2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee: jerking or lurching

Filed Apr 27, 2024 · Engine · FL

Vehicle was purchased 8/11/23 had it less then two weeks broke down . Was smoking , was put in shop several times . Told it was battery, then alternator. Gotten out of shop a few days later same issue . Had extended warranty , was stuck paying deductible twice even though it was in the shop for same thing . Deductible $200 twice I had to pay . Come to find out the engine had gone bad , they replaced that if I’m not mistaken . Vehicle was in shop almost a month after we had gotten no results from the original dealership service center where we purchased the vehicle. They did not have the proper tools to repair the vehicle, ended up taking the vehicle to a dodge dealership locally . After driving the car a couple months later it started smoking and jerking again would stop and would not crank . Was taken to the dealership again , told this time it was the transmission and extended warranty would not cover it . We were sold a LEMON. Dealership knew exactly what was wrong with this they wanted to get it off their hands . This is something they know from from the start , unsafe to drive keeps smoking . We need answers fast someone is liable for the damage car they sold my son and I.

Filed Aug 23, 2023 · Acceleration, Electrical · CO

We were about an hour away from home (in the mountains) and our Jeep had been running fine. We had stopped for a while and when we got back to our Jeep and started it, just about every warning light on the dash board came on and wouldn’t go off (the brake light, check engine, airbag, ABS, etc.) The middle of the dash was also flashing different messages…”service park assist and service power steering”. We started to drive and the car was jerking really hard while it was shifting gears. We think it was getting stuck in a high gear because it would hardly drive after we stopped at a stoplights. We turned our hazards on and just tried to make it to an auto parts shop. Our windshield wipers were automatically coming on and the speedometer and RPM needle were both going up and down really quickly. We spent just shy of two long months without our Jeep while it was in the shop. The mechanic ultimately replaced the clock spring and the TPIM. Meanwhile, I joined a Jeep Grand Cherokee Facebook group and it seems like this is a pretty common issue in Jeep Grand Cherokees. It was a costly repair and was very difficult for us to go without our second car for two months. I really feel like this issue needs to be addressed by Jeep.

Filed Dec 22, 2022 · Driver assistance, Transmission · PA

My 2012 jeep SRT8 will be driving n jerking and feels unsafe think gotta be a n23 transfer case or final drive ordeal they have with different year not my year but should be and I don't feel safe at all n I paid a lot of money for this premium vehicle and getting run around and serv 4wd and traction control off n fcw off pops up after few minutes all at same time got transfer case control module coming in mail hopefully it works but if not it's gotta b update or flash transmission update but it'll literally be surging and when slowing down it'll fell like it's getting shift in wrong gear it's crazy

Filed Jul 17, 2020 · Transmission · 83,000 miles · TX · crash

In a pull forward park spot, shifted to reverse to back out. Car lurched backward very fast. Crossed the road, stopped by a 4' x 6' post set in the ground. The collision broke the post and cracked my car's rear bumper. I put my foot on the brake, but it could not control the speed. Thankfully, no people were in the road. No injuries. This was pin a commercial farm, where people can harvest the fruits and vegetables. The road is blacktop. My car left skid marks across the width of the road. It was a frightening event for me and my friend. I called my car dealer later to ask if there had been any incidents like this...shifting into reverse and the car zipped off- out of control. Tech said ' no'.

Filed Jan 27, 2020 · Transmission · 47,000 miles · VA

2012 grand cherokee v6. Transmission randomly slips to neutral while still in drive without warning. Mostly while stopped for light or sign. Shifting to neutral and back to get it into drive again. No signs of shifting, sounds, lurching, bumps or grinding. Smooth as can be, only way I can tell is the car accelerates. Repair shop cannot find a problem.

Filed Nov 12, 2019 · Engine · 167,000 miles · CT

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 jeep grand cherokee. While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle started to jerk and lost power seconds later. The contact had to release the accelerator pedal in order for the vehicle to return to normal. In addition, the check engine warning indicator was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to mitchell chrysler dodge ram (416 hopmeadow st, simsbury, ct 06070, (860) 408-6005) where it was test driven and the spark plugs for the cylinder were replaced. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was determined that the lifter and camshaft failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The contact was advised to file a complaint with the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.

Filed Jul 30, 2019 · Transmission · 121,000 miles · KY

Transmission fluid leak coming from A/C condenser/transmission cooler. Significant leakage leading to poor transmission performance such as slippage and vehicle jerking on acceleration or deceleration. Also jerks when putting into gear from park.

Filed Apr 17, 2019 · Transmission · 68,000 miles · IL

Transmission fluid leak coming from A/C condenser/transmission cooler. Significant leakage occurring leading to problematic transmission performance such as slippage and vehicle jerking on acceleration or deceleration. It appears this is a known issue with these models of jeep grand cherokee and this type of component failure should not be considered normal wear and tear. This should be taken care of under a manufacturer recall of the problematic areas before serious issues arise.

Filed Feb 1, 2018 · Transmission · 45,444 miles · CA

My 2012 jeep grand cherokee (automatic transmission) will slip out of gear and then lurch and jerk forward as it goes back in. The entire car will shutter when this happens. This occurs often, both at low speeds on city streets and at higher freeway speeds. I will also lose power entirely when I am trying to accelerate on a freeway entrance ramp. The dealer said there is no issue, that the car just needed a bit more transmission fluid. This did not change anything. Moreover, it has happened while the transmission fluid was full. Two days ago, the car shifted into neutral while I was driving on a freeway going 65 MPH with my young daughter in the car. It was terrifying. Depressing the accelerator pedal did nothing. We were then almost struck by another car as I coasted over to the shoulder. Additionally, while driving the car home after this occurred, it again shifted into neutral while I was going about 30mph on a city street. When I pushed on the gas pedal, the engine revved loudly, but gave me no power to move forward. Again I coasted to the side of the road. Jeep is denying that there is a dangerous transmission issue with this car, but I have found numerous statements online from jeep owners experiencing the exact same thing. Moreover, I spoke to a transmission specialist who said he has seen this often with the grand cherokees. He stated that if there is not a recall yet, there should be. Please look into to this issue. This is going to cost people their lives if it is not addressed soon.

Filed Oct 4, 2017 · Steering · 55,000 miles · MA

Power steering became jerky and power assist would come and go while driving. We brought to jeep dealer and they said only cure was to replace rack and pump at cost of $3,000.

Filed Oct 1, 2017 · Electrical · 82,700 miles · PA

My 2012 jeep grand cherokee stalls without warning for months now. Now it is starting to hard start or not start at all and continues to stall when I am driving. I have been to the dealership 10+ times and they have found "nothing wrong" but have attempted to fix other problems that I have had to pay for that have still not fixed the problem. It has not been able to be recreated even though they have kept it for a week multiple times and put hundreds of additional miles on it. This is a serious accident and health issue when I am driving on the street or highway from 25/35+ MPH and all of a sudden it just stalls and there is not power stearing or control at all. It also "jerks" sometimes when I push on the gas when accelerating. There has been a recall regarding some 2012 jeep grand cherokees but they say not mine. If I have continuously have this issue, why is mine not recalled as well??? I do understand that vehicle recalls are VIN specific although the manufacturer could have placed a defect part into mine also. I have asked for a monitor to be placed on my vehicle to "get the codes if possible when it stalls" but have been told "no" 2+ times from the dealer. I do not have another vehicle to use when ever I need and have had to wait up to 2 weeks to get it to the dealer due to dealer rental availability.

Filed Sep 5, 2017 · Steering · 33,000 miles · CO

Driving at highway speeds, 55 to 70 MPH the steering wheel will violently shake back and forth and the car will jerk from left to right. I took the vehicle to the dealership and was informed the power steering rack and pinion would need complete replacement. The estimate with a new 4 wheel alignment is over 1900 dollars. This jeep is driven by my wife, has never been off road and has only 33,000 miles on it. A service technician told me this is a very common problem and they see many jeeps where the rack needs replacement. I called two other dealerships and was told this is a problem area on 2012 grand cherokees. I was also told they redesigned the rack a couple of years ago because of this problem. This repair should be covered and recalled as a dangerous manufacturing defect.