2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee: engine overheating

Filed May 26, 2026 · IL

Alternator overheated and vehicle stalled. Smoke was seen coming out from alternator. Incidentbandbvehicke details are consistent with FCA Recall T36. Looking to include vehicle in recall.

Filed Jan 16, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · NC

I brought my vehicle to the Jeep of concord for a fuel pump relay recall and oil change on 11/12/25. Prior to 11/12 the vehicle did not experience any of the issues described below. On 11/13/25, a dealership representative sent an inspection video stating the vehicle was in immaculate condition following the recall repair. However, within less than 24 hours, the check engine light illuminated, and additional issues began occurring intermittently. After the recall work, the vehicle began experiencing intermittent warning lights, including service four wheel drive, traction control, and check engine. These warnings appear unpredictably and are sometimes accompanied by loss of vehicle functions, creating unsafe driving conditions. The vehicle has also experienced overheating since these issues began. Sometimes turning the vehicle off and then on would temporarily correct the problem if it would recrank. The failures occur intermittently, making them difficult to reproduce or diagnose, and they pose serious safety risks, including the potential for sudden loss of power, steering assistance, or drivability while the vehicle is in motion. On multiple occasions, the issues have left me stranded. I returned the vehicle to the dealership on 1/8/26. On 1/9/26, I received an inspection video from the dealership identifying a transmission issue for the first time. The rep stated they “double-checked” the recall wiring but confirmed that no manufacturer engineer inspected the vehicle, despite my request to escalate this as a STAR case due to safety concerns. The intermittent warning lights, overheating, and transmission concerns remain unresolved and Stellantis refused to escalate the issue. The dealership currently retains possession of my vehicle. I am concerned the recall repair may have been performed wrong or inadequately inspected, resulting in ongoing intermittent safety-related failures affecting multiple vehicle systems. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate & confirm

Filed Oct 29, 2025 · Engine, Steering · TX

Year: 2012 Make/Model: Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 L V8, 4WD Mileage: ~140,000 miles Date of Incident: [Insert date] Location: McKinney, Texas (near U.S. 75 exit) Description of the Safety Issue: While driving normally, the Service 4WD System warning illuminated. Seconds later, the lightning-bolt symbol (Electronic Throttle Control) appeared, and the engine stalled abruptly without warning. All power steering and power-brake assist were lost while the transmission was still in Drive. The vehicle rolled backward on a slight grade as if in neutral. Attempts to restart the vehicle failed. Even CarMax technicians, at whose lot the vehicle came to rest, were unable to start it. A strong hot/burning electrical odor was present immediately after shutdown. This indicates a possible overheating or shorting event in the electrical or fuel-relay system (TIPM or throttle-body circuit). Had this failure occurred on U.S. 75 at highway speed (80–85 mph), I would have lost steering assist and braking ability in heavy traffic — a situation that could have led to a severe collision or injury. I respectfully request that the federal safety agency review this case as a potential recurrence or expansion of the existing recall group. The combination of a sudden stall, complete loss of control systems, no-restart condition, and electrical-burn odor constitutes a serious and ongoing safety defect that endangers vehicle occupants and others on the roadway. Supporting Information: – CarMax technicians confirmed the vehicle would not restart. – Recent maintenance included new fuel pump, injectors, hoses, and cooling-system components (~$10 K). – Warning lights: “Service 4WD System” and “Electronic Throttle Control (lightning-bolt)” appeared immediately before stall.

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 Dec 15, 2023 · Electrical · NJ

The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the temperature gauge started to indicate that the vehicle was overheating. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact also stated that the failure began one month after receiving the vehicle back from the dealer following a recall repair. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V813000 (Electrical System); the VIN was included, but the vehicle had already been repaired under the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Apr 2, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 89,130 miles · CO

We loaded up to go to the desert (clear summer day with temperatures near 80 degrees fahrenheit), stopped to get gas and ice (jeep was running the entire time) and once we got on the way there, the battery light came on, then an odd sound was heard then whitish electrical smelling smoke started pouring out of the engine compartment, this happened within 8 - 10 seconds total). I grabbed my extinguisher and popped the hood and saw that the smoke appeared to be coming from around the alternator and steam was everywhere. I also noticed that the motor was overheated (but no temperature light and no fans were turning). We turned around and made it the 3 blocks back to the house when the jeep died and without power steering and brakes we almost collided with a parked car. We parked it in the middle of the street to cool off and to obtain assistance to push it into my garage. It was found that my alternator had a diode that shorted to ground. Please actually read the following: there are at least 38 other complaints concerning the same chain of events on the federal safety agency website. Alt shorts, destroys the battery, and tipm/PCM. Fca refuses to expand 1 of 3 open recalls to include my make/model and many others. The federal safety agency refuses to actually hold jeep/fca accountable. Check p60-14v634 (alternator had bad diodes and shorted to ground) expanded multiple times, t36-17v435 (alternator had bad diodes and shorted to ground)expanded multiple times, t75-17v741 (alternator had bad diodes and shorted to ground). The data in the federal safety agency data shows that from years 2007 to 2018, fca us, llc models badged 2012 had the highest percent of total recalls of any year owning 18% of the 24,053,941 total recalls fca family had. How does this not flag the federal safety agency to fight for us? The federal safety agency fined fca 120,000,000 for their addmitted unefectual recall process. I have so much more data. Sad.

Filed Jan 16, 2019 · Engine · 82,000 miles · TX

Unknown cause of overheating. Authorized service performed by dealer. Upon initial diagnosis of vehicle no code was put out while simultaneously in active overheat mode. Multiple investigations performed by service techs were performed.

Filed Jun 11, 2018 · 124,000 miles · IL

The car started overheating randomly while driving on the highway. Pulled off, and the radiator hose was leaking, and the battery light turned on, in the vehicle. The car was leaking fluid, believe it to be radiator, and AC fluid. Took the jeep into the mechanic to verify the issue, and figure out what was going on. Shortly before taking the jeep to the mechanic, while driving, the service 4wd light appeared, and then the red lightning bolt turned appeared as well, on the dash as well. Not sure what is going on with it now.

Filed Mar 17, 2018 · Engine, Transmission · 50,843 miles · NY

With only 50,800 miles check engine light produced several codes. I took this vehicle to 3 different places for a diagnostic test. They said it was power steering / A/C coolant leaking. With the 2nd diagnoses they found a leak with the auxiliary cooler (transmission fluid). So I had a complete transmission flush work done, but it's still leaking..

Filed Sep 30, 2017 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 50,000 miles · SC · fire

Alternator / electrical issues- november 4, 2016 my wife was taking our son to school when she began getting a burning smell from under the hood. After dropping off my son, she pulled over and noticed smoke coming from under the hood. She cut the car off, initially thinking it just overheated. We left the car in the school parking lot overnight hoping it would start up the next day. I tried to start the car, but it wouldn't start and the key got stuck in the ignition. After having it towed to a mechanic, we learned that the alternator suddenly failed, draining the battery and causing the engine stall. This is my second time submitting this complaint with no response from your organization.

Filed Sep 9, 2017 · Electrical · 168,000 miles · MS

Recall of "alternator diode thermal fatigue does not have available parts to correct. Since this condition causes unexpected vehicle stall causing risk of crash and/or overheating with smoke and/or fire." I cannot drive this vehicle in this condition nor can I risk having passengers with me, my elder parents, my grandchildren and/or myself. I should be supplied a rental vehicle and should not have to simply "wait" for a solution. If I am not going to be "safe" then they should buy it back from me. I purchased this vehicle new from jeep.

Filed Jul 13, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · SC

I have 4 recurring problems with my jeep. First, the driver's heated seats periodically will not work. Second, upon starting my car, it will just stall or shut down. This happens 2 to 3 times a week. Third, the check engine light continuously comes on and off (and when I get it checked, I am told something about the thermostat, but have had no problems with it overheating). Finally, the cruise control on/off button will not work sometimes. I have to physically hit the steering wheel for it to work. I have read about tons of recalls for my year jeep, but my VIN number is not included. I am starting to think it should be.