2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Steering Problems

Power steering failed. It is currently at the dealership having the rack and pinion replaced.

NHTSA ID

11751062

Incident

Jul 14, 2026

I am reporting that the vehicle is having a constant knocking sound and weird rocking driving problem when in motion leading to pulling to one side and uneven balancing even with perfect alignment and no alignment issues. Vehicle has been serviced at the dealership without any remedy to the problem and was informed that other vehicles for the same model type Jeep 2021 Grand Cherokee L. Control Arms and other components were replaced and the problem was not resolved

NHTSA ID

11750457

Incident

Feb 2, 2026

While my wife was driving our 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee on [XXX] northbound in NY on the way with our children to school, she experienced a loss of steering as the wheel became almost impossible to turn. At the same time, the power steering light came on. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11746605

Incident

Nov 11, 2025

After the vehicle was parked on my driveway overnight, I started driving and i got this Steering warning lights Service power steering messages Multiple electronic systems glitching at the same time I had to stop in the middle of the street because the steering wheel was super hard. I was not able to turn any way. after a few minutes I turned off the vehicle and called the dealership to see if there was anything I could do. A temporary fix after restarting the car happened and I was able to take it nd have it looked at, but they wanted to charge me $250 to do an inspection.

NHTSA ID

11723426

Incident

Mar 10, 2026

I am reporting a failure of the Steering Column Control Module (SCCM) in my 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland. The failure is manifesting as an error message saying "service transmission" and the code that it is throwing says that the paddle shifters are overheating. This component is identical to the modules currently under Safety Recall 36B (NHTSA 24V-199) and Equipment Recall 15B (NHTSA 24E-025). The manufacturer has admitted that these modules possess an internal weld defect that prevents the driver’s side airbag from deploying in the event of a crash. Despite the clear safety risk and the fact that this model year/body style (WL) is the primary population for this defect, the manufacturer (Stellantis/Jeep) refuses to cover the repair, stating my specific VIN is not "flagged" in their internal database. I am concerned that the scope of the existing recalls is too narrow and that my vehicle is currently being operated with a non-functional or unreliable driver's airbag system due to this known hardware defect. I am requesting an investigation into why 2021 Grand Cherokee L models with these exact symptoms are being excluded from the safety remedy.

NHTSA ID

11723299

Incident

Feb 27, 2026

I experienced electrical issues that resulted in loss of steering and difficulty turning my 2021 Jeep Cherokee Laredo. The steering became very hard to turn, and warning lights were present. This created a safety concern because the vehicle was difficult to control. I took the vehicle to an authorized Jeep dealership in Midwest City, Oklahoma. The dealership diagnosed the issue as a fuse array and attempted a repair. The vehicle remained at the dealership for approximately five days. After the repair attempt, I was informed that the fuse blew and that the vehicle now requires replacement of the power steering assembly. I was unable to afford the additional repair. The vehicle was returned to me with the original steering problem unresolved and remains difficult or unsafe to operate. I am reporting this because the vehicle experienced loss of steering, a serious safety issue, and was returned unrepaired after a failed diagnosis and repair attempt. I am concerned about a potential safety defect involving the steering and electrical system.

NHTSA ID

11711195

Incident

Jan 13, 2026

Started the vehicle and while pulling down the driveway the power steering suddenly went completely out. Warning lights began flashing and I was unable to steer vehicle. Stopped vehicle and turned off several times, however unable to overcome power steering loss, or reset warning lights. No other issues, considering the vehicle was just recently serviced for same complaint four weeks earlier and batteries replaced stemming from another recent issues with DTCS issues. Considering I was in a rural wooded area, I was forced to drive the vehicle home without power steering. I parked the vehicle waiting for appointment from dealer, and upon starting the vehicle, power steering returned, however a check engine fault light remained. The dealer found "many DTCS communication loss codes again", but stated nothing further they could do with the these factory defects at just 26,000 miles. I have all all documentation on these ongoing safety issues, with no help from Stellates.

NHTSA ID

11705112

Incident

Nov 9, 2025

There is a module that needs some sort of update I have power but my steering completely went out. All the lights in my dash came on, and my odometer started blinking. Ive read that newer models the 2023 edition also has this problem and has an open recall right now.

NHTSA ID

11691462

Incident

Oct 2, 2025

May 16,2025 my power steering light came on. I checked the fluid, and when I turned it back on it was gone. The next day, I started driving all my safety lights in dash & mirrors came on. When I pulled into my kids school it made a strange noise. I then drove right across the street to Lees tires. When I got there my power steering has completely quit working. They now saw my rack & pinions are broken & need replaced. I am now without a car until it is fixed

NHTSA ID

11661515

Incident

May 15, 2025

Upon startup, power steering service needed, no AEB, no lane departure warning available. Power steering does not work.

NHTSA ID

11652230

Incident

Apr 2, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was difficult to turn in the intended direction. In addition, the contact stated several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the steering wheel independently reset. The failure reoccurred, and the contact stated that the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was scheduled for diagnostic testing the following week. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,300.

NHTSA ID

11641392

Incident

Feb 7, 2025

Mileage

78,300 mi

December 2021 about 2 months after purchasing, traction control, power steering light would intermittently turn on as well as the radio screen would flash black. All of these were separate problems and were not ways necessarily present when another light was on but they did occasionally all happen at the same time. Periodically, not every time when the light came there was the inability to turn the wheel. The length of time the light of inability to turn the wheel would vary sometimes the light would go away after turning the vehicle off and turning it back on while other times it was days. By the time a shop is able to get it in to be looked at the lights were off and not able to be recreated. It was at the dealership for a while and was told I could bring it home. I had concerns the and voiced them that although the light isn’t on now, what if it does turn on and I can’t turn the steering wheel while driving? It couldn’t be fixed if they didn’t know what was causing it. Eventually an ‘update’ was done and supposed to have fixed the problem. The radio still flashes a black screen periodically, the lights didn’t come on as frequent and the inability to turn the wheel went away. Until recently December 2024 intermittent lights that come on but do not stay on, check engine light, electric power steering, front collision (off) and traction control. These lights have come on intermittently but do not stay on. I have had times where I was unable to turn the wheel, luckily not on the road, the vehicle has lost traction while driving in the snow over the winter and has occasionally felt like the vehicle was ‘chugging’ down the road. Now the symptoms are not present every time a light turns on sometimes it runs fine. The length of time the lights stay on vary and again by the time I can get an appt the lights are off and the lights do not always come on at the same time as another. So the issue occurring with hardly any miles and no again with about 50k mils.

NHTSA ID

11640099

Incident

Dec 18, 2021

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH over railroad tracks, the rear of the vehicle started swaying temporarily. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure recurred while driving over a bumpy road surface or a pothole. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear suspension had failed due to an impact; however, the contact informed the dealer that the vehicle had only driven over a bump on the road. The dealer verified that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V132000 (Suspension, Steering); which the contact related to the failure. The dealer determined that the lower control arms, the shocks, the axle shaft boots, and the sway bar end link needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the collateral damage repair could not be covered under the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had not yet received the recall notice. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.

NHTSA ID

11636121

Incident

Dec 27, 2024

Mileage

41,000 mi

While driving, the power steering disengaged and made the vehicle difficult to steer. The power steering warning light illuminated in the dash and the vehicle went into safety mode. After letting the vehicle remain shut down, the error code rectified itself and the power steering warning disappeared. Vehicle was serviced by the dealership and a power steering module update was performed. The rack and pinion were inspected. The vehicle subsequently suffered the same issue. Again, after driving to vehicle to safety and shutting it off, the issue resolved itself. This is a safety issue that appears to be electronic and allows the power steering to disengage while driving,

NHTSA ID

11631889

Incident

Dec 18, 2024

The dash lit up with all lights and it said SOS Power STEERING is out. I could not turn the wheel. The lights such as my miles was blinking, the seat belt was flashing along with dinging even though my seat belt was on. There has been recalls due to power steering issues but my car isn't on there. It put me and my son at risk for a terrible accident. I have taken it to a dealership. There were no warnings prior to this incident.

NHTSA ID

11631019

Incident

Dec 13, 2024