2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Engine Problems

2019 Jeep grand Cherokee, noticed to have leaking water pump, engine showed no signs of overheating. Water pump and thermostat changed due to a small fluctuating of temp gauge but never over the half way mark. Took it in for diagnostics, which, after reading many reviews of ongoing issues with head gaskets in jeeps, even after Jeep said they remedy it in 2016, I asked for diagnostics done on my radiator and head gaskets to only see it was in fact leaking head gaskets. There was no signs other than a leaking water pump and small fluctuation when the water pump started to leak, but engine never read that it was overheating nor did oil temp. Seems to be an ongoing issue with the 3.6L engines that Jeep is still selling and a lot of people are paying for major engine repairs, at such lower mileages.

NHTSA ID

11752532

Incident

May 5, 2026

One day after driving the vehicle around town and after we parked it in the garage, we noticed a large pool of oil on the garage floor. After taking it to a service station, for inspection, we were told that the oil leak was caused by a cracked plastic oil cooler. We were told if we had not noticed the oil leak, the engine could have locked up and caused a serious accident. The next day we were going to take the vehicle on the highway for a trip. The service station said they have had multiple cracked plastic oil coolers come in for repairs on the same vehicle, year, make and model. There was no warning.

NHTSA ID

11746838

Incident

Apr 15, 2026

While attempting to park my vehicle, it suddenly accelerated on its own, causing the car to move quickly toward a tree and a nearby building. I immediately attempted to stop the vehicle by pressing the brake pedal, but the car continued to accelerate. The engine was roaring, and I even tried using both feet on the brake pedal in an effort to stop the vehicle, but it did not respond. The only way I was able to stop the vehicle was by turning off the engine. Due to the unexpected acceleration and my concern that it could happen again, the vehicle was not safe to drive. A tow truck was called, and the vehicle was transported to a mechanic for inspection.

NHTSA ID

11728491

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

Vehicle: 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Engine: 3.6L V6 (Pentastar) While driving on the highway, the vehicle experienced a sudden engine overheating condition, followed by a catastrophic failure of the coolant recovery tank. This failure created a serious safety hazard and appears to be the result of a known and well-documented head gasket defect in the 3.6L engine used in Jeep Grand Cherokees. While driving at highway speed, the vehicle was operating normally until I made a left turn. Immediately after the turn, the engine temperature began to rise rapidly, indicating an overheating condition. I turned around and began driving back toward my residence to avoid further damage or a roadside breakdown. Before reaching home, the coolant recovery tank violently exploded, releasing coolant throughout the engine bay. As well as strong burning coolant chemical smells throThis occurred while the vehicle was still in operation and could have resulted in loss of visibility, fire risk, or complete engine failure while driving. After inspection by a qualified professional, the failure was confirmed to be caused by a failed head gasket, which allowed combustion gases to pressurize the cooling system until the coolant recovery tank ruptured. This failure occurred without warning and while the vehicle was being driven on public roadways. A sudden coolant system explosion and rapid overheating can result in: Loss of engine power while driving Fire risk from hot coolant contacting engine components Loss of vehicle control Stranding occupants in unsafe conditions This represents a significant safety defect. Jeep Grand Cherokees equipped with the 3.6L engine are widely known to experience head gasket failures, typically occurring between 50,000 and 75,000 miles. Despite this known issue, Stellantis/Chrysler has not issued a recall, technical service campaign, or extended warranty related to this defect.

NHTSA ID

11726070

Incident

Mar 21, 2026

The vehicle will shut down while in gear and driving at lower speeds. Happens at least 2-3 times per day for last 3 weeks

NHTSA ID

11723665

Incident

Mar 11, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact state while driving at various speeds, the engine overheated and there was a misfire coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The message that the Auto START/STOP system needed to be serviced was displayed, and that the engine was overheating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions, and the camshaft, the water pump, and the EGR were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the camshaft phasers and the oil control valve were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

NHTSA ID

11722919

Incident

Jan 5, 2026

Mileage

76,000 mi

While driving at highway speeds, with no warning, my vehicle shuts off forcing me to perform and emergency exits. In these situations, I have observed the dashboard screen directly in front of me read: Vehicle Not In Park

NHTSA ID

11722538

Incident

Mar 2, 2026

2019 jeep grand Cherokee 3.6L. Severe misfiring on expressway causing vehicle to shake uncontrollably and stall. “Pentastar tick” Ticking sound coming from engine. Took to local repair shop and right cam shaft is worn down causing misfiring and engine damage. Cost is $4,000 for the camshaft replacement and will likely need a new engine. Vehicle has less than 109,000 miles on it. Known issue on this vehicle, I called multiple shops and they all said that the can shaft is probably bad because they see the issue all the time.

NHTSA ID

11720243

Incident

Feb 11, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the engine stalled. The ABS and check engine warning lights and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who confirmed that the vehicle was experiencing the failures; however, the official diagnosis information was not provided. The dealer confirmed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V838000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11704653

Incident

Aug 12, 2025

Mileage

150,000 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V838000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake lights remained illuminated even though the brake pedal was not depressed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the brake lights remained illuminated for several minutes after turning off the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the dealer, where it was determined that the failure was related to the recall, but parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

NHTSA ID

11703692

Incident

Nov 25, 2024

Mileage

46,000 mi

My 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee (3.6L engine) suffered a sudden and catastrophic engine failure immediately after the dealership misdiagnosed a coolant leak from the oil cooler assembly. The oil cooler on this engine has a well-documented history of cracks, coolant contamination, and sudden oil loss across multiple Jeep model years. On October 25, I reported a coolant leak to the dealership, including a photo of bright pink coolant. The service advisor incorrectly told me it was “oil mixed with coolant,” did not document urgency, and did not involve a technician. I received no warning that this leak was dangerous or likely to cause engine failure. Within about a week, the oil cooler assembly failed, dumping the engine oil, causing smoke, knocking, and complete engine destruction. There was no prior warning from the dealership despite me reporting this issue directly. The dealership later created service notes that inaccurately stated they “informed me of a leak,” which is untrue. I informed them. Their failure to diagnose and communicate the seriousness of this defect directly resulted in my engine being destroyed. This failure mirrors hundreds of other owner reports regarding oil cooler cracks on the 3.6L Pentastar. This appears to be a pattern of premature oil cooler failure with severe safety consequences and no recall.

NHTSA ID

11702562

Incident

Nov 5, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the contact heard an abnormally loud knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The START/STOP warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the head gasket had failed, causing coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the head gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11701570

Incident

Nov 25, 2025

Mileage

130,000 mi

My ESC, ABS, and check engine lights have been on for months due to this recall that has no fix.

NHTSA ID

11700329

Incident

Aug 11, 2025

I am reporting a serious safety failure related to the ABS/ESC recall on my 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Parts have not been available for over a year, and my vehicle has now experienced the dangerous conditions described in the recall. Before the failure, while stopped at a red light in Drive with my foot firmly on the brake, the vehicle suddenly rolled backward on its own. I had to forcefully press the brake to stop it. This should never happen and indicates brake system failure. About 10 minutes later, while driving on the highway, the vehicle experienced a sudden safety system failure. Multiple warning lights came on (ABS, ESC, brake system, check engine), the accelerator pedal became unresponsive, a burning smell came from the vehicle, and I temporarily lost control. I could not pull over immediately due to traffic, which created a very dangerous situation. The vehicle eventually became undriveable and required towing. I am thankful my children were not in the car. This is an extreme safety hazard. Stellantis still has no parts available and has not provided a repair or transportation option. This forces owners to choose between parking their vehicle indefinitely or driving a known unsafe vehicle. I request NHTSA review the lack of parts and enforcement of this recall, as it is putting families at risk. Owner: [XXX] , [XXX] Email: [XXX] [XXX] my contact INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11697549

Incident

Nov 4, 2025

The car gets started, message pops up saying to safely put the vehicle into park it will shut off soon. It then starts shaking, will not allow you to shift gears, revs up still shaking, it then shuts off and all of the dash panels messages are popping up, ABS, a message to service the air suspension, engine light, car not in park (can't shift it) (we have put tire chucks to hopefully keep it from moving), etc are flashing as well as the interior lights, exterior lights flashing. The only way to get all of the lights to stop flashing is to unhook the brand new auxiliary battery. Mechanic has scanned for codes, more than 60 appear. Once we are able to reattach the battery, we were able to start it, put it into gear before all of the messages and lights started going off again.

NHTSA ID

11695416

Incident

Oct 20, 2025

The vehicle lost powertrain upon accelaration. Merging onto a freeway and accelerating my vehicle was as if it was in Neutral. Same with starting out at a stop sign, coming to a turn lane and accerlerating to cross traffic, NO POWERTRAIN... just neutral. This issue was also reported by my mechanic when I brought it in as he test drove it. He contacted the local dealership and they inspected as well. Both came to the same conclusion as to what the issue was. The dealership mentioned having repaired over 30 vehicles with the same issue outside of warranty. This issue is very intermittent, which makes it even more dangerous and harder to diagnose until it starts to happen more often as my vehicle put on more miles. No warning lights or messages of failure. I was almost hit broadside at an intersection and nearly rearended on the interstate at 65 mph. My life was seriously in jeopardy as I panic stricken to get power entering the interstate with my vehicle basically in neutral. I had to pull over and shift to park and then to Drive again. According the local dealership and many forums, Jeep is aware of this issue and has had NO RECALL since the majority are out of warranty by the time they are diagnosed. I am beyond frustrated at the sheer danger this has. I am lucky I didn't get hit, someone else may not be. This should have been a recall before the warranty expired. I am now out thousands of dollars on repair and looking for resolution.

NHTSA ID

11694863

Incident

Aug 29, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received information on NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V838000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the check engine and brake warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. The contact called the local dealer and scheduled an appointment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11692497

Incident

Oct 9, 2025

Mileage

70,000 mi

Just purchased a 2019 Jeep grand cherokee high altitude from stuteville Ford dealership in ponca city oklahoma and they stated the vehicle was fixed, later after block test found out it has a bad headgasket

NHTSA ID

11691386

Incident

Jul 31, 2025

Vehicle reverse camera will stay on while driving. Leak in gasket. Leak in right mount. Radiator issue undiagnosed. Car is available for inspection at anytime as it is currently inoperable and I do not have the thousands of dollars to fix what is wrong with it while it only has 53k miles and licensed repair shop (not dealership as I was told by tech there to get initial issues fixed outside for a lower cost - all repair and service records also available) has advised faulty parts as listed above. Forgive me, I am not a car person so I do not know what exact things, but can provide. Have been on the phone all morning with FCA, manufacturing, and back and forth until this information was received. I have pulled a recall list by VIN and found that some issues with my Jeep are on there; however, apparently my specific VIN is not associated with the recalls listed (can provide report), I am responsible for repairs. Only warning lamp I have received was for a "cylinder 1 misfire" that was diagnosed at Jeep of Fontana in CA, where I was told to take it elsewhere. Now, after having a tuneup last week, I started my Jeep on Sunday and it began smoking. Was told at local shop, Mountain View Tire in Rialto/Fontana, they cannot fix. Please assist!

NHTSA ID

11690586

Incident

Sep 23, 2025

Car shifts out of gear without pushing the brake. The gear shifter will switch to neutral while driving. While not driving car can shift into reverse without pushing the brake and barely touching the gear shifter. Thai cause the car to stop at high speeds on the highway and unsafely go into gear. This recall has been unresolved for at least a year and is dangerous.

NHTSA ID

11689802

Incident

Sep 10, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the engine was misfiring and there was a minor water pump leak. The dealer changed the drive mode from level 4 to level 2, and the check engine warning light was reset. The dealer advised the contact to take the vehicle back to the dealer later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the spark plugs, the cylinders, the head gasket, and other unknown parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,002.

NHTSA ID

11685618

Incident

Aug 27, 2025

Mileage

97,002 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received a recall notification in November of 2024 for NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V838000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated continuously. The ABS warning light illuminated, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. While at a stoplight, the vehicle turned off and restarted. The local dealer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who informed the contact that the recall repair would be available soon. The failure mileage was approximately 20,337.

NHTSA ID

11678855

Incident

Aug 6, 2025

Mileage

20,337 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle on several occasions, there was an abnormal tapping sound coming from the engine compartment. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds on several occasions, the check engine warning light flashed, and the vehicle started shuddering. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the lifters needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

NHTSA ID

11678179

Incident

Mar 15, 2025

Mileage

57,000 mi

I am writing to express my serious concern and request immediate goodwill assistance regarding my 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee High Altitude . This vehicle has suffered a head gasket failure at just over 100,000 miles and has been diagnosed by the dealership as a cost for myself to fix head gasket and recommended a full engine replacement. I have been a loyal Jeep customer since I was 16 years old. I previously owned a 2008 and a 2010 Grand Cherokee and have always supported the brand. In May 2022, after saving up my hard-earned money, I purchased this 2019 Grand Cherokee High Altitude for over $55,000. The monthly payments are significant, but I chose this vehicle because I believed in the Jeep name and expected quality, performance, and long-term reliability. Unfortunately, this vehicle has been anything but that. In just over two years, it has become a complete money pit. I’ve already had to replace the water pump at 50,000 miles, the radiator at 80,000 miles, and now—at 102,000 miles—the head gasket has blown. These are major repairs that should not be happening on a vehicle that is so well maintained and primarily driven on the highway. I treat this vehicle like my own child, staying on top of all maintenance—fluids, filters, routine checks, and oil changes every 5,000 miles. I’ve also had to pay out of pocket for three separate rental vehicles in the last 18 months due to these recurring issues. This vehicle has not only been unreliable but has also disrupted my ability to work. I drive for a living, commuting between multiple job sites, and I chose this vehicle for its sharp look and supposed quality. Instead, it has caused me immense stress and financial strain. Adding to my frustration is the fact that I had a 7-year/100,000-mile warranty and was not notified that it was about to expire. Had I been properly informed, I would have explored my options before this latest major failure. It's clear that the 3.6L engine has a pattern of issu

NHTSA ID

11674385

Incident

Jul 17, 2025

My 2019 Jeep grand Cherokee currently has a blown head gasket. I have the 3.6 engine and I am finding out that this is a common issue for this engine. I have taken my car to the dealer and they have confirmed that it is a blown head gasket. Once you start the vehicle, it has a rough idle and smoke comes out of the tailpipe. Before I took the car to the dealer, I took it to a mechanic shop because the engine light came on and it was having the same issues as listed above, they had said there were misfires. I have regularly maintained my vehicle. This is a huge safety risk. Actions needs to be taken by Jeep to make this right, this is a very common issue that Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles are seeing.

NHTSA ID

11674225

Incident

Jun 1, 2025