On or about 10/7/26, my vehicle suffered a simultaneous, unprompted failure of multiple safety and control systems. I believe this is due to a background manufacturer-initiated Over-the-Air (OTA) software update and is a well known issue on the Jeep Grand Cherrokee L . The exact date the update was pushed is unknown, as it occurred automatically via the telematics system. The symptoms appeared suddenly: the Forward Collision Warning and Pedestrian Emergency Braking (PEB) systems completely deactivated, leaving the 'FCW OFF' warning light permanently illuminated on the dashboard. Concurrently, the steering wheel paddle shifters ceased to function ('Paddle Shifting Disabled'), and the vehicle's digital display automatically reset its units of measurement. This constitutes a severe safety hazard. The vehicle’s automated crash mitigation features are completely disabled, depriving the driver of critical safety protections designed to prevent front-end collisions. Furthermore, the loss of transmission control via the paddle shifters restricts the driver's ability to manually downshift and use engine braking, which is essential for safely managing vehicle speed on steep declines or slippery road conditions.
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L: false forward collision warnings
10 of the 97 complaints about the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L describe false forward collision warnings.
- owner complaints
- 10
- of this car's complaints
- 10%
- recalls
- 0
False forward collision warnings by model year
- 20262
- 20253
- 20242
- 20233
- 202223
- 202110
What owners say
Randomly, and without warning, the instruments, gauges, and displays will switch to Italian along with cluster and radio display settings reverting to default settings, auto door locks and paddle shifter becomes inoperative (with no menu to enable), pedestrian emergency brake (peb) lamp or forward collision warning (fcw) lamp turns on with no way to disable, units of measurement including speed, temperature, etc. change to metric and many other random settings change as well. ***This is clearly a dangerous situation because of all the functions and gauges that change, and the fact it is difficult if not impossible to recover from this due to the language of the setting menus, and the complexity of discovering and navigating through all these changes. The dealer charge me $300 diagnostic fee before resetting the software. Time goes by and it happens again. Dealer says there is nothing they can do and to wait for a software update from Stellantis, but none has come and it has been over a year. When this happens, I can change "some" of the settings back but some items cannot be reset like the FCA off lamp and paddle shifters. Back to the dealer I go for another $300 charge. Here is an example Jeep forum discussion, indicating many if not all vehicles are affected: https://www.jeepgarage.org/threads/forward-collision-warning-off-light-is-stuck-on.250301/#replies From personal experience, all of these issues started several years ago with an over the air software. This is a well known and widespread problem, and there is even a DOT Bulletin on the issue: dot.report Bulletins Because this is dangerous (for settings/gauges/units to no longer be useful while driving), and it occurs randomly, I strongly believe this issue should be a manufacturer recall. I am available for any needs."
Randomly, and without warning, the instruments, gauges, and displays will switch into a language I do not speak or understand (Italian). Coinciding with the switch to Italian language, cluster and radio display settings revert back to default settings, auto door locks and paddle shifter becomes inoperative (with no menu to enable), pedestrian emergency brake (peb) lamp or forward collision warning (fcw) lamp turns on with no way to disable, units of measurement including speed, temperature, etc. all change, and many other random settings change as well. ***This is clearly a dangerous situation because of all the functions and gauges that change, and the fact it is difficult if not impossible to recover from this due to the language of the setting menus, and the complexity of discovering and navigating through all these changes. I have taken it to the dealer twice, and they say there is nothing they can do and to wait for a possible software update, but none has come and it has been over a year. When this happens, even if one is able to wade through all the settings menus and change setting back, some items cannot be reset (like the FCA off lamp). According to various Jeep owner forums, some dealers have been able to reset something and temporarily correct the issue, but they charge for this service, and the issue returns randomly again. Here is an example forum discussion, indicating many if not all vehicles are affected: [XXX] Many people on the forum believe this issue did not start until a software update a year or so ago. This is a well known and widespread problem, and there is even a DOT Bulletin on the issue: dot.report Bulletins Because this is dangerous (for settings/gauges/units to no longer be useful while driving), and it occurs randomly, I strongly believe this issue should be a manufacturer recall. I am available for any needs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Randomly, and without warning, the instruments, gauges, and displays will switch into a language I do not speak or understand (Italian). Coinciding with the switch to Italian language, cluster and radio display settings revert back to default settings, auto door locks and paddle shifter becomes inoperative (with no menu to enable), pedestrian emergency brake (peb) lamp or forward collision warning (fcw) lamp turns on with no way to disable, units of measurement including speed, temperature, etc. all change, and many other random settings change as well. ***This is clearly a dangerous situation because of all the functions and gauges that change, and the fact it is difficult if not impossible to recover from this due to the language of the setting menus, and the complexity of discovering and navigating through all these changes. I have taken it to the dealer twice, and they say there is nothing they can do and to wait for a possible software update, but none has come and it has been over a year. When this happens, even if one is able to wade through all the settings menus and change setting back, some items cannot be reset (like the FCA off lamp). According to various Jeep owner forums, some dealers have been able to reset something and temporarily correct the issue, but they charge for this service, and the issue returns randomly again. Here is an example forum discussion, indicating many if not all vehicles are affected: [XXX] Many people on the forum believe this issue did not start until a software update a year or so ago. This is a well known and widespread problem, and there is even a DOT Bulletin on the issue: dot.report Bulletins Because this is dangerous (for settings/gauges/units to no longer be useful while driving), and it occurs randomly, I strongly believe this issue should be a manufacturer recall. I am available for any needs." INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The vehicle was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24V436000 (Back Over Prevention); and was taken to the dealer to update the radio software. The contact stated that after the recall repair was performed, the Forward Collision Avoidance activation button was no longer displayed on the infotainment center. The Forward Collision Avoidance Off warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact informed the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The dealer advised the contact to wait for a day; however, the failure persisted after the system reset. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 18,000.
The vehicle didn’t automatic update of its “UCONNECT” system without warning after stopping at a gas station. Once the vehicle was turned back on after the update was completed there was a light on my dashboard signaling that the forward collision warning system is off. Some other things happened as well such as all my settings were reverted back to factory settings, and the menu screen was in Italian. After online research, it seems that this is a very common problem with the specific model. I was able to revert everything except for the Ford Collision , warning, which still states that it is OFF, after the update. After communicating all this information with Jeep, they want me to pay for a repair that was due to their system update.
While driving my kids home from the school the vehicle stark jerking and kicking in the back while I was accelerating. Then the vehicle stopped shifting gears. I pulled to the side of the road turned off the car, turned it back on and it worked fine. I have this incident twice in two years. Secondly the paddle shift gear showed as disabled when I want to use manual gear. Checked the dashboard and there is no option saying enabled or disable peddle Shift gear. Thirdly the forward collision warning light is on on the dashboard. From time to Time the vehicle stops abruptly.
Jeep recently pushed an update through the vehicle over the air. Since the update the forward collision disable warning light has been illuminated on the front cluster. All attempts to correct the issue have rendered useless. The update has caused the safety feature of the front collision warning (sound and/or breaking) inoperable.
The forward collision warning light came on and will not go off. I have had the sensors tested for recalibration and the test showed that the sensors are working. Light is still on. MOPAR is aware of this issue as there are dozens of complaints in online forums and a STAR online publication has been published by MOPAR Case number:S2108000249
The car updated itself and now my front collision warning light is on, I have tried to reset everything but still on. The update caused the warning light.
Service bulletins that may apply
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L collision warning
Is false forward collision warnings a common problem on the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L?
10 of 97 owner complaints about the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L (10%) mention false forward collision warnings. The model year with the most reports is 2022.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L?
There are 0 recalls and 3 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
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