2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine535.7%
- Powertrain (other)535.7%
- Body & structure17.1%
- Brakes17.1%
- Electrical17.1%
- Fuel system17.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
This is for Jeep's brand new Hurricane 4 engine. The buyer has no option to chose the reliable 3.6L 6 cylinder in the 2026 Summit model. Theis 4 cylinders throttle response lag, from a stop or slow speed, is EXTREMELY dangerous! When trying to move into traffic from a street or driveway the Jeep just rolls slowly as if it was in Neutral; there is no acceleration. I can floor the accelerator pedal & it takes literally a full 2 seconds every time before the engine responds. All the while the traffic you are trying to safely merge into is rapidly approaching. I took my Jeep to the Jeep Service Department & their response was "NO DTCS. COMPARE TO LIKE VEHICLE, AT THIS TIME WORKING TO SPEC . NOTE ENGINE IS TURBO EQUIP AND MAY HAVE A SLIGHT DELAY UNTIL TURBO KICKS IN". No throttle response for 2 seconds does not fall into the category of a "SLIGHT DELAY". When a vehicle is approaching at 45-50+ MPH and you have no throttle response ... it's an accident waiting to happen.
The contact owns a 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated and started blinking quickly before remaining continuously illuminated. The vehicle was jerking, and while it was in park, it vibrated excessively. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer; however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. STAR engineers later determined that the spark plugs were inoperable. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred shortly afterwards. The vehicle was then towed back to the local dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact requested a loaner vehicle, but the request was denied. The manufacturer had not been contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 788.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2026 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving and making a right turn, the vehicle hesitated and jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was turned off and restarted and responded as intended upon shifting into drive(D). No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a loss of battery communication with the computer due to a dead battery. The battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under an unknown recall. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for a third time, but no further diagnostic information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact not to trade the vehicle due to the safety risk. The service manager informed the contact that another repair attempt was required before the vehicle could be considered under the Lemon Law. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10.
Vehicle was purchased new from a franchised dealer. Six days after purchase, at approximately 105 miles on the odometer, the vehicle experienced a transmission failure while being driven with my family, including a young child, on board (warning message displayed - Service Transmission, loss of forward motion, harsh shifting, inability to shift gears while driving on the street). The vehicle was taken to the selling dealer, whose service department diagnosed a failure of the transmission valve body. The diagnosis was made and documented by the dealer's service department, and service records exist confirming the failure. The failed component was NOT on the dealer's possession as part of the repair process; availability for inspection is UNKNOWN, as the dealer subsequently replaced the entire vehicle with a new unit rather than returning the original vehicle to me. Prior to the failure, A WARNING MESSAGE stating "Service Transmission" appeared. The manufacturer was notified of the failure through its customer care process. To my knowledge the vehicle was not inspected by police or insurance representatives. Safety risk: a drivetrain failure on a vehicle in its first week of service presented a risk of unexpected loss of motive power in traffic with passengers aboard, including a child.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
Purchase the vehicle May 19th and on arriving home later that week realize the passenger rear wheel well had no plastic nuts holding it on which also holds the bumper support beam so therefore the rear bumper was blowing in the wind. Contacted Capital City Chrysler Dodge Jeep ram about it and they offered no solution to this so I ended up having to buy parts from Mopar parts online to attempt to correct. The wheel liner could have easily blown out of the wheel Arch and caused a safety issue had we not taken one of the nuts from the driver side and put on the passenger to hold it more firm. Dealership sent an email saying that they simply cannot check all of these safety issues in a 15 minute inspection when they come off the truck.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I purchased a new 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee on May 9, 2026. On June 4, 2026, less than one month after purchase, the vehicle experienced a sudden brake system failure while I was driving. The brake pedal became hard and unresponsive, the ABS warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle had very limited stopping power. Fortunately, I was able to safely drive the vehicle to the dealership without an accident or injuries. The dealership diagnosed the problem as a failed brake booster (part # 68734134AB) requiring replacement. However, the replacement brake booster is on backorder, and Stellantis has confirmed that there is currently no estimated delivery date and no assigned distribution for the part. As a result, my vehicle has been out of service for 4 weeks with no repair timeline. Stellantis has acknowledged that this involves a critical safety component but has been unable to provide a meaningful resolution beyond monitoring the backorder. I continue to make lease payments, insurance payments, and other vehicle-related expenses for a brand-new vehicle that I cannot safely operate because of a warranty-covered safety defect. This is a serious safety concern because the failure involved the vehicle's braking system and significantly reduced the vehicle's ability to stop. Had this occurred at highway speeds or in heavy traffic, the consequences could have been catastrophic. I am submitting this complaint because I believe this brake system failure warrants investigation to determine whether it affects other 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles and whether the lack of availability of replacement brake boosters for a critical safety component creates an ongoing risk to consumers. A vehicle with a brake system failure should not remain out of service indefinitely because a safety-critical replacement part is unavailable.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2026 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving and making a right turn, the vehicle hesitated and jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was turned off and restarted and responded as intended upon shifting into drive(D). No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a loss of battery communication with the computer due to a dead battery. The battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under an unknown recall. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for a third time, but no further diagnostic information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact not to trade the vehicle due to the safety risk. The service manager informed the contact that another repair attempt was required before the vehicle could be considered under the Lemon Law. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Heavy vibration of entire vehicle when in reverse. Occasional lack of power when accelerating. Issues with the transmission occasionally failing to shift gears.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .