Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, there was a delay, and the vehicle lunged forward. The RPM was extremely high. The brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle was slow to respond. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle pulled to the left and crossed the center line. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, McClurg Chrysler Dodge Jeep (125 N Center St., Perry, NY 14530), who reprogrammed the vehicle. The dealer was unable to determine the accelerator failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact's mother owns a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while her mother was driving 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. In addition, the failure recurred, and the stuck throttle body warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
While driving my check engine light came on and then the electronic stability control light came on to show the system was off. I tried to accelerate but the car would not go any faster. I let off and moved to the right lane then pressed the gas again. It struggled to go but eventually did resume speed. This problem is intermittent because after I stopped for fuel, the light went away. After a few hours of driving, it came back on. Park the car and it sat overnight. Next morning started up and light was off. Took in for service and cannot get a code for repairs. Suggestion was continue driving in hopes the light will come back on. Could this be camshaft position sensors?
Tl* the contact owned a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact state that while driving at 60 MPH with the cruise control engaged, it failed to disengage while approaching a ramp. The contact depressed the brake pedal which failed to also disconnect the cruise control. The contact managed to veer to the shoulder of the road while depressing the brake pedal, slams the gear into park as smoke was seen coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact was unable to turn the vehicle off as the engine kept revving. The fire department was contacted and placed the vehicle in neutral to shut the engine off. The contact stated that there was no flames but heavy smoke and a burning odor was present. No injuries were sustained by the contact. …
I had cruise at 80mph on interstate highway and disengaged on exit ramp by using the brake. The car slowed but I used brake againn to yield onto 4 lane road and again to cross over 2 lanes into a gas station. I pulled up to pump slowly. When I put the brake on again to complette the stop,the cruise reengaged and the car took off. Luckily there was open parking spot,I aimed there and car just kept going. Over a curb, through about 75 yards of grass and into a field,about 25 feet in. No braking even tho I tried. In the brush was a concrete block I hit that caused both passenger tires to blow and then the car slowed and went to the left some 5 feet and stopped. No airbags deployed. I only plowed down small brush and missed a tree in my path when car veered left after tires blew. It was a dry sunny morning with no adverse weather conditions. …
I was backing out of my driveway and I hit the brake and then slightly hit the gas pedal and my truck accelerated and went out of control smashing into two of my neighbor's vehicles! If it wasn't for my neighbor's truck stopping me, I would have kept going into a large tree in front yard or house! Extremely scary!!!
While driving on the highway using the cruise control, the car suddenly accelerated. The gas pedal was pinned to the floorboard. I attempted to disengage the cruise control by pressing down on the brake pedal. It did not disengage the cruise control leaving the car still accelerating in traffic up to and beyond 90 MPH. I attempted to turn off the cruise control with the switch on the steering wheel but it did not disengage the cruise control. I did see a warning light appear on the dashboard but was unfamiliar with it. I later looked it up in my owners manual and it was the "electronic throttle control" etc) light. Realizing there was no way to disengage the cruise control, my only option was to try to slow the car down by pressing as hard as possible on the brake pedal while the engine was attempting to continue to accelerate. …
My vehicle left me stranded at a target store parking lot. My vehicle was on with the A/C running. The vent blowers stopped working and the vehicle shut off. It cranked but no start. I used my aaa membership to have the car towed. It was sent to the aaa mechanic. The fuel pump relay was no good. I know there was a recall on this relay but the dealer never had the part in stock. Which sounded bogus to me. The mechanic explained that there is a recall and I should get reimbursed. I sent in my completed the Chrysler reimbursement request form and submitted the shops receipt and the rental vehicle receipt. I was assigned case # 76491689. I paid $3004.00 in cash for repairs. After I submitted my receipts they denied my claim for $1309.00 that was related to the fuel pump relay repair. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V813000 (electrical system) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact called nucar automall of tilton (40 e main st, tilton, nh 03276, [phone]) where it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that after the vehicle was not driven for approximately 6-7 months, the check 4-wheel drive and traction control warning lights illuminated intermittently. The contact replaced the battery as directed online. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the traction control became inoperable and the vehicle started to fishtail. …
Cruise control malfunctions with multiple issues. When vehicle is in motion on both highways or on city's streets, the cruise control will not engage most of the time. When it does engage, it will randomly turn off, turn itself on, decelerate, accelerate on it's own. In May of 2017 this same issue was address by the dealer under the warranty and I was assured it was fixed. Today, January 2019. I am starting to have a repeat of the same issues with the cruise control malfunctions of random deceleration, random accelerations or randomly turning off or on whail in motion. This is a daily reaccuance starting again on 1/3/2019. Now that the warranty is expired, the dealership larry miller of boise will require payment for diagnosis or repair of an obvious vehical safety issue that was addressed by them prior under warranty.
Acceleration complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 3% of the model year's 805 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee, though it has 9 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 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles, and 21% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to speed control & acceleration 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.