2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 35–40 MPH, the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart after several attempts. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times, including three times while driving to the dealer. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V438000 (Electrical System) which was associated with the VIN. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the recall repair might not be able to be performed because of the age of the vehicle. In addition, the contact was informed that if the repair was approved by the manufacturer, the labor fee might be at the owner's expense. The contact was informed that the manufacturer needed to approve the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer made the manufacturer aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 184,111.

NHTSA ID

11701189

Incident

Nov 22, 2025

Mileage

184,111 mi

Every single code is displayed when using a ODB2 scan tool. I have many electrical issues that go away and come back. Sluggish performance. Random components inside the jeep will fail at random. I’m thinking the ECU is faulty. Somedays it will run fine with all the codes still present.

NHTSA ID

11690782

Incident

Sep 10, 2024

The contact owns a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal tapping sound coming from the engine. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the lifters needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11601586

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

I was at the light a and the truck caught on fired

NHTSA ID

11541226

Incident

Aug 25, 2023

1. Engine over heating problems numerous times and coolant leak. Even after replacement of radiator and hoses. 2. Went to pick up jeep from mechanic due to oil leak, when they brought it around, I noticed pink fluid dripping. Had Transmission serviced in March/April 2020 due to a leak., Flushed system, new filters and fluid. Last few months vehicle says "Transmission over Temp" a few times. Replaced transmission pan, due to a leak, new fluid added, in September 2022. Vehicle indicated "Transmission over Temp" a few weeks later. Didn't drive it a few days, haven't seen the warning sign yet. 3. Numerous oil leaks. Serpitean belt replaced along with other repairs. 4. When I bought vehicle, it had no heat and coolant was leaking in on passenger side floor. 5. Jeep shifts to 3rd gear and won't shift down or back into drive until I turn off vehicle and back on. Very dangerous I was a busy road, US 41 heading north, and had to pull over.

NHTSA ID

11497962

Incident

Mar 1, 2020

The ECM in trans has defect which can throw jeep into another gear. Electrical issues confuses trans module check engine light us on.. differential is loose now. Unsafe to drive gears could shift causing a crash . Vehicle has been diagnosed at Mr Transmission. 773-768 7676. For full REPORT!+=

NHTSA ID

11487577

Incident

Sep 19, 2022

Vehicle slips into neutral when driving. Only ways you fix is to put in park turn off the car and turn it back on.

NHTSA ID

11475575

Incident

Jul 24, 2022

Entering my exit I noticed my 1month old was no longer sound asleep but screaming I turned around noticing she was being approached by smoke arising from the back of the vehicle.As panic set in I immediately tried to come to stop moving off the exit. At the same time clear fluid gushed out of the hood and smoke immediately entered the front of the vehicle making it difficult to come to a stop see or breath. I went blank out of fear or pure confusion as I reached for my infant in the back as quickly as I could at that point she was. No longer crying. I shot out of the vehicle as fast as possible and stayed in a safety spot attempting to shield her from the sun as I watched the jeep ignite and continue to smoke itself out witnesses gathered around one allowing me to sit in her vehicle with my baby until help arrived. NO warning signs once so ever no indication of an over heating vehicle drove perfectly and not frequently it may be inspected at the towing it was taken to as for the safety of my newborn and myself we both could’ve tragically ended up gone because I was not and would not have thought twice about leaving my daughter in that vehicle. she just got into this world to be taken that fast it wasnt an option. I’ve been very uneasy since the incident with absolutely anything that functions or is electronic. Continues replay in my head over and over again in detail and nothing new pops up truly a very Traumatic experience and an unexpected loss. appointments I can’t make it to have had to cancel I do not have family here especially not close by to help me this accident was by far caused by the vehicle because it definitely look like he had a mind of its own suddenly

NHTSA ID

11471460

Incident

Jun 15, 2022

IT STARTED OUT WITH MY KEY FOB NOT UNLOCKING MY CAR. SO I DECIDED TO UNLOCK MY CAR MANUALLY, DOING SO SET OFF THE ALARM AND HAD THE LIGHTS BLINKING AND HORN GOING OFF. SO I THEN DECIDED TO ORDER A NEW FOB WITH A NEW BATTERY (EVEN THOUGH MINE WAS NEW). THAT DIDN'T WORK, SO I DECIDED TO CALL SOMEONE TO COME PROGRAM MY FOB, THINKING THAT WAS THE ISSUE. SO THEY DID. IT WORKED FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. THEN THE FOB DIDN'T UNLOCK MY CAR, BRAND NEW FOB, BRAND NEW BATTERY. BACK TO SQUARE 1, UNLOCKING IT MANUALLY DEALING WITH THE HORN ISSUE. THEN, 1 DAY GOT IN MY CAR, STARTED IT AND PULLED IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE HORN WENT OFF AND WOULD NOT STOP EVEN AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE CAR. IT CONTINUED TO BE AN ISSUE AND THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE RESOLVED. SO WE PULLED THE FUSE TO MY HORN. NOW I'M DRIVING WITH NO HORN, A HAZARD. ISSUES CONTINUED, MY CAR NOW NOT ONLY WILL THE ALARM STILL GO OFF WITH FLASHING LIGHTS NOW IT'S NOT STARTING, IT'S EVEN ACTED UP WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE HAVING WEIRD SPASMS AND ACCELERATING. WORRIED BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE A BRAND NEW BATTERY AND EVEN GOT IT TESTED BY MECHANICS AND THEY SAID THE BATTERY WAS FINE. MY CAR HAS HUGE ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND THE AIRBAGS APPARENTLY DON'T WORK EITHER. BUT I'VE PULLED OUT FUSES AND IT SOMETIMES REBOOTS THE CAR AND WILL START NORMAL AND WORK FOR MAYBE A FEW DAYS BEFORE ACTING UP AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT WON'T EVEN START AND MAKE A CLICKING SOUND AS IF IT'S THE BATTERY BUT THEN AFTER MANY TRIES OR SOMETIMES A FEW IT'LL START. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A BIT NOW AND HAS JUST GOTTEN WORSE AND MORE WORRISOME

NHTSA ID

11397818

Incident

Feb 9, 2020

MY JEEP 5.7L V8 WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL ON IGNITION AND COMPUTER FLASH FOR RECEIVER. WHILE THERE I ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE TICKING NOISE COMING FROM MY MOTOR. I WAS ADVISED THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THIS MOTOR AND MILEAGE(88,000). THIS TICK KEEPS GETTING WORSE AND I SEE MOST 5.7S UP TO NOW STILL HAVE IT ,BEFORE THE LIFTERS RUIN A CRANKSHAFT. IS THE NHTSA GOING TO CORRECT THIS TRAVESTY OR HIDE BEHIND THEIR REPUTATION ,LIKE THE CRASH DUMMY NEXT TO THIS PAGE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME,TOM [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC

NHTSA ID

11343045

Incident

Aug 2, 2016

Mileage

88,000 mi

WON'T SPEED UP AND WHEN IS DOES IT GETS JAMMED AND IT SHAKES AND WHEN I BREAK ITS SHAKES EVEN WHEN I TURN. I JUST BOUGHT IT AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT IT'S EITHER THE MOTOR MESSED UP OR THE COMPUTER. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT'LL COST ME 3,000 I DON'T HAVE THAT. I SAVED UP FOR A HEAD TO BY IT. AND A MONTH AFTER I GOT IT IT'S MESSING UP. BUT WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND IT THREW NO CODES NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. IT TOOK ALL OF A MONTH TO BREAK DOWN ON ME. AND THE BATTERY WON'T STAY CHARGED THEY PUT IN A NEW BATTERY WHEN I FIRST GOT IT. THEN I HAD TO WARRANTY ANOTHER BECAUSE THAT ONE STOPPED WORKING. I JUST NEED HELP TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON.

NHTSA ID

11338721

Incident

Jun 29, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

ALL SAFETY RECALLS AND RECALLS HAVE NOT BEEN DONE

NHTSA ID

11337820

Incident

Jul 7, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUTOFF DURING COLD STARTS AND REQUIRED AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME TO RESTART ESPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11337660

Incident

Jul 6, 2020

EVERY DAY I CRANK UP MY JEEP I GIVE IT 5-10 MINS BEFORE I MOVE IT BECAUSE IT HAS THIS SHAKE OR VIBRATION TO IT REALLY BAD IT STOPS AND THEN ONCE I HAVE EXCEEDED 45-55 MPH AND START TO COME TO A STOP IT SHAKES THE ENTIRE FRONT END. NOW IF I'M BELOW 45 IT DON'T REALLY DO IT AS OFTEN! WHEN I TURN OR HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE FRONT END RATTLED OR VIBRATING FROM IT! SOME DAYS WHEN I'M TRYING TO MAKE A U TURN IT SEEMS AS IF IT'S HAVING A HARD TIME TURNING! CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON AND OFF! HAD IT CHECKED NOTHING IS COMING UP INDICATING A MISFIRE OR ANYTHING! THE GAS MILEAGE SUCKS! GET A FULL TUNE UP AND IT WILL RUN BETTER SPENDING ALL MY MONEY AND IT'S STILL A PIECE OF CRAP! *TR

NHTSA ID

11327528

Incident

Jun 6, 2020

Mileage

159,553 mi

ECM WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. CONNECTIONS WERE FAILING. DUE TO THIS ENGINE POWER WAS LOST WHILE RUNNING. AT TIMES WOULD JUST SHUT OFF. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT TIME OF WIGGLING PCM BUT DON'T WANT TO FIND OUT IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN IF I HIT A ROUGH SPOT ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 75. PROBLEM IS MANUFACTURER IS NOT PRODUCING THESE COMPUTERS ANYMORE AND CAN'T FIND ONE ANYWHERE, ALSO CAN'T BE REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

11277287

Incident

Aug 29, 2019

Mileage

115,000 mi

MY CAR JUST STOP ONE DAY I PUT IN NEW STUFF AND IT JUST WON'T CRANK ANYMORE IT'S LIKE IT DON'T WANNA GET GAS THE SYSTEM AND COMPUTER IN CAR DON'T WORK

NHTSA ID

11269768

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

Mileage

215,904 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START IMMEDIATELY. ONCE THE CONTACT WAS FINALLY ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE REVVED ON ITS OWN. ONCE THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ASSOCIATED WITH ANOTHER FAILURE. THE CONTACT WORKED AS A MECHANIC; THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,663.

NHTSA ID

11257509

Incident

Sep 16, 2019

Mileage

140,663 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD OR HESITATED. THE VEHICLE ALSO DROVE VERY ROUGHLY. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AS THE ENGINE WARMED UP, THE HARNESS PLUGS PRODUCED SPARKS, AND THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR AND LIGHTNING BOLT ICON ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PHILLIPS CHRYSLER DODGE (3401 US-441, FRUITLAND PARK, FL 34731, (352) 702-9103) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID

11241700

Incident

Mar 13, 2019

Mileage

115,000 mi

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER OF 2017 AS I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE PARKWAY MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PICKING UP SPEED. NO POWER SO HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND THE DROVE TO PEP BOYS TO HAVE THE MECHANICS TAKE A LOOK AT IT. WAS IN THE SHOP FOR ABOUT A WEEK.

NHTSA ID

11229126

Incident

Sep 18, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS NOT TOWED AWAY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300,000.

NHTSA ID

11208697

Incident

May 20, 2019

Mileage

300,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ABNORMAL ODOR, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE HOOD. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SECURITY DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (345 MERRICK RD, AMITYVILLE, NY 11701, 631-240-0824) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD COME TO INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 142,000.

NHTSA ID

11131557

Incident

Sep 22, 2018

Mileage

142,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, IT OVERHEATED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED TO HOT AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND FAILED TO START. ALSO, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR IN THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE APPEARED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE "TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING" MESSAGE WAS ALSO DISPLAYED. THE CONTACT CALLED PIEDMONT CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE (4015 CLEMSON BLVD, ANDERSON, SC 29621, (864) 260-5750) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V396000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 247,000.

NHTSA ID

11123327

Incident

Aug 27, 2018

Mileage

247,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SEIZED INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11120536

Incident

Aug 15, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY 05 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 3.7L V6 WITH 79K MILES ON IT JUNE 21, 2016. IN JULY OF 2017, IT STARTED TO BOG DOWN WITH A CONSTANT SHUTTER WHEN STARTING UP AND ACCELERATING, THE CEL WAS ALSO ON. I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE CEL CHECKED OUT AND IT WAS SHOWING 22 CODES SAYING THAT THE O2 SENSOR HAD A HIGH VOLTAGE CIRCUIT. UPON EXAMINNG AND TESTING THE O2 SENSOR THERE WAS NOTHING FOUND TO BE WRONG. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER THE CEL CAME ON AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME IT SHOWED THE SAME O2 SENSOR WAS RUNNING LEAN AND RICH AT THE SAME TIME. I REPLACED THE SENSOR AT THAT TIME. NOW IT IS SHOWING ANOTHER CODE P0430 AND THE TIMING CHAIN FOR THE ELECTRONIC SHIFT TRANSMISSION IS JUMPING. I WAS INFORMED THIS HAPPENS TO THESE TRANSMISSIONS ALL THE TIME AND THERE IS NO REPAIR FOR IT. ALL I CAN DO IS DRIVE IT UNTIL IT GOES AND BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS IS NOT FAIR

NHTSA ID

11083919

Incident

Jul 18, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

BEEN WAITING SOMETIME FOR THE DEALER TO GET HIS PART FOR MY RECALL IN ADDITION TO THIS THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE SMOKING AND THE MOTOR IS RUNNING ERRATIC I BELIEVE THIS IS A BIG PIECE OF JUNK AND GOVERNMENT SHOULD BUY BACK. THE JEEP WAS A BIGGEST LEMON EVER. WAS DRIVING IT FROM YOGURTLAND WAS DRIVING IT FROM YOGURTLAND ONLY A FEW MILES AWAY ON THE WAY BACK IT WAS SMOKING LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN THE TRANNY WAS SLIPPING IN THE MOTOR IS RUNNING ERRATIC

NHTSA ID

11056271

Incident

Sep 8, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi