The 2021 Grand Cherokee SRT with its 6.4L Hemi is a high-performance SUV that's generally solid when maintained, but the ZF 8HP transmission runs hot under enthusiastic driving, and oil consumption issues plague higher-mileage examples—sometimes catastrophically.
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure / Overheating
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission temperature warning on dash during towing or spirited driving, Burnt ATF smell, dark fluid on dipstick, Harsh shifting or limp mode after highway pulls, Coolant mixing with ATF (cooler internal leak) causing milky fluid
Fix: Replace transmission oil cooler and flush system; if cooler leaked internally, full transmission teardown and rebuild may be required to clear contamination. Labor: 3-5 hours for cooler alone, 15-20 hours if transmission needs rebuild.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 (cooler only), $4,500-7,000 (if trans rebuild needed)
Excessive Oil Consumption / Piston Ring Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Burning 1+ quart every 1,000-1,500 miles, Blue smoke on cold start or during acceleration, Fouled spark plugs, misfires on multiple cylinders, Low oil pressure warning if level drops critically
Fix: Cylinder leakdown test confirms worn rings; requires engine removal, full teardown, honing cylinders, new piston rings and bearings. Some shops opt for short block replacement instead. Labor: 25-35 hours for in-chassis rebuild, 20-25 for short block swap.
Symptoms: Ticking or tapping noise from valve train, worse at idle, Check engine light with misfire codes on one or two cylinders, Loss of power, rough idle, Metal shavings in oil during changes
Fix: Inspect cam lobes and lifters with heads off; typically requires camshaft replacement, all 16 lifters, and sometimes head work if valves were damaged. Labor: 18-24 hours for cam swap with heads R&R.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000
Fuel Filter Clogging (High-Pressure Pump)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Hesitation or stumble under hard acceleration, Long crank time, especially when hot, Check engine light with fuel pressure codes (P0087, P0088), Rough running at highway speeds under load
Fix: Replace high-pressure fuel filter and inspect pump; filter is integral to pump module on some configurations, requiring pump replacement. Labor: 2-3 hours.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Vibration through floor at idle in gear, Excessive driveline movement during acceleration, Visible torn rubber or fluid leaking from mount
Fix: Replace transmission mount; sometimes rear diff mount fails simultaneously. Labor: 1.5-2.5 hours for trans mount alone.
Estimated cost: $300-600
Head Gasket Failure (Overheating-Related)
Rare · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant loss with no visible leaks, White smoke from exhaust, Oil looks milky, coolant contaminated with oil, Overheating, especially under load
Fix: Remove heads, resurface, replace gaskets and head bolts; check for cracks. If caught early, heads can be saved; if overheated severely, may need replacement heads or block inspection. Labor: 16-22 hours for both gaskets.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500 (gaskets only), $6,000-9,000 (if heads need work)
Owner tips
Change transmission fluid every 40,000 miles—ZF 8HP runs hot in the SRT application and fluid degrades faster than spec suggests
Monitor oil level religiously; catch-can installation helps reduce carbon buildup and oil consumption on high-mileage examples
Use factory-spec 0W-40 synthetic oil (not 5W-20); thicker oil helps protect bearings under high loads
Avoid extended idling in Drive with AC on max—trans temps spike quickly without airflow
Buy one with full service records and a pre-purchase inspection focused on oil consumption and transmission health—these are fantastic trucks when maintained, but deferred maintenance gets expensive fast.
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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BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · 24V436000
2024-06-13
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Dodge Durango, 2021-2023 Chrysler Pacifica, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, Chrysler Voyager, 2022-2023 Jeep Compass, Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and Ram Promaster vehicles. The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the radio software or the software will be OTA, "Over-The-Air," free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning July 9, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's numbers for this recall are 66B and 79B.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L and 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The upper control arm ball joint and steering knuckle may separate and cause the wheel to fall outward, resulting in a loss of vehicle control.
Consequence: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the upper control arm pinch bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 2, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 10B.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION · 23V577000
2023-08-14
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and 2022-2024 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer vehicles. The Central Vision Park Assist module (CVPAM) software may prevent the rearview image from displaying when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview image that does not display while in reverse decreases the driver's visibility of the rear view, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Central Vision Park Assist Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 31, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 56A.
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS · 23V413000
2023-06-08
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. The rear coil springs may have been incorrectly installed and detach from the vehicle while driving.
Consequence: Rear coil springs that detach from the vehicle while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and if necessary, repair the rear coil spring assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 29, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 64A. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall 26V051. All vehicles will need to have the new recall remedy performed.
STEERING:COLUMN · 23V352000
2023-05-18
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. An incorrectly assembled steering column intermediate shaft may disconnect from the u-joint, and result in a loss of steering control.
Consequence: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the intermediate shaft and assembly parts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 58A.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS · 22V544000
2022-07-28
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. The tail light side marker assemblies may be damaged and not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamp, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: A tail light side marker that does not illuminate can reduce vehicle visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace both body-mounted tail light assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 8, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z50.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee WK, 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may stick open, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
Consequence: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the EGR valve assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z31.
CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE TETHER ANCHOR · 22V180000
2022-03-24
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. These vehicles may have been built with a missing weld from the seat back frame to the child seat tether anchorage. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Consequence: A missing weld may allow the child seat tether to separate from the seat frame during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the second-row seat back frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Z24.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE · 21V950000
2021-12-09
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles equipped with smart lighting modules (SLM). An incomplete SLM software update may cause one or both headlights to become inoperable. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: Inoperable headlights can reduce visibility for the driver and oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the SLM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y72.
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE · 21V873000
2021-11-10
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Jeep Wagoneer, and Grand Wagoneer vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) may have incorrect software which can disable the driver, passenger, and knee air bags without warning.
Consequence: Disabled air bags can increase the risk of injury to occupants in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the ORC, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 2, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y79.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS · 21V797000
2021-10-14
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles not equipped with automatic high beams. When the master lighting switch is set to the auto position, the high beam headlights will not activate unless the master lighting switch is first changed to the 'on" position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: Difficulty activating the headlight high beams may result in reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y66.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES · 21V729000
2021-09-21
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. A radio software error may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: FCA US LLC will update the radio software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 28, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y67.
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
5,363lb
EPA class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Wiper blades
WK2 generation Grand Cherokee SRT. Final year before WL generation. Symmetrical front wiper configuration.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2021 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.