Owners have reported 41 crashes, 9 fires and 31 injuries to NHTSA for the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints301
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners of the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee frequently report issues with the Uconnect infotainment system, particularly screen delamination and erratic behavior, such as ghost touches that alter settings, make unintended calls, and disrupt navigation. These issues often occur at various mileage points, with some owners noting problems as early as 88,000 miles. Additionally, complaints highlight false turn signal warnings and malfunctioning electronic stability control, both of which can affect vehicle signaling and safety inspections. Safety implications are evident, with reports of crashes and fires linked to these electrical failures. Used car buyers should be aware of the potential for significant repair costs and the distraction these malfunctions may cause while driving.
Severity signals: 5 crash, 6 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints171
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owners report frequent issues with the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee's Uconnect infotainment system, particularly screen delamination that leads to phantom touches. Symptoms include erratic changes in radio stations, unintended phone calls, and malfunctioning climate controls, often resulting in significant driver distraction. Complaints also highlight transmission line wear and camshaft availability issues, with some noting vehicles shutting off unexpectedly while driving. These problems are typically observed around 75,000 miles, with several reports indicating safety risks such as crashes and unintended emergency calls due to the infotainment malfunctions. Prospective buyers should be aware of these recurring issues and potential safety implications.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints60
POWER TRAIN
Owners of the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee frequently report issues with the power train, particularly concerning transmission failures and erratic shifting behavior. Symptoms described include sudden shifts into neutral, failure to accelerate, harsh shifting, and unexpected engine RPM increases, often accompanied by illuminated check engine lights. These issues are commonly noted at mileages ranging from 30,000 to 96,000 miles. Safety implications are significant, with reports of seven crashes, one fire, and two injuries linked to these power train failures. Prospective buyers should be aware of these potential transmission problems, especially when considering vehicles within the affected mileage range.
Severity signals: 7 crash, 1 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints56
ENGINE
Owners report several recurring engine issues with the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. A significant number of complaints involve head gasket failures, often around 80,000 to 100,000 miles, leading to coolant leaks into the engine, misfires, and overheating. Another common issue is the failure of engine lifters and rocker arms, which can cause severe misfires and engine stalling, with some parts on indefinite backorder. Symptoms frequently mentioned include persistent check engine lights, ticking noises, and loss of power. In terms of safety implications, one complaint involves a crash, and another involves a fire risk linked to a cracked EGR cooler. These patterns suggest potential costly repairs and extended downtime, which prospective buyers should consider when evaluating this model.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 1 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints44
SERVICE BRAKES
Owners of the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee frequently report issues related to the service brakes, particularly linked to a recall for the hydraulic brake system. Common symptoms include illuminated warning lights for ABS and traction control, brake lights remaining on, and the vehicle shuddering or hesitating when braking. Some owners describe the vehicle rolling backward unexpectedly or the brakes failing to engage properly, with several incidents leading to crashes and injuries. Many complaints note that these issues arise around 55,000 to 125,000 miles, and a recurring theme is the unavailability of parts needed for recall repairs. Safety concerns are evident, with reports of loss of control and vehicle rollbacks contributing to accidents.
Severity signals: 7 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints18
AIR BAGS
Owners of the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee frequently report issues with airbag deployment, particularly in crash situations. Complaints indicate that airbags often fail to deploy during accidents, with several reports of head-on collisions and side impacts where the airbags did not activate, contributing to injuries. Additionally, multiple owners describe unexpected deployment of the active headrest system while the vehicle is stationary or in motion, causing head injuries. These issues are reported across various mileage ranges, with some incidents occurring as early as 12,000 miles. The safety implications are significant, as nine complaints involve crashes and nine report injuries, underscoring potential reliability concerns for prospective buyers.
Severity signals: 9 crash, 0 fire, 9 injury reports
Owner complaints14
STEERING
Owners of the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee frequently report steering issues, including power steering failure and a "death wobble" when the vehicle is towed. Symptoms often include loss of steering control, with some complaints noting the steering wheel seizing or the vehicle pulling unexpectedly, sometimes causing the traction control to engage. These issues are mentioned at varying mileages, with some reports occurring as early as 16,000 miles. Safety implications are significant, with one crash and one injury reported, highlighting the potential for loss of control. Used car buyers should be aware of these steering problems, especially if the vehicle has been used for towing.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints14
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Owners of the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee frequently report issues with the fuel system, particularly during refueling. Many describe the gas pump shutting off prematurely, requiring them to adjust the pump handle's position to continue fueling, often resulting in slow or incomplete fills. This problem is noted across various gas stations and pump types, with some owners mentioning the issue since the vehicle was new or within the first few thousand miles. Safety concerns arise from incidents where fuel sprays back, causing injuries such as burns, as reported by two owners. Potential buyers should be aware of these refueling challenges and the associated safety risks.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints13
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Owners of the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee frequently report issues related to the engine and engine cooling system. Common symptoms include the vehicle failing to start, deceleration with flashing check engine lights, and overheating, often accompanied by warning lights. Several complaints mention coolant leaking into the engine and problems with the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve and water pump. Notably, one incident involved a fire, resulting in severe emotional distress for the owner. Many issues appear around 80,000 to 110,000 miles. Safety implications are significant, with reports of engine stalling and a vehicle fire, suggesting potential risks for used car buyers.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints12
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owners of the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee frequently report issues related to vehicle speed control, with multiple accounts of unintended acceleration. Symptoms commonly described include the vehicle accelerating independently, even when the brake is applied, and incidents where the throttle becomes stuck. Some complaints mention these issues occurring during the use of cruise control, where the vehicle fails to disengage upon braking, leading to sudden acceleration. Crashes are reported in half of the complaints, with three injuries noted, indicating significant safety implications. These problems are observed at various mileage points, with some incidents occurring as early as 1,240 miles, suggesting potential early onset of these issues.
Severity signals: 6 crash, 0 fire, 3 injury reports
