Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle shut off inadvertently. The contact was able to pull over to an open lane, where the vehicle stopped. The vehicle failed to restart. The contact's husband charged the battery with a portable charger, and the vehicle restarted. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact's husband replaced both the battery and the alternator; however, the failure recurred a week later. The battery warning light was illuminated. The contact's husband replaced the alternator; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contacted stated that the check engine warning light and the brake warning light were illuminated. …
While motoring along, my wife and I noticed an acrid smell which became more and more intense until our eyes began to burn and it became clear that the acrid smell was from our own vehicle, and not from another source such as some other vehicle driving ahead of us. We pulled off the road and immediately we saw smoke coming from the passenger-side sun visor which was is the up position. We shut the car off and flipped down the sun visor to see what was going on, and the visor broke off as we did so. Sparks and molten metal began dripping from wires which protruded from the headliner. It was clear by the amount of smoke that the headliner itself was on fire in between the passenger compartment and the roof panel, and almost immediately flames burned through the headliner material. …
10/10/2015 at approximately 320 pm cdt, I was driving i35 south between duluth mn and minneapolis mn. Smoke started billowing out of the headliner, rh side above the windshield/sun visor. I pilled to the side of the road, pulled the a pillar and pulled down the headliner. Flames were present, I reached in thinking it was a wire (it was) sustained burns on my right hand. Grabbed the owners manual , located the fuse for courtesy lights under the hood, pulled the 15 amp fuse (which had not blown). Removed the sun visor and vanity light, and associated wiring. Fire was extinguished at that point. Removed the visor and wiring, found a burned connector and smoldering wiring. Grabbed a side cutter and terminated the wiring to the lighted vanity light, after removing the center upper map light assembly. I sustained minor burns right hand (three fingers). …
I have had my Jeep worked on twice to fix the TIPM at billy craft Chrysler Jeep. In August they advised they were doing a temporary fix. On December 16, 2014 they indicated that they completed recall p54 and input this into the system as complete - my vehicle has now started having the same problems. In addition when the temporary fix was done in August this caused the automatic high beam sensor to stop working - billy craft states this is a coincidence and unrelated. Despite indicating the recall was completed in its entirety, I found out this week billy craft Chrysler Jeep did not in fact complete the recall despite telling me they did and inputting into the corporate Jeep system that this had been completed as of 12/16/14. I am now having to take the vehicle back again to have the actual fix completed. …
The roof on the inside of my 2011 Grand Jeep Cherokee caught on fire due to a sun visor recall (recall r71) the john hiester dealership in sanford, nc had previously fixed twice. Their special investigator said they weren't going to pay to fix the electrical fire damage because it wasn't related to the recall and wasn't a manufacturer issue. Basically, they implied that I caught my own vehicle on fire & risked my own life & the life of my grandchildren, which is crazy. See details below: on October 23, 2020, I took my 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee to the john hiester Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram dealership located on hawkins avenue in sanford, north carolina, to have the sun visor wiring related to safety recall r71 replaced. Per the attached invoice from the dealership, they replaced the right and left sun visor and installed wire guides and grind reliefs. At approximately 6:45 a.m. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the battery warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the battery, the alternator assembly, and the PCM. The alternator assembly was extremely warm internally, which affected the PCM. The vehicle had to be turned off during the repair to further diagnose the PCM internal voltage shortage. The dealer (fred beans Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, 858 n easton rd, doylestown, pa 18902, [phone]) was aware that there were two recalls for NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V879000 (electrical system, interior lighting) and 17V572000 (service brakes, service brakes, hydraulic). A repair appointment was scheduled for May 10, 2018. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving various speeds, a noise was heard from the engine without warning. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer (dekalb tire & automotive service located at 2089 northlake pkwy, tucker, ga 30084; [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the battery and alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The dealer stated that the electronic control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V879000 (electrical system, interior lighting); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 91,000. The consumer requested a reimbursement for the alternator failure, costs for related damages, battery, and electronic control module. Updated 10/02/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the high beam headlights remained illuminated. In addition, the power locks were inoperable and the power outlet failed. An independent mechanic noticed that a wire attached to the totally integrated power module (TIPM) had burned out. The contact took the vehicle to dick scott Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Plymouth (located at 684 w ann arbor rd, Plymouth, mi 48170, [phone]) who stated that the TIPM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that despite the vehicle matching the criteria of the vehicle's included in the recall, the VIN was not included. The contact was referred to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 156,000.
When you turn on the right turn signal, the light stays solid & the fog lights blink. When you turn on the left turn signal it will start out flashing correctly & after about 30 seconds it will start flashing fast with no light in the rear at all. We have taken it to Chrysler & they want $1400 to repair or replace the TIPM. There is no less than 15 videos on you tube on how to correct this issue which means you are without your vehicle for 2-3 days & you don't have a guarantee that it will fix the problem. We have been stopped multiple times by the police for not using our turn signals. This same complaint is listed on your site multiple times, but I don't know why a mandatory recall hasn't been issued. For a consumer having to pay $1400 out of pocket to repair what I think is a pretty big safety issue is just wrong.
When the right turn signal is on the fog lights flash and the turn signal does not blink. When I turn the fog light button on my turn signal lights up but does not blink. Took it to the dealer and they said it was the TIPM that was faulty. Now after I got it back both front turn signals do not work and the back flashes fast and sometimes flashes normally. Also back when I bought the car a year ago in June 2017 the car would start and I would let the engine warm up but about 20 seconds in, it would stall. When driving it would usually stall when I was breaking at stop lights and stop signs. I replaced the camshaft positioning sensor about 3 times so far and still feel the engine losing power at times.
Related recalls
Interior lighting
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured December 3, 2009, to September 1, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the wiring for the vanity lamp in the sun visor may short circuit, after having been remedied for a prior recall for the vanity lamp…
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealer will install clearance for sun visor wiring, protection from sharp edges, and replace the sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016.
Headlight complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 57 complaints about the lights of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 3% of the model year's 1,642 complaints. The component named most often is headlights (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-879 (interior lighting, Dec 28, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 4 fires and 3 injuries to lights 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.