2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
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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
- Engine1445.2%
- Powertrain (other)825.8%
- Electrical39.7%
- Fuel system39.7%
- Brakes26.5%
- Body & structure13.2%
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
The contact owns a 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle was idling roughly, shuddering while turning, and hesitating while accelerating. The failures had occurred approximately three times. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 15-20 MPH and attempting to merge onto the highway, several unknown warning lights illuminated, an alarm sounded, and there was an abnormal burning odor, prompting the driver to pull over to the side of the road, where the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was restarted after several minutes and operated as intended. Additionally, the contact stated that while making a left turn onto a street, the vehicle stalled, nearly causing a crash with oncoming traffic. The contact promptly shifted into Park (P), restarted the vehicle, and continued driving. The contact also stated that while going through a car wash with the gear shifter in neutral(N), the Auto Park mode engaged, and the vehicle was almost rear-ended. The car wash was shut down, and the vehicle was pushed with assistance before being restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice; however, the contact was informed that no trouble codes were retrieved. The spark plugs were replaced under an unknown recall, and the shuddering ceased temporarily, but the failures persisted. The failure mileage was approximately 357.
The engine lag before the turbo kicks in has on two incidents now almost created 2 accidents. We have only owned this vehicle for one month. Out of that month 2-weeks of that it was in the dealership. 1- trying to merge into a roundabout 2- trying to cross an intersection My wife refuses to drive the vehicle now because it's unsafe. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer for the problem. They had it for 2-weeks and told us there is nothing wrong that's how it's supposed to run. There are no warning lights on the dash
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
Final NHTSA Complaint Vehicle information * Year: 2026 * Make: Jeep * Model: Grand Cherokee * Trim: Limited Reserve * Engine: Hurricane four-cylinder * VIN: [XXX] * Current mileage: 1,199 miles * Incident mileage: 1,181 miles * Incident location: Parking lot in [XXX] * Manufacturer case number: XXX * Dealerships involved: Sarasota Jeep and Venice Jeep Complaint title Bucking, jerking, rough running, unexpected forward movement, and stalling in Reverse Complaint description I am reporting a possible safety defect involving my 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited Reserve equipped with the Hurricane four-cylinder engine, VIN [XXX]. The vehicle repeatedly bucks and jerks during acceleration, including at approximately 5 mph in parking lots. It also runs roughly and has demonstrated unexpected forward movement. These problems affect the vehicle’s ability to accelerate and operate smoothly and may create a safety risk near pedestrians, parked vehicles, other objects, and surrounding traffic. On XXX, at approximately 4:49 p.m., in a parking lot in [XXX], and with the vehicle at approximately 1,181 miles, I shifted the vehicle into Reverse. The Jeep shook severely and stalled. After I restarted the Jeep, it ran very roughly, continued bucking, and jumped forward unexpectedly. This created a potential risk of striking another vehicle, pedestrian, or object in the parking lot. The vehicle also continues to buck and jerk at approximately 5 mph in parking lots, creating an additional risk of unexpected movement near pedestrians, parked vehicles, and other obstacles. On XXX, at approximately 6:22 p.m., I contacted Jeep Customer Care and reported that the vehicle had stalled when I shifted into Reverse and that it ran very roughly after restarting. The manufacturer case number is XXX. I previously reported the bucking and jerking condition to Jeep dealerships. A service advisor at Sarasota Jeep stated INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I burned my right fingers when I went to Move the metal sharp gear selector knob,I was trying to reverse And the Dial knob was to hot to touch,I had to find a cloth to cover it so I dident burn my hand again, then I was able to move it to reverse and then drive,this very unsafe. My next problem was that in the parking lot the other day I think it was 8/20/2026,I was at a stop sign and took my foot off brake and the car started bucking and almost hit another car driving by,the car is jumping on its own,the salesmen who just sold me the car said this is normal because it’s a turbo,this is extremely dangerous,and my last problem is that there is excessive orange peel on the entire body of the car,and on the hood also,in which is very distracting and takes my line of sight off the road when driving,this is very dangerous in my opinion,all these issues are very serious ,the dealer already knows about the bucking of vehicle because it’s all over the internet,and I submitted a letter to the general manger about the excessive orange peel paint defect,I am confirming toad that I tell them about. Dangerous shift knob heating up and the bucking sudden jolts also,I am calling service dept and jeep customer service today to report it I will get a case number
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited - Once I shut down engine, when I opened the door to exit, it started beeping at me. After a few minutes looking around to make sure I hadn't left a door open or something, I thought maybe it hadn't registered that it was in Park, and Shut Off. I pushed the "Start" button, and the dash had a message "Ignition On". When I tried to put it in Reverse, it moved on it's own back into Park, and again displayed "Ignition On". I tried putting it in Drive, and the "D" just flashed at me and finally moved back to "P". I'm not sure exactly when this was displayed, but there was a message at one point that said something about the "Start/Stop" function, but it wasn't visible long enough for me to catch what it said. I called my son who came over and we troubleshooted (I was afraid to remove my foot from the brake due to other horror stories I've heard about, so I sat there for several minutes with my foot on the brake waiting for my son to hopefully know what to do). Once he was there, he asked me to slowly remove my foot from the brake. When I did, he could feel the Jeep trying to move forward. After some other testing/troubleshooting, he asked me to lock the door and see what happened. I did so, waiting a few minutes and turned it back on. This time it worked as expected and started. I'm driving this car all the way to Texas next week, and I'm terrified (especially now that I see ANOTHER recall - that's 3 since I bought the car 60 days ago) that something horrible is going to happen! I do not feel safe in this car, and I just spent ALOT of money on it!
I have purchased brand new a 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee The engine is the new 4 cylinder hurricane engine with turbo I have had multiple incidents of flat to dull pick up when in motion between the speeds of 15-30 mph resulting in multiple near misses for serious accidents. I submitted a ticket with Jeep, had the vehicle reviewed by my dealer only to be told this is within normal limits Two days ago my vehicle went into full rattle mode and shut down on me in an intersection causing another near miss. My jeep is in the shop again as of this writing i also have had multiple shutdowns of my electronic screens when the vehicle is under load.
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
Final NHTSA Complaint Vehicle information * Year: 2026 * Make: Jeep * Model: Grand Cherokee * Trim: Limited Reserve * Engine: Hurricane four-cylinder * VIN: [XXX] * Current mileage: 1,199 miles * Incident mileage: 1,181 miles * Incident location: Parking lot in [XXX] * Manufacturer case number: XXX * Dealerships involved: Sarasota Jeep and Venice Jeep Complaint title Bucking, jerking, rough running, unexpected forward movement, and stalling in Reverse Complaint description I am reporting a possible safety defect involving my 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited Reserve equipped with the Hurricane four-cylinder engine, VIN [XXX]. The vehicle repeatedly bucks and jerks during acceleration, including at approximately 5 mph in parking lots. It also runs roughly and has demonstrated unexpected forward movement. These problems affect the vehicle’s ability to accelerate and operate smoothly and may create a safety risk near pedestrians, parked vehicles, other objects, and surrounding traffic. On XXX, at approximately 4:49 p.m., in a parking lot in [XXX], and with the vehicle at approximately 1,181 miles, I shifted the vehicle into Reverse. The Jeep shook severely and stalled. After I restarted the Jeep, it ran very roughly, continued bucking, and jumped forward unexpectedly. This created a potential risk of striking another vehicle, pedestrian, or object in the parking lot. The vehicle also continues to buck and jerk at approximately 5 mph in parking lots, creating an additional risk of unexpected movement near pedestrians, parked vehicles, and other obstacles. On XXX, at approximately 6:22 p.m., I contacted Jeep Customer Care and reported that the vehicle had stalled when I shifted into Reverse and that it ran very roughly after restarting. The manufacturer case number is XXX. I previously reported the bucking and jerking condition to Jeep dealerships. A service advisor at Sarasota Jeep stated INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I purchased a new 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit equipped with the new 2.0L Hurricane 4 Turbo. The vehicle has a repeatable and potentially dangerous accelerator-response problem. From a complete stop, I can apply substantial/full accelerator input and the vehicle initially provides little or no expected acceleration. The vehicle may begin creeping forward and the tachometer may begin moving, but there is little corresponding engine sound or vehicle acceleration. After approximately two seconds, the vehicle begins responding and accelerating however it is still extremely sluggish and dangerous. The condition has been repeatedly reproduced in both Normal and Sport modes. I have also experienced delayed RPM increase and delayed transmission response/downshift while already moving. The condition has occurred when attempting to enter traffic and creates a safety concern because the vehicle does not immediately respond as expected to accelerator input. The dealership initially told me the vehicle was operating normally based on diagnostic readings amd that because of the computers and software there is no direct throttle response on these drive by wire vehicles anymore. That is simply intrue. The dealership subsequently had the shop foreman test drive with me in the vehicle. The foreman experienced the condition and agreed there was an issue with the lack of throttle response. I repeated the issue multiple times from stop, ehile turning, and at speed. The dealership is now involving a technical advisor. The dealer has told me that a Stellantis service bulletin concerning similar drivability symptoms does not apply to my VIN. I am not alleging that the bulletin applies to my vehicle. I am reporting the actual safety-related behavior because I believe it warrants investigation regardless of whether my VIN is currently included in that service action.
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
The contact owns a 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle was idling roughly, shuddering while turning, and hesitating while accelerating. The failures had occurred approximately three times. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 15-20 MPH and attempting to merge onto the highway, several unknown warning lights illuminated, an alarm sounded, and there was an abnormal burning odor, prompting the driver to pull over to the side of the road, where the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was restarted after several minutes and operated as intended. Additionally, the contact stated that while making a left turn onto a street, the vehicle stalled, nearly causing a crash with oncoming traffic. The contact promptly shifted into Park (P), restarted the vehicle, and continued driving. The contact also stated that while going through a car wash with the gear shifter in neutral(N), the Auto Park mode engaged, and the vehicle was almost rear-ended. The car wash was shut down, and the vehicle was pushed with assistance before being restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice; however, the contact was informed that no trouble codes were retrieved. The spark plugs were replaced under an unknown recall, and the shuddering ceased temporarily, but the failures persisted. The failure mileage was approximately 357.
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.
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.
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 .