2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 404 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 26 Grand Cherokee model years with reports.
Of the 2021 reports, 20 involved a crash and 8 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraJun 13, 2024
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Dodge Durango, 2021-2023 Chrysler Pacifica, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, Chrysler Voyager, 2022-2023 Jeep Compass, Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and Ram Promaster vehicles. The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the radio software or the software will be OTA, "Over-The-Air," free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning July 9, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's numbers for this recall are 66B and 79B.
Campaign 24V436000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, control arm, upper ball jointFeb 22, 2024
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L and 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The upper control arm ball joint and steering knuckle may separate and cause the wheel to fall outward, resulting in a loss of vehicle control.
A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the upper control arm pinch bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 2, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 10B.
Campaign 24V132000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, display functionAug 14, 2023
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and 2022-2024 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer vehicles. The Central Vision Park Assist module (CVPAM) software may prevent the rearview image from displaying when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
A rearview image that does not display while in reverse decreases the driver's visibility of the rear view, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Dealers will update the Central Vision Park Assist Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 31, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 56A.
Campaign 23V577000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rear, springs, coil springsJun 8, 2023
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. The rear coil springs may have been incorrectly installed and detach from the vehicle while driving.
Rear coil springs that detach from the vehicle while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect and if necessary, repair the rear coil spring assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 29, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 64A. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall 26V051. All vehicles will need to have the new recall remedy performed.
Campaign 23V413000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, columnMay 18, 2023
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. An incorrectly assembled steering column intermediate shaft may disconnect from the u-joint, and result in a loss of steering control.
A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the intermediate shaft and assembly parts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 58A.
Campaign 23V352000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, tail lightsJul 28, 2022
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. The tail light side marker assemblies may be damaged and not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamp, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
A tail light side marker that does not illuminate can reduce vehicle visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect and replace both body-mounted tail light assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 8, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z50.
Campaign 22V544000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, exhaust system, emission control, gas recirculation valve (egr valve)Apr 28, 2022
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee WK, 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may stick open, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the EGR valve assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z31.
Campaign 22V284000 on NHTSA.gov
Child seat, vehicle tether anchorMar 24, 2022
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. These vehicles may have been built with a missing weld from the seat back frame to the child seat tether anchorage. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
A missing weld may allow the child seat tether to separate from the seat frame during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the second-row seat back frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Z24.
Campaign 22V180000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, lighting control module, softwareDec 9, 2021
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles equipped with smart lighting modules (SLM). An incomplete SLM software update may cause one or both headlights to become inoperable. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Inoperable headlights can reduce visibility for the driver and oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will reprogram the SLM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y72.
Campaign 21V950000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, air bag/restraint control module, softwareNov 10, 2021
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Jeep Wagoneer, and Grand Wagoneer vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) may have incorrect software which can disable the driver, passenger, and knee air bags without warning.
Disabled air bags can increase the risk of injury to occupants in a crash.
Dealers will reprogram the ORC, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 2, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y79.
Campaign 21V873000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsOct 14, 2021
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles not equipped with automatic high beams. When the master lighting switch is set to the auto position, the high beam headlights will not activate unless the master lighting switch is first changed to the 'on" position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Difficulty activating the headlight high beams may result in reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will reprogram the vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y66.
Campaign 21V797000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, rearview mirrors/devicesSep 21, 2021
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. A radio software error may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
FCA US LLC will update the radio software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 28, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y67.
Campaign 21V729000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
404 reports, newest first.
Engine, Oct 18, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, the vehicle independently shut off while pulling out in traffic. The vehicle was able to be restarted after a while. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Electrical system, Engine, Oct 14, 2023
I purchased vechicle 9/11/21. The electronic start stop option is not Fuctioning. I understand you could stall In traffic if you use the option. I prefer to use standard way for safety.
Lane departure, Back over prevention, Oct 14, 2023
October 12,2023 yellow lights in mirror Came on a message came into dashboard I pulled into garage. October 13 and 14 yellow lights do not come on for a second when I start vechicle nor do they come on in reverse mode when Adjacent to vechicle etc a fault is detected it’s not working properly tge blind spot module and rear sensors
Steering, Oct 14, 2023
Steering assist stopped working and EPS fault warning light, front crash collision detection fault, and front crash collision detect turned off, and traction control indicators appeared. After 3 cycles of the ignition and driving for 10 minutes to a safe location the warning lights went off and steering assist was restored.
Power train, Oct 14, 2023
Paddle shifters are disabled with no way to enable them. While towing, there is no way to reduce downhill speed maximizing the use of the power train while minimizing the use of the brake system causing the brakes to overheat and a potential crash incident.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 12, 2023
This was 5 -6 times my new car broke down 3 times for fuel pump problem then i have engine light on more than4-5 times . Now its still on they fixed it 2 month ago. I just buy this brand new car in 2021. Not completed 3 years yet and having 56700 kms on it .
Steering, Oct 8, 2023
Power steering became unavaible with no warning upon turning on my car.
Other or unspecified, Oct 4, 2023
Sunroof randomly exploded while driving down the road with no other vehicles or objects nearby
Electrical system, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Sep 25, 2023
On many occasions, warning lights come on for no reason. The dealer has "updated" software, but to no avail.. Collision warning, stop/start error, throttle body error and more. On the last event we were driving uphill, approx 25 mph, nobody in front of us, and the brakes slammed on with multiple errors showing.. the car then lurched forward with active breaking, stop start error, throttle body sensor all showing up and going away. This happened 4 times on the evening of Sep 15th. The errors and random and intermittent.. They replaced a "secondary" battery at one point, and that did nothing. They told us we needed to drive it for over 100 miles, to charge the battery, but it did not fix the stop/start or any other error. Now it is in the Cerritos dodge dealer and we have a formal complaint filed with Chrystler.. The dealer states they can't find any problems.. During most of the events, the errors and warning lights do not stay on longer than a few seconds. I have one picture I was able to take when the warning lights stayed on a little longer.
Suspension, Exterior lighting, Back over prevention, Sep 11, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V544000 (Exterior Lighting), 23V413000 (Suspension) and 23V577000 (Back Over Prevention) 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 dealer was made aware of the issue but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect.
Steering, Sep 9, 2023
EPS steering warning light activated. My VIN is not subject to NHTSA recall 23V-352, but that recall applies to Jeep Grand Cherokees built between 1/27/21 and 4/4/23, and mine was built 9/2021, so I'm not sure why it doesn't show a recall for my VIN.. This warning light seems related to that recall, and there might be many owners not being subject to the recall that should be.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 9, 2023
My heat and air and defrost comes on and off when it is raining my defrost do not work that is a safety hazard if I Can not defrost my window when it rain and snow nothing works in my truck it works when it wants to . This should be a recall this was a brand new when I brought it should not be having these problems already at theses miles , also my locks don’t want to lock my driver door I have to push it lock.
Other or unspecified, Sep 5, 2023
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? This vehicle as well as thousands of other Jeep, Wagoneer, Ram and Dodge vehicles with the UConnect 5 system has a glitch which causes the navigation to reboot. Forums show this is happening in many vehicles to many owners. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? When the system restarts, it changes screens unexpectedly which causes the drivers eyes to be drawn to the screen. The driver also has to take their eyes off the road to push a button to get the navigation off the screen. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the dealer's only offer was to 'factory reset' the system, however that only fixed the issue for a day or so. Then it reverts back to 'TomTom Loading...'. The native Navigation system installed in this system is TomTom. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? I have made many attempts to contact the manufacturer and dealer to get this repaired over the last year only to be told that a fix has not been identified. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Other than the message of 'TomTom Loading...', no there have been no other messages.
Power train, Sep 5, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that after accelerating from a stop light and driving approximately 45 MPH, the wheels locked up causing the vehicle to abruptly stop, and the vehicle stalled. After restarting the vehicle, the failure immediately reoccurred. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 11,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Sep 1, 2023
While driving 70mph on highway, all lights on dash illuminated, lane assist malfunctioned, wipers went on, blinkers stopped working, vehicle lost speed quickly. Was able to move it off the road, but stopped running before being completely on shoulder. Vehicle would not turn on again in any capacity and hazard warning lights would not function. Needed to have vehicle towed, awaiting final report on issues. No warning was given before this malfunction occured.
Air bags, Aug 31, 2023, crash
The contact called on behalf of her mother who owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while her mother was driving at an undisclosed speed, she lost consciousness, and the vehicle veered off the road. The vehicle hit the fence, then crashed into a tree, and the tree fell on the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact's mother was assisted out of the vehicle by emergency services and was transported to the hospital, where she was informed that she had sustained bruised ribs, split bottom lip, bruised left upper arm, pain on the left side of the body, and bruises on the area of the chest under which the pacemaker was placed as the chest hit the steering wheel. The contact's mother was currently receiving physical therapy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a Road Side Assistance Services location. The dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a Jeep field inspector would perform the inspection of the vehicle and would copy information from the EDR, which could be shared with NHTSA upon request. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V873000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Steering, Engine, Lane departure, Aug 29, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 25–30 MPH, the power steering became inoperable. The contact stated that the Lane Keep Assist warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. While driving 45–50 MPH, the power steering became inoperable, and the vehicle shut down. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 21, 2023
I have under 13,000 miles on my car. When i had barely 11k miles, my whole computer system and power steering system shut down 8 hours from my home while on a road trip with my three children and our dog. It left me in the middle of busy traffic and easily a target for oncoming traffic and was very dangerous. The steering g could barely be turned at all. We had this fixed and it’s happened again. I just returned from a trip. I was on my way to school and got stuck in rush hour traffic with my child in the car. The power steering and computer system locked up again and no air would work in the vehicle and the heat index is 115 today! I cannot trust this car and there are numerous lawsuits and complaints regarding this same issue! We could easily wreck and it would be life altering. The current situation is not showing up in my app so I only have the one incident. I’ve never felt so vulnerable. And Jeep is no help.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Aug 14, 2023
Two days in a row - the jeep didn't start in the morning. After I started it with a starter. The first day, the buttons on the steering wheel and the safety system control stopped working. Incorrectly shows the fuel level. The second day when the car started with the help of a starter, the dashboard stopped working (completely went out). The battery was checked - it is 100% working The dashboard didn't work during the day. Everything worked in the evening. The engine speed does not rise above 3000 revolutions per minute. Now it doesn't show the fuel level in the tank correctly. Very often, security systems such as lane control and proximity to another car fail
Service brakes, Aug 11, 2023
MY BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED,AND THIS CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR ON PADS. THERE HAS BEEN A RUBBING NOICE FOR SOME TIME, I ASKED IF IT COULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE AUTO BRAKE FOR BACKING UP, THEY SAID NO, HOWEVER THERE IS A PROBLEM AND IT COULD RESULT IN AN INJURY OR DEATH IF IGNORED. JEEP REFUSES TO FIX THIER PROBLEMS THROUGH REASEARCH I HJAVE FOUND A LOT OF 2021 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WITH BREAK PROBLEMS LIKE MINE AND IT STARTS IN THE REAR BRAKES SO NOTED IF IGNORED THROUGH THIS AGENCY, I WILL TRACK NATION WIDE ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS .
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 31, 2023
While driving at highway speed the motor shut down without any warning. I was in the center lane of traffic and had no acceleration, no power steering, nothing the vehicle went dead in highway traffic at highway speeds. I had to coast and get over several lanes and on to the shoulder. Vehicle came to a stop on a narrow shoulder with speeding vehicles and 18 wheelers whizzing by. I had to cal 911 and get police to help so I wouldn't get rear ended. Had to wait on shoulder for an hour to get a tow to safety. The vehicle never restarted, and the transmission was locked in park. The vehicle is now at the jeep dealership to see what happened. I just read on line that Jeep Grand Cherokees have this problem and Jeep is not doing anything to repair. Please advise me on how to proceed with this. I have been driving for 50 years, and today was the scariest day of my life I thought we were going to die in a pile up. Doug savage
Suspension, Jul 27, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V413000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair were unavailable. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Service brakes, Jul 26, 2023
3 months ago, I was getting my all-season tires installed in lieu of my winter ones. They told me that the lug nuts on all four of my wheels were swollen and I needed to get a replacement as they could not use them. It was my first time hearing this terminology. I asked for clarification and was told that due to severe rust they cannot be used. 15 days ago, i heard some squeaking coming from the tires. I took it to the mechanic and was told that I have to replace the rear wheel pads. I took it yesterday to have them replaced and when they took off the tires, they called me in to witness that the rear disk brake rotors are totally rusted from the inside out, were badly deteriorated, and some pieces were falling off. They checked the front wheels as well, and they had the same issue as well. An issue such as this could lead to severe consequences and could potentially be life threating. I ended up replacing Front and Rear Disk Brake Rotors and Pads, and
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 11, 2023
On May 4, 2023, immediately upon starting the car, warning lights were illuminated: Blind Spot Alert Unavailable - Service Required; Stop/Start Unavailable Service Stop/Start System; Service Electronic Stability Control; Oil Change Required; Service Power Steering; Check Engine Light. Vehicle had no power steering. It was taken to the dealership several hours later, and at that time no warning lights came on and the car had power steering. Dealership indicated that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. On July 1, while driving 75 mph on I-95 in New Hampshire, while on a road trip from NY to Maine, multiple warning lights illuminated and vehicle immediately lost power steering. I was barely able to get it to the shoulder. Not one Jeep dealership in the area was available to see the car. A local mechanic was able to hook it up and determined that the car lost connectivity. He agreed to keep the car while we continued on our trip with a rental car we found and contacted our Jeep dealer. Two days later, while waiting for our Jeep dealership to tow it home, we learned that the vehicle was completely dead and won't even accept a charge to the battery. Chrysler Customer Service was called and a case was opened on July 3rd. Upon calling back on July 5th, I learned that they "closed" the case. No one could explain to me why and I asked for it to be reopened. Called back on July 11th and spoke with a different representative who indicated the case was "closed" and there was no indication of my call from July 5th. Reiterated and clarified all information and now await a call from a Specialist. The car is still not in NY and is still at the mechanic in NH waiting to be picked up by Jeep to be inspected and fixed. My safety and that of my family, and those in the cars around me, were put at risk as a result of this incident as I lost the ability to steer the vehicle while traveling at 75 mph.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Jul 11, 2023
Crossing 4 way intersection with no cars or animals in site and while accelerating at about 40 mph vehicle came to a shuddering halt in the middle of the road for no reason. My husband and I were both thrown forward whipping our necks back and forth and my collar bone taking a direct hit with the seat belt. There were no sounds to warn us, no lights came on it just slammed its own brakes for no reason. My dealership brought me a loaner and vehicle was towed to them where they are working on getting the issue solved, but I am going to be terrified this will happen again and rightly so.