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).
Alternator / electrical issues- November 4, 2016 my wife was taking our son to school when she began getting a burning smell from under the hood. After dropping off my son, she pulled over and noticed smoke coming from under the hood. She cut the car off, initially thinking it just overheated. We left the car in the school parking lot overnight hoping it would start up the next day. I tried to start the car, but it wouldn't start and the key got stuck in the ignition. After having it towed to a mechanic, we learned that the alternator suddenly failed, draining the battery and causing the engine stall. This is my second time submitting this complaint with no response from your organization.
I haven't had any trouble with my car. I was going to my dads when a battery light popped up. I was less than mile from his house. When I got to his house I cut the car off so my dad could check under the hood but he didn't see anything wrong with it. When I cranked the car back up my radio was cutting on and off, I cut the air on low and it started blowed heat out the defrost, and the windshield wipers start going off by theirselves. I cut the car off again so it would stop. When I tried to cut the car back on it wouldn't crank. My dad hooked it up to a battery charger because he thought the battery was dead. We got it cranked and left his house to take it straight to the Jeep dealership. We got about a mile down the rode and the lights were flickering, the steerwheel locked up and the car cut off. Under the hood started smoking. …
Was driving with my family, battery light came on and car shut off at the light, car started to make a whistling noise before light came on. Restarted car light was no longer on and noise gone. Drove about 5 miles on the highway and all the dash lights came on. Windshield wipers turned on then lost complete power of car. Unable to steer use emergency lights or brakes, luckily was able to coast to a stop and not get hit. Car towed to our mechanic, mechanic said recall due to defective alternator. Had it towed to local dealership sj denham, Chrysler and dealership tells us there is no recall on our car for alternater. 10-12 days to get alternater. Won't provide rental or loaner. Car sits at dealership waiting for alternater. Chrysler said they would assign a case manager and make it upscale case, that they would call us within 48 hours, 2 days later we have not received a call. …
In feb 2016 was driving through town and my dashboard and Jeep started acting crazy and it just totally died as I tried pulling into gas station, was now blocking entrance/exit. Totally dead, couldn't put it in neutral and hazards didn't work. Replaced TIPM costing me $1300. Then in oct 2016, Jeep dashboard started going crazy again and died as I'm driving and turning in the middle of an intersection! Everything dead, no hazards, lights anything and it was pitch black. I was lucky I didn't get hit. Now they said it was battery even though I argued that it wasn't, I said it was the TIPM again. They replace battery, but battery light came on right after I left dealer. Then they said it was the alternator. Got it replace but it wasn't the alternator, it was the TIPM again! They covered that since I just paid for it in February. …
While in motion at any rate of speed, vehicle will loose power to accelerate (all internal electronics are still active, however, the vehicle stalls). This has happened multiple times resulting in near crashes due to inability to accelerate to pull over. Fuel pump replaced recently in 2018, including a transmission fluid change. Multiple codes are being thrown which are broad spectrum and unable to be determined. I own this vehicle and require it for work transportation, including the transportation of children. I am terrified that it will happen again and I cannot get over in time to avoid being rear ended or worse. The date selected below is the first time this incident has occurred and continues to happen more than twice a week
Grand Cherokee recall Jeep failed to make us aware of an alternator recall. My husband broke down on the side of the road (nearly killed mind you.) we had our car towed to our mechanic. Mechanic fixed the vehicle, and mentioned to us that the part had actually been recalled, again this was the first that we were made aware of this. We contacted Jeep and put in a claim. Jeep, five months later, told us that we are only eligible for half of what we spent on the repair, because our mechanic was only 1.6 miles away from a Jeep dealer. Why would I go to a Jeep dealer to pay a premium not knowing the issue was actually because jeeps neglect to inform us of the recall? Half the reimbursement, does not even cover the cost for the tow.
While slowing down to make sharp turns the vehicle will spontaneously shut off causing the power steering and breaking to not work. There are no error codes that come up and the radio and air/heat continue to work. The only reason you know the car shut off is because the breaks and power steering won't work. This has happened multiple times but you can never recreate the problem on cue. It just happens randomly without warning. This has happened both coming off the highway ramp around a turn and on a normal back road street going around a turn. The last time this happened was 11-13-2019
Every single one of the warning indicators mounted in the dash are going off alternately in rotation, front collision and blind spot warning no longer work either. My vehicle is subject to the following recall, the Jeep, four months after the recall was an ounce, still hasn't supplied the needed replacement alternators specified in the recall: manufacturer recall numbert36 NHTSA recall number17v-435 recall statusrecall incomplete, remedy not yet available
Car lost all power for steering and braking. Car stalled. Was at low speed 5-8mph turning to the right into a gas station driveway from busy roadway of speeds of 55mph. Car went straight and rolled to a stop. Grateful was parking lot and ditch in front of me and not the gas pumps or another vehicle as I had no control of the car stopping. I have twice had car to dealer for car going into limp mode. Both in year 2016. Same cylanoid each time.
Electronic stability control malfunction indicator light randomly goes on and off while vehicle is in operation. Automatic wiper blades randomly activating while vehicle is in operation when no moisture or rain is present. Automatic key-less entry/exit system intermittently fails to work when using door front handle sensors. Dealership has recommended replacement of TIPM under extended warranty in effort to resolve issues.
Traction Control complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1% of the model year's 1,644 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, though it has 10 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 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 54,000 miles, and 16% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to stability & traction control 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.