2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jul 25, 2026 · Airbags, Body · KY · fire

I was on the highway and the truck escalated in speed then it would decreased In speed . (61 mph to 45-41mph. Then it decreased speed all the way to a complete stop. Then burst into flames in front of truck. Truck made crackling sounds and proceeded to burn all the way back to the back seats of truck.

Filed Aug 20, 2024 · Electrical · OK

The timp started melting and almost caught fire. Luckily I caught it when if first started and am getting it replaced.. after reading this is a common issue I am relieved my car didn’t catch fire. Please address this with Jeep. This is dangerous.

Filed Nov 24, 2023 · Electrical, Suspension · TX

Has been having issues with the hydralyft suspension. There has been a leak in both front air suspension fittings that connect to the air lines that supply air to both of the front air bag suspension suspension shocks. Replaced both of those out of pocket. My main reason for contacting you guys today is because I've searched my vin number & after further research I've found out that my 2014 jeep grand Cherokee overland w/the 5.7Litet hemi engine has started to give me some issues the other day with the battery dying while I was driving it home. The very next day i walked outside because I was about to head to work. So I cranked my SUV up noticed the battery light on the dash was back on again but then I seen a little bit of smoke coming out from underneath my hood so I shut my truck off opened the hood & seen it was coming from my alternator. I even got a video of when I opened the hood that morning when I seen the smoke, & when Iooked under the hood the copper wound wrapped diodes inside the alternator were glowing red hot the color of lava. All I smelled was burning copper so it was on the verge of the metal being so hot it melted, like they were just pulled out of a metal furnace. My vin number should be in this request I can provide it if not. I can also provide pics & video of suv & alternator. I pulled the alternator off earlier myself because I've been out of transportation for the past week. So I'm going to get it testing here ina bit.

Filed Dec 5, 2022 · Visibility · 115,000 miles · IL · fire

The contact owns a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming from the sunroof. The contact stated that the smoke turned into flames. The contact was able to pull over and the fire department was contacted, and they were able to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and they stated that no failure was found. The contact's insurance also diagnosed the vehicle they stated that it could be a wiring issue. The manufacturer was contacted and provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 115,000.

Filed Sep 6, 2022 · Electrical · IL · fire

1)The Alternator caught fire. Napleton Jeep Arlington Heights is replacing it so you would have to reach out to them for the part. 2)Driving and smoke started coming from under hood of car. Car stopped dead while I was trying to turn onto side street, almost causing an accident. My safety, other drivers safety, as well as the homes in the area were at risk because of the fire. When hood was opened there were small flames and smoke coming from the Alternator. 3) UNKNOWN 4) UNKNOWN 5) NO WARNING LIGHTS came on prior to any of this happening. No indication by vehicle that there was an issue. Vehicle towed to Jeep dealership and they are replacing the alternator and battery. Do not believe dealer service center is looking into this. They said they are charging me to replace the items. Noticed there was a recall for this issue (T36) but Chrysler said my vin # does not match the "batch" that was recalled. This clearly is the same issue. This needs to be looked at!!! Chrysler needs to stand behind their product and rectify this so no other cars do this. It could have been a catastrophic situation.

Filed Jul 8, 2021 · Body · 95,000 miles · FL · fire

The contact owns a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while her husband was driving there was an abnormal odor detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unattended there was smoke coming from the passenger’s side rear door. The sun visor and roof were on fire. The fire department was called out to extinguish the fire. There were no reported injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Filed Nov 19, 2020 · Electrical, Lights · 86,000 miles · CA · fire

My 2013 jeep grand cherokee caught fire due to a faulty vanity visor mirror wiring that has a recall and was repaired per recall prior to the fire. I was able to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. My car has had the recall performed and was in to two different dealerships this year for recall service. Had I not been in a parking structure, I wouldn't have had access to a fire extinguisher and the car certainly would have burnt to the ground. I was entering a parking structure at the time of incident (driving). Recall number:15v‑879

Filed Aug 18, 2020 · Acceleration · 78,000 miles · AK · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2013 jeep grand cherokee. The contact state that while driving at 60 MPH with the cruise control engaged, it failed to disengage while approaching a ramp. The contact depressed the brake pedal which failed to also disconnect the cruise control. The contact managed to veer to the shoulder of the road while depressing the brake pedal, slams the gear into park as smoke was seen coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact was unable to turn the vehicle off as the engine kept revving. The fire department was contacted and placed the vehicle in neutral to shut the engine off. The contact stated that there was no flames but heavy smoke and a burning odor was present. No injuries were sustained by the contact. The vehicle was towed to lithia chrysler dodge jeep ram fiat of south anchorage (9600 old seward hwy, anchorage, ak 99515) where it was diagnosed and determined that the cruise control failed but because of engine damage, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact also mentioned that previously the fuel relay had failed however, that was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact mentioned that the dealer informed him of a recall for the cruise control. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.*dt

Filed Jan 13, 2020 · Electrical · 144,000 miles · FL · fire · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 jeep grand cherokee. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 19v813000 (electrical system) however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount time for the recall repair. The contact stated that after being stopped at light, then accelerating approximately 10 MPH into an intersection when the vehicle suddenly stalled halfway into the intersection. The contact attempted to press the start button on the vehicle, however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact had to allow the vehicle to coast to the side of the road where they placed vehicle in the park position. The contact's wife noticed that smoke was coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact was able to get himself, his wife, and child out of the vehicle. The contact opened the hood of the vehicle and noticed the vehicle had caught on fire. The fire department was called and put out the fire. A police and fire department report were filed. The vehicle was towed. The contact stated that they have had complications due to inhaling a large amount of smoke, however, the contact had not received medical attention as of yet. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and opened a case regarding the matter with the case number: [xxx]. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000. Vin tool confirms remedy not yet available. *dt information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).'

Filed Jul 3, 2019 · Electrical · 105,000 miles · UT

My 2013 jeep grand cherokee overland started to smoking from the alternator and burned up almost catching fire. There was a recall that they only looked at the alternator never replacing it. I want to know more about this recall, I want to be contacted in regards to this faulty part that almost caught my jeep on fire. I feel this part should have been replaced. The jeep was running stationary when it started whistling and making a bad noice. Once I started to drive it to auto zone it got worse and started smoking, making a loud whistling sound and choking like it was going to die. When I pulled into auto zone it was smoking bad, smelt electric burning and it was all coming from the alternator. I had to have it towed 60 miles back home and another 12 miles to the dealership that next monday morning because this happened on a sunday when everything was closed. If it's a recall I want it replaced, tow paid for and the time it's been out of commission.

Filed Jun 25, 2019 · Electrical · 88,500 miles · NE

Vehicle was started and transmission placed in drive, then driven onto a city street accompanied by an unusual whining noise, lurching, and impaired acceleration. Vehicle was limped into a parking lot, placed in park and shut off again, after which it would no longer crank. Vehicle was towed to dealership where initially the starter was replaced. After starting the vehicle, the technician reported sparks and a strong burning smell from the alternator, which he declared unsafe to drive. The alternator was then replaced, after which the powertrain control module or PCM was also found to have failed and was replaced. The primary cause of the problem here is unclear, but the safety concern stems from the shorting alternator making the vehicle unsafe to drive. It seems likely that had the driver been unable to immediately pull over, the vehicle could have caught fire and/or completely shut down in traffic. As other, similar vehicles from this manufacturer have been recalled for weak alternator diodes failing catastrophically (p60 / the federal safety agency 14v‑634), it seems reasonable to investigate whether this hazard exists in this and other similar vehicles also.

Filed Dec 11, 2018 · Electrical · 143,000 miles · MI

While driving to work one night my jeep started making a whining sound. I thought it was the heater since it was 12 degrees outside that night. I leave for work, get about 6 miles down the road and my jeep starts failing. Warning lights, battery, traction control, wipers slowly go across the windshield, lights dimming. I got to a safe spot to pull over but in the process of stopping my vehicle lost all functionaloty (no breaks, power steering, lights, all electronics gone) and couldnt stop. It finally stops and I'm left with a completely dead vehicle. 12am in freezing weather while 5 months pregnant. When my boyfriend arrived to get me, he noticed a strong burning smell coming from under the hood. At this time the vehicle had sat barely out of the road in the dead of night with no hazards possible to allow other drivers to see me. We find out that there is an alternator recall on my jeep and take it into the dealership as soon as scheduling allowed. Before alternator blew my jeep had zero issues. They had my vehicle for 4 days and called to say my jeep was fixed (no loaner car offered). I go up the next day, they replaced the PCM and alternator, they say nothing else. I go to start my jeep and it cranks for about 30 seconds and starts. Never happened before. I go back inside to the dealer who has said nothing the last 2 days about my vehicle not running properly and they tell me it is my crank shaft position sensor and was not covered under the recall. And they said they couldnt promise the car would make it home and it was my problem. Unhappy with results we call chrysler and they tell the dealership to fix that. It does not fix the problem. The problems continue and chrysler is no longer willing to fix obvious damage from their alternator failure frying the electrical system. The dealership also told me to file a "fake" fire claim on my insurance. Still unresolved.