Problems · by component

2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee power train problems

77 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee cite power train, 10% of all 734 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
77
10% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“When driving it will randomly shift into 4th gear very hard and stay in 4th until you turn it off. It will happen at any speed and be fine for months or do have the issues consistently for long period of time then stop. It happens with no pattern or related reasons.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 20, 2025Power trainODI 11655658
“I HAVE TWO 2008 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE'S. RECENTLY I BECAME AWARE OF THE FCA GROUP P57 RECALL WHICH IS AN UPDATED IGNITION CYLINDER AND WIRELESS MODULE AFTER ASKING AROUND MY CIRCLE ABOUT MY TWO VEHICLES STALLING. MOST RECENTLY MY WIFE AND CHILD WHERE DRIVING AT 110KPH DRIVING STRAIGHT WHEN HER GC SHUT OFF. SHE SAFELY PULLED TO THE SIDE BUT THIS IS EXTREMELY UNNERVING. MY GC HAS ALSO TURNED OFF, BUT MINE HAS BEEN AT LOWER SPEEDS OR WHEN IDLING. MY VIN IS [XXX] HER VIN IS [XXX] MY LOCAL DEALER HAS SAID THERE IS NO OUSTTANDING RECALL AND THAT P57 DOES NOT APPLY TO EITHER OF MY VINS. \THIS IS CONFUSING SINCE MY EXISTING IGNITION CYLINDERS ARE THE SAME AS THOSE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND THE NEW PART REQUIRES A PUSH-TO-TURN (MINE DO NOT HAVE THIS NOW). *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2020Power trainODI 11372709
“2008 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE GOES INTO LIMP MODE AND STAYS IN FOURTH GEAR. IF I RESTART THE CAR IT GOES BACK TO NORMAL BUT EVENTUALLY GOES BACK INTO FOURTH GEAR AND STAYS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2019Power trainODI 11205285
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY ROAD AND ALL MY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AT ONCE-ABS, CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY, ETC. ALL MY LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER. MY HEAD LIGHTS BEGAN TO GET VERY DIMMED SO I TRIED SWITCHING MY FOG LIGHTS OR HIGH BEAMS ON BUT THAT ONLY MADE IT WORSE AND THE LIGHTS COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN GOING VERY SLOW MAKING IT REALLY HARD TO SEE AS IT WAS RAINING. I WAS ABLE TO PULL ONTO A SIDE STREET. MY CAR FELT STRANGE WHILE DRIVING LIKE I WASNT ABLE TO ACCELERATE SO ONCE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ON THE SIDE SOMEWHERE AND GET MY CAR IN PARK, ALL MY LIGHTS FLICKERED HEAVILY AND SHUT OFF 1 BY 1 AND THEN MY CAR LOST ALL POWER COMPLETELY. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED BACK HOME BC NOTHING WOULD START IT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2019Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11170307
“VEHICLE HAS RANDOMLY SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. LOSS OF POWER, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. VERY DANGEROUS. TOOK TO DEALER AND LEFT FOR A WEEK FOR THEM TO TEST AND REPLICATE AND REPAIR. THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. EACH TIME, SO FAR, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP OUT OF TRAFFIC, BUT I FEAR THAT IT MAY HAPPEN IN A LESS FORTUNATE SETTING. IT HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY, JUST DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD DOWN THE ROAD. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND A RED LIGHTING BOLT LIGHT ALSO COMES ON OVER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2018Power train, Service brakes, EngineODI 11132295
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM BECAME STUCK AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWITCH GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD EITHER FAIL TO START OR CONTINUE TO RUN AFTER THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. FURTHERMORE, THE CONSOLE LIGHTING SYSTEM FAILED TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. JOHNSON DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM IN BUDD LAKE, NEW JERSEY, 07828 WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 29, 2018Power train, Electrical systemODI 11098653

Showing 6 of 77 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

1 recall on this component

Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)

Free remedy

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer case electrical failure may result in an unintentional shifting of the transfer case into the neutral position.

Power trainReported May 7, 2013NHTSA 13V175000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026

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