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2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee: engine and transmission complaints

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
58%
195 of 337 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

58% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 77% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 27 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 54%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
195
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
364
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
6
26 crashes · 19 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE102 · 28%
POWER TRAIN88 · 24%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM87 · 24%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER76 · 21%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM31 · 9%
SERVICE BRAKES29 · 8%

The years either side

2010
38%
41 of 117
2011
38%
596 of 1,638
2012
33%
525 of 1,640
2013
30%
227 of 802
2014
44%
894 of 2,375
2015
48%
574 of 1,355
2016
57%
163 of 308
2017
58%
195 of 364
2018
27%
215 of 853
2019
33%
108 of 365
2020
42%
91 of 236
2021
37%
151 of 480
2022
35%
147 of 439
2023
31%
141 of 471

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other midsize SUVs with no elevated signal in 2017

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE03/26/2025FIRE1 INJURED
Not sure what component caused the vehicle to burst into flames. It is no longer (to the best of my knowledge) available for inspection (unless still at tow yard). The Jeep burned, caught another vehicle in the driveway on fire, as well as fence separating neighbor's house, and spread to structure (my house). Vehicle…
POWER TRAIN04/17/20171 INJURED
MY JEEP WAS ON A BLUFF IN PARK BUT RUNNING! I GOT OUT TO TAKE PICTURES I WALKED ABOUT 15 FEET IN FRONT OF MY CAR! SUDDENLY I HEARD A NOISE AND MY JEEP WAS ROLLING RIGHT TOWARDS ME! I HAD TO LEAP OUT OF THE WAY OR IT WOULD HAVE RUN ME DOWN! LUCKILY A BOULDER STOPPED IT FROM GOING OVER THE BLUFF! I HAD TO LEAP OUT OF THE…
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE08/19/2026
On November 23, 2025, I was driving approximately 60 mph in the middle lane of I-495 near Exit 62 in Marlborough, Massachusetts, with a passenger in the vehicle. I signaled to change lanes to pass a slower vehicle, selected Sport Mode, and accelerated. The engine RPM increased sharply and, almost immediately, I heard a…

Three of 195 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (6)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 …
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with the 3.0L EcoDiesel engines. The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler m…
EQUIPMENT
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee manufactured August 8, 2016 through August 16, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the rear to…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.