2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee: jerking or lurching

Filed Oct 27, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · CO

On October 23, 2026, my 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe unexpectedly lost propulsion. Before this incident, it intermittently shifted very harshly at 40–60 mph while I maintained steady accelerator pressure. That day, a “SERV 4WD” warning appeared and the vehicle tugged and jerked during turns. As I pulled into a parking space, it lost the ability to move. I turned it off. After waiting, I restarted it; there was a very loud thunk, and it suddenly lurched forward. The check-engine and brake warning lights illuminated, and it still would not move. When the tow truck driver restarted it, the loud thunk happened again. He was eventually able to reverse and move the Jeep a few feet onto the tow truck. He said it appeared to be staying in electric mode rather than transitioning to hybrid operation, although this was not a confirmed diagnosis. The Jeep was towed to an authorized dealership. The dealership says diagnostic scans pass and it cannot reproduce the failure. No cause or repair has been identified. My Jeep app shows safety recall 78C (the federal safety agency 25V‑766), related to possible engine failure and loss of propulsion, with the status “Parts Unavailable.” The dealership told me its scan indicates my vehicle does not need the recall, but has not clearly explained why. I do not know whether the recall caused this incident. I have opened a case with Jeep Corporate. I am concerned this unexplained loss of propulsion and sudden forward lurch could recur in traffic and cause a crash. I request that the federal safety agency document and review this potential safety defect.

Filed Jun 9, 2026 · Driver assistance · FL

As I was driving the warning system alerting me to BRAKE! came on and jerked the vehicle to a stop even though no one was in front of me and there were no cars next to me either. Extremely dangerous to have the vehicle stop out of the blue while driving 20 mph. The component has not been inspected yet and the warning lights came on the dashboard.

Filed Nov 10, 2025 · Fuel system · NY

Monday, November 3rd, 2025 In electric mode - I drove the vehicle forward out of a parking spot. The vehicle made three very large lurches over a 200 foot length of parking lot, enough to bang drivers and passengers heads hard against the head rests each with a loud clunk. Within seconds after the third lurch, the car went into gas/oil refresh mode (which transitions the vehicle from electric mode to gas mode). At that point the accelerator became unresponsive with RPMs hovering just over 1000. After multiple successive press, hold and releases of the accelerator, I took my foot off thinking I had lost all power and was preparing to shut the vehicle off. Before I could, the car began accelerating quickly forward without my foot on the accelerator. This lasted for 1 - 2 seconds before the car stopped accelerating and I was able to use the brakes to stop it. Had this not been late evening (9:45p EST) - the parking lot would have been full of pedestrians and other vehicles which would have caused a collision with other vehicles, or worse caused me to strike a pedestrian. I had no control over the vehicle. I put the vehicle in park and shut it down. After a minute, I restarted the vehicle and brought it home. The check engine light has been lit since. At this time (Monday, November 10th), the vehicle is still at the dealership (brought in Wednesday, November 5th) being investigated for this as well as the transmission (?) issue that was causing the lurching described.

Filed Nov 8, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · PA

on 10/24/2025 my wife and daughter were in the vehicle driving to her school. My wife was on the phone with me when she stated the car was reving really high and sounded like it was going to blow up how loud it was. she was driving at about 25-30 mph when the car suddenly jerked and shut off completely, the battery light turned on and the check engine light flashed before it shut off. she was able to brake and roll to the side of the road. I had instructed her to keep her foot on the break since it was not letting her shift to park. We stayed on the phone as i contacted jeep directly and get a hold of a rep she said she was able to put it in park and she tried to turn the car on and she was able to turn it on after 10 min. She drove with the hazards on to my daughters school and dropped her off i told her park the car and don't use it until i get home. I got home on 10/26/2025 and the light was off i made an appointment with jeep for that week 10/31 and they stated they were unable to find anything in the computer for the issue that had occurred instead they saw a issue with my heating and it was pump. i have a case open with jeep and they have yet to return my call after a week of non stop calling, i emailed stelantis but they stated they cant assist has to be jeep directly. i would love some help with this as the car has been to the dealership three time for multiple issues and recalls that they stated they did and still show are not done. i have a schduled appointment for the 68c but there is no remedy yet.

Filed Oct 2, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · NY

Since purchasing the vehicle in January of 2024 , I have had the same repeated safety issues that the dealership and Chrysler were made aware of . I was told that no other vehicles of my make and model had the same issues so I was not listened to . While driving vehicle has slammed on the breaking system for no apparent reason at different speeds. Last time this happened I was on the thruway doing 65 mph. This has happened over 10 times and has been extremely scary and upsetting. The Hybrid system alert has flashed over 30 times and the vehicle has stalled with loss of power. The transmission either jerks or there is a large lag of power -sometimes gas pedal needs to be pinned in order for vehicle to go forward. I have complained to the dealership and Chrysler about the safety issues and how the battery has not work as expected upon purchasing and all the safety issues. I have been mislead by Chrysler on the performance and use of the vehicle. I have asked for a resolution for over a year- lemon law, buy back , but I have to continue to drive an unsafe vehicle. Complaint # 1650529

Filed Aug 21, 2025 · Driver assistance · KY

While driving, vehicle begins shifting down and jerking to stop. Emergency brake engages while driving.

Filed Aug 13, 2025 · Transmission · TN

My 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a persistent, intermittent grinding or rumbling noise during moderate acceleration, most often under load such as going uphill. The noise has been documented over seven service visits and confirmed in writing by two separate Jeep dealerships, yet Jeep claims they cannot replicate it consistently. In 2024, my husband experienced violent jerking during upshifts at highway speeds, forcing him to restart the vehicle to restore normal operation. While that specific event has not repeated, the grinding/drivetrain issue continues, with no warning lights or diagnostic codes. The defect has persisted for more than a year, despite extensive service attempts, and raises serious safety concerns — particularly if the drivetrain locks up or loses power while driving. Jeep has not resolved the issue and is attempting to close my case without a fix. Case No. 93653073 is on file with Jeep/Stellantis Customer Care. Dates of service visits: Repair History 6/12/24 (1 day) – Rhythm Jeep – Unable to replicate 6/19–7/23/24 (35 days) – Rhythm Jeep – Replaced faulty resonator 8/1–8/2/24 (2 days) – Rhythm Jeep – Replaced exhaust assembly 9/21–10/2/24 (12 days) – Rhythm Jeep – PCM update, cam/crank relearn, STAR Case S2309000002; noise confirmed 10/30–11/11/24 (13 days) – Rhythm Jeep – Replaced motor mounts; vibration noted 11/27–12/17/24 (21 days) – Rhythm Jeep – TCM reprogrammed and quick learn 7/12–7/15/25 (4 days) – Freeland Jeep – Transmission tech assigned; grinding confirmed Total days out of service: 88. No warning lights, no stored codes.

Filed Aug 11, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · OR

In February 2025, my jeep would flash a “Service Hybrid System” code that would last about 3-5 seconds and disappear. This happened about 4-5 times over the next few months, code would not stay up and vehicle seemed unaffected. On June 10, I was driving with son on a highway about 60 mph when my car completely shut off, no power to engine, no power steering- absolutely nothing. We experienced a very aggressive jerk when this happened and I limped the vehicle off to the shoulder- we live in a remote area and I had no cell service. I was able to restart my car and drove it in “e-save” mode home. The next day, I drove my car again and had my son and daughter in the vehicle and the same exact thing happened. I was driving about 55mph around a corner with a large semi coming at me in the oncoming lane and my vehicle shut off and lost power and power steering. I was terrified that I would veer into that truck and there was not a shoulder readily available. We had to yet again limp the vehicle a few yards around the corner to pull off and I did not have service. So I had to walk to call my husband to pick my children up. The car has been at the dealership since then and told there is a digital crash code showing with no eta on a fix. Stellantis has denied a buyback yet my car has 26,000 miles on it and is under warranty with no eta on fix. Vehicle is unsafe to drive and unfixable for 60 days now.

Filed Jul 8, 2025 · Driver assistance, Fuel system · MI

My Jeep has been a consistent problem. The vehicle gives many warning and "service powertrain" warnings in the dashboard. Additionally, at the same time as the warnings, the vehicle will lurch - slowing down significantly and making passengers in the vehicle panic. I have gone to the dealer to already fix not 1 but 5, yes FIVE, recalls related to the powertrain system. This last visit (today) I was told that Stellantis acknowledges the issue, but does not have a fix. This vehicle was clearly not ready for production and Stellantis needs to be held accountable to it's customers.

Filed Jun 30, 2025 · Fuel system · TX

The “Service Hybrid Electric Vehicle System” has been coming on intermittently for several months. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they replaced a wiring harness. That did not fix the issue. The light continues to come on and Jeep technicians have no idea how to fix the issue. Today the light came on and the vehicle stalled and lost propulsion for about 3 seconds and then lurched hard forward as the power returned to the engine. This issue is widespread across social media yet Jeep has done nothing to remedy it. This is a major safety issue, especially with the unexpected lurching forward of the vehicle.

Filed Jun 15, 2025 · Electrical, Fuel system · NJ

Multiple incidents of the vehicle displaying a Service Hybrid System that appears for several seconds and then disappears. Today this occured, the engine abruptly switched to gas mode from hybrid with a sudden lurch, then returned to hybrid mode and the light disappeared . Vehicle has been to dealership twice for the service hybrid System light and no code is stored and they could not diagnose any further.

Filed May 30, 2025 · Electrical · IL

This vehicle has now been in service 3 times for related issues. "Service Hybrid Electric System" is now popping up. It happened on the highway and it jerked like it was changing gears and reducing speed before "restarting" itself. This has now happened numerous times. This is an unsafe family vehicle. Jeep has refused to buy it back and only recommending to take it back to the dealer and I have to pay for rentals. 2 weeks after purchasing the car, it left me and my family stranded in -10 degree weather in the winter. The entire system shut off. Car had to be towed to the dealer and it took weeks to get resolved. Then comes the 95B recall. Again, took over a week to get fixed. Had to pay again for a rental and wait to get reimbursed. Now this issue.