2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee: sudden loss of power

Filed Sep 25, 2026 · Engine · CA

Sudden loss of power while driving 75mph in the fast lane on [XXX] in [XXX]. My 2018 with the 3.0ltr Eco diesel engine was involved in a sever life-threatening event That caused my engine to fail while driving and I request immediate corporate escalation! On XXX while driving in the fast lane after just fueling up not more than 15-20min prior. my vehicle suffered, for no known reason, a catastrophic engine failure. There are no codes to be found (so said the dealer) "we cant tell you what happened to your engine", the dealer has sent me in writing. All of the sudden the dashboard read, " PULL OVER AND PUT IN PARK IMMEDIATELY".... I lost all power and was fortunate to ba able to catch an off-ramp to get off of the highway. After a 350mi tow to the walnut creek chrysler/jeep dealer. They were unable to tell me what went wrong or why a simple oil/ check engine light never happened to alert the operator? I was then told it would be a $35k engine replacement? most diesel engines historically run 250,000 to 500,000 miles and up with regular maintenance... I purchased this showroom quality vehicle from a private seller... never having even been towed 1 single time in its life before this event. I need to know what recourse that may exists for me regarding this most tragic and unsafe situation... So foreign investment groups can purchase USA auto factories and turn them into horible products... and that's okay? I have driven well over 1 million miles in my lifetime. I currently own 2 trucks, an Audi A3, 8 motorcycles, and a sprinter van RV. I formerly owned an Eagle tour coach. I am an experienced rider driver of nearly 40yrs on the road. please help [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 31, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · AZ

Subject: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee – Sudden Loss of Power, PCM Failure, Electrical Failures, and Concern Regarding Recall-Related Symptoms I am filing this complaint because my 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee experienced a sudden and unexpected loss of power while I was driving, and I am very concerned about the safety implications and the possible connection to the recall-related electrical problems associated with this vehicle. Before the final failure, my Jeep had been experiencing electrical and starting problems. The alternator failed, the batteries went bad, and I had already paid for multiple diagnostics and repairs. At the time, we did not understand that these problems could potentially be leading to or connected with a PCM failure. I have spent approximately $800 on diagnostics and parts trying to determine and repair the cause of these issues. The most serious incident occurred when I was driving near a school and approaching a stop sign. The Jeep suddenly began losing power and would no longer operate normally. I did not receive an adequate warning that the vehicle was about to completely shut off. The dashboard/screen began flashing, electrical functions began going out, and the vehicle progressively lost power. I was able to slowly move the Jeep toward the right side of the road before it completely shut off. The Jeep then would not start again. This was extremely frightening because the vehicle lost power while I was operating it in an area where there were other vehicles and children nearby. I was concerned about my ability to safely get the vehicle off the roadway and about what could have happened if the Jeep had completely lost power in moving traffic or at a higher speed. The vehicle has since been diagnosed as having a PCM failure. I have already paid for diagnostics rather than simply bringing the vehicle in without any prior information about the problem. Despite this, the Jeep dealershiphas my vehicle now to determine if this is part of recall

Filed Jul 22, 2026 · Engine · TX

VEHICLE & PURCHASE DETAILS: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee (3.6L V6 Pentastar Engine). Purchased on/around April 27 in agreement with my credit union. INCIDENT & DEFECT DESCRIPTION: Upon taking delivery, the vehicle immediately displayed diagnostic warning codes. The selling dealer attempted diagnosis/repair for a week before directing me to take it to Bonham CDJR in Bonham, TX. Bonham CDJR cleared the codes and returned the vehicle. A couple of weeks later, while my wife was driving home, the engine suddenly and severely overheated without warning. I instructed her to pull over immediately to prevent engine destruction or stall in active traffic. My wife was stranded on the roadside in extreme Texas heat until a flatbed wrecker towed the vehicle back to Bonham CDJR. WARRANTY OBSTRUCTION & KNOWN FAILURE POINT: Upon arrival at Bonham CDJR, I informed service advisors that my third-party warranty provider (First Guard) would handle coverage. However, the dealership demanded a $1,300 upfront, out-of-pocket engine teardown fee just to "prove" the cause of failure to the warranty company. The 3.6L V6 Pentastar platform is notorious for cracking plastic oil filter/cooler housing units and failing thermostat assemblies, causing rapid coolant loss and overheating. Requiring consumers to pay massive teardown fees out-of-pocket to diagnose a known, unaddressed manufacturer design flaw creates an administrative barrier that leaves defective, dangerous vehicles on the road. SAFETY HAZARD & IMPACT: Sudden engine overheating at driving speeds causes sudden power loss, severe traffic hazards, thermal fire risks, and roadside stranding in hazardous ambient heat. This ongoing ordeal has caused severe personal distress, financial strain, and loss of wages. REQUESTED ACTION: I request the federal safety agency open a safety defect investigation into 3.6L Pentastar engine cooling failures and mandate a manufacturer recall with consumer repair reimbursement.

Filed Jul 15, 2026 · Fuel system · UT

I own a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel that has experienced repeated high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures despite completion of the federal safety agency HPFP safety recall. After the recall was performed, my vehicle developed the exact failure described in the recall. Metal contamination was found in the fuel system, requiring replacement of the HPFP and major fuel system components. Approximately 13,000 miles later, during routine fuel filter maintenance, I suspected the failure had returned. I asked the dealership to inspect the fuel filters for metal contamination, but they declined. I then removed and cut open the filters myself and documented visible metal shavings consistent with the recall failure. This is the second occurrence of metal contamination after the recall repair. I retained the filters, saved fuel samples, and documented everything with photos and video. I provided this evidence to the dealership and Stellantis. A STAR case was opened, but the Stellantis District Manager instructed the dealership not to perform any repairs because the vehicle has no check engine light and remains operable. The recall warns that HPFP deterioration can contaminate the fuel system and cause a sudden loss of engine power, increasing the risk of a crash. It also states this failure may occur without warning lights. My concern is that Stellantis is requiring complete pump failure before authorizing repairs, despite documented evidence that the recall failure condition has returned. I still possess the contaminated filters, fuel samples, photographs, video, and service records and will provide them upon request. I respectfully request that the federal safety agency investigate whether the recall remedy adequately corrects this defect and whether Stellantis' refusal to repair a vehicle exhibiting the same safety-related failure condition is appropriate.

Filed Mar 16, 2026 · Engine · NJ

1. The issue involved the engine and emissions system, specifically a cylinder 3 misfire, accompanied by illumination of the check engine light and white smoke emitted from the exhaust. The vehicle was evaluated by an authorized Jeep dealership, which confirmed the cylinder misfire through diagnostic testing. At that time, per the diagnosis, coil 3 and all spark plugs were exchanged. This did not solve the issue. When picking up the car, check engine light was still illuminated and white smoke emitted from the exhaust. The affected components are in possession of the dealership, unsure if available upon request. 2. The engine misfire and associated white exhaust smoke created a risk of engine performance degradation, including potential loss of power, observed hesitation and stalling, which could impact the ability to safely operate the vehicle in traffic. Additionally, white smoke from the exhaust can impair visibility for surrounding drivers and may indicate an underlying engine condition that could worsen without warning, increasing the risk to the driver and others sharing the roadway. The chemical smell could also nauseate the person operating their vehicle, impeding their awareness and concentration. 3. This issue was proposed by an authorized Jeep dealership, then confirmed by two other mechanics. Dealer diagnostic records document the cylinder 3 misfire and investigation related to the check engine light and exhaust condition. 4. No inspection from manufacturer, police, or insurance representative. 5. Yes, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle exhibited white smoke from the exhaust which prompted the service visit. Auto-start was not functioning as normal, with an error displayed on screen. Engine would sometimes stall upon start up during cold temperature days. NOTE: vehicle is currently with another mechanic awaiting an engine replacement, will upload that invoice once available.

Filed Feb 15, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · OH

While driving this vehicle under normal conditions, the engine developed abnormal ticking/knocking noises, loss of power, and misfire symptoms that progressively worsened. The vehicle was frequently used to transport children. Due to the nature of the failure and unpredictability of progression, continued operation posed a serious safety risk. An authorized dealer later confirmed that the engine suffered a catastrophic internal valvetrain failure involving collapsed lifters/rocker arms and severely damaged camshafts. The dealer technician explicitly stated this failure mode is “typical” for this engine design and documented progressive internal damage affecting both cylinder banks, not an isolated component. This failure mode is not sudden; it develops gradually over tens of thousands of miles and can lead to sudden engine power loss, stalling, or seizure without warning. A loss of propulsion at highway speed, during lane changes, intersections, or while transporting children creates a clear risk of crash, injury, or worse. There was no evidence of driver abuse, lack of maintenance, lubrication failure, or misuse. The dealer confirmed oil condition and service history were appropriate. The defect appears to be internal, latent, and manufacturing-related, consistent with numerous consumer complaints, technical service bulletins, and ongoing litigation involving this engine family. Had the vehicle continued to be driven, the failure could have escalated to: •Sudden loss of engine power at speed •Inability to accelerate to avoid hazards •Engine seizure causing loss of steering assist •Increased crash risk with child passengers onboard The vehicle was removed from service due to safety concerns. This defect is repeatable, predictable, and well-documented, yet not subject to recall at this time. I am reporting this to support investigation into a systemic engine defect that presents a serious safety risk to drivers and passengers.

Filed Aug 16, 2025 · Engine · NY

The vehicle experienced a failure of the engine lifters/rocker arms, which also caused failure of the intake camshaft. This resulted in severe misfires, loss of power, and left the vehicle completely inoperable. The failure created a hazardous situation when the vehicle lost acceleration and was unable to maintain safe driving speeds, placing my safety and the safety of others at risk of collision. The problem was confirmed by Lou’s Car Care and multiple Stellantis dealerships, including Maguire Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. All inspections identified failed rocker arms/lifters and the intake camshaft as the cause of the malfunction. Critically, Stellantis no longer produces replacement intake camshafts for this engine, and the part is listed as indefinitely back ordered and unavailable. This means there is no factory fix, leaving the vehicle permanently disabled. Prior to the failure, the only symptom was a faint ticking noise from the engine. No warning lights or dashboard messages appeared before the incident. The problem escalated suddenly without adequate warning, causing the vehicle to lose power unexpectedly. This failure has caused severe negative consequences for me and my family. Because the vehicle became inoperable and the repair could not be completed, I lost my job due to lack of reliable transportation. I also experienced financial hardship, including losing my vehicle to repossession. My family, including my newborn child, was left without dependable transportation, which created additional safety concerns in emergencies. The failed components remain available for inspection upon request. This issue is widespread across Stellantis vehicles yet has not been addressed through a recall, despite the fact that the defect can cause sudden stalling or total engine failure at unsafe speeds. The unavailability of replacement camshafts means affected vehicles cannot be repaired at all, leaving owners stranded and financially devastated.

Filed May 28, 2024 · Electrical · NH

I replaced the auxiliary battery, the main battery and the alternator, and my car is still losing power. I think that the voltage regulator that regulates how much power the battery gets is the actual issue. My car was manufactured in October 2017. Why wasn’t it apart of the original recall? I want this fixed. I shouldn’t have had to shell this money out when it’s a manufacturer’s defect.

Filed Sep 22, 2022 · TX

Was making a left turn and the vehicle lost power mid turn. It has done this once before while I was driving straight. The car does not shut off or sputter. On this occasion I pushed the start button to cut the car off and restarted and it was fine however I could have been hit because the car lost power as if it was in neutral or another gear while I was turning on a protected flashing yellow. The previous time when it randomly lost power when I was driving. I put it in park, then drive and it was fine but I was on a busy street when this happened and could have been rear ended.

Filed Oct 25, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 3,800 miles · TX

As I turned into a gas station after driving highway speeds, the vehicle stalled out. I lost power steering and brakes. The dash began flashing put vehicle in park to start. I had to come to a complete stop, place the vehicle in park and then restart it. The vehicle has approx 3800 miles on it with a fresh oil change from the dealership, frontier dodge. After restarting, the vehicle ran fine.

Filed Aug 18, 2019 · Electrical, Fuel system · 8,000 miles · NH

Transmission thumps, complete loss of power upon acceleration nearly resulting in several mva's. Extreme difficulty in getting fuel into the vehicle, constant surges in RPM, dash display goes black, touch screen turns off, goes silent, will not respond, does not recognize key fob and on several instances has allowed me to start and drive vehicle without fob. Mirrors make high pitched whistling noise. Very dangerous vehicle. I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone who values their lives or lives of other drivers on the road. This has all been constant pretty much since we purchased the vehicle new. Dealership has not been helpful. Chrysler is very difficult to deal with. Has happened since we purchased the vehicle new. Very very dangerous

Filed Jun 10, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 39,680 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 jeep grand cherokee. The contact stated that every time the vehicle was in operation and a turn was made, the vehicle decelerated and lost power. Also, the front wheels and steering wheel seized. The contact could not turn the vehicle due to the stiffness of the steering wheel. In addition, the engine leaked oil and the electronic throttle, check engine, and stability control warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to north west dodge (9616 northwest fwy, houston, tx 77065, (281) 720-1128) where it was diagnosed that the oil needed to be changed. The vehicle was repaired multiple times, but the failures recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 39,680. The VIN was invalid.