Most common 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems
Share of the 855 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Jeep Grand Cherokee complaints by model year
Best Grand Cherokee years: 2016, 2020, 2017. Years to avoid: 2014, 2012, 2011, 2024, 2023. Compare all years →
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls (10)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles. A malfunction in the antilock-brake system (ABS) module may incorrectly illuminate the brake lights and disable the ABS and electronic stability control (ESC).
Remedy: Dealers will replace the integrated pressure transducer and update the ABS module software, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2025.
Engine and engine cooling
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L Diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an…
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 3, 2023.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles. A malfunction in the antilock-brake system (ABS) module may illuminate the brake lights, and allow the vehicle to start and shift out of Park without the brake pedal being applied.
Remedy: This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall number 24V838. Vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedy completed.
Fuel system, diesel › Delivery › Fuel pump
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2014-2019 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. A high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the HPFP, and inspect and replace, if necessary, additional fuel system components, free of charge. Interim notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed July 21, 2022.
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with the 3.0L EcoDiesel engines. The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may crack and allow pre-heated vaporized coolant to enter the EGR system. This mixture may combust inside the intake manifold.
Remedy: FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EGR cooler, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect and, as necessary, replace the intake manifold. Parts are not currently available.
Equipment › Accessory › Floor mat
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Street and Racing Technology (SRT) and Trackhawk vehicles. The driver's floor mat may have insufficient clearance between the mat and the accelerator pedal, possibly preventing the pedal from returning to the idle position.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace any of the affected floor mats, free of charge. The recall began November 15, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Show 4 more recalls
Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018…
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Electrical system › Software
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab…
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018.
Power train › Automatic transmission
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Charger, Durango and Challenger, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, Chrysler 300, and RAM 1500 vehicles. An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct park lock rod, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk vehicles equipped with a 6.2L Supercharged Engine. The fuel line may separate.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the fuel line, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee:
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early…
High pressure fuel pump failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines.
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners say
Electrical system all 339 →
The contact owned a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while at a complete stop at the traffic light, with the START/STOP mode engaged, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly and crashed into the rear of another vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bags deployed. The contact stated that the forward collision automatic braking system failed to engage. The contact sustained back pain. The contact also sustained trauma and had been seeking assistance from a therapist. The occupant of the other vehicle did not sustain injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot where it was totaled. The contacted related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V426000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently stalled and lost electrical power. The message "Check Your Transmission" appeared on the instrument panel. The contact stated he veered to the side of the road and was able to restart the vehicle after 20 minutes. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that no issues were found. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer Normandin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT (900 Capitol Expressway Auto Mall, San Jose, CA 95136) who diagnosed that the alternator and water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred several times while driving with the vehicle becoming overheated. …
Engine & cooling all 141 →
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving for approximately 10-minutes, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle while depressing the accelerator pedal. The RPM lowered and the vehicle failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The failure persisted, and the contact coasted into a parking lot and there was an excessive amount of yellow-grayish smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact exited the vehicle and became aware of an unknown liquid pouring onto the ground underneath the vehicle, with little pieces of debris and sparks igniting underneath the vehicle. While the contact was on the phone with 9-1-1 Emergency Services, there was a popping sound coming from the vehicle and underneath the hood and over the windshield became engulfed in flames. …
The contact owned a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while unloading groceries out of her vehicle with the vehicle in park(P) and the engine on, grayish-white smoke began to emit from the vehicle without warning. The contact turned off the vehicle and checked under the hood, where she saw flames in the engine. The contact then ran to the fire department, which was nearby, and informed them of the fire. The fire department arrived at the scene with a fire truck and extinguished the fire. The police department also arrived at the scene, and a police report was filed. No injuries were reported due to the fire. The vehicle was destroyed as a result of the fire, but was not towed. The dealer or manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.
Transmission & drivetrain all 75 →
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 55,575 miles was parked in a parking garage all day in Brooklyn NY and when the vehicle was move to the front of the garage by parking attendants the engine started smoking and caught fire. There were no leaks, dashboard symbols or open recalls to cause the fire; additionally the car was linked to a iPhone App CarRx that can scan for any issue and no issue noted. This engine fire not only put all of the other vehicles in the park garage at risk of catching fire but the parking garage sits under a luxury apartment building putting the working and residents at risk. Additionally I commute between Brooklyn and NJ 3x a week and cant imagine what would have happened if I was driving the vehicle over the Brooklyn Bridge, on the Brooklyn Queens Express or in the Holland Tunnel during high commuter rush hour traffic. …
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle was shuddering while idling. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 25 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the vehicle was able to restart the following day. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Several messages indicating the air bag, the Engine Stop/Start system, the FWD system failures, and other unknown failures were displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving on another occasion. …
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 19 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 14 / 22 / 17 |
| 6.4L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl supercharged | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 11 / 17 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee a good car?
Based on 855 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Grand Cherokee rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Grand Cherokee at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The electrical system — 339 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the engine & cooling (141) and transmission & drivetrain (75).
How many recalls does the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
There are 10 recalls for the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the most recent from November 7, 2024 (control unit/module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2020 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014, 2012, 2011, 2024 and 2023. See the full Jeep Grand Cherokee years comparison.
At what mileage do 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 25,000 miles; 71% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.