2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Transmission Problems

Which parts fail

• Automatic transmission
  12
• Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
  1

Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  711%
• 25k–50k
  1218%
• 50k–75k
  1218%
• 75k–100k
  2132%
• 100k–150k
  1117%
• 150k+
  35%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

When driving it will randomly shift into 4th gear very hard and stay in 4th until you turn it off. It will happen at any speed and be fine for months or do have the issues consistently for long period of time then stop. It happens with no pattern or related reasons.

I bought the vehicle. In less than 1000 miles within purchase the 4w drive light came on. I was parked on a curb at a retirement home and a ambulance was parked in front of me. While I was inside people ran in and said my Jeep was rolling away and it hit the ambulance in front of me. The Jeep was parked and turned off when it rolled away. Witnesses and the police report confirm this. After getting the run around from the dealership for 6 months I took it somewhere else to get it looked at and was told the transfer case needed to be replaced.

While stuck on ice in our driveway, my wife was concerned about backing down the driveway to retry getting to the house, she had the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee in park, I went to assist in backing down the driveway, she hopped over the console and hit the gearshift with her leg or foot the Jeep gearshift then went from park, into reverse without the brake being depressed as is the design, the Jeep rapidly went backwards the open door "scooping me toward the underside of the Jeep, I was able to roll away from the Jeep, my wife then got into the driver seat and put into park just before crashing into the wooded area along our driveway. A check of the interlock system showed it was and still is non working. This incident could have been met with tragic results had I not been able to roll away from the underside of the moving Jeep, and had my wife been unable to stop the Jeep when she did. …

I have two 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee's. Recently I became aware of the FCA group p57 recall which is an updated ignition cylinder and wireless module after asking around my circle about my two vehicles stalling. Most recently my wife and child where driving at 110kph driving straight when her gc shut off. She safely pulled to the side but this is extremely unnerving. My gc has also turned off, but mine has been at lower speeds or when idling. My VIN is [redacted] her VIN is [redacted] my local dealer has said there is no ousttanding recall and that p57 does not apply to either of my vins. \this is confusing since my existing ignition cylinders are the same as those covered under the recall and the new part requires a push-to-turn (mine do not have this now).

I was driving down a busy road and all my warning lights came on at once-ABS, check engine, battery, etc. All my lights started to flicker. My head lights began to get very dimmed so I tried switching my fog lights or high beams on but that only made it worse and the lights completely turned off. My windshield wipers began going very slow making it really hard to see as it was raining. I was able to pull onto a side street. My car felt strange while driving like I wasnt able to accelerate so once I was able to pull off on the side somewhere and get my car in park, all my lights flickered heavily and shut off 1 by 1 and then my car lost all power completely. I had to have my car towed back home bc nothing would start it.

While driving at freeway speeds (approximately 75mph) the vehicle intermittently stalled several times and twice in 1-hr it completely shutdown. The motor lost all power. It requires a complete restart of the vehicle. The key must be turned to the off position and restarted. It has done this several times before. It seams to happen under a load or while accelerating or pulling a hill. It has happened in high traffic circumstances and has at times been difficult and dangerous to pull to the side of the road. I've taken it to Jeep to have it repaired. They apparently have a star case number s1218000003 in which they say to change the spark plugs. This seems like a dangerous situation to put consumers in.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving various speeds, the shift interlock system became stuck and caused the vehicle to switch gears without warning. In addition, the contact stated that the ignition malfunctioned and the vehicle would either fail to start or continue to run after the ignition was turned off. Furthermore, the console lighting system failed to remain illuminated. Johnson Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram in budd lake, new jersey, 07828 was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee. When the ignition was turned to the on position, the vehicle did not start. The contact stated that the key had to be turned to the off position then back to the on position in order for the vehicle to start. Once the vehicle was started, it would not shift out of the park position unless the ignition was turned to the off position and back to the on position. The failure recurred continuously in cold weather. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle experienced multiple electrical failures. The contact mentioned that the radio was not turning on, the vehicle failed to shift and would not accelerate past 25 MPH. The contact mentioned that in order for the vehicle to resume normal function, the key had to be removed from the ignition switch. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V567000 (electrical system); however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 89,000. Ma 10/21/15

The vehicle shuts off for no apparent reason with no warning. It has happened multiple times. Sometimes while in reverse ,sometimes while in drive and sometimes while moving from reverse to drive. It has happened at low speeds and at speeds up to 30 MPH. Sometimes the vehicle won't let you shift to park to restart it. There are no indicator lights when it happens. Very scary as its happening more frequently. It has happened in dry and wet conditions, on residential and city streets. All indications are that ithe cause is the same as other Fiat Chrysler recalls fir the 2008 Grand Cherokee though ours is not on a recall list.

Transmission complaints in other Grand Cherokee years