this is dangerous (for settings/gauges/units to no longer be useful while driving), and it occurs randomly, I strongly believe this issue should be a manufacturer recall. I am available for any needs."

NHTSA ODI 11694717