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 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland headlamp assembly are defective and need to safety recall. The defect poses significant risk to driver especially at night. For example, this overland no longer level the headlamp low beam at the correct level. The light only cast out about 10 feet ahead of the headlamp. Even when engaging the high beam both headlights only show a few feet further. This is unsafe and risky when driving at night as well as on roads without any streetlights. It is like driving into darkness. The low beams headlights are pointing so low to the ground that they do not illuminate the license plate of another vehicle that is 10 feet in front. Prior to failure defect there was an in-dash notice stating the computer module lost communication with the right headlamp assembly. …
I was driving and the battery light came on with a chime, within seconds the car smelled hot, the air conditioning went out, road hazard lights on dash indicating flat tire came on, windshield wipers were going on and off at different speeds and windows were opening and closing and then did not work at all. I got the car into the driveway as I was en route to our home. As I got car to the driveway I lost all power. I had the same thing happen in 2019 - Report # 11255268. I do not know where to go to get the vehicle repaired or it the old recall will apply to this problem once again. Should I have the car towed to a dealer? I have my own private mechanic that addressed the problem in 2019. Please contact me asap. I don't know what the plan of action should be. Can I bring it to my own mechanic or does it need to go to a dealer. …
This vehicle had the recommended recall repair for the sun visor completed on 5/19/2105. While driving the area above the rear view mirror began to emit smoke and within about 30 seconds flames erupted from the same area. The flames quickly spread towards the passenger side sun visor as I frantically looked for a safe place to pull over. It was 5:45 am on a dark country road with no shoulder. I turned the vehicle off, exited the vehicle and called 911. The flames continued for at least another 15 minutes. When firefighters arrived they had difficulty stopping the burning though it was small because they could not access the battery for the vehicle (it is apparently located under the front passenger seat and unaccessible other than from under the vehicle.) firefighters had to completely disassemble the electrical system to the sun visors to stop the burning. …
I have had repair after repair done and .spent over 900 just in repairs and I have the receipts . I would like to get a resolution. My top vehicle ceiling was burnt from the recall # 105129 electrical system wiring lamp. I need a resolution I cannot afford to pay for any more repairs. Recall id # 102683 - service brakes full details recall date apr 01, 2014 component service brakes model affected Grand Cherokee potential units affected 644354 recall date: apr 01, 2014 model affected: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee recall id # 102682 - service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum full details recall date apr 01, 2014 component service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum model affected Grand Cherokee potential units affected 644354 recall date: apr 01, 2014 model affected: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee recall id # 102682 - service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum full details recall date apr …
Vehicle was in motion when I noticed smoke coming out of the passenger vanity mirror area. I immediately pulled over, turned the car off, and called 911. The responding firemen had to cut a hole in the roofliner of the automobile in order to determine the location of the start of the fire, which they confirmed was the wiring to the visor. The direct cause of the fire was confirmed by service employees at the dealership the car was brought to, as well as investigative engineers for Chrysler, as faulty wiring to the visor lighting on the passenger side of the vehicle. The cause of this incident is directly related to NHTSA campaign #14V391000, Chrysler recall #p36. A recall for the visor wiring was issued, and repairs were made at the dealership. The fire in the vanity area of the automobile occurred roughly a month after the recall repair was completed. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Upon starting the vehicle and driving for approximately four minutes, the contact noticed smoke and flames coming from the center console where the sun roof controls were located. The vehicle was driven to the local fire department where the fire was extinguished. A fire report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and then to the dealer where it was awaiting repairs. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V879000 (electrical system, interior lighting), but the remedy was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000. ..updated 10/28/16 updated 10/31/16.
Jeep visor recall- fire inside my Jeep: I had the Jeep visor recall completed in January 2015, took my Jeep into the Jeep dealership in May/June complaining of a buring smell twice. They said I was on the list for the second recall parts to come in and they would call me. They said they inspected my Jeep and didnt see anything wrong and wished me the best (depsite my dome lights being dim and passenger light documented being completly out). My Jeep caught fire on Friday 7.24.15. The fire department said it started in the passenger visor. This has been a headache over who is at fault and I wish Jeep would investigate too. My family is now affraid of jeeps, my daughter doesnt want to sit in the front row any longer and it has been a mess over a potential recall error. Please help! My car is destroyed per our insurance.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving 25 MPH, the battery warning indicator illuminated and the instrument panel lights flickered and then failed completely. The brake pedal failed to engage while being depressed. In order to stop the vehicle, the parking brake was engaged and, upon exiting the vehicle, the contact opened the hood and fire and smoke were seen coming from inside the alternator. The fire extinguished itself. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V634000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 50,000.
My vehicle was returned to dealership when it stopped while driving on a public highway.at the time their were four (4) recalls. After two months at the dealership I was able to pick up the vehicle which was partly repaired including p36/NHTSA 14v-391.approximately 75 days later(11-10-15) my vehicle caught on fire while located in front of my office. My vehicle while turned off and sitting for some 15 plus minutes caught fire in the driver's side sun visor vanity lamp. I was able to extinguish fire then notified dealership who sent wrecker to take vehicle back to their dealership.
I purhcased my used 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee roughly one year ago from miller Jeep in springfield, pa. In July of this year, I was driving on my way home, and started to smell smoke. I got on the highway and immediately smoke started coming from the headliner. I pulled over and within about 3 minutes, my car was completely on fire. There was a safety recall done on the car to prevent this from happening. Please see the link below, which summarized what happened to me: http://www.autoblog.com/2015/05/07/Jeep-Grand-Cherokee-Dodge-durango-NHTSA-investigation-recall/
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 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 56 complaints about the lights of the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 3% of the model year's 1,644 complaints. The component named most often is headlights (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 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 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 21% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 12 fires and 1 injury 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.