The 2017 Grand Cherokee SRT with its 6.4L Hemi is a high-performance SUV that delivers serious power but carries some expensive maintenance realities, particularly around transmission cooling, drivetrain mounts, and — in abused or high-mileage examples — catastrophic bottom-end failures from bearing wear or valvetrain issues.
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid mixing with coolant (strawberry milkshake in overflow tank), Transmission slipping or delayed shifts, Engine overheating or transmission temp warnings, Pink residue on dipstick or in coolant reservoir
Fix: Replace transmission oil cooler assembly, flush cooling system and transmission completely, replace ATF and filter. Often requires removing front bumper and radiator support. 4-6 hours labor. If contamination spread, transmission rebuild may be necessary (add 12-16 hours).
Estimated cost: $800-1,500 for cooler alone; $3,500-6,000 if transmission rebuild needed
Engine Bearing Failure / Bottom-End Knock
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Deep knocking noise from bottom of engine, worse under load or cold starts, Metal shavings in oil during changes, Low oil pressure warnings at idle, Sudden catastrophic failure with rod through block in severe cases
Fix: Full engine teardown required. Connecting rod bearings and main bearings wear prematurely, especially with extended oil change intervals or aggressive driving. Short block replacement is most common repair (12-18 hours), though some shops attempt bearing replacement if crank journals aren't scored (10-14 hours). Often discover piston ring wear and cylinder glazing during teardown.
Estimated cost: $6,500-9,500 for short block replacement; $8,000-12,000 for full rebuild
Head Gasket Failure (Both Banks)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust on startup, Coolant loss with no visible leaks, Overheating under load or highway driving, Milky oil or oil in coolant, Rough idle or misfires in multiple cylinders
Fix: Remove both cylinder heads, resurface or replace heads, install new MLS gaskets, replace head bolts (TTY style). Check for warpage. 14-18 hours labor. Often discover additional valve seal wear or lifter issues during disassembly. If heads are cracked, add replacement cost.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500 with machine work; $5,000-7,500 if heads need replacement
Transmission Mount Collapse
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Loud clunk when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive vibration at idle in gear, Visible engine/trans movement when revving in Park, Harsh shifts under acceleration
Fix: Replace transmission mount (sometimes called trans crossmember mount). The 6.4L's torque destroys these faster than lesser engines. Simple job but requires lifting trans slightly with jack. 1.5-2.5 hours labor. Inspect engine mounts at same time.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Fuel System Contamination / Clogged Filter
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: Hard starting or extended cranking, especially when hot, Loss of power under acceleration, Engine dying at idle or low speeds, Check engine light with fuel trim or fuel pressure codes (P0087, P0089)
Fix: Replace in-tank fuel filter/strainer and inspect fuel pump assembly. Often caused by debris in tank or phase-separated ethanol fuel sitting too long. Tank must be dropped. 2-3 hours labor. In severe cases, full fuel pump module replacement needed (3-4 hours).
Estimated cost: $400-700 for filter/strainer; $800-1,200 for full pump assembly
Lifter Tick / Valve Train Noise (MDS Related)
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 40,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Ticking or tapping noise from engine on cold start, may fade when warm, Noise worsens with extended oil change intervals, Sometimes accompanied by check engine light for misfire or cam/crank correlation, Roughness during cylinder deactivation (MDS) transitions
Fix: Often related to Multi-Displacement System (MDS) lifter wear or oil passages clogging. Early stages: use high-quality oil and shorter intervals (3,000-4,000 mi). Advanced cases require lifter replacement and possibly camshaft inspection. If ignored, can lead to rocker arm or pushrod failure. Lifter replacement: 8-12 hours labor per bank.
Estimated cost: $1,500-3,000 per bank for lifter replacement; preventive oil changes cost far less
Owner tips
Change oil every 3,000-4,000 miles with quality 0W-40 synthetic — the 6.4L Hemi is brutal on oil, especially with MDS lifters
Service transmission fluid every 40,000-50,000 miles even though Mopar calls it 'lifetime' — heat from performance driving breaks down ATF quickly
Inspect transmission cooler lines and radiator for cross-contamination at every oil change — early catch saves $4,000+ in trans rebuilds
Avoid extended idle periods and aggressive cold starts — bearings need oil pressure and temperature to survive
If you hear any bottom-end knock, stop driving immediately — continuing operation turns a bearing job into a block replacement
Buy one if you love the performance and budget $2,000-3,000 annually for aggressive maintenance; avoid high-mileage examples unless full service records prove religious oil changes and transmission services.
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.
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.
EQUIPMENT · 16V686000
2016-09-23
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee manufactured August 8, 2016 through August 16, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the rear tow hook bracket or tow eye bracket may be loose.
Consequence: If the tow bracket is loose, the bracket may detach from the vehicle while being it is being driven, possibly becoming a road hazard. If the bracket detaches during a vehicle recovery, there may be a loss of control of the towed vehicle. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will confirm both tow hook bracket bolts are properly tightened, free of charge. The recall began on October 31, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S73.
Performance
Horsepower
475hp
Torque
470lb-ft
0–60 mph
4.3sec
Quarter mile
12.9sec
Top speed
160mph
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
13mpg
Highway
19mpg
Combined
15mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
Capability & size
Towing capacity
7,200lb
Payload
1,000lb
Curb weight
5,150lb
EPA class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 6.4L V8 Hemi and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.