The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee may run you up to $700 a year in annual maintenance costs, thanks in large part to a wide assortment of transmission troubles. There are plenty of reasons to love the SUV, but reliability isn’t one.
Key Points
- At least one 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee owner reports finding metal shavings in their transmission pan despite putting just 4,500 miles on the vehicle.
- The SUV has been recalled for a faulty fuel pump relay twice, but engine stall complaints keep rolling in.
- A separate engine stall issue shows many of the same symptoms as the relay failure but stems from total electrical system failure rather than problems with the transmission system itself.
- Transmission fluid leaks are among the most common issues for the vehicle, with a failing AC condenser usually being the culprit.
- The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee may be fun to drive, but with so many transmission issues to worry about, it only makes sense as a used SUV buy if you’re looking for a project to keep you busy on weekends.
Limp Mode and Check-engine Light May Point to Metal Shavings in the Transmission Pan
A driver reports on the Jeep Garage forum that their vehicle was not shifting above third gear, then suddenly shifted hard into a higher gear, and the check engine light came on. When the owner’s vehicle was inspected, the mechanic eventually found metal shavings in the transmission pan.
Metal shavings in the transmission are usually a sign that someone’s been skipping transmission fluid changes. If the powertrain isn’t properly lubricated, you’ll have bare metal gears grinding against each other, chipping bits and pieces off, requiring a total transmission rebuild or replacement.
But, in this instance, the driver reports that they had just 4,500 miles on the odometer at the time of the incident. So you can’t blame this one on the driver skipping their service schedule. Whatever was wrong with their Grand Cherokee, the problem was likely present when they first drove it off the lot.
If you’re driving a used 2011 Grand Cherokee, chances are any issues like this will have been worked out by now. But if your vehicle goes into limp mode, get the transmission checked right away.
The Fuel Pump Relay Has Been Recalled Twice for Causing Engine Stall
If you’re driving a 2011 Grand Cherokee equipped with a 3.6L, a 5.7L, or a 6.4L engine, you’re probably included in one or both of these fuel pump recalls. The problem here comes down to a faulty fuel pump relay in one of the power modules. If it fails, fuel distribution is interrupted, and the engine will stall.
Unfortunately, a number of drivers have reported that they had the necessary repairs done, only for the fuel pump relay to continue to fail. So even with two recalls on file, Jeep does not seem to have put this problem to bed for good just yet.
Many drivers report that the engine will lose power and stall out when making slow turns. Others report that the car will lose all electrical power, including power steering. The loss of electrical power appears to be a separate issue, but in either instance you see the engine dying, and the driver will coast to safety.
Several Drivers Have Reported Transmission Fluid Leaks, Usually Pointing to a Failing AC Condenser
Check the Mechanic Advice subreddit, and you’ll find transmission fluid leaks to be a common complaint about the 2011 Grand Cherokee. You’ll find plenty of complaints about this issue on file with the NHTSA as well, with drivers reporting puddles of transmission fluid under their Jeeps.
In the subreddit post linked above, the driver reports that their mechanic told them the leak was being caused by a pair of malfunctioning sensors. In an NHTSA complaint, a theory is floated that a bad welding job may be the cause of the leak.
In most cases, the actual culprit is most likely a bad AC condenser, as seen in this post from the Just Rolled Into the Shop subreddit. What might look like a leaky radiator or a leaky transmission at first glance often turns out to be an AC condenser that needs to be replaced.
Replacing the AC condenser is cheaper than swapping out the whole transmission, thankfully, but you’ll want to get it taken care of at the first sign of trouble. Many drivers report that their transmission issues persist long after getting the condenser itself replaced.
If You’re After a Project Car, the 2011 Grand Cherokee is a Real Mechanic’s Special
With six recalls, 1,545 complaints, and an open investigation on file with the NHTSA, not to mention countless forum posts across the web for engine and transmission problems, there’s no polite way to put it. The 2011 Grand Cherokee isn’t the most reliable used SUV on the road.
There’s plenty to like about a 2011 Grand Cherokee, from the roomy interior to the rugged suspension. It’s a fun car to drive. But you might spend more time waiting for it to come back from the mechanic than you do behind the wheel.
Photos: Stellantis
