The Jeep Grand Cherokee is an ode to classic Jeep design, with a strong hint of modern aesthetics and chunky American styling. In the past, FCA vehicles, including the Grand Cherokee, have been criticized for their troublesome reliability, but the numbers remained limited as compared to the huge sales numbers. The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls account to 10, along with 598 official complaints to date.
The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems are related to its engine, transmission, and electrical system. The recalls issued by the brand covered most of them, but a few still remain unaddressed. In this segment, the Grand Cherokee competes with the Ford Explorer, the Toyota 4Runner, and the Dodge Durango
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Issues and User Complaints
Engine problems
- Engine fire: One owner complained about an engine fire that damaged his brand-new Jeep Grand Cherokee. The incident occurred when the vehicle was parked inside a parking structure and further investigations revealed that the fire originated from the engine compartment.
- Sudden engine stall: Numerous owners have complained about this issue right from the beginning of the 2018 model year. The users reported that on various occasions the engine stalled suddenly risking the safety of the occupants. In a lot of cases, all the electronic systems of the vehicles were lost due to the stall.
- Transmission issues: Quite a number of owners also faced intermittent transmission issues. The problems reported were that the transmission slipped into reverse suddenly in some cases, while there were grinding noises along with abnormal vibrations from the transmission in some instances while driving or shifting.
Safety problems
- Brake issues: Plenty of braking system issues were reported against the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The issues vary from complete brake failure to unresponsive brakes while braking. In a few reports, the owners mentioned that the reverse collision avoidance system applied the brakes while reversing even though there were no obstacles.
Electrical problems
- Infotainment screen delamination issue: There were several complainants who faced this issue with their Grand Cherokee. All the complaints stated that the 8-inch screen of the UConnect infotainment system delaminated gradually which caused the controls to go haywire while driving and messed with the driving mode selection too while driving in a few cases. With the controls overriding due to ghost touches, the volume settings fluctuated randomly which caused serious distractions while driving.
Mechanical problems
- Steering system malfunction: A handful of steering system complaints were registered against the 2018 Grand Cherokee. The complaints mention that while driving, the steering system of the affected vehicles failed or malfunctioned for a brief period of time causing the owners to lose control of their vehicle.
- Faulty gasoline tank: This issue has been plaguing the Grand Cherokee for quite some time now. The owners complained that while they started to refuel the vehicle, the gasoline would refuse to take fuel and the gasoline dispenser stopped. Then it required to be done manually where the nozzle had to be held in a specific position to fill fuel.
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls
|
S.No. |
Recall Date |
NHTSA Campaign ID |
Issues noticed |
Additional remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
January 11, 2018 |
18V048000 |
Fuel Line Separation may Cause Fire |
If the fuel line separates, the engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, a fuel line separation increases the risk of an engine compartment fire and injury. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the fuel line, free of charge. The recall began on February 23, 2018. |
|
2 |
May 1, 2018 |
18V280000 |
Incorrect Transmission Park Rods Installed |
If the incorrect park lock rod is installed, the transmission may not shift into 'PARK' and keep the vehicle from moving, increasing the risk of unintended vehicle movement and the risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct park lock rod, free of charge. The recall began on June 28, 2018. |
|
3 |
May 17, 2018 |
18V332000 |
Cruise Control cannot be Canceled |
If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began on June 4, 2018. |
|
4 |
August 9, 2018 |
18V524000 |
Voltage Regulator may Fail and Cause Stall |
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began on October 2, 2018. |
|
5 |
October 29, 2018 |
18V759000 |
Accelerator Pedal may be Trapped by Floor Mat |
If the floor mat prevents the accelerator pedal from returning to idle, there would be an increased risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace any of the affected floor mats, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2018. |
|
6 |
November 12, 2020 |
20V699000 |
EGR Cooler May Crack Internally |
Combustion in the intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire. |
FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EGR cooler, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect and, as necessary, replace the intake manifold. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on December 21, 2021. A second notification will be mailed when parts are available, currently expected to be around March 11, 2021. The recall began on March 11, 2021. |
| 7 | June 9, 2022 | 22V426000 | Vehicle Rollaway Due To ABS Malfunction |
A vehicle that starts and shifts out of park without applying the brake pedal can result in vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of crash without prior warning and/or injury to others outside of the vehicle. |
The remedy includes updated HCU/ABS module software that prevents the HCU/ABS module from falsely reading pressure in the primary circuit. FCA has decided to do a two-Phase Campaign remedy schedule. Phase 1 began November 17, 2022. Phase 2 begin date has not been determined yet. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk were mailed July 28, 2020. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 29, 2022. |
| 8 | June 9, 2022 | 22V406000 | High Pressure Fuel Pump Failure | Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of crash | Dealers will replace the HPFP, and inspect and replace, if necessary, additional fuel system components, free of charge. Interim notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed July 21, 2022. |
| 9 | June 8, 2023 | 23V411000 | Crankshaft Position Sensor Failure | An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash | Dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 31, 2023. |
Should you buy a used Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The Jeep Grand Cherokee has almost everything you’d expect from a vehicle of this segment and it has an edge over the others in terms of appeal and design. However, the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliability score of 77/100 in the J.D. Power Consumer Rating, compared to the overall score of 81/100.
Going for a used example of the Grand Cherokee involves a significant amount of risks and requires super caution too. You can opt for some alternatives such as the Dodge Durango or the Toyota 4Runner since both of these vehicles have better reliability while the latter is an impressive off-roader too.
