2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Common Problems, Recalls and Vehicle Data

What the public data shows

An open federal investigation is the most notable item in the public record for the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee. EA23001 concerns the fuel system, the same area covered by one of this year's three recalls. An open investigation reflects a question regulators are examining, not a confirmed defect, and it may or may not lead to a further recall. The three recall campaigns on file span distinct systems rather than clustering in one: back over prevention (20V191000), diesel fuel system (22V406000), and engine and engine cooling (23V411000). That spread means the recall history for this year points to several separate concerns rather than one repeated failure point. Among the 231 complaints logged, no single category dominates sharply. "Other" complaints account for 61 (26 percent) and electrical complaints for 59 (26 percent), with drivetrain complaints next at 38 (16 percent). Complaint counts reflect what owners chose to report to NHTSA, not a measured rate of defects across the model year's production. Separately, service bulletins for this year skew toward electrical work, with 74 of the manufacturer's bulletins tied to the electrical system and another 35 specifically to equipment/electrical radio and infotainment components. Bulletins are guidance for dealers on known symptoms, not recalls, but they indicate where technicians were most often given repair instructions. CarTold's separate piece on the 2018 model year, "2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Uconnect Screen Delamination," examines a related infotainment pattern in more depth.

236 complaints on file with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, grouped into CarTold's broad component categories.

Most frequently reported, by the specific component NHTSA logged each complaint under (not CarTold's category groupings above):

• UNKNOWN OR OTHER — 34 complaints (14%)
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 23 complaints (10%)
• ENGINE — 22 complaints (9%)
• POWER TRAIN — 16 complaints (7%)
• AIR BAGS — 8 complaints (3%)
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — 8 complaints (3%)

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L Diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.

Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 3, 2023. Some owner notification letters were mailed October 31, 2023. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated July 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 66A. This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-475.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2014-2019 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. A high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation.

Consequence: Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the HPFP, and inspect and replace, if necessary, additional fuel system components, free of charge. Interim notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed July 21, 2022. Owner notification letters for were mailed for Jeep Grand Cherokee owners starting January 11, 2024. Owner notification letters for Ram 1500 owners were mailed March 7, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLS's number for this recall is Z46.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 8.4" or 12" radio displays. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Consequence: The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W30-W37.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Opened 2023-03-17

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines. During the investigation, ODI sought to determine if the related defect allegation was limited in scope to the recalled population. After review of information request response materials from both FCA and BMW, NHTSA determined that sufficient information to identify a compre…

NHTSA crash-tests each body-style/drivetrain configuration separately, so ratings can differ by variant — shown as tested, not averaged. See how the 5-star ratings work, including why an overall score isn't the average of the three category scores.