2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2017 Grand Cherokee most often describe stalling or shutting off while driving, transmission warnings and shifting problems, and a recurring "Service Shifter" message that can leave the vehicle stuck in park. A large share of complaints come from the 3.0L diesel, where fuel pump and EGR cooler failures are described, and several owners mention the vehicle not being covered by the related recalls. Reports are spread from very low mileage up through 100,000+ miles rather than clustered in one period.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 54 complaints (15%)
   • median 63,468 mi at 3.6 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out while moving, at speeds from parking-lot pace up to highway speed, sometimes with no warning light beforehand. Owners report having to stop, shift to park and press the start button several times before the vehicle restarts, and in some cases the vehicle would not restart at all and had to be towed. Dealer diagnoses in the complaints range from cylinder head or camshaft work to fuel pump replacement. Reported from roughly 18,000 to 130,000 miles, with several cases under 30,000 miles; no clear weather pattern.

   Recall 23V4110001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether any stalling- or crank sensor-related recall or software update was applied, and have a pre-purchase scan check for stored engine codes. Note whether the battery and both batteries on auto start/stop models have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was stopped at a stop light on a busy 4 lane highway when my 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee stalled and would not re-start. The engine light came on, I could not push the break pedal in. I called u-connect roadside and they sent a tow truck.”

   NHTSA complaint #11311567, filed 2020-02, 38,000 miles

   “2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee limited 131,000 miles purchased used less then 24 hours later on 8/20/2020, engine shuts off while moving, approx 20 MPH, five lane road.had to put in park, foot on brake and use push to start button nothing happened. No warnings started on the third try. Reported problem to salesperson he doesn't care because its already sold. No problem for ten days. Yesterday, 8/30/2020 it shut down four times while in motion stranded my wife would not start after multiple attempts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11352329, filed 2020-08, 131,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission warning, harsh shifting, stuck in gear

   • 78 complaints (21%)
   • median 45,000 mi at 3.0 yrs old (41 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,200 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe jerking or hesitation between gears, unexpected downshifts, a transmission that stays in first gear, and messages such as "service transmission" or "transmission overheated." Some owners report the vehicle failing to shift into or out of park, and in a few cases a transmission replacement or internal repair was needed. Others describe a fractured driveshaft or a failed transfer case found after a loss of drive. Most often reported between about 60,000 and 120,000 miles, though some appear under 30,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive through several gear changes at low and highway speed and note any clunk or delay. Ask for the transmission service history and whether any transmission-related software calibration has been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle jerked, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the contact stated there was an abnormal sound coming from the power train. The message Transmission Overheated was displayed on the instrument panel. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11684574, filed 2025-09, 181,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 45-50 MPH, the “Service 4WD” message was displayed and flashing on and off. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the transfer case needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 116,387.”

   NHTSA complaint #11689117, filed 2025-09, 116,387 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Service Shifter message and shifter lock-up

   • 71 complaints (20%)
   • median 45,000 mi at 3.6 yrs old (45 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners describe a "Service Shifter" warning appearing on the dash, the gear indicator lights going dark, and the rotary shifter refusing to move out of drive or park. Several report the vehicle locking itself in park and the engine refusing to restart until it sat for a while, and some had the shifter bezel or shifter assembly replaced. Complaints also mention the ignition staying on with the engine off and the battery draining overnight. Reported mostly between about 17,000 and 65,000 miles, often during everyday driving or after an auto start/stop event.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Cycle the shifter through all positions with the engine running and check that the dash gear indicator matches. Ask whether the shifter assembly or harness has been replaced and whether the battery has been draining.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Purchased a 2017 Grand Cherokee limited 5 months ago. It has 17,000 miles on it, went to back out of my drive- screen flashed service shifter. Shifter locked up and could not put back in park. I was able to shift after several minutes of it being locked,”

   NHTSA complaint #11384191, filed 2020-12, 17,000 miles

   “While driving my 2017 Jeep, I received a warning on the dash with a ding that said service shifter. My vehicle had approximately 31,000 miles. It would not shift out of drive and into park. I was able to drive it but it was constantly dinging with the service shifter erred.when I stopped I could not move the shifter. I had to stop kill the engine and wait several minutes before the error cleared and I was able to shift the vehicle. I took it to our Jeep dealer to be repaired. He replaced the shifter harness. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11331394, filed 2020-06, 31,000 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Acceleration and unintended movement reports

   • 78 complaints (21%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 2.9 yrs old (44 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe the engine revving or the vehicle moving on its own, including cases where the driver says the brake was applied and the vehicle still surged forward into a building or garage door. Owners also report the vehicle rolling several feet while parked on an incline, and one describes a stuck throttle. Some of these complaints were not diagnosed or reproduced by a dealer. Reported mostly under about 70,000 miles, often at low speed, in parking areas or driveways.

   What to check: Ask whether the vehicle has an electronic shifter and park brake in working order, test the park brake on a slope, and request any dealer inspection notes about throttle or cruise control operation.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle was turned on and stationary at my private residence, placed in park (no parking break) for me to hook up a chain to tow a compact tractor (within the towing specification of the vehicle). When I was behind the vehicle I heard a loud thunk and the vehicle completely rolled back (wheels were rotating) and smashed into the compact tractor causing significant damage to the trunk and side of the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #11349184, filed 2020-08, 62,583 miles

   “When driving the motor starts racing and the RPM's go way up. Most times it does it when you first take off. You have to come to a stop, turn the motor off and start all over. Occasionally, this may not work. The repairman cannot find out why because it is not doing it when you take it back to the dealer. Not easy to deal with when in traffic and it is burning gas like crazy. It first did it coming back to nc from fla on 95 after the hurricane. I don't know the exact day. My girlfriend followed me from s.c. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11302374, filed 2020-01, 15,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Diesel fuel pump and EGR cooler failures

   • 70 complaints (19%)
   • median 36,150 mi at 3.2 yrs old (36 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $2,100 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners of diesel models describe the vehicle cranking but not starting, or losing power, with a dealer diagnosis of a failed high-pressure or in-tank fuel pump. Others report the EGR cooler needing replacement after repeated no-starts with the check engine and stop/start lights on. Several owners note their vehicle was not included in the related recalls. Reported from about 90,000 to 188,000 miles in the sampled complaints.

   Recall 22V406000Recall 20V699000

   What to check: On a diesel, check the VIN against the fuel pump and EGR cooler recalls and ask for documentation of any completed recall repairs. Ask about hard-starting, white smoke or coolant loss.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dec 2020: in a parking lot, the engine would turn over but not start. My mechanic bypassed the built-in fuel pump relay in the tipm but the engine would not start. Towed to campbell Jeep, benton ar & they diagnosed that both fuel pumps were bad. Dealer could not give reason both pumps went out but I suspect that statement is untrue given that my research shows that the tipms have been a known problem since 2010. Cost of the repair was $1,871.96 3/23/21: at home, the Jeep would turn over but not start as before in dec 2020. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11404547, filed 2021-03, 93,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to start. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11622278, filed 2024-10, 100,000 miles

Buying note. Have a 2017 Grand Cherokee inspected before purchase with attention to stored engine and transmission codes, the shifter assembly, and, on diesel models, whether the fuel pump and EGR cooler recalls were completed for that VIN. Service records showing recent battery, software and transmission work are worth asking for.

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.