Back to search

2020 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SRT

6.4L V8 Hemi•4WD•AUTOMATIC•gas
Be the first sponsor for this vehicle

For $99, we generate the full set of step-by-step repair procedures for this exact vehicle. Free for everyone, forever, with your name on every one.

Sponsor — $99
Dead battery / stuck in Park? Emergency neutral procedure for this Grand Cherokee SRT →
5-Year Cost of Ownership
$18,793 maintenance + known platform issues
~$3,759/yr · 310¢/mile equivalent · $6,910 maintenance + $9,383 expected platform issues
Compare this engine
vs
6.4L V8
Common Problems & Known Issues

The 2020 Grand Cherokee SRT with its 6.4L Hemi is a high-performance SUV that runs strong when maintained, but the transmission cooling system is a known weak point, and aggressive driving or deferred maintenance can lead to catastrophic engine failure requiring complete rebuilds.

Transmission Oil Cooler Failure

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: transmission fluid in coolant or coolant in transmission, milky/pink transmission fluid, overheating transmission, harsh shifting or slipping, check engine light with transmission temp codes
Fix: Replace transmission oil cooler, flush both cooling system and transmission completely, replace transmission filter. If contamination went unnoticed, transmission rebuild may be required. 4-6 hours labor for cooler replacement alone, 20+ hours if transmission needs rebuild.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,500 for cooler/flush, $4,500-7,000 if transmission damaged

Catastrophic Engine Failure (Spun Bearings/Dropped Valves)

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: sudden knocking or ticking from bottom end, metallic rattling on cold start, loss of oil pressure, check engine light with misfire codes, catastrophic failure without warning in some cases
Fix: Typically requires complete engine rebuild or short block replacement. Rod bearings, main bearings, and pistons are common culprits, especially on vehicles driven hard or with extended oil change intervals. Dropped valve seats also documented. 25-35 hours labor for short block, 40+ for complete rebuild.
Estimated cost: $8,000-15,000

Transmission Mount Failure

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: clunking when shifting from park to drive, excessive vibration at idle, harsh engagement into gear, visible sagging of transmission when inspected on lift
Fix: Replace transmission mount. The 8HP70 transmission in the SRT is heavy and the mount deteriorates faster than standard models, especially with hard launches. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $400-700

Head Gasket Failure (Both Banks)

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: coolant loss with no visible leaks, white smoke from exhaust, overheating, oil in coolant or coolant in oil, rough idle or misfires
Fix: Replace both head gaskets, resurface heads if warped, replace head bolts. On the 6.4L Hemi this often follows overheating events or cooling system neglect. While heads are off, inspect for dropped valve seats. 18-24 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500

Fuel Filter Clogging

Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: loss of power under load, hesitation or stumbling during acceleration, hard starting, check engine light with fuel system codes
Fix: Replace in-tank fuel pump module assembly (filter is non-serviceable separately on most models). Requires dropping fuel tank. 3-4 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400

Piston Ring Wear / Oil Consumption

Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: excessive oil consumption (1 qt per 1,000-2,000 miles), blue smoke on startup or acceleration, carbon buildup on intake valves, loss of compression
Fix: Requires removing pistons and replacing rings at minimum. Often done during engine rebuild if bearings or other components are also worn. If caught early, can replace rings without full rebuild, but labor is 20-25 hours. Most techs recommend short block replacement at this point.
Estimated cost: $4,000-6,500 for rings only, $8,000-12,000 for short block
Owner tips
  • Change oil every 5,000 miles maximum with quality 0W-40 synthetic — the 6.4L Hemi runs hot and aggressive driving accelerates wear
  • Monitor transmission fluid condition closely and service every 60,000 miles; inspect transmission cooler lines for leaks annually
  • Install auxiliary transmission cooler if towing or track use is planned — factory cooler is marginal for sustained high-load operation
  • Check coolant and oil regularly for cross-contamination; catching trans cooler or head gasket failure early saves thousands
  • Avoid extended idle periods and short trips that don't allow engine to reach full operating temperature — accelerates carbon buildup
Buy one only if you have maintenance records proving religious oil changes and transmission services, and budget $2,000-3,000 yearly for inevitable repairs — spectacular performance but expensive to maintain properly.
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.
485 jobs across 17 categories
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Mechanic · 20+ years.
Stuck on a repair? Take it to The Diag Desk — ask a master tech about this exact car → real human answer within 24h, never AI
Building an app?
Free API access to all this data — 10 requests/day, no card required.
Get an API key →
Run a shop?
Manage repairs, estimates, and customers with ShopBase — $249/mo, all features included. Built by the same team.
Try ShopBase →