2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee most often write about stalling or failing to start, linked in many complaints to the fuel pump relay inside the Totally Integrated Power Module; these reports cluster in the 50,000-130,000 mile range and often mention a recall repair that was unavailable or did not resolve the symptom. Electrical problems more broadly (battery drain, alternator failure, warning lights) and unexpected deployment of the active front headrests are also recurring themes. Engine oil leaks from the plastic oil filter housing and, on some V8 vehicles, ticking from valvetrain wear round out the most common reports.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Stalls or won't start (fuel pump relay / TIPM)

   • 375 complaints (47%)
   • median 74,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (262 state mileage)
   • 25 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,200 (median of 23 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off without warning while driving, sometimes at highway speed, and long cranking or a no-start condition the next time the vehicle is used. Many owners say the vehicle restarts after a few minutes, and several report the stalling continued after the fuel pump relay recall service — some were given an external relay as a temporary fix because the repair part was on back order, and others say the relay or TIPM was replaced more than once. Dealers frequently could not duplicate the failure or told owners the parts were unavailable. Mostly reported between about 45,000 and 130,000 miles, at varied speeds and often shortly after a recall repair.

   Recall 19V813000Recall 15V115000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 19V813000 was completed and whether the TIPM or fuel pump relay has been replaced since, and request any repair invoices. A test drive should include a cold start and a period at steady highway speed to watch for hesitation or a stall.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A fuel pump relay failure can result in a stall condition if the vehicle is running or a no-start condition if not running. I use currently my car for works matter. I was very kind and I am very afraid to use the car and this prevented me from being late in my personal affairs ann I am emotionally affected because up to the mopars does not have solution.”

   NHTSA complaint #11307555, filed 2020-02, 58,000 miles

   “My Jeep has died on me as I'm traveling on the highway at rates of speed between 60-75 MPH. I have been able to coast to side of road fortunately so far. This has happened numerous times in the last 6 months. It will usually start back up in about 15 mins. A few times it took longer. There is no warning, it just loses power and will not accelerate. This has happened with and without cruise control in use.”

   NHTSA complaint #11400150, filed 2021-03, 98,000 miles
2. 2
   Seats

   Headrest deploys on its own

   • 60 complaints (7%)
   • median 80,500 mi at 7.0 yrs old (33 state mileage)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners report the front active headrest firing forward into the occupant's head with no impact and no hard braking — while parked, at a car wash, or at normal road speed. Several say a plastic bracket or clip inside the headrest breaks, so it cannot be reset. Complaints note that dealers and the manufacturer did not offer a repair, and some occupants reported a sore neck or headache afterward. Reported across a wide mileage range, from very low mileage to over 130,000 miles, usually during ordinary driving or while parked.

   What to check: Check both front headrests for a loose or already-triggered mechanism and ask whether either has deployed or been replaced. Sitting in the seat and pushing gently on the headrest can show whether the latch holds.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving down the highway when the passenger headrest deployed out of nowhere smashing into the back of my fianc's head. There where no other vehicles around me at the time and no collision occurred. Consumer stated fiance had a suffered a headache and perhaps a minor concussion.”

   NHTSA complaint #11321505, filed 2020-04, 95,000 miles

   “The headrest safety feature malfunctioned and deployed incorrectly. It deployed during normal use of the vehicle and not during an accident. There was no impact to the vehicle when it deployed, the vehicle was not even in motion. There is clearly a manufacturing defect and there should be a recall on this product. My wife and I are worried about the other headrest deploying while we are driving and concerned about our safety. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11297255, filed 2020-01, 105,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Battery drain, alternator and warning lights

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe a dead battery after sitting overnight, multiple warning lights coming on at once, and sudden loss of power with the engine cutting out; several owners were told the alternator and battery needed replacement. Some report that the charging problem returned after repairs, and a few link it to a short inside the power module. Typically reported between about 50,000 and 125,000 miles, often after the vehicle has sat or during a drive at speed.

   Recall 17V435000Recall 14V634000

   What to check: Ask for the battery and alternator service history and confirm whether recalls 14V634000 or 17V435000 apply and were done. Have the charging system load-tested before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had to replace the alternator and wasn't aware of recall t36 and now my fuel pump went out (recall v62). My truck was stalling at first, now it won't run at all. When I called the dealer and they said there were no replacement parts in stock. The cost to repair out of pocket is $1450.00. Additional information, is available upon request. Thank you!”

   NHTSA complaint #11353165, filed 2020-09, 107,000 miles

   “While driving my car on the highway the battery light came on. After a few minutes all of the other lights, seatbelt, engine, etc. Started to flash. Then my air conditioning turned off, my brakes stopped working and my power steering went out. Luckily I was pulling off of an exit. After finding out that there were 5 recalls, I took the Jeep to a dealership to have them fix it. I picked it up a few days later after they said it was ready. The day after picking it up...I was again driving down the highway and the Jeep did the exact same thing!!! …”

   NHTSA complaint #11330013, filed 2020-06, 125,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine ticking (valvetrain / rocker wear)

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe a steady ticking or knocking from the engine, sometimes with rough running or a check engine light, and mechanics diagnosing worn rocker arms, lifters or camshaft lobes. Several owners say they were told the noise was normal for the engine, and others report head or valvetrain repairs at moderate mileage. Most often reported between about 66,000 and 187,000 miles, sometimes after years of a noise owners were told to accept.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen to a cold start with the hood open for ticking, and ask whether lifters, rockers or a cylinder head have been serviced. Service bulletins describe camshaft and lifter wear with these symptoms, so ask whether that inspection was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee started making a ticking noise the second time the default water pump was replaced 4 years ago in recall warranty and has made an audible ticking noise since then. Despite multiple complaints to two dealerships, in anniston, al and foley, al, I have been told the ticking was normal for the hemi 5.7l engine. Three weeks ago, I took a Jeep for a routine oil change and the technician wrote on my multi-point inspection paperwork 'noticed an audible ticking'. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11374777, filed 2020-11, 214,000 miles

   “Jeep sputtered during a red light. Check engine light illuminated. Head cylinder failure at 66 thousand miles. Engine made ticking noise. Brought to Jeep repair in mass. Diagnosed and repaired left head cylinder. Stared other vins had recalls, my Jeep wasn't included. Same failure as other recalled engines, they did repair after engine leaking as well and transmission line failures at 66k miles”

   NHTSA complaint #11383903, filed 2020-12, 66,000 miles

Buying note. Prioritize a 2013 Grand Cherokee with documented completion of the fuel pump relay and charging-system recalls, plus repair records showing whether the recalled part was replaced again afterward. A pre-purchase inspection should listen for engine tick, check the accessory belt and charging system, and look closely at both front headrests and the oil filter housing area.

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.