KNOWN FAULTS · Jeep

Known faults for the Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK2).

2011–2021 · Petrol / Diesel

Sources are not verified in real time and no entry confirms that your car is affected.

4 known faults with sources

Engines: 3.6 V6 (Petrol)

Leaking oil filter housing and cooler on the 3.6 PentastarEngine

Engine / equipment: 3.6 V6 Pentastar: Jeep Grand Cherokee, Wrangler and Gladiator, Chrysler Grand Voyager and 300C, Lancia Thema and Fiat Freemont
Period mentioned: 2011 onwards
Symptoms: Oil spots under the car, oil on the block below the housing (in the engine’s “V”), frequent top-ups and, in serious cases, a low oil-pressure warning; sometimes coolant leaks too.
Possible cause described: The plastic housing that holds the oil filter and cooler sits in the middle of the engine, exposed to heat: with heat cycles it warps and cracks. Overtightening the filter cap also damages it. Chrysler revised the design in 2014, but leaks still occur.
Check for the garage: Look for oil in the centre of the engine and under the car; do not overtighten the filter cap. The usual repair is replacing the whole assembly (aluminium versions exist), removing the intake manifolds, with new gaskets.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 3.6 V6 (Petrol) · 3.0 CRD / Multijet (Diesel)

Applies if: Weak points of this model from inspections, breakdown statistics and recalls; anything specific to one engine is stated in the sheet.

Electrics, diesel EGR cooler and steering gaiter on the Grand Cherokee WK2Known weak points

Engine / equipment: Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 (3.6 V6 and 3.0 CRD)
Period mentioned: 2011–2021
Symptoms: Electrical faults: windows, a battery that drains by itself, starter motor, wiring loom (one car went back to the garage 7 times) and a Uconnect infotainment that freezes; a split steering-rack gaiter at about 57,000 km; long parts waits after the 2013 facelift. On the 3.0 diesel, the EGR cooler can crack: vaporised coolant reaches the intake manifold and can ignite.
Possible cause described: Cases collected by Honest John. The EGR cooler cracks from thermal fatigue: in the US, recall 20V-699 for 2014–2019 Grand Cherokee 3.0 EcoDiesel (VM Motori V6, the same as the European 3.0 CRD): the cooler is replaced and the manifold inspected.
Check for the garage: Measure the battery standby drain; check the steering gaiters; on diesels, watch the coolant level and check the campaign by VIN.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 3.0 CRD / Multijet (Diesel)

Applies if: Bulletin for the 2014 Grand Cherokee with the 3.0 V6 diesel.

Shudder while driving on the 3.0 V6 diesel from carbon on the exhaust valves (Grand Cherokee)Engine

Engine / equipment: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 with the 3.0 V6 Turbo Diesel (EcoDiesel)
Period mentioned: 2014
Symptoms: A few seconds of shudder at steady speed (80–113 km/h and 1,600–2,000 rpm), like driving over rumble strips, mostly while the engine warms up or on the 6–7 upshift; it goes away when you accelerate hard or lift off. No codes are stored.
Possible cause described: Carbon builds up on the exhaust valve stems, mostly in cars driven almost always under light load. FCA bulletin 09-006-15 replaces the cylinder heads with ones that have new valve stem seals.
Check for the garage: Tell the garage exactly when it happens (speed, rpm and a warming engine) and ask about bulletin 09-006-15; it can be mistaken for a gearbox or misfire problem.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 3.0 CRD / Multijet (Diesel)

EGR cooler and bearings on the VM 3.0 V6 diesel (EcoDiesel)Engine

Engine / equipment: VM Motori 3.0 V6 diesel (A630, “EcoDiesel”): Jeep Grand Cherokee and Gladiator, Chrysler 300C, Lancia Thema and Maserati Ghibli, Quattroporte and Levante
Period mentioned: 2011 onwards
Symptoms: Coolant loss, white smoke or combustion in the intake manifold (cracked EGR cooler); deep metallic knock and the oil-pressure warning (bearings); on engines from 2020, low oil-pressure warnings or a failing high-pressure pump shedding metal.
Possible cause described: According to mechanics and owners, the EGR cooler cracks from thermal fatigue (Chrysler recalled it) and the crankshaft bearings can fail from lugging at low revs or carbon in the oil passages. On the third generation (from 2020) there was a recall for the Bosch CP4.2 fuel pump. Maserati uses the same VM engine in its diesels.
Check for the garage: Check the EGR-cooler and pump campaigns by VIN; watch the coolant and oil pressure; with knocking or the oil warning, stop. Avoid lugging the engine at very low revs under heavy load.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.