Jeep Grand Cherokee Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Yes. Owners have filed 1,750 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee. For the Jeep Grand Cherokee, that's 0.45 transmission complaints per 1,000 sold across the 2015–2022 cohorts, 1.6× the median of the 53 models we can rate. The worst years are 2014 and 2015.
Transmission complaints
1,750
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
0.45
2015–2022 cohorts
Share of all complaints
13.7%
of 12,759 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
6
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline), and per 1,000 vehicles sold where a published U.S. sales figure exists. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Per 1,000 sold | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 77 | — | 10.5% | 6 | 13V175000 | 11 |
| 2009 | 23 | — | 16.7% | 2 | 13V175000 | 12 |
| 2010 | 22 | — | 18.8% | 3 | 13V175000 | 13 |
| 2011 | 90 | — | 5.5% | 7 | — | 26 |
| 2012 | 101 | — | 6.2% | 6 | — | 26 |
| 2013 | 54 | — | 6.8% | 6 | — | 45 |
| 2014WORST | 473 | — | 20% | 79 | 16V240000 | 102 |
| 2015WORST | 350 | 1.79 | 26.1% | 86 | 16V240000 | 111 |
| 2016 | 78 | 0.37 | 25.5% | 12 | 16V249000 | 67 |
| 2017 | 87 | 0.36 | 24.1% | 4 | — | 41 |
| 2018 | 70 | 0.31 | 8.4% | 10 | 18V280000 | 51 |
| 2019 | 44 | 0.18 | 12.4% | 1 | 20V183000 | 60 |
| 2020 | 38 | 0.18 | 17% | 4 | — | 70 |
| 2021 | 77 | 0.3 | 15.2% | 0 | — | 123 |
| 2022 | 66 | 0.3 | 14.5% | 1 | 26V413000 | 77 |
| 2023 | 54 | — | 9.5% | 0 | 26V413000 | 98 |
| 2024 | 29 | — | 10.5% | 0 | 26V413000 | 50 |
| 2025 | 17 | — | 17.5% | 0 | — | 23 |
- Per 1,000 sold = complaints ÷ published U.S. calendar-year sales × 1,000. Calendar-year sales stand in for the model-year cohort. A dash means no published figure or fewer than 5,000 sold, too small to divide by.
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 1,750 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Jeep Grand Cherokee years to avoid for the transmission
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
473 transmission complaints (20% of the year's 2,369). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts. Covered by transmission recall 16V240000.
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
350 transmission complaints (26.1% of the year's 1,340), 1.79 per 1,000 sold. Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts. Covered by transmission recall 16V240000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Jeep Grand Cherokee years to avoid.
Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Jeep Grand Cherokee model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 26V413000 · 2026-06-30 · 2022–2024 models
A software error may cause the transmission gear selection indicator not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 102, "Transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock,…
- 20V183000 · 2020-03-26 · 2019 models
The front differential may have been assembled with pinion gears that are insufficiently hardened, which can lead to the gear teeth wearing down. If both pinion gears have their teeth sufficiently worn off, torque power can not be transferred from the…
- 18V280000 · 2018-05-01 · 2018 models
An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission.
- 16V249000 · 2016-04-27 · 2016 models
The brake transmission shift interlock solenoid may have a loose electrical connection which could result in a loss of solenoid function.
- 16V240000 · 2016-04-25 · 2014–2015 models
The affected vehicles, equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a monostable gear selector, may not adequately warn the driver when driver's door is opened and the vehicle is not in PARK, allowing them to exit the vehicle while the vehicle…
- 13V175000 · 2013-05-07 · 2008–2010 models
A transfer case electrical failure may result in an unintentional shifting of the transfer case into the neutral position.
Which transmission does the Jeep Grand Cherokee use?
- ZF 8-speed (8HP / TorqueFlite 8) — 2014–2021
Years are as listed for that transmission's applications. Some apply to certain engines only.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 473 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 20% of all 2,369 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (59 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 16V240000. 79 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 350 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 26.1% of all 1,340 complaints for that year, or 1.79 per 1,000 sold. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (40 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 16V240000. 86 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Jeep Grand Cherokee years have the most transmission complaints?
2014 (473), 2015 (350) and 2012 (101), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so compare the per-1,000-sold column too.
What are the most common Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission problems?
In the 1,750 transmission complaints, owners most often describe jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (11.7%), will not shift, stuck in gear or no reverse (9.8%) and loss of power or limp mode (8.1%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Dividing by sales shows how often owners complain relative to how many were sold, which makes models of different sizes comparable.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Jeep Grand Cherokee model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration