Problems · by component

2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee engine and engine cooling problems

39 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee cite engine and engine cooling, 5% of all 734 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
39
5% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WIFE PULLED INTO PARKING LOT AND HIT BUMP AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN FREEZING STEERING WHEEL SCARING WIFE. HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE. TOOK INTO DEALER(JAN-'14) AND WAS TOLD KEY WAS TOO HEAVY AND BECAME LOOSE IN IGNITION CAUSING CAR TO SHUT DOWN. (CHARGED $106). FALL 2014, RECALLS STARTED BEING ANNOUNCED FOR SAME PROBLEM(SAME KEY AS WE HAVE); FILED COMPLAINT TO CHRYSLER IN NOV. 2014(CASE #26001552) AND CHRYSLER SAID OUR VIN NOT UNDER RECALL. SAME KEY/ SAME PROBLEM, BUT NOT UNDER RECALL? THEY IMPLIED, IF UNDER RECALL MIGHT BE ABLE TO CREDIT $106 BACK. CURRENTLY: INTERESTED IN 3 THINGS: 1) INCLUDE MY VEHICLE UNDER RECALL- VERY DANGEROUS AND PEOPLE MUST BE ADVISED, IF SHE WERE DRIVING FASTER, COULD HAVE BEEN MAJOR ACCIDENT. 2) CREDIT BACK $106- DEALER DID NOTHING BUT TELL ME KEY IS HEAVY. 3) CURRENT KEY NEEDS REPLACED- I WILL PAY FOR THIS, BUT WILL IT BE THE SAME KEY? WILL IT BE REDESIGNED, WHAT SHOULD I DO? THANK YOU *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 22, 2015Engine and engine coolingODI 10700918
“I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER BACK IN THE SUMMER 2014 FOR FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. CALLED DEALER, PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. CALLED SEVERAL MORE TIMES SINCE, STILL NO PARTS AND TOLD TO WAIT FOR LETTER. WELL, IT IS NOW FEB. 2015 AND STILL NO PARTS/LETTER. IT STATES THAT IGNITION SWITCH CAN TURN FROM START TO RUN, WHICH WILL SHUT DOWN ENGINE OR OTHER ELECTRICAL PARTS ( STEERING, ENGINE, POWER BRAKES ) INCREASING THE RISK OF CRASH. DO I HAVE TO WAIT TILL I CRASH BEFORE THIS IS TAKEN CARE OF ? *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 2, 2015Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Service brakesODI 10680464
“MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. LAST TIME WAS LAST WEEK 09/23/2013.THE CAR DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CAN NOT RECREATE THIS AND THE COMPUTER IS NOT SHOWING ANYTHING. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 30, 2013Engine and engine coolingODI 10546232
“WIFE TRAVELING WITH SON ON FWY AT LEGAL SPEED OF 70 MPH W/CRUISE CONTROL ON, CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED CAUSING A VIOLENT MANEUVER FORCING CAR INTO NEIGHBORING LANE AND ALMOST CRASHING. SHE STATED IT WAS AS IF IT SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED INTO LOWEST GEAR AND BRAKES APPLIED FORCEFULLY. REGAINING CONTROL SHE DEACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND PROCEEDED TO DESTINATION AT 50 MPH. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP IN DAVIS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSFER CASE WHICH WAS THEN REPLACED AT THE COST OF $2842.75. SHE RETRIEVED CAR TWO DAYS LATER AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE BACK HOME (DISTANCE IS @ 178 MI ONE WAY). CAR REPEATED SUDDEN DECELERATION UPON ENTERING THE FWY AND GETTING UP TO SPEED. CONTINUED HOME DUE TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS TO KEEP. KEPT CRUISE CONTROL OFF BUT CALLED DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THAT REPLACING THE TRANSFER CASE DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I PULLED CODES UPON HER ARRIVING HOME AND FOUND ONLY CODE 0430 (CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD [BANK 2] INDICATING THE CONVERTER NOT WORKING TO SPECS. TODAY SHE WAS RETURNING TO DAVIS TO VISIT WITH GRANDCHILDREN AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME SITUATION. AT 70 MPH CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED RAPIDLY (AS IF…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 1, 2013Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 10515251
“WHEN GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS MY VEHICLE STALLS. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. I'VE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES. EACH TIME I'VE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NO PROBLEM, OR THAT I NEED SPARK PLUGS REPLACED, OR THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE CLEANED....NOTHING HAS HELPED! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 23, 2012Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10456085
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10446135

Showing 6 of 39 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.