2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Best bet

Owners filed 188 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee in its first five years on the road, about 81 for every 100,000 sold: 0.6× the rate of a typical Grand Cherokee year. That's among the fewest of any Grand Cherokee year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the electrical system (22% of complaints, median 31,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.6×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Grand Cherokee year
Rank
5th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
188
first five years; 81 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
5
campaigns
4th generation (WK2), 2011–2021 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (facelift)

Photo: 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (facelift) · Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Electrical22% · 42 complaints · median 31,000 miles
  2. Powertrain19% · 35 complaints · median 30,000 miles
  3. Engine22% · 41 complaints · median 30,000 miles
  4. Brakes14% · 26 complaints · median 33,000 miles
  5. Fuel and propulsion11% · 20 complaints · median 19,000 miles
  6. Air bags3% · 6 complaints · median 34,000 miles
  7. Seats and belts6% · 12 complaints · median 35,000 miles
  8. Speed control5% · 9 complaints · median 16,000 miles
  9. Steering6% · 11 complaints · median 30,000 miles
  10. Body and structure4% · 7 complaints · median 7,000 miles

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Electrical

Owners of this Grand Cherokee report electrical glitches ranging from random window and liftgate movement to complete shutdowns while driving, sometimes with loss of steering or braking assist. Repairs like battery, harness, or module replacements often did not fully resolve the issue for some owners.

Warning signs:
Many report dashboard warning lights flashing or illuminating all at once, flickering gauges, windows rolling down on their own, and rough running or stalling before the failure.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced batteries, wiring harnesses, shifter modules, or software, though several owners say the problem returned or could not be duplicated or diagnosed.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 50,000 miles, among 38 complaints that give it

“the vehicle experienced unknown electrical failures. Additionally, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and stalled.”

“My jeep's engine will stop running, the "d" on the dashboard blinks and the center of the dashboard says "shift to park”

Engine

Owners describe their Grand Cherokee stalling or losing power unexpectedly while driving, sometimes on highways, with the engine failing to restart right away. Repairs have included head gaskets, cylinder work, radiators, and starters, though some owners say dealers couldn't pinpoint the cause.

Warning signs:
Many report rough idling, check engine lights, white exhaust smoke, unusual noises, or dashboard warnings like "shift to park" before the engine cut out or failed to start.
What shops did:
Owners say dealers and mechanics replaced parts such as head gaskets, cylinder components, starters, radiators, or VVT solenoids, though some could not find a cause or the problem returned.
Mileage:
most between 15,000 and 80,000 miles, among 48 complaints that give it

“The jeep does not always start again. It will stutter and shut off multiple times.”

“the engine just stopped. Able to coast to shoulder of highway. Put car in park and tried to restart the engine. It would not restart.”

Powertrain

Owners describe recurring transmission and drivetrain trouble, from hard shifting and stalling to full transmission or transfer case failure, sometimes leaving the vehicle stuck in gear or unable to move. Repairs often involved replacing transmissions or transfer cases, with some owners saying parts were hard to find or the issue came back.

Warning signs:
Many report warning lights such as "Service Shifter," "Service 4WD," or transmission overheat messages, along with jerking, banging, grinding noises, hesitation, or stalling before the failure.
What shops did:
Owners report dealers replacing transmissions, valve bodies, transfer cases, shifter modules or software updates, though some say the problem returned or parts were on back order.
Mileage:
most between 15,000 and 85,000 miles, among 43 complaints that give it

“3 times it has been stuck in 1st gear and not automatically shifted to higher gears”

“it was diagnosed that the power transfer unit (PTU) had failed”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

  • NHTSA 23V411000June 202380,629 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling

    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.

    Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 22V406000June 2022138,645 vehicles

    Fuel system, diesel: delivery: fuel pump

    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.

    Risk: Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the HPFP, and inspect and replace, if necessary, additional fuel system components, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 20V699000November 202028,884 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR VALVE)

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with the 3.0L EcoDiesel engines. The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may crack and allow pre-heated vaporized coolant to enter the EGR system. This mixture may combust inside the intake manifold.

    Risk: Combustion in the intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.

    Fix: FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EGR cooler, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V332000May 20184,815,661 vehicles

    Electrical system: software · Vehicle speed control: cruise control · Electrical system: wiring

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.

    Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

    Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 16V686000September 2016100 vehicles

    Equipment

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee manufactured August 8, 2016 through August 16, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the rear tow hook bracket or tow eye bracket may be loose.

    Risk: If the tow bracket is loose, the bracket may detach from the vehicle while being it is being driven, possibly becoming a road hazard. If the bracket detaches during a vehicle recovery, there may be a loss of control of the towed vehicle. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will confirm both tow hook bracket bolts are properly tightened, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Jeep sent NHTSA 352 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2017 Grand Cherokee. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 105591 · June 2025 · Warranty extensionFCA Caribbean Warranty Newsletter – Volume 11, Issue 6
  • S1623000028 Rev. K · June 2026Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot.
  • S1623000028 REV.I · May 2026Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot.
  • S2623000023 · April 2026Power Liftgate Inoperative.
  • S2621000003 REV.A · March 2026The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission models: 845RE, 8HP45, 850RE, 8HP50, 8HP70, 8HP75, 8HP75-PHEV, 8HP75-LCV, 8HP90, 8HP95.
  • S2608000010 · March 2026Active Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) B1A10-00, B1A11-00, B1A12- 00, B1A13-00-, B1A14-00, B1A15-00, B1A16-00, and B1A17-00 in The Radio Frequency Hub (RFH)
  • S1408000384 REV.J · March 2026Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs),…
  • S1408000384 REV.I · February 2026Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS Related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs),…

All 2017 Grand Cherokee bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
Owners filed 188 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee in its first five years on the road, about 81 for every 100,000 sold: 0.6× the rate of a typical Grand Cherokee year. That's among the fewest of any Grand Cherokee year. Ratings compare Grand Cherokee years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2017 Grand Cherokee problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the electrical system (22%), the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (19%) and the engine (22%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the most recent in June 2023 (engine and engine cooling). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Jeep. The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee on NHTSA.gov · How we rate