2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee most often describe brake-related problems, especially warning lights and brake-light behavior tied to the ABS module, along with long waits for recall parts. A second cluster involves the engine shutting off or stalling and messages telling the driver to shift to Park, and a third covers display, start/stop and electrical quirks. Many of these reports come in at relatively low mileage, and several owners say dealers could not reproduce the problem.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS/ESC warning lights and brake lights staying on

   • 102 complaints (28%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (49 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe ABS, ESC or traction-control warning lights coming on while driving or after startup, and brake lights that stay lit when the pedal is not pressed. Some report the vehicle rolling when parked or the pedal feeling stiff or slow to respond. Complaints often mention NHTSA campaign 24V838000 or 22V426000, with owners saying the recall part was not available and dealers either confirming the recall applied or saying the vehicle operated as designed. Reported from a few thousand miles up past 100,000 miles, with many reports in the 40,000-90,000 mile range.

   Recall 24V838000Recall 22V426000

   What to check: Ask whether recalls 24V838000 and 22V426000 have been completed and get the repair paperwork. Before buying, start the vehicle with the foot off the brake and watch whether the brake lights stay on or ABS/ESC lamps illuminate.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After going through an auto car wash the brakes failed and the car rolled into a pole while pulling up to a vacuum station about 50 yards from the exit. I believe the ABS system notified the car that it was in a slide because the rear wheels continue to rotate while the front wheels are not rotating while being pulled through the car wash tracks. Therefore tricking the system into thinking it should not brake when brakes were applied.”

   NHTSA complaint #11301557, filed 2020-01, 7,500 miles

   “The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V838000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11676030, filed 2025-07, 130,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalls or shuts off, 'shift to Park' message

   • 83 complaints (22%)
   • median 13,743 mi at 2.0 yrs old (42 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the engine cutting out while driving or the vehicle dropping out of gear and telling the driver to shift to Park, sometimes at highway speed. Several say they had to coast to the shoulder and restart, and some report the transmission not re-engaging when the engine restarts. Dealers often could not reproduce the fault, stored many codes, or reset the battery and returned the vehicle. Mostly reported between roughly 5,000 and 35,000 miles, often within the first two years of ownership.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Take a test drive that includes highway speed and a stop-and-go restart cycle, and ask for any stored diagnostic codes or prior transmission service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving home and the Jeep switched to neutral on its own and flashed shift to park on the screen. I had to roll to the side of the road, put it in park and turn it off. I am scared to drive it. I have kids. If this happens on the highway we will be hurt.”

   NHTSA complaint #11350988, filed 2020-08, 8,960 miles

   “Service shifter will randomly come on right after vehicle is started or starts beeping when driving but then clears itself and I check on dash for stored messages it disappears. Only once has vehicle not come out of park after being started and all shifter lights were on when it wouldn't come out of park shut vehicle off and turned back on and was fine but service shift still comes on randomly. The photo I attached is not from today 9/8/20”

   NHTSA complaint #11353869, filed 2020-09, 11,180 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shifter or gear engagement problems

   • 65 complaints (18%)
   • median 23,000 mi at 2.0 yrs old (33 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe the rotary shifter showing 'Service Shifter', refusing to come out of Park, or the vehicle jolting before engaging a gear. Some owners report rough or delayed engagement when moving between Park, Reverse and Drive. Dealers varied between replacing parts, resetting software and finding nothing. Usually reported under about 30,000 miles, sometimes shortly after delivery.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Cycle the shifter through every gear at a standstill and check for 'Service Shifter' messages; ask whether any transmission control software updates were applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “So for a couple of months when the vehicle is in drive, it will 'spit' when it's in gear. Like I'll push on the gas and it will go but sometimes it will stall and then go again. It stopped doing that for a couple of weeks but today I was reversing out of my driveway and it said 'shift to p before putting in gear' (keep in mind the car was in reverse). And the car was 'spitting' as I was in reverse. I checked to make sure it was completely in the reverse gear and it was. So I put it in park and then reverse and it was fine after that. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11360833, filed 2020-09, 33,000 miles

   “While driving straight at approximately 45 MPH on a the 3 lane road full of traffic vehicle suddenly clunked loudly and violently shifted from high gear possibly fifth or sixth into first gear with the rpms at over 7000 this caused me and my family to lunge forward at which time I momentarily lost control of the vehicle. I was able to gain control and steer the car towards the side of the road and had to slam the shifter into park in order to stop. While stopped the vehicle remained at 7000 rpms until I pushed the off button of the console. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11328064, filed 2020-06, 13,700 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Infotainment and backup camera freezing or failing

   • 76 complaints (21%)
   • median 26,098 mi at 2.4 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the radio and navigation screen freezing, rebooting or going blank, and the backup camera failing to display or staying on after shifting into drive. Some report the screen only recovering after a full restart of the vehicle, and several say the dealer could not duplicate the problem or replaced the radio module without a lasting fix. Reported from very low mileage up to about 60,000 miles, with several reports under 30,000 miles.

   Recall 20V1910003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the backup camera and screen brightness in reverse and check whether the rearview camera software recall 20V191000 was completed on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The AC does not stay cold. It cycles from cold to like warm and humid several times per minute. I have taken the vehicle in to the dealer several times. They have drained and recharged the AC to no avail. They have told me other customers complain of the same thing in the 2019s. It happens while the vehicle is stationary and in motion. This is a known issue that no fix has been established for.”

   NHTSA complaint #11383298, filed 2020-12, 6 miles

   “When we put the car in reverse the back up camera comes on but once we put it into drive the back up camera stays on for quite sometime... Dealership in carson city nv could not duplicate it so we are stuck”

   NHTSA complaint #11348504, filed 2020-08, 32,200 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Overheating and coolant loss from the water pump area

   • 29 complaints (8%)
   • median 76,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report the temperature gauge climbing to hot, coolant loss, misfires and the check engine light coming on. Some say the water pump, thermostat housing or oil filter adapter area was the source, and a few had repeat repairs after those parts were replaced. Dealers in the complaints replaced the water pump, coolant module seals or head gasket depending on the diagnosis. Reported from about 50,000 miles upward, often at higher mileage than the electrical complaints.

   Recall 20V6990005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for residue around the water pump and oil filter adapter; ask whether the water pump or coolant seals have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the temperature gauge rose to HOT, and the vehicle would hesitate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic test was performed. The diagnostic result indicated that the O-rings on the bottom of the coolant module were worn and that the oil filter adapter needed to be replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11614215, filed 2024-09, 95,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and then lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11641657, filed 2025-02, 160,000 miles

Buying note. Check that the ABS module recalls (24V838000 and 22V426000) were completed with documentation, and test the shifter, screen and backup camera on the test drive. Ask for service records covering the water pump, transmission software updates and any repeat electrical repairs.

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.