10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 85,154 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I do not remember exactly when the problem started, but while driving at night, my lights started flickering and then went out all together. I thought it happened when I turned my signal lights on, but I am not sure if this is the cause. I took it to the Jeep dealer and they could not find anything. Every now and then, I have the same issue, but nothing can be found. This is very dangerous for me and it terrifies me that someone will think I am flashing them and become angry. There is obviously something wrong if there are so many with this type of problem, but nothing is being done about it. I purchased as a one person lease vehicle from a dealership and within a year had to have my transmission replaced. I could not enter transmission in the parts section.
- Lemon Grove, CA, USA
While driving in normal dry conditions this past evening unexpectedly all my interior gauges and dash electronics started flickering on and off to include the radio, hazard lights and everything inside. At the same time I realized I was also loosing my exterior headlights and also brake control because my car was essentially running but with no electronics. It started making a weird grinding pulsating noise that would accompany the flickering lights. This forced me to exit the road at a gas station. It then stopped and I began driving again only to have it resume shortly. Thankfully I was close to my destination and was able to shut the vehicle off for the night. This has happened occasionally in the past couple months during the day but this is my first night experience. I thought it was just a glitch but it is definitely getting worse and has become regular. The next morning I was able start and drive my vehicle to work and it repeated this behavior a couple more times. At days end I went to leave and now my Jeep won't start and hasn't for two days. All the electronics come on but when I turn the key it just clicks. I also had this problem in the past but when my mechanic looked at it he was unable to duplicate the problem.
- Mason, OH, USA
While driving under completely normal conditions, several severe problems occurred simultaneously; interior dash lights started flashing on and off, vehicle started sputtering and became unresponsive when trying to accelerate, grinding sound from left front wheel accompanied the other problems further adding to the vehicle suddenly slowing down while in motion. All warning lights were lit up when flashing stopped, but then a couple of minutes later while I was trying to limp into a parking lot to get the car off the road the dash lights started wildly flashing on and off again and the car continued to be virtually unresponsive when stepping on the gas. After shutting the car off and restarting it, the esp/bas lights remained on for a couple of days, but eventually went out, but the check engine light remained on. The problem happened again on 3/29/2013 while I was driving under normal conditions. It was sudden, unexpected and scary. With the right set of circumstances, it could be devastating and extremely dangerous. Once I started doing a bit of online research, I found many Jeep forums packed full of owners with the identical model and year of my Grand Cherokee that are having the same grave issues. It is clearly very widespread for this particular vehicle, and then I found the arfc page and I was astounded at the numbers of owners of my year and model who have also had hair raising incidents who have described the exact set of problems that I have had. Chrysler cannot ignore the massive numbers of people who are reporting the same defect issues. It is well beyond the realms of coincidence, and it is too dangerous to ignore. There needs to be a national factory recall asap before somebody gets killed.
- Las Vegas, NV, USA
While driving 55mph suddenly every dashboard warnings light, ignition, radio, headlights, etc. Turns on and off. Engine stalls for a couple of seconds each time this occurs. The same thing happened on a number of occasions. Dealer says they never heard of this problem and could not duplicate this problem when the car was in the shop. The car was at the dealer's shop on two occasions. The first time they said they couldn't find the problem and the second time they did something to the computer. The car is doing the same thing and is going back to the dealer on 2/18/13.
- Waldorf, MD, USA
I purchased vehicle 2 weeks ago, November 115, 2012. Over a period of several days, all lights on. Instrument cluster light-up, gauges go crazy, loose power and ability to operate vehicle. Very dangerous situation since I was on highway at highway speeds. Also, headlights begin to flicker off-on at a high rate causing a dangerous situation. I have researched online and found numerous similar complaints for Jeep. I went to my local Jeep dealer today...no help. Called Jeep hotline, 800-992-1997, no help, claim they havent had a problem. This is a safety issue and Jeep should stand behind their product.
- Springfield, MO, USA
Since the day I purchased my certified used 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the interior instrument panel and dash lights have malfunctioned. The brightness flickers from low to very high, which is very distracting at night, some of the panel controls have since completely stopped working, and several times, all of the warning lights on the dash (seatbelt, airbag, check engine, etc) flash on and off while driving. This has happened at numerous speeds and times of the day. I video taped several incidents on my cell phone to prove it. Took it to the dealer and they said they can't duplicate the problem and the video means nothing. It happens more often, or is more noticeable, at night. They checked it in the daytime. Made no offer of any solution.
- Tamaqua, PA, USA
On multiple occasions, the instrument panel has stopped working completely. The lighting in both in the interior of the vehicle as well as the exterior flashes and sometimes goes out completely. Multiple dealers have not been able to find a problem. It has caused near crashes before with the distraction of driving at night. The cruise control also accelerates without any warning while this occurs and the cruise must be reset by turning the car off and back on. This too has caused some near crashes as the car accelerates due to the faulty cruise control.
- Jackson, TN, USA
Headlights and dash lights flicker when on. They will usually remain on for approximately 5 minutes before they start to flicker. At that point the headlights and dashlights will flash off and on rapidly causing oncoming traffic and the traffic in front of my vehicle to panic. The flicker occurs even when the vehicle is turned off an the light control switch is left in the on position. I have not noticed the flicker occurring while the vehicle is turned off and the light control switch is in the off position. This condition could potentially be very dangerous depending upon the timing of the occurrence. I have conducted internet research on this topic and found that many 2005-2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners have had this very same problem. Even more 2005 - 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners have had electronic problems in general. My particular headlight problem has been attributed to an electronical control module which would cost close to $1,000 to repair or replace. I believe this to be faulty workmanship or the use of a faulty product by Jeep. The failure of an electronic control model is not the result of wear and tear. Therefore, I believe this should either be admitted and replaced by Jeep or made a safety recall. I appreciate your time and consideration.
- Savannah, GA, USA
The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While the contact shifted into reverse, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated without warning. The brake was applied with force and the vehicle came to a stop. The failure recurred four times. In addition, the instrument panel failed to illuminate sporadically. The malfunction recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. The technician was unable to duplicate the failures. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000. Updated 12/12/11 updated 01/03/12
- Carneys Point, NJ, USA
The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the interior and exterior lighting illuminated on and off intermittently before shutting off completely. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the dealer stated that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 81,000 and the current mileage was 81,075.
- Leesburg, VA, USA
2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee headlight will flicker on and off. This also includes the dash lights. I have researched this problem online, and have found that many others have had the same problem with this year and model. Many of these people have contacted Jeep, which basically ignored their complaints. Something should be done about this as it is a safety issue, and the dealerships and company are refusing to deal with it correctly.
- Metropolis, IL, USA
I purchased a certified used 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee in 2008 with 26K miles. Besides a malfunctioning electronic shifter in 2009 everything has been running great until 1/2/2011. At approximately 6:30pm while driving on the freeway at 65mph all exterior lights and interior lights (except for the map lights) began to flicker and then fail. The lights would come back on for a few seconds and then fail. The problem occurred intermittently over the next 30 miles and persistently worsened until I got home when the lights remained off for 15 to 20 seconds at a time. Each time it failed while driving I cycled the switch, cycled the brights and tried anything I could to get the lights to stay on. None of these methods worked. Upon getting home safely I turned the car off and restarted it only to have the same problem after two restarts. I went to bed and tried it in the morning and the lights worked fine for a 70 mile daylight drive to the dealer. Just received word from the dealer that they could not replicate the failure so there is nothing they can do. This vehicle is unsafe to drive and dangerous to others on the road in this condition even if it only happens once every two years.
- Tigard, OR, USA
All exterior headlights (high / low beams and parking lights) and interior dash lights turn-off unexpectedly and without warning which is causing an extreme safety hazard. I have taken it to the shop numerous times but the problem does not duplicate while at the shop as it may happen 3 days in a row then, disappear for a week or two. The problem has been occurring since January of 2010 and still continues to this day (November 2010) without any resolve. The lights will turn-off in the morning or night as there is no pattern. I talked to Jeep directly but, they state they don't have any records of this problem or will not help with the problem until one of their Jeep dealerships contacts them with a diagnosis problem, which seems very odd that they are not overly concerned with their product.
- Cochranville, PA, USA
While driving at night, headlights on vehicle went off. By flashing the light switch to what would normally turn on the brights, the lights would come back on, regular strength (not the brights). This happens repeatedly every time the car is driven at night, several times during the night.
- Lacona, NY, USA
I purchased my 2006 Grand Cherokee in may of 2008. I started having a problem with the headlights flickering on and off and then totally going off about 3 weeks after we purchased the vehicle. We took it back to the dealership while still under warranty and they serviced it to find "nothing wrong." The service person drove the vehicle at night and stated nothing happened. A couple of months later the same thing happened again, we took it to the dealership a second time, and the service person said the same thing again, "nothing wrong." We go almost a year with no problems and the flickering of the head lights and interior dash starts all over again. I would hate for someone to have to die before the manufacturer decides to do something about this problem. I have a 5 year old daughter and a 17 year old son that I Transport daily and I refuse to allow him to drive my vehicle because of this problem. Hopefully someone will decide to take action concerning the issues with the Jeep Cherokee.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact noticed that all of the illuminated components in the vehicle would dim intermittently. She was informed that the lights flickered as if she were flashing them during the day and night. The exterior lighting shut off completely. The interior lighting, specifically the instrument panel, would dim while the vehicle was in motion. The contact would have to manually turn them back on again. The electrical system, however, would still malfunction. She took the vehicle to the dealer on two different occasions and to a private mechanic once, but neither could duplicate or determine the cause of the failures. The manufacturer has not been notified. The current mileage was approximately 31,000 and failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
- Mount Vernon, OH, USA
- Red Rock, AZ, USA