Subject: Safety Defect Report – Failure of Telematics Module (TCU) Causing Loss of 9-1-1 Emergency Function, Electrical System Malfunctions, and Potential Brake Booster Recall Defect (2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee) I am submitting this complaint because my 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited is experiencing multiple safety-related failures that I believe are part of a wider defect pattern affecting this model year. Several of these issues involve systems that are critical for emergency safety, braking, and vehicle control. I am submitting this complaint because my 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited is experiencing multiple safety-related failures that I believe are part of a wider defect pattern affecting this model year. Several of these issues involve systems that are critical for emergency safety, braking, and vehicle control. ⸻ 1. Telematics Control Unit (TCU) Failure Causing Loss of 9-1-1/SOS Emergency Function My Jeep is displaying repeated “Service Emergency Vehicle Phone” errors and the SOS/911 emergency button no longer functions. This is a major safety concern, especially in the event of an accident or breakdown. The TCU failure also causes: •Uconnect 8.4 system not booting •HVAC controls becoming non-functional or unsafe (blowing incorrect temperatures, failing to defrost, turning off unexpectedly) •Random system resets •Loss of ability to control climate during driving (creating visibility issues in cold/wet weather) These issues align with widespread failures of the Uconnect 8.4 / TCU hardware on 2013–2015 Grand Cherokees, which were not included in a recall despite many vehicles exhibiting the same dangerous symptoms. ⸻ 2. TCU-Related CANBUS Interference Causing Transmission and Drivability Safety Issues When the TCU fails, the vehicle experiences: •Transmission communication errors •Vehicle entering limp mode unexpectedly •“Service Transmission” and “Press Brake to Shift” warnings •Delayed or unpredictable shi
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission complaints
Page 2 of 17: complaints 11 to 40 of 477, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The monostable shifter malfunctions constantly. Safety-related concerns include it not staying in park when parked, rolling has occurred; not being able to start due to it not actually being in park; it will switch gear while driving and vehicle will go into limp mode and shut off within seconds, then will not be able to restart. I cannot count on it starting or getting me anywhere safely and have towed multiple times now. The problem has unfortunately not been reproduced or realized by local dealership even with ‘service shifter’, ‘until you reach a desired location you may not be able to shift again NO BUS’, and engine light warning lights appearing when driven. It has been taken twice to John Hiester Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Sanford. (NC). I have spoken with Jeep Customer Care to no avail and the answer is take to a certified dealership but that option is proving to not be successful. I purchased in February 2025 but became disabled right after and haven’t realized it’s very major issues. Not being able to use my vehicle is quite isolating [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine and power train components show failure. Remanufactured 3.6 L pentastar engine camshaft journals and bearings show circumferential scoring from oil starvation. Rocker arm needle bearings failed shedding debris that clogged oil passages. Technician said root cause is oil pressure retention issue or internal contamination. Not caused by improper oil level but a design defect. Teardown report and photos available.
6 months ago, I was driving on the interstate and the ESC system light came on, the vehicle lost power/ability to accelerate, and would only allow acceleration after pulling over and restarting the car. This happened several more times on the interstate, and when the ESC system kicked in it would suddenly lurch the car down about 15 mph and leave no ability to accelerate, causing near collisions at high rates of speed. After eventually taking it to the dealership, it turned out to be failed lifters on the driver's side cam shaft, a known design issue that has apparently plagued the Pentastar engines. This all happened in spite of meticulous maintenance and no warning signs from the engine whatsoever. How is such a significant, known design defect that causes such dangerous driving conditions never been flagged for a recall?
The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle jerked, and the transmission unexpectedly shifted into neutral. An unknown warning light flashed on the instrument panel. In addition, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact waited for a few minutes. The vehicle restarted and the vehicle functioned as intended. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. However, no cause for the failure was found. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. Upon investigation, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V447000 (POWER TRAIN). However, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure recurred, and the vehicle was parked and no longer driven due to safety concerns. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Car slips into neutral while on highway. Car continues to go from drive to neutral. Mechanic states new transmission necessary. Contacted Chrysler Jeep dealer they stated all recalls complete not their problem.
The engine and powertrain are affected by a defect described in Safety Recall 66A / the federal safety agency 23V‑411 (loss of crankshaft position). Despite the recall software update being performed, my 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee continues to display Diagnostic Trouble Code P0336 (Crankshaft Position Sensor Performance). This issue causes intermittent stalling, hard starts, and loss of engine power, which creates a serious risk of crash if the vehicle stalls while driving. The safety defect described in the recall — tone wheel magnetic material delamination leading to crankshaft signal loss — is still present. Two diagnostic reports (one from an FCA-authorized dealership and one from an independent mechanic) confirm the presence of DTC P0336. The Service Manager at the dealership agreed this is likely recall-related but said FCA corporate must authorize hardware repair. FCA (Case #93427994) has refused to approve full repair, leaving the safety defect unresolved. The defect has been confirmed by the dealership and independent service center and persists despite the software reprogramming remedy. Warning lights (check engine) are active and the issue is repeatable.
Sometimes when i put my Suv in reverse or on drive it make a fully stop and returns to parking.
The component in question is the rear drive shaft. It has been losing speed as I travel on roads and the highways. When accelerating from a stop sign or red light, the vehicle seems to not want to move. It takes a few seconds for the computer to realize the car is in motion. Once it picks up speed, there are three (3) knocks that occur. It makes the vehicle jerk hard and sway sometimes. The next component is the transfer case. It puts the four-wheel in progress to be shifted. The four-wheel drive makes a popping noise when the vehicle comes to a stop and is shut off. It continues to keep shifting from two-wheel to four-wheel to two-wheel without even using the controls. While pulling out from a car lot, I made a right turn. The vehicle acted as if it did not want to go, and the front end started jerking and making a popping noise. Also, when riding on the highway, the front end shakes terribly. My safety was at risk because the vehicle acts up while pulling into traffic or riding on the road. Sometimes, I have my grandkids in the vehicle with me. They are my most precious packages when they ride with me. The problem of the drive shaft has been confirmed by a dealerships service department, my mechanic, and the mechanics of the dealership I purchased the vehicle from. Has not been inspected by the police, insurance reps, or the manufacturers. There were times when the service message for the four-wheel drive came on. It was an issue trying to find a place to do the service.
A warning came on said, service shifter. The part alone is $1,600 I’m a widow and can’t afford this. Mechanic says it’s the electronic transmission module,it tells the transmission what gear to shift into. I read complaints that their Jeep will shift into N or other gears going down the highway. To me this is dangerous and hope you can help.
The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission independently shifted into neutral. The contact turned the vehicle off. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact's minor child was an occupant of the vehicle at the time of the failure. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of an unknown recall repair with a similar failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 119,604.
Noise possibly coming from the transfer case shifting into different gears. Four wheels lowe is not working, end movement and impact when accelerating and when slowing down. Sudden movements when turning right
The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power, after which the contact became aware that the transmission had shifted into neutral independently. The contact was able to briefly coast while the vehicle was in neutral before shifting back into drive, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 169,000.
While on highway, wipers, lights and horn began on their own. Then car shifted to neutral and brakes failed. I was going 70 miles per hour. I was able to get off the highway and have the car inspected by a licensed mechanic. It is the electrical computer or TIPM. The car is unable to start. This issue is a very dangerous safety issue.
The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH from a complete stop, the vehicle decelerated unintendedly to 45 MPH. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle responded as needed. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently while driving at various speeds. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Christian Brothers Automotive to be diagnosed; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
The contact's wife owns a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while in stop-and-go traffic, several warning lights began to flash on the instrument panel and the vehicle started to lose power. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the starter was replaced. The contact stated that several months later, the contact stated that the "Service Shifter" warning light flashed on the instrument panel with the gear shifter lights flashing. The contact stated that the vehicle independently shifted into neutral(N) while driving at 40 MPH. The contact drove the vehicle back to the independent mechanic where the mechanic test drove the vehicle. The mechanic informed the contact that he had experienced the failure while driving over a bump in the roadway and several warning lights flashed on the instrument panel. The contact was informed that the failure might be related to the electrical system and that the vehicle was unsafe to be driven. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
Gear shifter put the jeep into 4th gear on freeway. The issue has been confirmed by a dealer and is still an issue that the car is not drive-able. Vehicle has not been inspected. There were no other issues until this issue presented.
My car didn’t move i would put drive and it would park and i would try driving and it didn’t move then it would move and stop again
The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and making a turn, the rear wheels suddenly locked. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transfer case had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer determined that the failure was related to an unknown recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.
The vehicle has been making this electrical noise inside the vehicle. The vehicle upon accelerating, would hesitate to go then jerk. The vehicle was inspected by a mechanic technician. It was suggested that the vehicle TCM be replaced. It was replaced and the jerking still exist. The vehicle out of nowhere started having these unexpected electrical issues. This caused the cooling system fan to not work. I ordered a new cooling system fan and had it replaced/installed. However, these issues along with other safety concerning issues have continued to occur. This vehicle can cause significant serious injury or injuries to the owner or others. The vehicle would lock up occasionally. This model jeep (2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 5.7L) has some safety concerns. This need to be fixed immediately before it cause catastrophic damages/injuries to others.
See attached document for complaint.
Many engine related problems. Have proof of related problems and/also I have prof of me repairing the vehicle my self in present day
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited started to shudder when accelerating, roughly into to 2nd/3rd gear, but would stop if pedal was lifted then would shift normally. In about a weeks time, the engine light came on and the vehicle would not shift gears at all while the car was in motion. Would have to pull over immediately, restart vehicle, then shifting would be fine and light went off. Could not reproduce. 3 days later, vehicle shifted into neutral multiple times during one trip of approx 10 miles with each time requiring a restart. Engine light has stayed on, dealership has been contacted.
The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at slow speeds, the vehicle occasionally shifted into neutral independently. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle drastically decelerated to 30 MPH. In addition, while coming to a stop, the vehicle shut off inadvertently. The check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 16V529000 (Power Train), 19V447000 (Power Train), and 20V475000 (Engine and Engine cooling) however, the VIN was not included in the recalls. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.
While driving the vehicle shifted from drive to neutral.I was able to coast to the road side without incident.I had the vehicle towed to a local repair shop,but they were unable to duplicate the problem.Two weeks later this occured once again.I took it back to the shop and again they were unable to duplicate the problem.At this point i feel it is a safety hazard to operate this vehicle in traffic.I was lucky that both times it has happened i was on a highway that was not busy.
The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine overheated causing the vehicle to stall. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine manifold was faulty and needed to be replaced. Additionally, the transmission shifter failed to properly shift into gear. The dealer diagnosed that the shifter and shifter nob were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V699000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 156,830.
The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and approaching a stop light, the gear shifter unexpectedly shifted from drive(D) to neutral(N); the vehicle stalled and failed to return to normal operation. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was drivable and was driven to the residence. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was made aware of an Electronic Computer Module Unit failure and stated that the module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V447000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that on three separate occasions while his wife was driving at speeds below 30 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly shifted into neutral(N). The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and restarted each time. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where unknown codes related to the transmission were retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,626.
The contact owns a 2014 Grand Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the "Service Shifter" and "Service Transmission" messages were displayed, and the transmission erroneously shifted to neutral, causing the vehicle to suddenly decelerate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the shifter, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 105,000. The VIN was not available.
Vehicle jerks when moving forward or reverse. Vehicles feels as if it 's being rear ended going forward or being hit hard from the front going reverse. This jerking motion is exaggerated more when the steering wheel is turned left or right - very dangerous when parked near a vehicle front/back. The vehicle now also gives an error message to "service 4-wheel drive system" then a few seconds later the Electronic Stability Control warning light , lights up. I only have 62K miles on this vehicle bought it brand new. Took to the dealer for regular oil change and informed about the issue. Dealer changed oil but would need to do a diagnostic for another day. Will drop off vehicle in 4 days.
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