Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Car is currently parked: I own a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Larado which Jeep claims has no recalls yet there (3) all of which are happening to my vehicle. NHTSA 07V434000, 13V175000 and 14V438000. My car is very well maintained I have reached out to Jeep and claim my truck was not recalled yet my TRUCK is listed as having (6) recalls all of which are issues the truck is currently having. I have computer codes to prove it. I understand my truck have 150,000 miles and is 16 almost 17 years old however it was bought as an investment that Jeep seems to selectively correct issues only when they are threatened to be sued. This is totally ridiculous. There are multiple complaints from other owners. These things should have been recalled years ago. …
Jeep cuts out in middle of driving it says engine misfire on 3 . Driving down road will almost died or not run in traffic im lucky I havent had wreck yet to scared to drive it have seen all over the interent how bad it is mechanics cant seem to fix even jeeps own mechanics
My son had his Jeep in drive, sitting on an incline waiting to exit a parking lot. When he attempted to move forward the car had gone into neutral on its own and he rolled back into the vehicle behind him. He had to put the car in park, turn it off, start it again, and put it in drive before it would go forward. This incident caused damage to the front bumper of the car behind him. I took the Jeep to the dealer and was told by their technician that the n23 recall had never been performed on this vehicle. It had been taken to another dealer to perform the recall by the previous owner before I purchased it and that dealer incorrectly reported that they performed the recall at that time. This recall was required to keep a car from slipping into neutral without input from the driver. I just bought this car in February and checked for any open recalls before purchasing. …
I received a recall notice n23 which said that I needed to call my local Jeep Chrysler service center as soon as possible to have the work done because the problem could cause a crash. I have been trying to call at least a couple of times a week since I have received this notice about 7 months ago and they told me that I am on a waiting list for the part. Nothing can be done until they get the part. Since then, the problems continue to get worse. Last night, I almost crashed as I lost control of the steering because the Jeep seemed to lost control and died momentarily as the lights on my control panel were flashing. I was told it was all due to the key switch but I have now noticed that as the lights are all blindingly flashing there is a grinding noise that sounds like it is coming from under the car near the front. …
I took my 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee ( 63000 miles ) to the dealers for the n23 recall to reprogram the final drive controller,so the car wouldn't shift into neutral by itself and roll away. A few days later the code; service 4wd system appeared on the dash. When I returned to the dealer for a different recall, I told them of the problem and asked them to check if the reflash had caused this error code. Just like I have read on Jeep forum and online news articles, the dealer claimed that this is the first time they have seen this problem and it has nothing to do with the n23 recall. They wanted $350.00 to diagnose the problem,plus labor and parts to repair the car. I believe the antioch Jeep dealership knows that the recall reprogramming of the final drive controller showed that there is a cracked circuit board in the unit and that it is a systemic problem in over 250,000 cars. …
Dear recipient, I am reaching out to make others aware of a serious problem with my family's 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While the vehicle was in park, with the keys out of the ignition, one of my members of my family was able to shift the gears from park to natural. The SUV was parked in our driveway which has a slight decline in slope. Due to the decline and the vehicle being in neutral it started rolling backwards with my family member inside. We were cleaning the vehicle at the time of the incident so all the doors were open. The Jeep picked up speed, hit our fence, and rolled out onto a public road and into our neighbor's yard. Lucky nobody was hurt, except for the Jeep. This could have killed a member of my family or other civilians around the scene. I have had other issues with my Jeep, one of which has been made into a recall without fixes. …
While driving on a highway, I noticed my car slowed down and even after applying the gas pedal, it didn't help. After pressing the brakes and pushing the gas pedal again, then it started accelerating. The engine light would blink and lately it stays on. The check engine light stays on and off but once I noticed that when I started the car again, the check engine light was off but I lost one front headlight. I was told by the dealership that I needed to replace a spark plug which cost me almost 300.00. Now the check engine light is on again and I suspect as other owners have shared it in the forum that it's the ignition switch that's faulty. I just wish NHTSA would do something about this asap. The letter came the mail stating there is a recall on my car but nothing is being done to correct the problem. …
Tl contact owns a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while starting from a stop sign, the vehicle hesitated before moving forward. The contact mentioned that the vehicle failed to accelerate but increased in engine rpms when the accelerator pedal was depressed. Also, the contact mentioned that the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V438000 (electrical system) however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000. Updated 03/30/15 the consumer stated the failures became more frequent. …
The PCM is not communicating between the computer and the transmission. It's making the transmission jump, loose power while driving, warning saying transmission over temp (can come on even when you just start driving), code p1603-PCM internal dual port Ram, communication failure. The RPM's have ramped up and down while at a stop, loose power while driving, and can even turn off while driving. Eventually the alternator went bad. Replaced alternator and battery have been replaced 8/16/20. Eventually if the ECM is not replaced then it'll kill the vehicle. The transmission over temp started around 60,000 miles. This issue has steadily gotten worse overtime, became more frequent, and more dangerous. I've read of lots of people have the same issue and there's been no recalls. I feel there should be a recall for safety issues. Please look into the number of people having the same issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart. The failure recurred several times. The contact received a notice for NHTSA campaign number: 14V438000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the failure was unable to be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000. Updated 6/11/15 the consumer stated the vehicle shut off and a message displayed invalid key. A red blinking light illuminated on the instrument panel. It took at least five attempts to re-start the vehicle. Also, while driving 35-45 MPH, the vehicle down shifted very hard and then up shifted to a higher gear. Updated 06/23/15
Transmission complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 173 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 14% of the model year's 1,280 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (25 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.