2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Transmission Problems

While driving on the highway, your car displayed a "SERV 4WD" warning light and a traction control unavailable message. You noticed the transmission gears "catching" or grinding when you accelerated from a stop. Your dealer diagnosed this as a transfer case failure and warned it was unsafe to drive because the wheels could lock up unexpectedly. The fix will likely require replacement or rebuild of the transfer case.

While driving this vehicle under normal conditions, the engine developed abnormal ticking/knocking noises, loss of power, and misfire symptoms that progressively worsened. The vehicle was frequently used to transport children. Due to the nature of the failure and unpredictability of progression, continued operation posed a serious safety risk.

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 55,575 miles was parked in a parking garage all day in Brooklyn NY and when the vehicle was move to the front of the garage by parking attendants the engine started smoking and caught fire. There were no leaks, dashboard symbols or open recalls to cause the fire; additionally the car was linked to a iPhone App CarRx that can scan for any issue and no issue noted.

I took my vehicle to earnhardt jeep in gilbert arizona for the w79 egr cooler recall and only the egr valve was replaced and not the egr cooler. The recall stated that the egr cooler could crack from thermal fatigue and a new egr cooler with thicker walls would be installed. This issue if the egr cooler cracks can cause coolent to go into the air engine intake and cause a fire.

After starting my car I went in my house to get something. My car slipped into reverse and rolled down my lawn across a busy street and hit a tree. The emergency braking system did not engage.

2018 jeep grand cherokee. First day of ownership, service 4WD light appears. Cycle ignition off and back on, light disappears.

I pulled into my driveway and put the vehicle in park and as I got out it began rolling backwards. I tried to get turned around and back in or grab the emergency brake but the door knocked me down and the jeep drove backwards about 150feet and hit a tree. 3weeks for repairs and I heard about the cherokee recall for transmission issues and this seems like what happened to me.

An issue relating to electrical or power train causes the vehicle to stall and remain in a no start condition. Without warning, the vehicle is completely without electrical power while driving and the vehicle becomes unable to be controlled. This vehicle was manufactured 9/2018, purchased 12/18.

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 jeep grand cherokee. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and she entered a store, upon returning there were police vehicles surrounding where she parked. The contact then was informed that her vehicle crashed into the vehicle in front of where she was parked.

2018 jeep grand cherokee trackhawk throttle stuck open and began accelerating after removing foot from gas pedal. This issue is not related to the floor mat recall as I have already had the recall performed on the vehicle by the dealership. This could have caused a serious injury or death.

Tl* the contact leased a 2018 jeep grand cherokee. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle rolled away in reverse 5 minutes later and crashed into a neighbors vehicle. No air bags deployed.

I have a few occurrences to tell about. When taking it through a drive through car wash it was propelled forward at an unsafe speed. The vehicle was in neutral but still was shot forward and the brakes had to be applied quickly.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted, and a short distance later, the failure persisted.

This vehicle will not move (intermitant problem) at times when the vehicle is placed in drive or reverse. The gear shift console and dash will flash and the vehicle is rendred useless. I have to turn off and restart the vehicle to resolve the problem.

The vehicle stalled while driving on a busy road. It sounded like it couldn’t shift gears. It also accelerated once I tried to move it to a safer location on the side of the road.

Transmission failed while driving. Had someone been behind me they would have hit me. It was towed to a dealer and through the extended warranty it was deemed a faulty transmission.

Just purchased 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee from bulk dealer. The engine consistently stalls while in drive (at red lights, stop signs, intersections) causing safety issues and near MVAs. During stall, the AC continues to blow but air is not cold.

After wide open throttle acceleration, vehicle continues to accelerate even after letting off of throttle. Had to immediately depress brake to its maximum capacity to slow/stall the unintended rapid acceleration. It has duplicated this behavior twice in the last 100 miles.

Car would not shift out of park and check engine light came on at same time. I was parked in the post office parking lot and this happened when I started it. Had it towed to dealer.

While driving a message of service shifter displayed and vehicle went like on park mode but in d shift. Car was in motion and became stationary. Shift lights came on.

This SUV has the energy efficient shutdown/restart feature. After being stopped at a traffic light, I re-engaged the engine/transmission by lifting my foot off of the brake and began pressing the accelerator. There was very little power to accelerate, you could hear the grinding and pulling of the engine/transmission but only a little power.

I Purchased my my vehicle from a dealer approximately two and a half months ago. While driving the transmission of the vehicle gave out. The car RPM shot up to seven thousand and only goes 30 MPH.

I own a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. On December 5, 2025, the vehicle received a transmission fluid exchange service at a Jeep dealership. Prior to this service, the transmission operated normally with no hesitation, harsh shifts, or warning lights.

My brake light light up, check engine light comes on and my Stability Control system does not work. My car won't electric start as the check engine light is illuminated. I took the vehicle to the dealership and they could not help me as there is no fix in place.

While driving 2018 jeep grand cherokee the transmission will shift its self into neutral and say select desired gear. Then it will shut it self down in the middle of the road.

I was driving my 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x4 on the highway at approximately 65-70 MPH, when suddenly the car started sputtering and my check engine light came on and started blinking. The car was essentially not drivable, so I pulled over at a gas station and had the car towed. This is dangerous as I was going uphill, and could have caused an accident, or worse. I did not have a check engine light prior to this! The next day the car was inspected and diagnosed by independent service center, who said there was a cylinder 4 engine misfire, so they replaced the spark plugs and the coils. Car was fixed, or so I thought, fast forward a couple months later while driving to work, same issue (misfires and sputtering) occurs again and coolant now runs low even though there are no visible signs of coolant leakage. I spoke to the independent service center and they mentioned there might be an issue with the engine such as a head gasket or fuel system. I got the Jeep towed to get checked, it was confirmed that it was an engine issue, especially the head gasket, camshaft, pistons, and lifters, and that I was going to need a new engine and it would cost between $8500 - 13000. My Jeep has approximately 83K miles. The issues I describe here with this engine are all similar to those that have been reported.

I just bought this vehicle in February. Since then, about 4 times while driving when i came to a stop the car will not accelerate and the screen tells me to put car in “P” then shift into gear. One time I had to restart the car to put into gear. Then the car drives again.

Dear National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, I'm writing to report a critical safety concern regarding the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee's water pump design. As an owner, I've experienced persistent coolant leaks, which I've found is a widespread issue affecting many others. This problem stems from a fundamental design flaw in the water pump, not typical wear and tear. The issue centers on a small "freeze plug" that leaks when the engine reaches operating temperature. This plug serves no apparent purpose and causes premature failures and coolant leaks across numerous vehicles. Key points: The leak occurs consistently when the engine is hot, indicating a design-related problem. This issue potentially leads to engine overheating and severe damage. It affects many vehicles, particularly those with the 3.6L V6 engine. Extensive research on online forums confirms this is a common problem. A YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73MgJF4bx5o) provides insight into the issue. The creator states: "Upon digging into this a bit deeper, I don't believe it's the 'weep hole'. It's actually like a small 'freeze plug' that leaks on these pumps. If you look through the pulley at the opposite side of the aluminum freeze plug that leaks, you will see the weep hole. This 'freeze plug' that leaks serves no purpose as far as I see it. It's just like they slapped this plug in the front of the pump… and it leaks when it gets hot." Given this evidence of a design flaw and its widespread impact, I urge NHTSA to: Investigate the water pump design of the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee and similar models. Assess the safety implications, including the risk of engine overheating and potential vehicle failures. Consider whether a recall or other corrective action is necessary. The fact that this is a design issue rather than wear-and-tear underscores its urgency. All vehicles with this water pump design are potentially at risk, regardless of mileage or maintenance history. Thank you

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while coming to a stop, the vehicle lost motive power with the “Shift to Park” message displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the PCM software had failed and needed to be updated. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.

Jeep uses a transmission manufactured by ZF. Jeep claims the transmission is "filled for life" and does not require any maintenance, and never requires the oil to be changed. ZF recommends the oil be changed every 50-75,000 miles. Many other car manufacturers that utilize ZF transmissions recommend that same interval. In fact, if you push Jeep to change your transmission oil, they suggest it will void your warranty. Preventative maintenance in the form of a transmission fluid change is necessary for the health and longevity of the vehicle. Jeep is negligent in this matter. When your transmission fails, you are thrust into "limp" mode, capping your speed at 15-20 mph. This occurred to me on the highway. I narrowly avoided being rear ended in traffic traveling 65+ mph. My car has been babied, all factory recommended services have been done in a timely manner, I was not having any issues with the car at the time, and there were no symptoms, warning lights, etc at the time.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle was shuddering while idling. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 25 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the vehicle was able to restart the following day. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Several messages indicating the air bag, the Engine Stop/Start system, the FWD system failures, and other unknown failures were displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving on another occasion. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where a mobile independent mechanic diagnosed that the PCM had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and advised the contact to take the vehicle to their location for diagnostic testing. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V524000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while attempting to park and exit the vehicle through the front driver’s side door, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated in reverse. As a result of the failure, the driver's side door struck her arm and leg causing injuries. The contact stated that the vehicle drove off a cliff, and one of the tires experienced a blowout and the bumper became loose. The air bags had not deployed. Medical attention was not sought. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 36,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 5-10 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact was able to drive the vehicle on the shoulder of the highway.

When I turn the vehicle on 'start' and change the gear from P to D in order to start driving, I get a warning sign that says "Shift to P then Desired Gear". I have to follow the sign direction several times back and forth and also turning the engine off and starting on again until it engage to gear followed with a big transmission bump. I just made an appointment at a dealership for an inspection.

The contact’s wife owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the ABS, brake lights, and traction control warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the rear tires locked up inadvertently, without the brake pedal being depressed.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while starting the vehicle the PCM warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted, and the dealer stated that the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V332000 (Electrical System, Vehicle Speed Control) and that the contact had to pay out of pocket for all future repairs.

The contact's wife owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would surge forward. An unknown warning light was illuminated.

The contact's mother-in-law owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle vibrated abnormally. While stationary, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle.

On our way to the grocery store, I turned onto the highway and began accelerating. Suddenly the engine shuts off and random messages pop up on the display. The "D" on the shift indicator was blinking telling me to put the vehicle into park to restart.

After a cold start (even in warm weather), when shifting from 'park' to 'drive' the transmission shudders momentarily and shakes the whole vehicle. It does not do this when the engine is up to normal operating temp, or if you wait 10-15 seconds before putting it into drive. I have not had this problem with any other vehicles I've owned.

Here are times when I have pulled out (with various people in the car) most recently my 13 year-old-son, who was screaming, "dad what are you doing, we are about to be hit," and the car has completely shut down. (no interior lights, or running engine) quick thinking saved us from a major disaster. We were almost t-boned last week because of this problem.

Have owned the vehicle for a little more than a year. Three times I've heard gear grinding when I put the vehicle in reverse, I immediately put my foot on the brake put the vehicle back into park waited a few seconds with my foot on the brake before putting the vehicle in reverse again.

My 2018 jcg altitude edition with 16000 miles has been having issues with radio and navigation. Cjdr replaced stereo system which fixed the navigation issue but now radio turns up and down on own. Took car in today and there is no fix.

I have a "no start" issue. When the ignition button is pushed to start the vehicle, the starter turns, but the engine does not crank. There are times when it may take up to 10 seconds or so to get the starter to turn off.

Had several issues with this rented vehicle still running after pushing button to stop vehicle when parked. Family members told me 'your car is still on' at least 3 times. Had issues when stopped at an intersection.

Recall: u65/NHTSA 18v-332 just bought it and found a recall on v-6 jeep grand cherokee limited. I haven't driven yet. Please send me the certificate to get it fixed.

After turning on the ignition and putting car into reverse the reverse light flashes and car will not go into reverse, same for putting into drive. Engine light stays on. This problem only lasts for a few seconds and then the car can go into reverse.

After having my jeep brand new from the dealer roughly about two weeks after purchasing the check engine light turned on. We bought our jeep from autonation in spring, tx. We live in galveston county so when it turned on we took it to autozone for the free code check - the code read was p20e8 and it just said emissions code.

Transmission problems. The transmission shifts are pronounced, cause the SUV to jerk and feel jumpy. This condition is sporadic, and can change based on mode - normal, eco off, sport .

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 jeep grand cherokee. While waiting at a traffic light, the 'shift into park and select gear" message displayed and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle failed to accelerate afterwards.

Front passenger side CV Axle purchased from detroit axle. They confirmed on website it would fit my make, model, and year of vehicle. Once I described that they are selling this part incorrectly and they refused to change website to continue fraud sell I asked for a full refund.

Variable valve lift solenoid failing

Starting around February 23 after about 10 minutes into driving. The hot temperature lamp would show up . I pull over an it was always empty of coolant I had done that few times within one week.

The upshifter paddle driver control on my jeep srt trackhawk, along with many other 2010+ fca vehicles equipped with paddle shifters, performs the opposite function (downshifting) when vehicle is in motion- causing the gears to lower one or more, the engine to rev up, the engine to engine-brake, and ultimately the weight of the vehicle to shift aggressively to the front unintentionally.

Parked vehicle in sloped parking lot left vehicle running walked behind jeep with taligate lifted to remove wet items from jeep. Noticed the jeep was rolling backwards my quick reaction was to jump back in drivers seat to turn off car. While doing this the jeep pushed me backwards flat on my back and broke my t11 and t12 on 9-14-2019.

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 jeep grand cherokee. While driving 30 MPH and attempting to shift gears, the vehicle downshifted. The vehicle was taken multiple times to route 46 chrysler jeep dodge (located at 1655 us-46, little falls, nj 07424, (973) 339-7752), but they were unable to duplicate the failure.

Transmission doesn't always shift from low gear to next higher.

After driving into condo garage, I put transmission into park, with engine running, and opened door to exit vehicle - car started moving backwards - the surface is flat. I was partway out of the vehicle, hit the brake pedal but could not stop it before the open door impacted a concrete pillar incurring damage preventing door from being subsequently closed.

My 2018 jeep grand cherokee just accelerated by itself up a sidewalk at a parking lot and ran into the pillar of a building. I then put it in reverse and it accelerated into a car parked beside me. The front axle snapped completely even though the impact was not tremendous.

"takata recall" I notice one day I was driving my grand cherokee 2018,my hand brash against with a light touch to gear shifter slip into neutral.while I'm on the highway moving. I never been in vehicle that you barley touch the gear box and this happen not good.

Transmission problems. The transmission shifts are pronounced, cause the SUV to jerk and feel jumpy. This condition is sporadic, and can change based on mode - normal, eco off, sport .

2018 jeep grand cherokee. Consumer writes in regards to odometer and transmission issues. *ld the consumer stated mileage recorded on the odometer does not conform to the manufacturer's disclosed miles per gallon.

My vehicle was purchased brand new 11/2018, when I press the button to start it, 75% of the time it won't start and takes several attempts. Also when I shift into reverse, the r just flashes and the vehicle won't reverse. It won't move until I turn it off and restart it again.

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 jeep grand cherokee. While driving 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to john hiester chrysler dodge jeep ram (940 n main st, lillington, nc 27546, (910) 893-8088), but the failure could not be duplicated.