2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee: engine failure

Filed Sep 5, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · IL

My car apparently overheated which made my oil filter melt and explode, popping my oil filter cap off making oil go all over my engine, ground and everywhere else. I was going about 20 mph when I realized my car was feeling weak on power and it was about to overheat. I then started to smell and see smoke. So I stopped my car in the middle of the street immediately, put on my hazard lights, and turned it off instantly. As soon as I got out, oil started to pour out everywhere. I then popped the hood to see a whole lot of smoke going everywhere. I wasn’t sure what happened, I just got the car 3 and half months ago, they said the car was top of the line, why am I having issues like these now? I did get my oil changed from pit stop (superlube) on lake street in Aurora Illinois, 3 days before that happened. I had to manually push my car to chihuahua tires, where they told me it was my starter, so they fixed my starter, and then told me it’s my gasket. Now apparently my head gasket is gone, and it’s going to take thousands of dollars that I don’t have. I’m already paying off the $800 for this starter repair that I didn’t really need :/ and I’m still playing for a car note on a car I’m not even driving! I can’t get to work, I can’t make money, this is depressing! I got this car because they said at Carfect that my jeep was perfect and in great condition. At this point I had over 10+ mechanical issues wrong with it, now this happened and I cant manage this. This is too much money for me. I need help, direction, a new engine, something! I just got this car! I did nothing wrong, I don’t have thousands of dollars to fix this issue! Please help.

Filed Jul 29, 2023 · Engine · FL

The camshaft has gone bad and unnatural wear to the lifters has caused the issue. Also, after researching the design of the engine, it is obvious that there is a design flaw. The camshaft does not receive sufficient oil in order to be lubricated due to its location in the engine. The vehicle only has 114,000 miles. It has been taken care of, and received the normal maintenance according to the owners manual. This particular version of the hemi engine has such failures well documented by multiple sources. Such an issue and malfunction attributes to premature engine failure. Such a significant engine design flaw can potentially cause injury to all occupants in the vehicle.

Filed Jul 16, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · OH · crash

Engine stalls without warning causing full loss of power, including power steering and ability to brake properly... ends in engine failure as well. This has resulted in MULTIPLE CLOSE ENCOUNTERS AND LATELY IT CAUSED ME TO HIT THE CURB AND DAMAGED FRONT RIGHT WHEEL.. WILL IT BE ANOTHER CAR AND A CRASH NEXT TIME!???

Filed Feb 17, 2021 · Fuel system · 145,000 miles · FL · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2012 jeep grand cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 35-40 MPH, the vehicle stalled and the steering wheel seized while going over a speed bump and hit a tree. The front driver's and passenger air bags deployed. The contact suffered injuries to his lower back and head. Medical attention was received as the contact was transported by ambulance. A police report was filed. The contact was unaware if the vehicle was towed or not. The dealer hill kelly dodge (6171 pensacola blvd, pensacola, fl 32505) was notified a day prior to the collision about several warning lights that illuminated (check engine, service 4-wheel drive, traction control) and scheduled an upcoming appointment to get the vehicle diagnosed as well as the recall repair for the federal safety agency campaign number: 19v813000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 145,000.

Filed Nov 9, 2020 · Engine · 93,800 miles · CA

The engine light is illuminated so we took it for diagnosis to a jeep/chrysler dealership for diagnosis. The diagnosis for my vehicle is low compression in cylinders #1 and #2 causing a misfire. The code is p0302. The irony of this diagnosis is that chrysler knows all about this problem and has issued a cylinder head extension warranty for only the left side of the engine. Meaning that chrysler will repair the left side (under warranty) but will not warranty the right side of the engine that suffers from the same problem. Cylinder #1 is covered by the extended warranty 10 years 150,000 miles and cylinder #2 was covered under the original power train 5 years 100,000 miles and we are still under 100,000 miles on the vehicle. Unusual wear and failure in the upper cylinders and valves are pervasive problems with 2011-13 jeep grand cherokees with this engine I was advised by the technician at larry miller chrysler that lkq and c&k do not offer aftermarket engines for this make and model so the factory motor seems to be our only hope. We have submitted a claim to chrysler corp and am getting their "generic automatic email that states our clain has been closed". One representivae even asked us to submit the stamped work order and any receipts, which we did 10 days ago. Today we called to ask about our claim and are being told it has been closed and they have not goven us any explanation other than it is outside the warranty. How can 1 side of the engine be covered but the other side is not? We basically have to pay for a whole new engine and labor costs to the tune of $8,000. This vehicle has already had multiple recalls and repairs and we are devastated at this point because this engine issue is emotionally and financially ruining our family.

Filed Aug 6, 2020 · Engine · OK

At approximately 120k miles I began to notice a slight tick coming from the driver side of the motor. Over the next 5k miles I changed the oil several times, swapped plugs, coil packs and injectors to rule out any potential issues. I also did a visual inspection of the exhaust manifolds. The problem persisted and got worse. There was also a consistent hesitation under medium to heavy throttle input. I'm now at 126k miles and had a check engine light - p0303 for cylinder 3 misfire. I have started disassembling the motor and noticed the lifter has seized and started destroying the camshaft.

Filed Jul 27, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 140,000 miles · TX · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 jeep grand cherokee. The contact stated that while driving home the alternator failed and caught on fire. The contact pulled over into a tire stop and they put out the fire. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer classic chrysler dodge jeep ram fiat of arlington (1111 I-20 frontage rd, arlington, tx 76018 682‑206‑3532). They stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle. They replaced the engine and that caused damage to the vehicle computer. The burnt alternator and PCM were replaced as well. These repairs were at the contact's expense. The manufacturer stated the same that there was no recall and gave the contact a case number. They called the contact back later and said they would not do anything else for the contact. The failure mileage was 140,000. *bf

Filed Jul 26, 2019 · Engine · 90,000 miles · CT

I was driving on the highway on 7/21/19 and my 2012 jeep grand cherokee's engine seized. The car had to be towed and now jeep has a 2 month waiting list for the hemi motor (which apparently this is a known problem for - that is why the waiting list is so long). It will be over $8000 to fix and I still owe on the loan for the car that I have had less than 3 years. If hemi motors are a problem, jeep should make them with v6 not the hemi v8 motors. There is no recall for this as of now. I am stuck without a vehicle to get to work and a large loan for a useless jeep that I can't drive. It has 90,000 miles on it. Why is jeep allowed to continue to make these if they are such issues. Why is there not a recall on hemi engines in jeeps? Then when you try to call jeep corporate they claim they return calls once a week (which they don't) and the customer service reps told me "thing happen". This is a terrible way of doing business and as a jeep owner for many many years I will never buy a jeep again. Hopefully this happens enough that they will need to do a recall and I can recoup some of my money back.

Filed Apr 4, 2019 · Engine · 76,000 miles · CA

Engine failure. It's currently at the shop and they're saying I need to rebuild or replace the engine. I have the 5.7l hemi with 76,000 miles on it.

Filed Jan 17, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 54,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 jeep grand cherokee. In cold weather, the engine failed to immediately start. Napleton's arlington heights jeep (1155 w. Dundee rd, arlington heights, il) was notified of the failure. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously serviced per the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v115000(electrical system) in which the fuel pump relay was replaced. However, once the temperatures became colder, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified, but no assistance was offered. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 54,000. *tt

Filed Feb 4, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 94,888 miles · CA

Purchased used 2012 grand cherokee overland w/94637 miles on january 27 2018. On january 31 at 8:50am after driving two miles I came to a stop at a stop light and while waiting for light change the engine died. No warning lights - the only indication was RPM dropped to zero. Put vehicle into park and restarted without a problem. Continued driving for the remainder of 32 mile trip. Again on february 2 2018 the same thing occurred while my wife was driving. She came to a full stop and while waiting for signal light to change the vehicle engine quit with no warning lights. On both occasions this was the first trip of the day in the early morning ambient temperature of 55 degrees on dry pavement on city streets. Both times the vehicle was restarted without a prolem and the trip continued without interruption. Vehicle is scheduled at folsom lake jeep dealer for investigation.

Filed Jun 7, 2017 · Electrical, Transmission · 113,002 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 jeep grand cherokee. While the vehicle was parked with the air conditioner and radio still operable, the contact exited the vehicle. Upon returning to the vehicle, he noticed that the air conditioner and radio stopped working, but the windshield wiper blades were moving at slow speed. The contact shifted into drive, but the vehicle was moving slowly and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was stopped, shifted into park, turned off, and failed to restart. The voltage warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a faulty alternator and battery that needed replacement. The parts were replaced, but the mechanic noticed that the computer was damaged and could not be repaired. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic who diagnosed that the PCM needed replacement and there was an alternator recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had the vehicle towed to jt chrysler dodge ram of lexington (located at 4838 sunset blvd, lexington, sc 29072 (803) 957-2010) for repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v674000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 113,002.