2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 238 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 23rd highest complaint count among 26 Grand Cherokee model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 24 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine coolingJun 8, 2023
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L Diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 3, 2023. Some owner notification letters were mailed October 31, 2023. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated July 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 66A. This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-475.
Campaign 23V411000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, diesel, delivery, fuel pumpJun 9, 2022
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2014-2019 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. A high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation.
Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the HPFP, and inspect and replace, if necessary, additional fuel system components, free of charge. Interim notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed July 21, 2022. Owner notification letters for were mailed for Jeep Grand Cherokee owners starting January 11, 2024. Owner notification letters for Ram 1500 owners were mailed March 7, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLS's number for this recall is Z46.
Campaign 22V406000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraSep 10, 2020
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 8.4" or 12" radio displays. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W30-W37.
Campaign 20V191000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
72 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Engine, May 22, 2023
Per the dealership: The engine wire harness ws not sitting where it should have been, and was melted by the cadillac converter. This caused the auxiliary battery to fail, and the jump fuse block to blow.
Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 7, 2023
The vehicle stops on its own without warning, and a few times it has run me off the road. Infotainment issues (this is the one that made the vehicle qualify for a lemon claim). I have a YouTube page dedicated to uploading videos. Some of the videos cannot be uploaded because of background music and copyrights. I'll attach a link here, feel free to look at all the videos. Sample video --> https://youtube.com/shorts/87vigoL8p_g?feature=share I have a lemon law claim going, but the company is, as expected giving me the runaround. The issues have met my state lemon law requirements for a claim. Verified by the lawyer I've hired.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Mar 19, 2023
1.The electrical/engine/powertrain systems failed 3 times. The vehicle is available for inspection. 2.As the problem progressed, the car would only go forward, no ability to go in reverse, or to be put in park. 3.The dealership replaced the ABS Module, then later the Engine Control Module. 4.Event 1: September 1, 2022 Warning light for the stop/start feature came on, also the ABS light and check engine light. Dealership kept the car for the day, did a diagnosis, returned the vehicle stating it was safe to drive, and that an ABS Module had been ordered. Would contact me to schedule the repair. Event 2: September 8, 2022 Dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, all warning lights came on, as well as all lights on the gearshift panel/center console, which kept blinking. Car would only go forward. Dealership installed ABS Module and returned the car to me. Event 3: September 29,2022 Warning light for the stop/start feature and check engine light came on again. I took the car to my local dealership with major concerns that the previous repair was not the only problem occurring and left it there. The Engine Control Module was eventually replaced. 5. I had no use of my Jeep Grand Cherokee from September 29 until November 8, 2022. 6. I have a major concern about the safety of this vehicle.
Electrical system, Oct 27, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with an unknown audible alert warning. Additionally, the vehicle intermittently failed to start. AAA arrived on the scene and jumpstarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure and no error codes were retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,500. The VIN was unavailable.
Electrical system, Aug 12, 2022
When I put my 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee in reverse, the backup camera displayed on the screen like normal. However, once I shifted into drive the backup camera image was frozen on the display. It wasn’t until I powered off the radio and back on that it went away. This is a safety issue because it caused a distraction to me while I was in drive trying to figure out what was going on. I also took a video that clearly shows my jeep was in drive while the backup camera image was still frozen on the display.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Back over prevention, Dec 20, 2021
Screen constantly freezes and it's unresponsive for long periods of time, then reboots. Then the cycle repeats. Serious safety hazard as the back up camera image freezes on the screen and doesn't change, even though your moving and the image video should have changed. This has been happening since the car was bought new and dealership says they're nothing that can be done
Electrical system, Air bags, Service brakes, Dec 17, 2021, crash
I bought my 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk used from Carmax and after barely having it 7 months it is now totaled by Insurance company. The reason: driving home from work on state highway at approx. 45mph on November 24, 2021 after dark. Came over rise in road to see about 10 vehicles completely stopped in front of me about 100 yards away. I applied the brakes and nothing happened. Took foot off brake pedal & tried again... nothing. I had to swerve off road to keep from running into back of vehicle(s) stopped in front of me. Was able to safely miss damaging/injuring any other vehicles/people. Struck a tree on the left front of Jeep. Applying brakes did not stop or slow my Jeep Grand Cherokee's speed. When tree was struck at approx. 45mph the airbags did not even deploy.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 12, 2021
Bought jeep in December 2020. Currently at 8000 miles. In October 2021, the vehicle would not turn off. The push button would go between ACC and Start but not in the off. Dealership has never seen this and after 8 days, are not able to definitively tell me what the issue is. The assumption has been given that the car is not recognizing that the vehicle is in Park. This is an assumption as whatever diagnosis that is being done is not finding the error.
Electrical system, Back over prevention, Jul 9, 2021
The screen in my car will get stuck on my reverse camera, freeze that way for minutes after I've put the car into drive. It will also randomly cut off and back on which is distracting and annoying.
Electrical system, Jul 1, 2021
The vehicle Uconnect Radio Unit has malfunctioned since I purchased the vehicle, and the rate of the malfuctions have increased in frequency and duration, and now are impacting different functions of the vehicle such as the Back Up Camera, Navigation, GPS, Heat & Cooling Seat Options, Radio, Blue Tooth, etc. (this head unit [radio] controls, the Navigation, GPS, Backup Camera, Radio, Heated Seat, Cooling Seat. Essentially most of the vehicles comfort and safety features run through the vehicles radio/head unit. When it malfunctions you can lose all or part of the Jeeps functionality such as the back up camera, GPS, Navigation, Bluetooth, seat temperature controls, etc,.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Apr 28, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, AN AUDIBLE SOUND WAS HEARD AS THE BRAKES MALFUNCTION MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE BRAKES ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE DECELERATE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND WAITED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE DRIVING TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO JOHN ELWAY'S CLAREMONT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (620 AUTO CENTER DR, CLAREMONT, CA 91711, (909) 962-8100) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 14, 2021, crash
WHILE I WAS PARKING NEAR THE BEACH, THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AND THE BREAKS BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. AS A RESULT, THE CAR CRUSHED INTO THE WATER AND GOT SUBMERGED. I WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THROUGH THE WINDOW BEFORE IT GOT FLOODED
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 6, 2021
I BOUGHT VEHICLE IN MAY 2020 AND HAVE HAD CONTINUED ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE SINCE DECEMBER 2020. FOUR MONTHS AGO THE RADIO SCREEN STARTED FREEZING OCCASIONALLY. WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS IT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE AND HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. THE SCREEN WOULD FREEZE WHILE REVERSING OR WOULD CUT OFF, RESTART OR FREEZE WHILE DRIVING. I HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND AND THE SCREEN FROZE. I HAD TO GET OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT SO I COULD TURN VEHICLE OFF AND ON TO UNFREEZE SCREEN BECAUSE I NEEDED TO USE THE GPS. I BROUGHT VEHICLE IN TO DEALERSHIP ON 1/14/2021 AND WAS TOLD RADIO WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THE PART SHOULD TAKE 2-6 WEEKS TO RECEIVE PART FROM MANUFACTURER. AS OF 4/6/2021 THE PART HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED. I CALLED DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT SEND NEW ONLY USED REFURBISHED RADIO AND THEY WOULD SEND REPLACEMENT ONCE THE HAD ONE. IN THE MEANTIME IM STUCK WITH A HAZARDOUS INFERIOR VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO BETTER HONOR THEIR WARRANTY IS ESPECIALLY WHEN THERES A SAFETY HAZARD. THE ISSUE NOW OCCURS ALMOST DAILY.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Mar 30, 2021
VEHICLE IN MOTION CITY & HIGHWAY. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE DIES. THE ENGINE TURNS OFF, ALL THE LIGHTS DIE, NO STEERING, DASHBOARD & RADIO DIE. A FEW SECONDS LATER THE ENGINE RESTARTS ON ITS OWN, LIGHTS COME ON, DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP AND RADIO WORKS. THE ONE REMAINING ISSUE THAT INDICATES THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE RADIO COMPLETE RESETS TO WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE ORIGINAL SETTINGS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS ACQUIRED. IT HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIPS MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY OF COURSE CAN NOT DUPLICATE SO THEY SEND ME ON MY WAY. THEY HAVE HELD THE JEEP TO DRIVE BUT CLAIM THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE. ALSO THERE ARE NO CODES SHOWING WHEN THEY CHECK. TRY DRIVING AT 65 MPH WITH A DEAD CAR. AGAIN THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A YEAR
Electrical system, Back over prevention, Feb 23, 2021
I HAVE HAD CONTINUED ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE FOR OVER FOUR MONTHS. IT STARTED AS NOTICING THE "FAVORITE ARTIST" BUTTON NOT WORKING ON THE VEHICLE CORRECTLY. IT THEN CHANGED TO THE SCREEN RESTARTING WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES. IT THEN PROGRESSED TO THE BACKUP CAMERA FREEZING, WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS. THE DEALERSHIP UPGRADED THE SOFTWARE, REPLACED THE BACKUP CAMERA, AND MOST RECENTLY REPLACED THE RADIO ITSELF. AFTER MULTIPLE VISITS AND TIME SPENT WAITING FOR MY VEHICLE TO BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANYTHING ELSE THEY CAN DO TO FIX MY PROBLEM. I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE IS A LEMON, AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. SINCE TESTING AND GETTING REPLACEMENT PARTS, MY VEHICLE CONTINUES TO RESTART ITS SCREEN RANDOMLY, THE BACKUP CAMERA FREEZES, AND THE ARTIST BUTTON DOES NOT WORK HALF THE TIME. THE SCREEN RESTARTING MID DRIVE FREAKS ME OUT BECAUSE IT JUST STOPS AND RESTARTS, AND THE BACKUP ISSUE IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. IT OFTEN STAYS FROZEN FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. (NOT ABLE TO UPLOAD VIDEO EVIDENCE, ONLY PICTURE OF SCREEN). SCREEN AT ONE POINT WOULDN'T LET ME BACK UP WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE PARKING SENSORS BECAUSE IT THOUGHT THEIR WAS SOMETHING BEHIND THE CAR, AND THERE WAS PHYSICALLY NOTHING TO MAKE THE SENSOR THINK THAT WAY. HAVE HAD MULTIPLE SERVICE CALLS TRYING TO FIX THE ISSUE AND AM NOW GOING TO VENTURE DOWN THE LEMON LAW LANE.
Electrical system, Feb 20, 2021
AT FIRST START UP SITTING IN GARAGE, THE MAIN DISPLAY FOR THE SPEEDOMETER IS TOTALLY BLANK, OR HAS A WHITE SCREEN WITH. NO INFORMATION AT ALL. AFTER YOU EXIT THE VEHICLE AND RETURN IN 10 OR 15 MINUTES TO START AGAIN THE DISPLAY STARTS TO WORK THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. DEALER CAN'T FIND ANY ISSUES AFTER MULTIPLE VISITS. HARD TO DRIVE WITH NO VISIBLE SPEED INDICATION
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Dec 14, 2020
PURCHASED NEW IN SEPTEMBER. CURRENTLY HAS 2100 MILES. CRUISE CONTROL "STICKS" AND FAILS TO DISENGAGE AT THE CONTROLS. WHEN THE ACCELERATE CONTROL IS DEPRESSED AND RELEASED, THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT CAPPING THE INCREASE IN ACCELERATION UNTIL THE SYSTEM IS DISENGAGED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. VERY DANGEROUS! THIS SCENARIO OCCURS BOTH AT LOWER AND HIGHER SPEEDS OVER 55.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 28, 2020
WHILE DRIVING 60 MILES PER HOUR ALONG THE SOUTHBOUND EXPRESS LANE OF GARDEN STATE PARKWAY MY NEW 2020 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE STARTED SHAKING. WITHIN SECONDS, I PULLED ON TO THE GRASSY AREA NEXT TO THE FAST LANE WHERE MY VEHICLE DIED. AFTER GETTING TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS NOTIFIED THAT MY NEW CAR WITH 329 MILES ON IT IS IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE, NEW BATTERIES AND NEW STARTER. OF NOTABLE CONCERN ON THE REPAIR ORDER IS THE FOLLOWING: "WHAT IS PRESENT INSIDE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS PIECES OF METAL." WHILE THE CASE IS NOT YET CLOSED, CHRYSLER INFORMED ME THEY INTEND TO FIX THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY AND RETURN IT TO ME. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND I FEAR THE BLOWN ENGINE, DEAD BATTERIES AND STARTER COULD HAVE CAUSED ADDITIONAL, UNRECOGNIZED DAMAGE.
Electrical system, Back over prevention, Nov 5, 2020
I SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE TO REVERSE OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE TO SHIFT TO DRIVE. I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD WHEN I NOTICED THE SCREEN STUCK ON THE REVERSE IMAGE. IT WAS BOT DO ANYTHING AND REMAINED FROZEN UNTIL I REACHED MY DESTINATION.
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 8, 2020
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5 2020, WAS DRIVING ABOUT 3 MILES FROM MY HOUSE WHEN I NOTICED MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD "PLACE CAR IN PARK TO START CAR". THOUGHT IT WAS ODD BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING. I THEN NOTICED CAR WAS OFF SO PLACED IN PARK (ON THE ROAD BTW) AND STARTED IT UP AGAIN. NO MORE ISSUES THAT DAY. NEXT MORNING, AUGUST 6TH, CAR SHUT DOWN AGAIN IN NEARLY THE SAME LOCATION. THIS TIME TRAFFIC WAS MUCH BUSIER AND I WAS IN RIGHT LANE WITH CARS BEHIND ME TRAVELING 45-50 MPH AND TO THE RIGHT WAS A MERGE LANE WITH MULTIPLE CARS COMING OVER...CAR SLOWLY GLIDED INTO THE MERGE LANE AS EVERYONE BECAME AWARE I WAS IN DISTRESS AND ALLOWED ME TO MOVE OVER. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS ACTUALLY LOCKED IN PARK, SO I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE CAR FROM TRAFFIC LANES. CALLED POLICE AND TOW TRUCK WHO BROUGHT IT TO A JEEP DEALERSHIP. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN DURING EARLY MORNING COMMUTE TIME. NOW ITS SATURDAY AND I HAVE NO COMMUNICATION AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE, SO I SEARCHED SOME INTERNET AND LEARNED THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AWHILE WITH JEEPS. I WAS PROVIDED A LOANER CAR BY THE DEALERSHIP.
Electrical system, Jun 17, 2020
CENTER DISPLAY THAT CONTAINS BACKUP CAMERA IMAGES, CLIMATE CONTROL, RADIO, NAVIGATION AND MANY OTHER FUNCTIONS IS INOPERABLE MOST OF THE TIME. THIS PROBLEM RECURS DAILY, AND THE DISPLAY IS INOPERABLE 90+% OF THE TIME. THE ABSENCE OF AN OPERABLE BACKUP CAMERA DISPLAY IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Electrical system, Feb 3, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL, HEAT WOULD EXIT THE VENTS WHEN USING THE AIR CONDITIONAL. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS FOR 10-15 MINUTES TO BE ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT INSIDE THE CAB. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERN THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN EXTREME HOT CLIMATE WEATHER. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER VICTORY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM LOCATED AT 45 NABER DR, SHALLOTTE, NC 28470, WHERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING UNKNOWN ELECTRONICALLY TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 298.