Jeep Grand Cherokee has proven itself to be a popular model among all of the SUV cars by providing quality service worldwide. However, this praiseworthy vehicle has had some issues that have resulted in customer complaints and recalls.
Car owners and drivers have reported issues such as gear shifting problems, death wobble, malfunctioning windows, wrinkled leather dashboards, catalytic converter failure, faulty sensors, blown-out transmission, engine stalling, engine failure, and so on.
Despite having all of these issues, Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel has proven to be quite a reliable model of SUV considering that owners take good care of their cars. Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel cars can last a long time if the owners understand these common issues, troubleshoot properly, and repair accordingly.
What Are the Most Common Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel Problems and Their Solutions?
Various issues can arise in your Jeep Grand Cherokee such as engine issues, transmission issues, performance issues, malfunctioning components, and so on. The most common problems that users have reported over many years are discussed below in detail with potential solutions.
Electronic Gear Shifter Problems
One of the most common problems that users face while operating Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel is the issue with the electronic gear shifter. This issue had gotten so bad that Jeep had to recall a lot of the 2014 and 2015 models that had this problem.
The main issue is with the gear stick which often does not shift to the PARK gear properly and results in roll-away accidents. Customers had reported that even after they had shifted the gear to PARK, it would stay in neutral or drive which means that the car can move on its own and cause accidents.
Solution: Most of the cars with this issue were recalled and fixed by Jeep but some might remain problematic. Contact your dealer to fix this issue as it will be covered by warranty.
Death Wobble
Death wobble is another huge issue that the owners of Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel have faced many times. Death wobble is when your Jeep starts shaking uncontrollably and loses control. Death wobble can be very dangerous and even deadly in some cases.
Death wobble occurs due to a faulty transmission system, physical damage to the car, hitting potholes, worn-out suspension, and other damaged components of the car.
Solution: Take your car to your dealer if your car has death wobbles as it will be covered by warranty. Take it to a trusted workshop if your warranty has expired.
Regularly maintain proper tire pressure, inspect the suspension system for faults, and make sure that the wheels are aligned to avoid getting the issue of death wobbles in your Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel.
Fire Risks
Jeep has recalled more than a hundred thousand vehicles because of fire risk issues in their Cherokee SUVs from 2014 to 2016. These cars are prone to catching on fire because of water leaks in the rear liftgate which starts an electrical fire. The symptom of faulty electrical wiring is being unable to use the power liftgate function.
Jeep has not provided a proper solution to this problem so far and has only recalled a small portion of the cars on the street. The National Highway Traffic Administration of the United States has declared that this recall supersedes recalls 15V393 and 15V826.
Solution: There is no working solution to this problem yet and Jeep has told the users to park their Cherokee model cars outside and away from any infrastructure to avoid fire hazards. Contact your dealer if you fear the risk of potential fire hazards occurring in your Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Malfunctioning Window Regulator
Another common issue with the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a faulty window regulator which has been reported frequently by users. The window regulator takes power from the battery and moves the window up and down.
Faulty window regulators fail to function properly and show various symptoms such as grinding or clicking noise while rolling the windows, window automatically getting rolled down, window getting off-centered, window button not responding, window rolling up too quickly or too slowly, and so on.
Solution: Window regulators are notoriously difficult to fix as you will have to take out the whole cover of the car door to access the motor and the cables that require repairing or replacements. You should contact a trusted workshop near you to take care of this problem.
Corroded Valve Stems
Corroded valve stems are a huge issue for Jeep Grand Cherokee which has even resulted in lawsuits. The metallic valve caps can seize on the stem and during removal, they can break and destroy the attached sensor.
The corrosion can also start the TPMS warning lights as the sensor cannot effectively read the pressure. Excessively corroded stems can crack and release all the air from the tire even during driving which can result in catastrophic accidents.
Solution: The only effective solution to this issue is completely replacing the corroded valve stems with new parts. It is relatively cheap and costs about $10 to do it by yourself and about $50 if you take it to a workshop.
Wrinkled Leather Dashboard
A frequent complaint about Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel has been about the leader dashboard that tends to form wrinkles after about 45,000 to 60,000 miles of service. The dashboard can start to peel, warp, and wrinkle which only gets worse with time.
This issue has been common with the Jeep Grand Cherokee 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 models. The worst part about this problem is that this issue arises after the warranty period passes so it will not be covered by the manufacturer.
Solution: Replacing the leather dashboard is the only solution to this problem which has to be done by professional mechanics at a workshop. It can cost up to $1200 depending on the labor costs in your area.
Catalytic Converter Failure
A catalytic converter helps to absorb harmful particles of the exhaust fume such as carbon monoxide to reduce air pollution. Your Jeep Grand Cherokee will face various performance issues if the catalytic converter gets clogged.
The most frequent symptoms of a clogged catalytic converter are loss of speed, erratic engine, noticeable exhaust fumes with bad odor, poor fuel economy, check engine light, and rattling noises. OBD2 scanner will give codes like P0420 to P0424 or P0430 to P0434 if the catalytic converter fails.
Solution: You will have to replace the catalytic converter with a new replacement part to solve this problem. A catalytic converter will cost about $150-$1600 and the replacement cost will vary depending on the local labor cost.
Malfunctioning Nox Sensor
Malfunctioning Nox sensor is another huge issue in the Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel. The nox sensor detects nitrogen oxide and ammonia levels in the exhaust fume and sends data to the central computer.
A Malfunctioning Nox sensor can cause the engine to run erratically and force the car to go into limp mode. It can also cause the car to halt altogether if not fixed in time. Unusual smells coming from the exhaust are also a sign of a faulty Nox sensor.
Solution: Replace the Nox sensor with a replacement part to resolve this issue. A Nox sensor will cost somewhere between $450-$600.
What Causes Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel Problems?
Some of the problems like the electronic gear shift problem, fire risks, malfunctioning window regulator, corroded valve stems, and wrinkled leather dashboard happen due to the poor built quality provided by the manufacturer themselves and cannot be avoided. Other performance issues are caused by a lack of care and maintenance.
When to Consult a Mechanic for My Jeep Cherokee Diesel Problem?
Consult a mechanic if the issues are hard to fix and require a substantial amount of work to disassemble and reassemble. Small issues like oil changes, valve stem replacement, spark plug replacement, and 0so on can easily be fixed by the owners. But complicated issues like electronic gear shifter problems, death wobble, faulty window regulators, wrinkled leather dashboards, and faulty sensors are better left to be sorted out by professional mechanics.
How Long Will a Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel Last?
Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel can last up to 20 years with an average service of 200,000 miles if maintained properly with care.