2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine shutting off while driving — frequently during a right turn or while slowing for a light — followed by loss of power steering and brake assist, and difficulty restarting. Many complaints tie the stalling and no-start symptoms to the fuel pump relay inside the power module covered by several recalls, and several owners report the stall returned after the recall work was done. Separately, owners report electrical charging problems such as a drained battery, a burning smell from the alternator, and a brake pedal that goes to the floor, most of these appearing between roughly 75,000 and 150,000 miles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls while driving, usually in a turn or slow-down

   • 572 complaints (35%)
   • median 70,100 mi at 5.1 yrs old (482 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 29 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Complaints describe the engine cutting off without warning, most often while turning right or decelerating toward a stop, which takes away power steering and brake assist and leaves the driver coasting. Owners say the vehicle usually restarts after being shifted to park or neutral, and several describe the same stall repeating over months. Many link it to the fuel pump relay recall, and some report the stall came back shortly after the relay work was performed; dealers often could not duplicate the failure. Mostly reported between about 65,000 and 150,000 miles, often during right turns or while slowing for a stop.

   Recall 19V813000Recall 14V5300001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel pump relay recalls (14V530, 19V813) were completed, and request the paperwork. On a test drive, note any stumble or cut-out while turning at low speed or braking to a stop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “For the last month the vehicle has stalled while driving and in some cases would not start. I recently discovered that there is a safety recall v62 fuel pump relay problem in the model. I have been told that the fix for this problem will not be available until december. I use the car daily and for long trip and fear it is a safety hazard. Chrysler recommends bring the car in for a temporary fix which is worrisome.”

   NHTSA complaint #11354471, filed 2020-09, 108,000 miles

   “For the past few weeks, my 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has been stalling while driving. The first time it happened, I was in a line of traffic, had just come a up a hill, I pressed the gas pedal, my car bucked, and then my car stalled . Thankfully, we kept coasting, because, like I said, we were in a long line of traffic going 50 MPH on a major road. I pulled over, shut my car off, turned it back on, and was able to drive us the two miles to get back home. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11374833, filed 2020-11, 146,867 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Battery drains, no-start and burning smell from alternator

   • 308 complaints (19%)
   • median 76,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (267 state mileage)
   • 51 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,291 (median of 26 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2026

   Owners describe repeated dead batteries even after replacement, multiple attempts needed to start with the push button, and occasional smoke or a burning odor from the engine bay traced to the alternator. In some cases shops replaced the alternator and the battery and the problem came back, and a few reports mention coolant reaching the alternator or damage to the control module. Complaints frequently connect the battery drain to the power module relay recall. Appears across the range, mostly from about 90,000 to 170,000 miles.

   Recall 19V813000Recall 14V3910003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check for a recent battery and alternator replacement and ask whether the charging system was tested; look for coolant residue or a burnt smell near the alternator.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ii have had multiple drained/dead battery issues with my 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, even after installing a new battery in february of 2020,. I believe the root cause of this problem is associated with a faulty tipm which is addressed via FCA recall v-62 (ntsha recall 19v-813), for which no remedy has been found by the manufacturer. I am now having to call a tow service for the third time since installing the new battery. When is this recall going to be finalized so that the necessary repairs can be made under warranty?”

   NHTSA complaint #11365418, filed 2020-10, 105,000 miles

   “The alternator on my vehicle went out, there was a recall for them on the year make and model of my vehicle however my VIN was not on the list so I am unble to get it repaired”

   NHTSA complaint #11360227, filed 2020-09, 108,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to the floor or feels hard

   • 157 complaints (10%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (128 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $950 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Complaints describe the brake pedal sinking to the floor with little or no stopping power, or turning hard when the engine cuts out, sometimes accompanied by a hissing sound. Mechanics in these reports diagnosed a failed brake booster, and a few owners mention the booster shield campaign or being told their vehicle was not covered. Others report shaking and pulling with hot hubs traced to rotors, calipers and pads. Typically reported between about 55,000 and 175,000 miles.

   Recall 14V154000Recall 17V572000

   What to check: Ask whether the brake booster shield recall (14V154/17V572) applies and was completed, and press the pedal firmly with the engine running to feel for a sink or hiss.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the freeway at 50 MPH with my family in the vehicle when I pressed the break pedal I realized my brakes didn't worked the pedal went all the way down to the floor with no stop at all when I pull over to the side with emergency brakes my truck started smoking from front of engine I opened the hood and it exploded in my face almost burn inside this vehicle thank god we made it out alive from the Jeep Grand Cherokee laredo”

   NHTSA complaint #11414677, filed 2021-04, 175,000 miles

   “Two recent events, when braking in slow traffic there was sudden acceleration with foot on brake. Even with stronger and forceful brake pressure the Jeep was still moving and wanting to keep going with engine revving. Had to shift into neutral and then engine quit revving and things returned to normal. I have this Jeep 10 years and am very familiar with it. Never any wrecks. No medical problems. The floor mat was not interfering with any pedals. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11298927, filed 2020-01, 74,800 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in a collision

   • 72 complaints (4%)
   • median 66,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (59 state mileage)
   • 33 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2026

   Several complaints describe front-end or intersection collisions in which none of the airbags deployed, including one where an airbag warning light and an internal airbag fault were diagnosed beforehand. In one report the dealer said only a partial repair was possible because the wiring harness was no longer produced. Owners describe the damage and injuries from those crashes rather than a single consistent symptom. Reported across the range, roughly 55,000 to 190,000 miles.

   What to check: Confirm all airbag and Takata-related recalls were completed, and have the airbag warning lamp checked — it should come on briefly at start-up and then go out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Suv entered intersection on a city street.and was struck on the right front panel. I believe the car spun to the left and clipped the rear end of the truck. Suv came to rest with front end against a tree. I was doing approx 25 MPH. The truck that struck me appeared to be going a bit faster. None of the airbags deployed. I suffered broken bones in my neck. The consumer provided photos.”

   NHTSA complaint #11383005, filed 2020-12, 89,000 miles

   “The contact owned a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 40-45 MPH, the vehicle rear-ended another Jeep vehicle stopped at the red light; however, the air bags failed to deploy. The contact mentioned that there was no brake pedal depressed in attempts to stop, therefore the vehicle was going at full speed. The windshield washer fluid warning light was flashing, and there was smoke coming from the driver's side front end of the vehicle after the crash. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11731940, filed 2026-04, 187,000 miles

Buying note. Check the recall history carefully — the fuel pump relay and brake booster campaigns are central to what owners describe, and several say symptoms persisted after the work was done. A pre-purchase inspection that covers the charging system, brake booster and dashboard condition is worth the cost on this model year.

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.