2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee: windshield wiper failure

Filed Jun 11, 2025 · Electrical, Seats · FL

The 2018 grand Cherokee has issues with mother board and electrical ghosts. 1st it was headlights and dome lights. they would flicker. i had to change the front lights 2x in a year. i thought this was odd. never did this with any car before. then I was driving home from work during rush hour and it started to rain. started the wipers front and back. the back wiper started and went halfway and got stuck. what happen? the front wipers went on for several revolutions (say 10-20 ) then stopped. started again. then stopped again. the rain intensity grew. Now the -wipers would only work when turned in opposite direction (the manual 1 pass move). this happened as i was trying to get home and stuck bumper to bumper on [XXX] . on this dangerous highway in middle of now a torrential downpour the front wipers now decided it wouldn't work AT ALL. i couldn't see anything and veered off to the shoulder thank god - waiting for rain to stop and then safely proceeded home. the next day the wipers worked. no check engine or anything. this goes on for a week or so with no issue. then out of nowhere the driver seat decides it has a mind of its own and pushes me all the way to the steering column. it wouldn't return when pushing the back button. i had to drive like that for my trip and then it magically went back upon restart. i take to dealer. pump motors bad on front and back. i say not sure your correct and explain. motor changed on front. not fixed. ok we think its the BCM. changed not fixed. finally the PDM was changed and wow it worked. 2 weeks at dealer and this shows that this issue with the control module is certainly risking peoples safety. i hope Jeep does the right thing and prevents a serious catastrophic event. read on the jeep electric issues and my vehicle had a previous "corrected" recall for Electrical Cruise Control. I dont think the fireware updates or software changes fixed all the bugs. be safe out there jeep INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FO

Filed Jul 25, 2024 · Acceleration, Brakes · NY

While driving, all the light on the dashboard come on. When this happens the speedometer is not working the windshield wipers come on. The emergency brake light is on, the car shifts out of gear and the turning signals don't work and the hazard lights won't work. This is all happening at the same time. I'm unable to inform people on the road that I'm in distress because my hazard light won't work I don't know how fast or slow I'm going. I can't inform the people on the road that I want to change lanes. Then after a while all the lights on the dashboard would go out and the check engine light would remain on for maybe two days and than go out. This problem has been going on since January I have paid thousands of dollars attempting to get this problem fixed. My car has been back and forth to the same Chrysler central Ave dealership where I purchased my 2018 jeep grand Cherokee to which I'm still paying for.

Filed Dec 6, 2023 · Electrical · CT

My UConnect radio has been malfunctioning for a few months now. I've seen this on Jeep forums being a major issue with 2018 jeeps. My radio stations would randomly change while driving. The volume know would stop working, my Navigation stopped working and would place my location in a completely different state. Last week, while driving my UConnect would randomly turn on the AC and then switch to heat and then turn it off, and then switch between modules. The Sunday after Thanksgiving, I was driving my parents to the airport using the GPS on my phone but connecting it to Apple Car Play so that I could still see the navigation on the UConnect Screen. While driving and coming up to multiple lanes in which their were different highways to take, my Uconnect starts going haywire. It was completely nervewracking and was super distracting. My parents were in the car and were very frightened as I wasn't sure which lane I was supposed to be in and where to go. I had to grab my phone, unlcock it and look at my phone. Very dangerous! Then the other night as I was driving on the highway, I had my Front and Rear Defroster on as the weather called for this and all of sudden, the defroster shuts off and the AC (Max AC) comes on at full blast. My front windshield fogged up super quickly. I turned on my wipers and literally starting moving lanes to the right lane as I was frantically pushing the controls to get it back to defrost. I could have died by going off the road as I could not see where I was going or if there were any cars! Thankfully, I rolled down the windows, slowed down and found the breakdown line by hearing the safety strip under my tires. I put on my hazards and prayed. I know I need a new UConnect, but all the dealers want to charge me $170 or more just to diagnose the vehicle. I don't want it diagnosed..I want it fixed. And this should not be my responsibility to fix something that is a huge safety concern. Please contact me ASAP.

Filed Nov 7, 2023 · Visibility · OK

My Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit was purchased new in 2018. I am the only owner and primary driver. In early 2020 I noticed some bubbling with the leather of the dashboard. It continued to bubble up a little at a time until today, November 7, 2023 it is so bubbled up that the delaminated leather blocks the air vent that defrosts my windsheild; blocks completely any possibility of warm air reaching the windshield wipers. In freezing weather conditions this becomes very dangerous. I was driving in a blizzard down the freeway with very low visibility. The only way I could see anything was to have the wipers going at full speed. Because they were not receiving any warm air from the defrost vents they froze up in the closed position and would not move. Due to freeway traffic and conditions I could not pull over but I could not see. I nearly rear ended a vehicle in front of me and could not see to trade lanes and try to pull off. I was able to roll down my window, grab and flip the wiper to get it moving WHILE DRIVING. My front passenger was able to do the same and we continued to drive this way with our windows down until we could pull off. Other drivers with functioning dashboards where the warm air was reaching the wiper area as intended were not having the same problem I was. The delaminated leather is also a problem because my windshield will not defog on the lower half and visibility can be very poor. This may not be as big a hazard but still is a hazard because of the reduced visibility.

Filed Apr 18, 2023 · Brakes · 78,000 miles · WI

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer due to the ABS warning light being illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to receive the recall repair under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V426000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact noticed that the recall stated that the repair would take 30 or more minutes however, the dealer completed the repair within 10 minutes. The failure persisted the gear shifter failed to display the correct gear that the vehicle had been shifted into. Additionally, the fuel level indicator failed to provide the correct fuel level in the vehicle. The contact also stated that the windshield wipers would activate independently on occasions. The contact returned the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the hydraulic control unit and ABS needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

Filed Jan 18, 2023 · Electrical, Lights · CA

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Front left blinker failed, front right headlight failed, both at the same time. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Both failed and now there is no blinker or headlight to drive safely at night or in inclement weather. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the auto shop confirmed on 1/17/23. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No. The failure occurred on 1/14/23, car would not start at all. On 1/15/23 I went back to start it again and it started, tried to drive away and the car shut off on me while driving. The car then began to honk randomly, all the wipers went off, and the lights started flickering. I turned the car off completely and tried ot turn it back on and the car would not start again and also the front left blinker was now completely not working and the front left headlight is completely out. There is a warning on my car for the front left blinker but not for the front right headlight.

Filed Jan 17, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · CA

October 31, 2022 - Check Engine Light came on. Autozone gave me the P0456 code - Small Leak in Evap System. The check engine light went off a week later. Continued to come on/off for the next 2 months. I was able to finally get an appt on 1/9 and took it into San Diego Jeep Dealership on Camino Del Rio S. They charged $500 for diagnostic even though I had the code already and replaced the Purge Valve & Hose. On 1/14 my car engine would not start at all. On 1/15 my car engine started, I went to drive and within a block my car shut off on me and I coasted to the side of the road while it threw a bunch of different errors including electronic stability warning. I came to a stop and then all of my windshield wipers randomly started going off, my horn randomly started going off, and the lights in my car started flashing. I pressed the push start button to try to turn it all off. I then got the error meesage that my front left headlight was out, it now is, alos my left blinker now doesn't work properly. I tried to start the car again, no luck. I called a tow truck, the tow truck guy was able to get my engine to start. I explained that my car shut off and asked him to follow me for a little while. I got 2 blocks and came to an stop sign where I idled and my car engine shut off on me again. I had my car towed back to the dealership that did the work. On 1/16 they told me it would be $700 for an electrical diagnostic. I did not have any major problems or warnings before taking it to the dealership.

Filed Aug 4, 2022 · Electrical, Visibility · PA

The radio goes in and out and the wipers do not clean the glass streak

Filed May 29, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · VA

On our way to the grocery store, I turned onto the highway and began accelerating. Suddenly the engine shuts off and random messages pop up on the display. The "D" on the shift indicator was blinking telling me to put the vehicle into park to restart. Steering and braking were impaired as i tried to get the vehicle to the emergency lane. Numerous vehicles at highway speeds had to make rapid maneuvers to avoid hitting us. After coming to a stop and putting the vehicle in park, I restarted the vehicle. The engine light was now on and there were numerous messages coming up on the display. There were also random electrical occurrences as well, rear wiper running with switch in off position. This was a very dangerous situation. Had the individual behind us not had room to maneuver into the adjacent lane he would have impacted us for sure. This seems to be a known issue that needs to be addressed. As this incident just happened i have not a chance to contact a dealer yet. There was no warning prior to the incident. We have had no issues with this vehicle to this point save one, and I do not know if they are related or not. But randomly for a few months prior to this incident, the vehicles radio/control console would freeze up becoming totally unresponsive. It will eventually reboot itself and begin working again. Sometimes after one restart and other times it takes several restarts after varying lengths of time being frozen. The frequency of these occurrences seem to be increasing also. If this was just your radio controls it would be annoying enough, this is your control center for everything. Have not addressed this with the dealer yet as well. I will be contacting my nearest dealership this week.

Filed Nov 7, 2018 · Electrical · 2,050 miles · MD

Electrical system malfunctioned while driving on a city street, dashboard lit up and the vehicle would not switch gears. Wipers started going and message popped up on the screen to not turn the vehicle off because it may not restart. When the vehicle was turned off it would not restart and it was stuck in the run position. Vehicle was towed to the dealership, they stated the vehicle over fifty codes and they did not know what was wrong with it. The dealership had the vehicle for well over a month and had to reach out the chrysler for additional assistance. Eventually the dealership stated a sensor had become loose and that had caused all the problems. I received the vehicle back and within a week I was having problems again. While stopped at a traffic light a message popped up that the shifter was malfunctioning, this message came and went multiple times. A few days later the vehicle would not start, I had the vehicle towed to the dealership. They stated they could not replicate the problem and I received the vehicle back the next day. The following day while driving from work the dashboard lit up again and the same initial issue happened all over again. The vehicle was towed to the dealership again, once again they have no idea what has happened. They have been in possession of my vehicle for another month with no solution. Chrysler has informed the dealership to perform a pin drag test, this test supposedly involves checking every wire and code on the vehicle one at a time. As of todays date I still have not received my vehicle back.

Filed Apr 6, 2018 · Visibility · 3,000 miles · AK

On january 25, 2018 I wrote a letter to my local dealer (anchorage chrysler center) asking for their help in working with jeep chrysler to find a solution to the front windshield wipers of my brand new 2018 jeep grand cherokee summit freezing to the windshield while operating the vehicle on city streets with full defrost while operating in frigid cold temperatures. Along with the letter I included a few photos that showed the problem, though they hardly did it justice. On february 7, 2018 I received a reply from fca that they "understood why this might cause a concern, but the characteristic I described was not related to a defect in materials, workmanship, manufacturing or factory preparation and therefore there was nothing that could be done (paraphrased)." on february 13, 2018, I wrote fca a reply disagreeing with their findings and cited the design feature that is causing the problem and that they did in fact provide the option on the 2018 cherokee's, but not the grand cherokee's. I do not understand the logic and asked for their help in identifying a solution to the problem "on my new $50,000+ automobile." it has been more than a month and I have not received a reply. I am very disappointed at their lack of a reply. I remain convinced this is a safety issue and needs to be addressed.