2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee: whining or grinding noise

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.

Filed Sep 11, 2018 · Electrical · 65,000 miles · MA

Vehicle will randomly not start. When attempting to start it will click like it is trying to turn over and does this multiple times, but will not start. This happens with using push button or key to start. This has happened 6 times in the past month. . Once after starting the car with no issue and pulling out of driveway vehicle just died and would not restart. Since this has started while vehicle is going over 40 MPH it has a whining sound coming from the front end. Vehicle was brought in to dealer who states that the battery, starter and alternator appear fine

Filed Sep 21, 2017 · Electrical · 108,595 miles · OH

I smelled something burning while idling at a stop, and then the alternator began making a whining noise after vehicle began moving and vehicle began throwing codes (check park assist) . After shutting car off it wouldn't start again. Replaced alternator, battery, ground straps and car would then start but continued givng off codes and wouldn't run right. (wipers coming on by themselves, etc.) had to have the car towed to the dealer, who replaced the computer but charged me $600 and denied it was related to the alternator. Recall notice then received for alternator, but I'm now out $1,244.21 for alternator, battery, ground straps, tow and computer. Parts not available by jeep to fix the problem for this recall. Have submitted receipts to jeep but don't know what will be covered since dealership refused to fix computer as a related expense to the alternator.

Filed May 3, 2017 · Electrical · 53,000 miles · NY

My jeep was started to make a whining noise after leaving a parking lot, later on there was a burning smell coming from engine, toward coming home automatic wipers came on even while it was not raining. Next day jeep would not start nor where there any lights on dash/overhead. Looked up the federal safety agency and realized others had similar situation with alternator recall, only to find out my jeep was not covered even when other same/make/model/year were covered. I called jeep and they said I had different alternator, but I had same problem/issue, not far to be not covered. Total bill $2k for alternator/battery/starter/towing and computer fix. Not to mention I didn't have use of jeep for days while it was getting fixed. I was lucky I didn't have accident, which could have happened not knowing what was going on at time and could you imagine jeep dying on highway. Jeep has no clue what is causing this to happen, nor being fair to all consumers, leaving them stranded and broke.

Filed Apr 7, 2017 · Electrical, Transmission · 35,118 miles · FL

Alternator failed at 35118 mi. Had in repair twice for issues when driving. Loud whine, burning smell and smoke reported. First time dealer keep car for overnight and said they could find no issue even though they had smelled the burning smell too. Second time they told me it was my alternator. They replaced the alternator, I picked up the car, drove 2 miles and the battery light came on. I returned immediately and they kept the car for 3 more days. The failed alternator had "arced" to the power train, and then that had to be replace too (that under warranty thank goodness). But alternator was replaced for $1000 out of my pocket even though very low mileage because was over 3 yr warranty period. In researching how could this have happened so early, I found that the 160 alternators from the same period had been recalled, but the 180's are not (at least not yet....I am hoping to help initiate another recall since I see online that others who have this model and year and 180 alternator have had same issues as me). I was encouraged by fca customer care to file a petition for reimbursement, and have just heard from them that they have declined it since my VIN isn't included in the recall. To be specific about the episodes, I was driving both times that this occurred. Both times I had just started to drive and the car made a loud whining noise that lasted for a bit, and increased on acceleration, and quickly I could smell something like burning rubber and see smoke. I was afraid the car was going to stop suddenly because it started to be jerky, and when I came to stop light it seemed like it was going to stall. But it kept going, and I drove straight to the dealer both times.

Filed Feb 28, 2017 · Electrical · 51,000 miles · KS

There is a current chrysler recall out right now (below). P60 - safety recall - alternator / 2011-2014 (lx) chrysler 300, (ld) dodge charger, (lc) dodge challenger, (wd) dodge durango and 2012- 2014 (wk) jeep grand cherokee my alternator burned up and the whole jeep was dead randomly one morning emitting smoke under the hood and throughout the cabin. I turned it on and heard a whining noise which then stopped and then smoke just coming out of the alternator. I read the recall and it only applies to the 160 amp alternators. According to my VIN, I have the 180 amp alternator and I feel this recall applies to the 180 amp alternators as well but it isn't listed. I had to get it replaced and ended up spending over $900 on something I think should have been part of this particular recall given the specifics of this recall and the matching symptoms of my burnt up alternator. Thank for any information you can provide.