2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee most often describe the engine cutting off or the ignition key moving out of the run position while driving, which also takes away power steering and power assist for braking. Electrical starting complaints — key fobs that do not read or keys that stick in the ignition — are the next most common theme, and transmission and transfer case complaints cluster around the N23 recall and unintended shifts out of gear.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls or key moves out of run while driving

   Mentioned in 15 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the vehicle shutting off at speed with no warning, with the key found in the off or accessory position, or the key fob falling out of the ignition over bumps. Along with the shutdown, owners report loss of power steering, power brakes and instrument lighting, and that restarting sometimes works immediately and sometimes does not. Several owners say a dealer replaced the ignition switch or key fob without resolving it, and some were told their vehicle was not covered by a related campaign. Reported from about 41,000 to 160,000 miles, at city and highway speeds and sometimes just after hitting a bump.

   What to check: Test that the key seats firmly in the ignition and does not pull out loosely, and ask whether the ignition switch or WIN module has been replaced. A history of stalls with no stored codes is a reason for a thorough electrical inspection before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We were driving at approx 55 MPH (not braking or turning) when suddenly the vehicle lost all acceleration, the gas and MPH as well as directional and temperature gauges went dark/dropped to zero, then the car lost power steering. We were able to pull off the side of the road, place the car into park, removed the key, and then returned the key and restarted the car. The car then started normally.”

   NHTSA complaint #10662135, filed 2014-12, 107,000 miles

   “While driving, the ignition switch goes into accessory and the engine shuts off..Jeep has no power steering or power to control the vehicle. This scared the h out of my wife yesterday while driving in traffic across a bridge going to work. She was traveling aprox. 45 MPH across a straight bridge. This same thing happened to mysely last year while on the pa turnpike in traffic. I put the flashers on and shifted into neutral and restarted the Jeep without much serious problems. But now a second time !!! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10873157, filed 2016-06, 81,350 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Will not start or key sticks in ignition

   • 18 complaints (13%)
   • median 81,249 mi at 6.9 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2025

   Owners describe intermittent no-starts where all dash lights come on but the engine does not crank, sometimes with a 'damaged key' message, and the vehicle starting normally later. Others report the key not releasing when shutting off, leaving the vehicle on and draining the battery. Complaints mention dealership diagnoses of the WIN module or wiring harness, with repairs at owner expense and the problem sometimes returning. Reported from roughly 45,000 to 170,000 miles, with the no-start behavior often intermittent.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask about the WIN module and ignition switch service history, and check that the key releases cleanly and that the battery holds charge. Have the seller start the vehicle cold after it has sat.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car will not start with ignition fob. This happens unpredictably. It has been doing this for a long time. We thought it was the battery but now, with a new battery it still often will not start. If we wait for some unknown period of time it eventually cranks and starts. We never know when and if we can leave or visa versa for returning home. When ever this happens the vehicle is stationary in legal parking place. However, it has cut off will driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #11270836, filed 2019-10, 47,005 miles

   “Went in to the store came out put my key in and it does not start all the dash lights come had it towed home my son came over put key in and it started right up one week later the same thing happen it not reading my key all the time”

   NHTSA complaint #11163395, filed 2018-12, 50,932 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission drops out of gear / limp mode

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the transmission disengaging or dropping into neutral while driving, sometimes followed by limp mode that requires stopping, shifting to park and restarting. Some say it occurred shortly after the transfer case recall service, and some were told a transfer case or internal transmission repair was needed. Others describe a slow or failed shift into gear and a stored code accompanying the event. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 105,000 miles, often at highway speed.

   Recall 13V1750004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the transfer case recall 13V175000 was completed and whether any transfer case or actuator work followed. Drive at highway speed and watch for delayed engagement, warning lamps or limp mode.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the car the car looses the ability to steer and drops into neutral. The dealership swears that they can't duplicate the problem. I took it in for the n23 recall today and as I was driving into the dealership it happened again - yet they still couldn't duplicate the problem. Now I'm worried that my 4wd won't work”

   NHTSA complaint #10820838, filed 2016-01, 55,000 miles

   “While driving my car suddenly would not go into gear, I had to put my car in neutral my driving. Engine light came on as well. This happened approximately three days after I had the recall done for the transfer case at champion chrysler dealership. I took it back in july and they told me I needed a new transfer case which I ended spending a 1000 to replace. Picked up the car and as soon as I drove it off the same things happened. I had to shift to neutral before going into 3rd gear. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10639505, filed 2014-09, 102,200 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   4WD and transfer case problems after N23 recall

   • 22 complaints (16%)
   • median 61,470 mi at 5.2 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2019

   Complaints describe loss of 4WD low range and neutral mode, failure to shift into neutral for flat towing, and service 4WD lights after the FDCM software update. Some owners report the dealer replaced the transfer case actuator and the problem returned within days or a month. Others note a shift to neutral at startup or rolling while parked. Reported between about 35,000 and 135,000 miles, typically after the recall software update was performed.

   Recall 13V1750006 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm the FDCM software update was applied, then cycle through 4WD high, 4WD low and neutral and check for warning lights. Ask whether the transfer case actuator has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Jeep shifted to neutral upon startup and rolled downhill in park. (jan. 2013) note there is a recall on this issue chrysler/Jeep n23 . I had not had the recall service performed. I scheduled the recall service, which was done at bosak Jeep, merrillville in, in february 2013. The service is a software update to the final drive control module (fdcm). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10586296, filed 2014-05, 82,000 miles

   “The following incidents occurred after performance of chrysler safety recall n23/NHTSA 13v-175. We use our 2009 Grand Cherokee as a towed vehicle behind our motorhome. Prior to recall execution the 4wd system performed as expected by going into the n position when selected. Since recall n23 I have experienced several instances of failure of the transfer case to shift into n . Even replacing the transfer case actuator at my expense only to incur the same situation two times again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10610151, filed 2014-07, 52,488 miles
5. 5
   Wheels

   Tire valve stem or TPMS sensor breaks, rapid air loss

   • 12 complaints (9%)
   • median 50,100 mi at 4.8 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2017

   Owners describe a tire losing air quickly at speed when the valve stem or TPMS sensor fractures or the stem corrodes. Complaints mention the TPMS light coming on just before the pressure drops, and shops diagnosing a broken or corroded valve stem. A few also describe tire tread or sidewall separation at low mileage. Reported from about 21,000 to 40,000 miles, often at highway speed.

   What to check: Inspect all valve stems and TPMS sensors for corrosion or cracking, and check tire age and sidewall condition. Ask whether the sensors or stems have ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the garden state parkway north traveling approximately 65mph (the speed limit) and I was in the left lane of the three lane local lanes. I drifted too far to the left and hit the rumble strips on the side of the road. Immediately, my TPMS light came on and I pulled over right away. Apparently, my TPMS sensor on the tire broke and was letting air out of my tire. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10534263, filed 2013-08, 65,000 miles

   “Front tires separated at the inner section of tire. The grooved section of tire separated from sidewall causing an instant blowout and loss of steering control. Passenger tire failed completely. Driver side has same wear and separation but did not fail at this point.”

   NHTSA complaint #10427491, filed 2011-09, 13,685 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the ignition and starting system, and confirm the status of the transfer case recall and any follow-up 4WD work. A road test at highway speed plus a scan for stored transmission and electrical codes will tell you more than service records alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.