The 2015 Grand Cherokee is a capable midsize SUV undermined by serious powertrain reliability issues, particularly the ZF 8-speed transmission and the 3.0L EcoDiesel engine. The 3.6L Pentastar is the safest bet, though not immune to problems.
ZF 8HP Transmission Shudder and Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh shifting or shuddering during 8th-9th gear engagement, especially during light acceleration, Transmission slipping, delayed engagement from Park or Reverse, Check engine light with transmission fault codes, Complete transmission failure requiring replacement
Fix: Early cases may respond to software updates and fluid flush (2-3 hours), but most need torque converter replacement (8-10 hours) or full transmission rebuild/replacement (12-16 hours). Chrysler extended warranty to 10yr/150k for some VINs but many fall outside coverage.
Estimated cost: $4,500-8,000
3.0L EcoDiesel Catastrophic Engine Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 quart per 1,000 miles or worse), White or blue smoke from exhaust, Knocking/rattling noises from crankcase, Sudden loss of power, metal shavings in oil, Check engine light with misfire or low compression codes
Fix: Piston ring failure and crankshaft bearing wear lead to full engine rebuilds or replacement. Typical repair involves short block replacement (30-40 hours) or complete long block (35-45 hours). EGR cooler failures also common and can accelerate engine damage if ignored. Class action settlement provides some reimbursement for affected owners.
Estimated cost: $8,000-15,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Red transmission fluid puddles under vehicle, typically front passenger side, Low transmission fluid warning light, Transmission overheating or erratic shifting, Fluid visible on radiator or frame rails
Fix: Cooler lines corrode where they connect to radiator and transmission. Requires line replacement, sometimes cooler itself (3-5 hours). Must refill and flush transmission fluid after repair. Ignore this and you'll cook the transmission.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Transfer Case Chain and Bearing Failure (4WD models)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Grinding, whining, or rattling noise from center of vehicle, Vibration during acceleration, worse at highway speeds, Service 4WD system warning message, Inability to engage 4WD modes, Metal shavings in transfer case fluid
Fix: Transfer case bearings wear prematurely, chain stretches. Requires case disassembly and rebuild or full replacement (8-12 hours). Quadra-Trac systems particularly affected. Regular fluid changes can delay but rarely prevent this.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,500
Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) and Engine Stalling
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Lightning bolt warning light on dash (red electronic throttle control), Engine stalling at idle or during deceleration, Limp mode with severely reduced power, Intermittent no-start conditions, Throttle response lag or surging
Fix: Usually throttle body failure or wiring harness issues. Throttle body replacement is 1-2 hours, but diagnosis can be tricky with intermittent problems. Software updates available for some cases. Recalls issued for wiring harness on certain VINs.
Estimated cost: $400-900
Front Lower Control Arm Bushing Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking noise over bumps, especially from front suspension, Steering wheel vibration or wandering, Uneven tire wear on inside edges, Vehicle pulls to one side
Fix: Front lower control arm bushings tear and separate. Most shops replace entire control arms rather than press new bushings (2-3 hours per side). Alignment required after. Both sides typically fail around same time.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Sunroof Drain Clogs and Water Leaks
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: Water dripping from headliner, A-pillars, or dome lights, Wet carpet in front footwells, Musty odor in cabin, Water sloshing sound in doors or pillars, Electrical issues (module corrosion) if ignored long-term
Fix: Sunroof drain tubes clog with debris or disconnect at lower junctions. Requires clearing drains (1 hour) or more extensive disassembly to reconnect tubes behind trim panels (3-5 hours). Can cause major electrical damage if water reaches floor modules. Not limited to sunroof models—body seam leaks also documented.
Estimated cost: $200-1,200
Owner tips
Change ZF transmission fluid every 40,000 miles with Mopar-spec ATF+4 or ZF Lifeguard 8—ignore the 'lifetime' fluid claim
On EcoDiesels, monitor oil consumption religiously and use Mopar-spec 5W-40; budget for EGR system service every 60k-80k miles
Inspect transfer case fluid color/condition at every oil change on 4WD models; dark or metallic fluid = impending failure
Clear sunroof drains twice yearly with compressed air or trimmer line to prevent expensive water damage
Budget $1,500-2,000 annually for repairs outside normal maintenance after 80,000 miles
Buy the 3.6L Pentastar only, avoid EcoDiesel entirely, and budget heavily for transmission issues—great to drive when it works, but reliability is a serious gamble even with maintenance records.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L Diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 3, 2023. Some owner notification letters were mailed October 31, 2023. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated July 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 66A. This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-475.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2014-2019 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. A high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation.
Consequence: Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the HPFP, and inspect and replace, if necessary, additional fuel system components, free of charge. Interim notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed July 21, 2022. Owner notification letters for were mailed for Jeep Grand Cherokee owners starting January 11, 2024. Owner notification letters for Ram 1500 owners were mailed March 7, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLS's number for this recall is Z46.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with the 3.0L EcoDiesel
engines. The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may crack and allow pre-heated vaporized coolant to enter the EGR system. This mixture may combust inside the intake manifold.
Consequence: Combustion in the intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EGR cooler, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect and, as necessary, replace the intake manifold. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on December 21, 2021. A second notification will be mailed when parts are available, currently expected to be around March 11, 2021. The recall began March 11, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is W79.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL · 20V475000
2020-08-13
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Ram 1500 and 2014-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion by reading the camshaft position signal in the event that the crankshaft position signal is lost, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 13, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-2002. FCA US's number for this recall is W58.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · 18V332000
2018-05-17
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
Consequence: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER · 17E061000
2017-10-19
Accessible Technologies, Inc. (ATI) is recalling certain ProCharger Superchargers, model numbers AB037A-100, AB037A-100P, and A037A-100B, sold for installation on 2012-2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and SRT vehicles. The supercharger mounting bracket may contact and damage the ABS line, possibly resulting in a brake fluid leak.
Consequence: A brake fluid leak may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: ATI will notify owners and will replace the supercharger brackets, free of charge. The recall began on December 12, 2017. Owners may contact ATI customer service at 1-913-338-2886.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) · 16V240000
2016-04-25 · EA16002
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles manufactured February 15, 2011, to November 27, 2014, and 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured July 16, 2012, to December 22, 2015. The affected vehicles, equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a monostable gear selector, may not adequately warn the driver when driver's door is opened and the vehicle is not in PARK, allowing them to exit the vehicle while the vehicle is still in gear.
Consequence: Drivers thinking that their vehicle's transmission is in the PARK position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software to mitigate the risk of vehicle rollaway, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S27.
Note: On October 19, 2016 Chrysler identified some previously repaired vehicles did not receive the complete software updates. Chrysler will renotify the affected owners, and dealers will update the software again.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER · 16V168000
2016-03-23
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured December 9, 2015, to January 14, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the left front brake caliper may crack due to being made from an incorrect material.
Consequence: A cracked brake caliper may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front left brake caliper and depending on its casting date, replace it, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on May 12, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S16.
SUSPENSION:REAR · 15V469000
2015-07-27
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured June 12, 2015, to June 20, 2015. The affected vehicles may be equipped with rear lower control arms that may have been incorrectly heat treated. This may cause the rear lower control arm to fracture.
Consequence: If the rear lower control arm fractures it may result in a change in ride height, loss of rear end stability, and reduced braking capabilities, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began July 29, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R38. Note: This supersedes Recall No. 15V-407.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. · 15V461000
2015-07-23
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500, 2015 Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger, 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, and Dodge Durango, and 2013-2015 Dodge Viper vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with radios that have software vulnerabilities that can allow third-party access to certain networked vehicle control systems.
Consequence: Exploitation of the software vulnerability may result in unauthorized remote modification and control of certain vehicle systems, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify and mail affected owners a USB drive that includes a software update that eliminates the vulnerability, free of charge. Optionally, owners may download the update to their own USB drive from http://www.driveuconnect.com/software-update/ or take their vehicle to a Chrysler dealer for immediate installation. In an effort to mitigate the effects of this security vulnerability, Chrysler has had the wireless service provider close the open cellular connection to the vehicle that provided unauthorized access to the vehicle network. This measure may not have been implemented on all vehicles and does not address access by other means that will be remedied by the software update. The recall began on August 25, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R40.
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