2017 Jeep GRAND CHEROKEE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
364 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
31,728 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 196 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 102 of 364 complaints (28.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 63 | 17.3% |
| Braking behavior | 60 | 16.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 34 | 9.3% |
| Engine operation | 26 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 25 | 6.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 3.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 102 |
| Electrical System | 87 |
| Power Train | 87 |
| Unknown Or Other | 76 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 31 |
| Service Brakes | 29 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 20 |
| Seats | 18 |
Engine: 102; Electrical System: 87; Power Train: 87; Unknown Or Other: 76; Fuel/Propulsion System: 31; Service Brakes: 29; Vehicle Speed Control: 20; Seats: 18
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 77 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 57 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 77; 25,000 to 49,999: 57; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 6
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (77). 168 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 26 |
| 2018 | 43 |
| 2019 | 49 |
| 2020 | 46 |
| 2021 | 28 |
| 2022 | 35 |
| 2023 | 36 |
| 2024 | 32 |
| 2025 | 49 |
| 2026 | 19 |
2016: 1; 2017: 26; 2018: 43; 2019: 49; 2020: 46; 2021: 28; 2022: 35; 2023: 36; 2024: 32; 2025: 49; 2026: 19
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 63 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 60 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 34 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10968288 · 2017-03-24 (March 24, 2017)
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION DIES ON LEFT TURNS IN TRAFFIC.OCCURRS IN TRAFFIC. ON STREETS , AND HIGHWAYS.TAKATA INFLATORS
Owner-reported narrative. 7 miles reported. Look up ODI 10968288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10990771 · 2017-05-21 (May 21, 2017)
THE VEHICLE DOESN'T SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY WHEN MOVING. IT MOSTLY HAPPENS ON A REGULAR STREETS IN DAY-TO-DAY DRIVING I'VE NOT NOTICED IT AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE RPMS GO UP REALLY REALLY HIGH AND YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS GETTING ONTO A SMALLER HIGHWAY FROM A MAIN HIGHWAY IT'S SLID INTO ALMOST A NEUTRAL STATE, IT DIDN'T STALL BUT DIDN'T ACCELERATE EITHER ON THE TURN COMING OFF LIGHT . THIS IS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY SINCE I GOT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY AND I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THEY SAID THEY UPDATED SOME KIND OF SOFTWARE. IT HASN'…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10990771 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10949989 · 2017-02-07 (February 7, 2017)
I STOPPED ON MY DRIVEWAY WHICH IS AT ABOUT A 20 DEGREE ANGLE. PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND LEFT THE ENGINE RUNNING. I DID NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. I EXITED THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO CHANGE DRIVERS AND LEFT THE DOOR OPEN. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS SLOWLY. I JUMPED IN AND HIT THE BRAKES. I CONFIRMED VEHICLE SHIFT SELECTOR WAS IN PARK. I REPEATED THE SAME THING THE NEXT DAY TO TEST THIS BUT OF COURSE I STAYED IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE DOOR SHUT AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I PULLED UP TO THE SAME SPOT, WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND PU…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10949989 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10958797 · 2017-03-06 (March 6, 2017)
18 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING MY GRAND CHEROKEE THE CAR SUDDENLY FELT LIKE IT WAS DRAGGING SOMETHING AND HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME MOVING. IT FELT LIKE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON, BUT THE WAS NOT LIGHT INDICATOR. WHEN WE PULLED OVER THE WHEELS WERE RED HOT AND WHEN WE DROPPED WATER ON IT TO SEE HOW HOT IT WAS THE WATER SIZZLED. WE ENGAGED AND THEN DISENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE JUST TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T ON FOR SOME REASON. WE HAD THE CAR PUT ON A FLATBED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. A WEEK LATER THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED, WE PICKED IT UP DROVE IT T…
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10958797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11010147 · 2017-07-23 (July 23, 2017)
AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES TO WORK I NOTICED A WHIRRING SOUND LIKE A BEARING GOING BAD IN THE WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, ETC. JUST BEFORE I ARRIVED THE "CHECK BATTERY" LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER MY SHIFT, THE VEHICLE STARTED WITH NO PROBLEM, THE SOUND WAS GONE AND THE "CHECK BATTERY" LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES, THE WHIRRING SOUND STARTED AGAIN AND I SMELLED SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE ALTERNATOR (I HAVE VIDEO OF THE SMOKE I…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11010147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11080069 · 2018-03-18 (March 18, 2018)
MY CAR HAS STOP/START SYSTEM SO WHEN I PUT MY BRAKES ON TO STOP THE VEHICLE IT CUTS OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE IT AUTOMATICALLY RESTARTS THE ENGINE. VERY RECENTLY WHEN I HAD STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC RED LIGHT, AND A TRAFFIC JAM, ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITH BRAKING AND DID NOT RESTART. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR EITHER, AND THE GEAR WAS LOCKED ON PARK. COULD NOT PUT THE CAR ON NEUTRAL GEAR TO MOVE IT OUT OF MAIN ROAD. THERE WERE ABOUT 10 CARS BEHIND ME. VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT FINALLY RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL TRIAL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11080069 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11016430 · 2017-08-20 (August 20, 2017)
I HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF THE VEHICLE REMAINING IN RUN MODE AFTER I PUSH THE STOP BUTTON TO SHUT IT DOWN. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE ESS (ENGINE STOP/START) IS ENABLED. MY INITIAL BELIEF WAS THAT THE ESS WAS RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER OBSERVATION, I NOW BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE IS IGNORING THE STOP BUTTON INPUT. I REALIZED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT DOWN AT A GAS STATION AND I REFUELED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. I FAILED TO REALIZE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT SHUT DOWN DUE TO EXCESSIVE N…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11016430 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11019825 · 2017-08-26 (August 26, 2017)
THE VEHICLE MEMORY SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING AT ALL, WE BOUGHT IN 12/2016 AND SOMEWHERE IN 6/2017 IT STOPPED WORKING, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CARS THE MEMORY SYSTEM CONTROLS MANY ASPECTS OF THE VEHICLE THAT DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SEAT, STEERING WHEEL, MIORROR'S, AND RDS, IT ALSO CONTROLS ENGINE FUNCTIONS AND SAFETY SYSTEMS, AIR BAGS, SEATBELTS, BRAKES., WHY THE VEHICLE LEARNS YOUR DRIVING HABITS AND WHEN YOU USE DIFFERENT SETTINGS FOR DIFFERENT DRIVERS, NOW IT HAS CONTROL OVER YOUR VEHICLE AND DRIVING HABITS OR ANOTHER DRIVERS HABIT…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11019825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11075612 · 2018-03-01 (March 1, 2018)
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND CAN NOT BE TURNED. THIS HAS HAPPENED A DOZEN TIMES AND EACH TIME WE WERE ONLY NARROWLY ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING GARAGE, ONE SIDE ROADS, MAIN ROADS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. I BELIEVE THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE LANE DEPARTURE SENSOR. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 14K MILES ON IT AND IT HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR 5 TIMES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THERE ARE PAGES OF ERROR CODES THAT HAVE BEEN GENERATED BUT NONE HAVE BEEN H…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11075612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11079465 · 2018-03-14 (March 14, 2018)
BOUGHT MY 2017 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE TRAILHAWK USED WITH 10,600 MILES ON IT. GAS ISSUES FROM THE GET GO: WHEN GETTING GAS, THE GAS PUMP SHUTS OFF EVER FEW SECONDS LIKE THE GAS TANK IS FULL ONLY ALLOWING A FEW CENTS WORTH OF GAS TO ACTUALLY GO IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TO MULTIPLE GAS STATIONS AND THE SAME ISSUE OCCURS AT ALL OF THEM, TRIED TURNING THE NOZZLE TO DIFFERENT ANGLES AND ALMOST HOLDING IT ALL THE WAY OUT OF AND IN THE TANK, IT DOES NOT MATTER THOUGH. AIR SUSPENSION: AFTER OWNING THE JEEP FOR 3 MONTHS, ONE MONDAY MORNING WH…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,990 miles reported. Look up ODI 11079465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11254018 · 2019-09-08 (September 8, 2019)
ON SEPT 3, 2019 I WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND I COASTED TO A STOP. ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS, DROVE ABOUT 50 FEET WHEN ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. OVERCOME BY A STRONG SMELL OF GAS I EXITED THE CAR AND SAW FUEL COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. AS THE CAR SAT THE FUEL LEAK SUBSIDED. TOWED TO THE DEALER WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM (ZEIGLER OF DOWNERS GROVE) TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATED I WAS LUCKY IT DIDN'T START ON FIRE. WHEN THE CAR WAS UP ON THE BACK OF THE TOW TRUCK BED DEALER TRIED TO START THE CAR TO GET INTO NEUTRAL AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11254018 at NHTSA ↗