2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2015 Grand Cherokee most often describe two distinct kinds of trouble: the active headrest on the front seats deploying with a loud pop when nobody has hit the vehicle, and the eight-speed transmission or shifter acting up — shifting into neutral on its own, refusing to engage a gear, or setting a service-shifter message. Engine and cooling complaints (leaks, ticking, stalls in the diesel) and electrical glitches appear next, usually at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Seats

   Front headrest deploys on its own

   • 339 complaints (25%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 5.7 yrs old (171 state mileage)
   • 42 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 18 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners describe the front active headrest popping forward with a loud bang, often while the vehicle is parked in a driveway or lot but sometimes while driving, with no impact or hard braking involved. The plastic clips that hold the mechanism break, so the headrest cannot be pushed back into place and the seat is left unusable or uncomfortable. Several owners say the dealer told them the repair was not covered by warranty and quoted several hundred dollars; some report a reset procedure was attempted but the broken pieces prevented it. Spread from roughly 26,000 to 160,000 miles, appearing both on low-mileage and high-mileage vehicles and often while parked.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Sit in both front seats and push gently on the headrest to see whether it is locked upright, and ask whether either headrest has already been replaced. A service bulletin describes a reset procedure for deployed headrests when no parts are broken or electrically failed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was sitting in my 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, parked and not moving. While sitting here waiting on an appointment, I was stretching and my elbow tapped the front of the head rest, the head rest popped forward. I had the same issue happen with the passenger head rest a little over a year ago when it popped without anyone sitting in the seat.”

   NHTSA complaint #11360607, filed 2020-09, 129,000 miles

   “The passenger side headrest deployed. The car was sitting in the driveway. No one was hurt. It appears that the plastic pieces clamped on to the metal bar that was holding the headrest closed broke, causing the headrest to open. I notified Jeep customer care and they told me someone would call me concerning my case and I have not received that call at this time.”

   NHTSA complaint #11354168, filed 2020-09, 64,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slips into neutral or won't engage gear

   • 337 complaints (25%)
   • median 12,500 mi at 1.7 yrs old (253 state mileage)
   • 62 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,693 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe the eight-speed automatic shifting into neutral by itself at low and highway speeds, sometimes with a red warning message telling the driver to stop or restart in park, and occasionally with a loss of drive that requires coasting to the shoulder. Others report delayed or harsh 2nd-to-3rd shifts that rev up before engaging. Owners say dealers often found no stored codes, could not duplicate the problem, or told them the behavior was normal or that the vehicle needed to warm up. Reported from low mileage up past 140,000 miles, with many under 60,000 miles.

   Recall 16V2400003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive at low speed in a lot and on a highway ramp, watching for delayed shifts, a rev-then-lurch pattern or any service-shifter message, and ask whether the shifter or transmission control software has been updated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Service shifter light came on while driving, had it towed to the dealership, 5 days later they said nothing is wrong with it so I took it home. A week later, service shifter light came back on while I was driving on a side street, all the lights on the dash came on, unable to control anything, lost steering, then vehicle shut off in the middle of the road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11399707, filed 2021-03, 93,700 miles

   “Transmission does not shift properly from 2nd to 3rd. While in motion it will rev up and then sometimes decide to shift properly. It has shifted into neutral while driving and jerked. I have taken it to 2 different dealerships and one states because there are no error messages and supposedly it doesn't do it for them there is nothing they can do. The other dealership stated that's how the transmission is supposed to work. I have also been told the vehicle needs to warm up first. Excuse me? …”

   NHTSA complaint #11338630, filed 2020-07, 48,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Coolant leaks, ticking and stalling (engine)

   • 98 complaints (7%)
   • median 70,052 mi at 5.3 yrs old (54 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,100 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe coolant loss traced to the radiator, water pump seals, a turbo coolant feed line or coolant reaching the engine cylinders, sometimes alongside an abnormal engine ticking or a loud pop and steam from the engine bay followed by a stall. Owners report the dealer or an independent shop replacing the radiator, cylinder head or condenser at owner expense. Several also describe a delayed turbo response on the diesel that they find unsettling when pulling into traffic. Typically reported between about 60,000 and 125,000 miles.

   Recall 23V411000Recall 20V4750003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for stains around the radiator, water pump and hose ends under the hood, listen for ticking at idle, and ask about the crankshaft tone-wheel recall software update.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My wife and I own this car, which is titled to her. Today I took it to a Jeep dealer for standard, 60,000 mile maintenance. The dealer discovered that my radiator was leaking. I replaced it at a cost of $1,026.97. The dealer is rochester hills chrysler, Jeep and dodge in rochester hills, mi.”

   NHTSA complaint #11399381, filed 2021-03, 60,612 miles

   “Engine coolant leak. Had to replace the turbo water feed tube located under the intake manifold. The tube has approximate 3 rubber line which is exposed to high temperatures and over time fails, requiring replacement. Repair cost of $1101.72. After replacing the hose and completing the repair, I still had a coolant leak. This time it appeared to be the water pump. I went to the dealer to get the purchase the pump and there was a mechanic note stating to check the water pump seals as it is known to have a pinched seal which causes leakage. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11306396, filed 2020-01, 121,714 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Check engine light, fuel and injection faults (diesel)

   • 123 complaints (9%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 5.7 yrs old (65 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,000 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners of diesel-equipped vehicles describe the check engine light coming on with fuel-line, filter or injector faults, and some report the truck stalling or shaking at speed with a low oil pressure warning, followed by long crank or no-start after parking. Several mention being told the parts for the high-pressure fuel pump recall were not yet available, leaving the repair pending for weeks. Others link rough running and shifting to a fouled EGR sensor. Generally reported from about 60,000 miles upward, with several complaints above 120,000 miles.

   Recall 22V406000Recall 20V699000

   What to check: Ask whether the diesel fuel pump and EGR cooler recalls were completed and whether the fuel filter has been serviced on schedule; check for stored check-engine codes before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Continual engine problem light due to EGR sensor fouled. Have had it serviced numerous times. Causes acceleration issues and shifting issues. Vehicle acceleration causes a safety issue in traffic while moving and when trying to enter traffic from a stop. Was told by dealer there was a recall coming in february, but now they say they never heard of a recall. I am hesitant to travel and have the vehicle break down. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11308825, filed 2020-02, 30,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the fuel lines and filter. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who diagnosed an additional failure with the fuel injectors. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11545659, filed 2023-09, 140,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Gear selector / service shifter warning and auto-park

   • 114 complaints (8%)
   • median 19,000 mi at 2.7 yrs old (89 state mileage)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners report the service shifter light staying on for months, being able to move out of park without pressing the brake or releasing the knob, and difficulty getting the vehicle into the intended gear without wiggling the shifter. A few describe the vehicle rolling forward while parked or the auto-park feature not engaging. Dealers sometimes replaced the shifter and related module, while others reset the system or said no fault was found. Mostly between roughly 90,000 and 125,000 miles in the sample, with the warning sometimes present for a long period before repair.

   Recall 16V2400001 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the engine running, shift through the gears and confirm the display matches the lever position, and ask whether the shifter or its control module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH the service shifter warning light was illuminated and had been illuminated for several months. The contact stated the vehicle shifted into gear without engaging the gear knob while driving and while parked. The contact also stated the vehicle was able to shift into gear without engaging the gear knob and without depressing the brakes. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11578475, filed 2024-03, 100,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at 10 MPH in a parking lot, the vehicle unintendedly shifted into neutral. The contact stated that the RED caution warning light illuminated, and a message was displayed that the vehicle going too fast for the gear. The vehicle shifted into neutral independently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, there was no diagnostic test provided. The dealer stated that the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred twice. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11654159, filed 2025-04, 112,000 miles

Buying note. Have a mechanic check both front headrests, scan for transmission and engine codes, and confirm which of the diesel-related recalls the vehicle has actually had done. Service records showing the shifter, cooling system and recall work already addressed make a used example easier to live with.

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.