Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Have owned used 2009 Jeep grd.chrke. For 10 months 2 months in to owning noticed at times vehicle would loose power. Pressing gas pedal did nothing. Had to pull over shut Jeep off, wait a minute then start Jeep back up. This worked and the problem went away. But over the months it became more frequent. I took it back to dealer and he could not find anything wrong. No codes from engine. I have had the necessary maintenance done on the Jeep. This week the problem began on Friday and continues on. My Jeep will not go over 25 MPH. Taking it to authorized dealer and Jeep repair on Monday. But having read the complaints on this site I have very little faith this problem will be fix!!! Even though my complaint mimics several of the complaints sent in to those that manufacturer jeeps!!!
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the accelerator pedal seized. While the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was shifted into neutral to slow the vehicle. In addition, after the failure, the check engine warning light illuminated continuously. The contact informed a local mechanic of the failure. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.
Vehicle shut off while driving, key was in the on position suddenly shutoff causing no power steering, power brakes, instrument panel and gauges went to zero. Was able to restart after a few minutes. Drove home, went to start vehicle 1 hour later and nothing happened. This has happened before and is similar to several other complaints for this make and year. Chrysler has no recall or fix for this problem and is not willing to recognize it as a serious safety issue. Someone will be killed because of this or already has, dead people do not complain.
While driving, the ignition switch goes into accessory and the engine shuts off..Jeep has no power steering or power to control the vehicle. This scared the "h" out of my wife yesterday while driving in traffic across a bridge going to work. She was traveling aprox. 45 MPH across a straight bridge. This same thing happened to mysely last year while on the pa turnpike in traffic. I put the flashers on and shifted into neutral and restarted the Jeep without much serious problems. But now a second time !!! I don't want anybody to get hurt because of this
I was driving the other day and all the sudden I hit a bump and the key fob falls out of the ignition cutting the engine completely off. So I was coasting with no engine or power. Luckily I put it in to neutral and it started back up. This could have been very dangerous. Also my key will not release when I am trying to turn the car off so I have to leave it on sometimes and it has killed my battery. Most of the time it will release after a clicking noise I can turn it to the off position and it will release. It has cost me two batteries and a new key
Upper radiator hose elbow failed allowing immediate loss of all coolant fluid. The barb on the end of the plastic elbow broke off allowing the hose to slip off the elbow. This occurred while driving and resulted in immediate check engine light and overheating of engine. The driving was being done by a Firestone technician that was test driving the vehicle after a front end alignment. Based on comments by other owners of the same vehicle this is a common occurrence ( http://www.cherokeesrt8.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50508).
Vehicle shifts into lower2nd gear while driving at highway speeds according to owners manual this is called limp mode and needs to be stopped placed in park and turn ignition off and restarted to continue driving this has happened to me and others
Vehicle randomly shuts off while driving at any speed and the steering is lost. This happens while driving and has happened at 60mph as well as 35. There is no warning before it happens. Extremely dangerous.
My car is driving okay but it's having some electrical issues and it shuts down.
While driving on U.S. Highway 270 in arkansas this date, my 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee experienced sudden unintended acceleration. I was pressing slightly on the accelerator pedal while going up a hill when the engine went into a wide open throttle condition. I was able to maintain control of the vehicle and turned-off the ignition, allowing the vehicle to coast down to approximately 45 MPH. Upon turning the ignition back to "on" the vehicle again experienced sua and accelerated quickly to 60+ MPH. I again turned the ignition switch to the "off" position and allowed the vehicle to coast back down. Upon turning the ignition back to "on", the engine went back into a wide open throttle condition again. After four tries (turning ignition "off", then "on", the engine RPM returned to a normal operating condition and I was able to continue with my trip. …
Engine complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 20% of the model year's 138 complaints. The component named most often is engine (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee, though it has 2 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 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
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.