2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Engine Problems

While your vehicle was parked with the engine running, grayish-white smoke suddenly came from under the hood, followed by visible flames in the engine. The fire department extinguished the fire, but your vehicle was destroyed. The cause appears to be an engine fire that occurred without warning at approximately 74,000 miles.

Your engine is misfiring in cylinder 3, causing your check engine light to stay on and white smoke to come from the exhaust. You may notice the engine hesitating, stalling when starting in cold weather, and reduced power while driving. The dealership replaced coil 3 and all spark plugs, but the problem persists—your car is now at another mechanic for a possible engine replacement.

Warped cylinder head without engine overheating. Cylinder 4 misfire.

In September 2025, the vehicle was shaking upon idle when we started it. We did a test and learned it was somehow losing coolant. We took it to a mechanic who discovered it was burning coolant in the 5th cylinder.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving for approximately 10-minutes, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle while depressing the accelerator pedal. The RPM lowered and the vehicle failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The failure persisted, and the contact coasted into a parking lot and there was an excessive amount of yellow-grayish smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact exited the vehicle and became aware of an unknown liquid pouring onto the ground underneath the vehicle, with little pieces of debris and sparks igniting underneath the vehicle. While the contact was on the phone with 9-1-1 Emergency Services, there was a popping sound coming from the vehicle and underneath the hood and over the windshield became engulfed in flames. The Fire Department arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. The contact sustained severe emotional distress because of the failure but had not sought medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow facility where the vehicle remained. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V699000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that the Insurance Company had not yet determined if the vehicle was a total loss. The dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

At 47,000k miles with all maintenance being done at correct intervals. From one day to the next, check engine light came on with error code p0303; Code P0303 stands for “Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected” which indicates that there have been numerous misfires in engine cylinder 3. After taking it to the Jeep dealership they told me its a cracked cylinder head.

The head gasket gets blown with 50,000 miles for the 2018 grand jeep Cherokee high altitude. Went to jeep dealership in Downey and they said they knew it would be the head gasket they had other jeeps in the shop with that same problem, but wanted to charge 5000 just to confirm. So then we went to a mechanic in Los Angeles and they had 5 other 2018 jeeps in the shop with the same problem.

Jeep issued a recall for the high pressure fuel pump on our 2018 Grand Cherokee about a year ago and a redesigned fuel pump by Bosch is still not available. I am unable to travel out of state for fear that the fuel pump will fail possibly causing a crash or leaving me stranded at my own expense.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while, driving at various speeds the vehicle stalled on multiple occasions. There were no warning lights illuminated.

We have experienced 2 separate episodes of this vehicle suddenly becoming disabled with complete engine shutdown while driving at highway speeds. Both episodes occurred abruptly, engine idling extremely rough, then shutting down within seconds, leaving the car completely inoperable.

On 5/14/21 Stop/Start switch - Engine stalling while driving while on turnpike 65 MPH. Situation could have turned to an accident easily. Afterwards engine started with warning light to service S/S-switch.

On 3/11 and 5/3 2019,my vehicle without warning and in gear surged out of control crashing into a parked car the first time and hitting a telephone pole the second time.despite my foot on the brake pedal, I could not get it to stop.it finally came to a stop after hitting the neighbor's vehicle and telephone pole causing significant body damage on both occasions to my jeep.thankfully no injuries but I no longer have confidence that this vehicle is safe to drive.

This vehicle lacks any kind of utility for positive engine shutoff confirmation, and/or a warning indicator when the key fob is separated from the vehicle. It is very easy to accidentally park and exit this vehicle and leave it running. It has happened to me four times in the 18 months that I've owned it.

I drove this vehicle to work and parked it in a parking structure at 8:00 in the morning. By 4:00 in the afternoon, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The vehicle sat all day in the structure.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle had failed to start. No warning light was illuminated.

I have a 2018 Jeep grand cherokee and one day it just didn't start. I had it towed to the jeep dealership and was told it was the starter. Once the job was done they service rwp said they will run a complete diagnostics on the jeep and get back to me.

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 jeep grand cherokee. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle restarted and was taken to fields chrysler jeep dodge ram glenview (2800 patriot blvd, glenview, il 60026) where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced.

I am the owner of a 2018 jeep grand cherokee limited. I was transporting my daughter to school on january 28, 2020 travelling at a speed of 45-50mph. A message appeared on my dashboard prompting me to put the vehicle in park and push start/stop.

When stopped at a light car stalled, start stop pressed after car places in park and car ran. Automatic off error lit up on screen in yellow and remained on despite turning off automatic off.

Vehicle shut off /stalled while pulling away from an intersection on a local road (vehicle was in motion). The vehicle finally started after the "push-button" was pressed 3 times

Issue with camshaft. Dealership said there has been an influx of vehicles with the same engine and the same issues.

The check engine light keeps coming on. The Jeep repair shop says that it has to do with the flap on the gas tank where you put the gas in. Hence, the repair light keeps coming on so you never know if its real and needs to be addressed or if its the gas tank issue again

I purchased my Jeep in 2023 and have consistently stayed up to date on all required maintenance. I had no issues with the vehicle until recently, when the check engine light and the start/stop warning appeared out of nowhere. After inspection, the mechanic determined that the entire engine needs to be replaced due to severe coolant leakage.

My 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee suffered a sudden, catastrophic engine failure with no warning lights or alerts. Dealer confirmed the engine seized from overheating and cannot be repaired—replacement engines are on national backorder. This is my only vehicle, I’m 7 months pregnant, and I’ve been without transportation for 30+ days.

TURBO supply line broke causing coolant to go all over the engine.

The vehicle experienced a failure of the engine lifters/rocker arms, which also caused failure of the intake camshaft. This resulted in severe misfires, loss of power, and left the vehicle completely inoperable. The failure created a hazardous situation when the vehicle lost acceleration and was unable to maintain safe driving speeds, placing my safety and the safety of others at risk of collision. The problem was confirmed by Lou’s Car Care and multiple Stellantis dealerships, including Maguire Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. All inspections identified failed rocker arms/lifters and the intake camshaft as the cause of the malfunction. Critically, Stellantis no longer produces replacement intake camshafts for this engine, and the part is listed as indefinitely back ordered and unavailable. This means there is no factory fix, leaving the vehicle permanently disabled. Prior to the failure, the only symptom was a faint ticking noise from the engine. No warning lights or dashboard messages appeared before the incident. The problem escalated suddenly without adequate warning, causing the vehicle to lose power unexpectedly. This failure has caused severe negative consequences for me and my family. Because the vehicle became inoperable and the repair could not be completed, I lost my job due to lack of reliable transportation. I also experienced financial hardship, including losing my vehicle to repossession. My family, including my newborn child, was left without dependable transportation, which created additional safety concerns in emergencies. The failed components remain available for inspection upon request. This issue is widespread across Stellantis vehicles yet has not been addressed through a recall, despite the fact that the defect can cause sudden stalling or total engine failure at unsafe speeds. The unavailability of replacement camshafts means affected vehicles cannot be repaired at all, leaving owners stranded and financially devastated.

Since the beginning of this year, vehicle began to misfire. So far I have spent over $2000 in repairs including replacing spark plugs, ignition coils, fuel injectors and oil cooler and vehicle continues to misfire and blow white smoke from exhaust. I have been advised that it may be a head gasket issue, which could cost anywhere from $3000 to $5000 but could cost more in the event the engine needs to be completely replaced.

Rockers & cam shaft are worn and making ticking noise. I only have 86k on my 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and am diligent with upkeep on the maintenance. This is a very known issue and should be recalled as I have not driven it anymore to prevent further damage to the engine, and also don't have the funds to fork out almost 5k.

As many others have reported, only 56K miles on this 3.6L Grand Cherokee. When I engage the passing gear an auto stop/start light comes on on the dash followed by the check engine light. Vehicle rides very rough (from a misfire). Taken to an independent shop; they changed plugs and coils but the problem persists. Also a knocking / ticking noise can be heard when accelerating.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light started flashing on and off and the vehicle decelerated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who examined the engine and informed the contact that there were metal shavings inside the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 109,000.

The Head gaskets are leaking. Cost of parts to replace is $200 and cost of LABOR is over $4000 quoted from Cross Motors Jeep.

Head gasket/engine failure. Constant check engine light. First it was for a misfire and my engine was overheating. Had oil clogging the filter even though it was changed within the appropriate mileage. I got the check engine fixed April of 2024. May 20,2025, head gasket blew, causing me to now have to replace my engine completely. Same issues as previously reported

The head gasket blows around 80,000 miles. This is a known problem consumers have with this vehicle. My estimate to have this fixed is over $6,000.00.

Three concerns: (1) the engine light is on. mechanics cannot determine why. (2) the car has trouble starting. When I park indoors, the car doesn't start. The engine turns over several times and the RPM goes all the way up, but the car will not start until the 3rd or 4th try. mechanics cannot determine why. (3) when I pump gas, the fuel pump automatically shuts off even though the gas tank is not full. So I have to hold the pump in place and use the gas gauge to determine when the tank is full. mechanics have seen this problem in other jeeps but haven't given me a reason why.

Grandfather bought the car for me in December 2024. It was sold and wasn’t told there were any issues with the car. It was bought in Texas. I drove it to Colorado. Two and a half weeks into driving the car, it was leaking a lot of oil. Had it looked at and was told The oil housing unit was dumping oil out of it bc it was made of plastic not aluminum. I was trying to go through extended warranty not knowing the severity of the issues of the car. I was going to have it looked at by jeep instead of Midas. They were booked out for over 2 weeks. I was trying to keep oil in the engine while waiting to get it looked at by Jeep. The engines ended up seizing on me. I had put more oil in it the day it seized up on [XXX]. I had to have it towed to pep boys just find out the engine got messed up by the crack in f he coolant and housing unit. The oil lamp came on 2 days before New Year’s Eve. I was trying to find a place to schedule to be looked at and couldn’t get it looked at until after the New Year. I had called Greg May Honda back in Texas to double check to see if they changed the oil before they sold it and said they did. I barely put over 1200 miles on the car since it was bought off the lot. I started doing research on it after the car engine seized up. Come to find out that there is a recall on the oil issue. I also found out that it would lead to the engine seizing up. I believe Pep boys might have reported the issue as of today for a safety recall on it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Please see ALL the reports of the same exact issue. There is an issue with the 2018 Grand Cherokee Engines. This blown head gasket is now going to cost me $13,000 to get a new engine. Every report listed in this link IS THE SAME ISSUE. Please address the issues and reimburse owners of this Jeep having to replace their engines. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

A recall NHTSA 20V-699 was issued on our vehicle in March 2021. This is related to a Fire Hazard. The recall repair was done and component exchanged, now 3 years later and 35,000 miles we have exactly the same issue. A cracked EGR cooler, same as previous. My concern is that the replaced part is from the same batch as originally and as such they replaced a dangerous part with another dangerous part. The dealer and FCA refuses to replace the part as they say the recall has been closed. I my opinion this Fire Hazard still exists and repair was not done with a quality product, as it is exactly the same issue. as before.

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 3.6 L V6 Engines have a high rate of having HEAD GASKET problems around 100,000 miles causing vehicle to overheat and leak liquid into the cylinders damaging the engine. Please look into this problem at dealerships around the country with this year, make and model and discover how common of an issue this is with owners.

Took my 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicle in as oil was leaking badly , which could have made a dangerous situation. Was told by mechanic that my oil filter adapter had to be replaced. Was advised it was made of plastic and had cracked. The mechanic could not believe there wasn’t already a recall on this part. He replaced it with an aluminum part but this was a costly repair costing close to 1,100.00.

The EGR Valve, Diesel Particulate Filter, and Intake Manifold failed at 88k miles. The EGR was replaced at 49k miles on October 4, 2021. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for MIL. The estimated repair cost is $11k. All components are filled with carbon deposits. The emissions system should provide a longer life than 88k miles. Is there a possible design defect with the emission ?

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the START/STOP, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that one of the spark plugs was misfiring and the ignition coils might need to be replaced. The independent mechanic requested to perform another diagnostic test on the vehicle and discovered that there was a blown head gasket and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.

the number 4 and 5 cylinders warped in my 3.6 engine Cross Motors in Louisville Ky is repairing the engine

Car dealer said that they already fixed the recalled issue. But we took car to the dealer also for car overheating in very short distances and the car only has about 67,300 miles. The dealer said that they "found stored DTC in PCM" P0304(Cylinder #4 Misfire). "There are combustion gases in cooling system." They said the car needed cylinder head replacement and engine replacement quoting me $8001.88 for repairs which I could not pay. The car has only been driven locally. We also suspect that this car may have been damaged by hurricane Michael in Florida in 2018 and damage may have not been reported. Car was bought in Florida in approx. September 2018 by owner 1 who sold the car to owner 2 with only approx. 2500mi after Hurricane Michael (Oct 9-10th). The car was sold to owner 2 in November 2018 in Florida then brought to California in 2021 and sold to owner 3 who is making this report. Or car may have already presented mechanical issues that may not been reported. Car has only been driven locally.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power intermittently. Additionally, the contact observed a burning odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the cam shaft, oil valve, and other unknown parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Car began to shake after looking under the hood found low coolant. After replacing the coolant it continued to run low only after 1 week. After second time replacing coolant engine light came on and it was taken to a mechanic who had codes come up as misfires. After replacing spark plugs and full tune up, engine light came back on. After taking it to a dealership they found a crack in the gasket at coolant passage. Car never over heated for the crack to have happened. Also seeing many other people with the same issue at the same mileage of 72k mile or less. I believe there is an issue with the head gasket.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start-up as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed as a failure with the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve. The contact was informed that the EGR valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.

Jeep would not start. No warning lights. Towed to the mechanic. Mechanic said starter needed to be replaced. Once the starter was replaced the mechanic noted whitish smoke from exhaust when starting the Jeep. Further diagnosis he determined the Jeep needed a head gasket replacement. As other Jeep owners have stated this came with no warning. This is a safety issue in part because the vehicle is unable to start leaving the drivers potentially started in unsafe conditions. Jeep needs to post a recall for this issue. Please advise next steps?

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware of an unknown liquid on the ground. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed. The contact was informed that coolant was leaking into the engine. The contact was informed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000. The VIN was not provided.

Crankshaft positioning sensor I’m sure my jeep falls into the recall I purchased it in march 24 and as soon as I drove off the lot with it the light came on got home scanned to find the cause and it’s the crankshaft sensor

Been in the shop & dealer multiple times! Check engine light on for misfire in cylinder one; oil pressure sensor code. Oil case housing was replaced due to cracking! And oil pressure sensor replaced also. But still isn’t fixed and now leaks oil. Head gasket problems. Shop informed me I’ll need to replace loosing coolant going into my head gasket. Around 140k miles but problems occurred before! Jeep please explain why this is happening! A lot of money to fix it and problem after problem

Intermittent extended crank on cold starts and developed a misfire in cylinder 3 and the developed a misfire and coolant leak in cylinder 1. The dealer told me it needs a new engine due to internal engine failure. Codes p0303 and p0300. Engine only has 62,000 on it.

I am writing to report a concerning issue related to the water pump in my 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Recently, I discovered a significant coolant leak originating from the water pump, which has raised concerns about the safety and reliability of my vehicle. I would like to bring this matter to your attention for investigation and potential action.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) and 23V411000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V411000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. An undisclosed dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel), 23V411000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and 20V699000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. An undisclosed dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) and 23V411000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted.

I attempted SEVERAL times to have the Stellantis/Chrysler/Jeep 'Z46 - High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure' recall repair performed on my 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Platinum 4X4 EcoDiesel. The 'Z46' recall was issued in JUN 2022. Yet over ONE YEAR LATER each time I inquire about performing this recall repair the Jeep dealer advises that "there are no parts available to perform the recall repair".

Oil filter adapter leaking

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the engine was overheating. Additionally, the check engine warning light illuminated.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V699000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact called the local dealer who stated that the parts were not available.

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 jeep grand cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20v699000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that fields chrysler jeep dodge ram glenview (2800 patriot blvd, glenview, il 60026, (847) 446-5100) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 jeep grand cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number 20v699000 (engine and engine cooling).

Vehicle losing coolant due to faulty water pump. Under normal driving conditions, the water pump does not hold up to normal vibration and use. I have taken it to a repair shop and they notified me that the water pump was back ordered and we were number 300 in line for a replacement.

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 jeep grand cherokee. The contact stated that the water pump was leaking and the vehicle was unable to be driven. In addition, the check engine and esc warning indicators were illuminated.

The jeep will restart after pushing the start/stop button. The RPM gauge will drop to 0 and then it will restart again and all the lights on the dash come on again like when you first start it. Sometimes it's right away and sometimes it takes sometime.

While driving on the road the engine shuts completely off right in the middle of traffic which is extremely dangerous!!!...message displays on the screen where the speedometer is "shift to p to start". It has happened 3x yesterday and about a week ago once. Took to jeep dealer yesterday and they are still investigating the issue.

Water pump failure.

I have had 2 safety recalls open on my Jeep without remedy for over a year. FCA has failed to do anything putting me and my family at risk.

61,000 broken water pump and blown head gasket

Evaporative emission system incorrect purge flow for a predetermined period of time. Engine light is on. Brought car new.

Engine stop/start feature causes engine to stop/start upon shifting from drive to park, can cause driver to exit vehicle with engine still running

Uconnect message came up stating that my engine light came on when all actuality it was not, however, I noticed my vents blowing out cool air when I had on the heat. My car was in motion I was driving down a city street.