CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2012 Grand Cherokee hasn't seen the same complaint volume as the 2011, at least not yet.

It's worth noting both model years are part of a class-action lawsuit that focuses on a defective TIPM and a long wait for replacement parts.

The 2012 also received national attention after it failed a Swedish Magazine's "moose test". The test measures a vehicle's ability to swerve out of the way of an obstacle you wouldn't want to hit while driving down the road ... like a moose.

7.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$770
Average Mileage:
55,700 miles
Total Complaints:
21 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (13 reports)
  2. change the relays, apparently burned by tipm (4 reports)
  3. TIPM and/or alternator recall (chrysler code: p60) (2 reports)
  4. replace alternator and burnt out battery (1 reports)
  5. use key fob to start (1 reports)
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #21

Oct 182018

Grand Cherokee Overland Summit 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 81,200 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Ran into issues of random stalls and not turning over. Turns out the fuel pump relay had to be REDONE, AGAIN! After it left me stranded and wouldn't turn over at all. Looking into this further, the original recall (which I would call hack job) should never been approved and should have just replaced the entire TIPM. Instead they went the cheap way and left Jeep owners to foot the bill to fix it right. Now I still have weird electrical issues. I know its just a matter of time before the whole TIPM goes. Might be time to give up on the love of Jeeps... great looking product but they obviously don't care about longevity of their vehicles or keeping customers...

- Jonathon G., Buffalo, NY, US

problem #20

Aug 012018

Grand Cherokee Limited 5.7L V8 Hemi 1c4rjeat5cc1

  • Automatic transmission
  • 160,000 miles

Vehicle on some days will start, other days engine just turns and will not start, and most days you just hear a click! I've replaced battery, alternator, and recently a starter! I'm at wits end!

- Christopher G., San Antonio, US

problem #19

Mar 132018

Grand Cherokee

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,000 miles

Not starting, they changed the fuel pump and 3 weeks later the same problem. Now I can't start the car at all!

- Patricia C., Ft. Lauderdale, US

problem #18

Nov 092017

Grand Cherokee Overland 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My son has a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland, on 11/8 he had came home form school and said the red battery light came on. He had looked it up in the manual and he told me that the manual said to have the alternator and electrical system serviced. We went to the garage and the jeep started fine, no error code showed up so I drove the jeep a couple blocks with no issues or codes. The jeep wasn't driven the rest of the day. On the following morning, my son started the jeep, heard a whining noise and immediately shut the jeep off. He came to get me and upon entering the garage I smelled a burning plastic smell. We popped the hood and smoke was coming from the alternator. I watched until the smell and smoke dissipated. That afternoon I tried to start the Jeep and it was completely dead. I called for a tow to take the Jeep to Cornerstone Jeep in Elk River, MN. The tow truck driver plugged a quick jump unit on to the Jeep and it started, but as soon as he removed the charger, the Jeep died. We tried to jump it again, but the quick charger was dead. It had been 100% before first attempt. We towed the vehicle to dealership. I spoke to dealership today (Bernie in service), and he said alternator is fried, and they are waiting to check on battery status as well as PCM. If those are fried the will be replaced also, and I was told by FCA and Bernie that any damage caused by the alternator frying would be covered through the recall. I was told it will be a couple days to complete this recall along with the two other recalls on our 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee (interior wiring in vanity lamp R71 & brake booster P14). The alternator recall is under P36. Here is the kicker, I had been into the dealership twice previously requesting the P36 work be done, both times I was told "they don't have a replacement part available yet". Funny, now that there has been damage, they can fix the defect and parts are available. Way to be proactive FCA. In reading how some of the others with this issue had lost power while driving on Interstate, I'm not sure what I would have done if something had happened with my son driving. To allow the potential of injury or death to continue, knowing full well the ramifications of doing nothing, is inexcusable by FCA. I hope my issues are resolved as I have been told they will be. IMO, there should be $0 out of pocket when I pick the vehicle up. Update will follow when Jeep is picked up...

- hund4pack, Elk River, US

problem #17

Jun 152017

Grand Cherokee Laredo 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,536 miles

Driving home within the city, my 2012 Grand Cherokee battery light came on couple times. Called the dealership, booked to bring the car in. They said as far as the light does not stay on all the time, I could drive it. So I kept driving, because the light was on here and there. On the following day ALL the lights went on and the car died. Luckily in front of my home. It just stopped! It needed to be towed to the dealership. At the dealer the Alternator was fixed for $705. However the car would not turn on. Now the computer is broken. The dealership gave me options for a new one for $1,500 or changing to an used one by Chrysler = $400 plus labour and taxes.

I am very frustrated by it. There is a recall (P60-Alternator) where my model and year falls under, however because of the VIN number won't fall under the category.

Anyone with the same problem? How to complain about it? How to make sure they know that I am having this problem? I called FCA and open a case number. Sounds stupid!

- Fabiola B., toronto, ON, Canada

problem #16

Jun 172016

Grand Cherokee

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Engine does not start although brakes are pressed to start the engine

- Edwin P., San Juan, Puerto Rico

problem #15

Oct 182015

Grand Cherokee Laredo 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have only had the car 6 weeks. Am very angry dealer did not fix recall before selling car.and they clam they do all these checks prior. car fax was on website, so they knew (or should have) I should have asked too, but had not read it that close, my bad. but they are the dealer telling me it was "safe". Far from it!!

I am having a difficult time getting into a dealer for them to fix/look at. It all of a sudden would not start w/ push button. now even w/ key, trouble starting and we are talking a matter of only 8-10 starts! Don't feel safe taking it anywhere. recall talks about "just quitting" and I take it on the highway! Seeing that the recall is only for the fuel relay not the TIPM does not make me happy, as I don't feel like pouring another 12-1500 dollars into a "new" car. should have kept my 98 Bonneville, at least I knew it ran.

- krobin, Appleton, WI, US

problem #14

Sep 142015

Grand Cherokee Overland 5.7L Hemi Eco Drive

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles

Car is still at the dealer waiting for Chrysler to send out a tech rep to help with the issue.

Has anyone had any luck with fixing their Jeep that just stops working as your driving?

- Diane C., Miami, FL, US

problem #13

Jun 012015

Grand Cherokee Overland 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,500 miles

Won't start, just tries and tries and tries. Then after 1 or 2 longer attempts it may start on that 3rd time.

- Craig F., Tampa, FL, US

problem #12

May 252015

Grand Cherokee 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

The problem is local WIFI interferes with the wireless signal of the fob, that is why Chrysler can find nothing wrong.

I was about to get my Jeep towed when I called a very good mechanic at Chrysler, evidently he noticed that there were a lot of tow calls from a local Home Depot, that turned out to be a mystery. He tracked it down to WIFI security being set up poorly to kill all wireless signals but Home Depots.

I was not at Home Depot but he said it sounds like WIFI interference. Use the fob to push start - no problem. An employee there had a Dodge with the same problem - and same solution.

- ceomike, Pointe Du Chene, NB, Canada

problem #11

Mar 112015

Grand Cherokee Laredo

  • Automatic transmission
  • 31,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Jeep, housed in a temperature controlled garage, randomly decides not to start from time to time. Have had this problem looked at by the dealership to which they report there is "nothing wrong."

- mbourque, Waltham, MA, US

problem #10

Apr 052015

Grand Cherokee Grand Cheroke 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,000 miles

On Easter Sunday we were visiting family in Harrisburg PA., about 650 miles from our home in Indiana. When at the grocery store our Jeep Grand Cherokee,would not start. A young man stopped and tried to jump start us. It did not work. He shared with us that his brother had the same problem. He said it could be the TIPM computer part. Of course no one is working today. Looked it up on-line and looks like this is a known problem at Chrysler. The part is on back order for up to 3 months. I guess we are really screwed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Shaun S., chesterton, IN, US

problem #9

Feb 272015

Grand Cherokee

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,572 miles

Jeep will not start until after several attempts. This has happened on multiple occasions and seems to be more frequent since February.

- Laura C., Woodbine, MD, US

problem #8

Feb 122015

Grand Cherokee Laredo 3.4L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,032 miles

Just bought my 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 35,004 miles on it yesterday on February 11th, 2015. Barely 24 hours after driving it off the lot and leaving a friend's home, the engine wouldn't turn over. I tried pushing the "Push Start" button with the brake pedal pressed several times and it would attempt to turn over but wouldn't. I walked back into my friend's car and they suggested jumping it but I said with a new car like this I doubt it was a battery jump issue and more of a computer/electrical issue. I put the car in neutral and pulled it on the side of the road from the driveway and put it back in park then once again pushed down the brake pedal then the push start button and it turned over properly.

After doing research online there was a recall for 2011 JGCs but nothing public for 2012s as chances are good that my Jeep has the identical defective TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) as the 2011 models. Chrysler/Jeep does NOT have a happy customer right now having spent such a large amount of money on such a new, and assumed, dependable car.

- Tim H., Charlotte, NC, US

problem #7

Jan 202015

Grand Cherokee 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 43,957 miles

I bought my Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 33 days ago and have had intermittent problems since the second week. It would take around 8 tries to get it running and that become an everyday occurrence. It finally got to the point where it would not start at all and I had it towed back to the dealership. I bought it used at a Toyota dealership and they insisted I had put bad fuel in the vehicle and that they needed to pull the tank and clean it completely. Even though I had not had to put any gas in it since they bought it and pointed out that they were the one's that put the fuel in there. They agreed to bleed the fuel line to try to get the "bad" fuel out but refused to do anything further, they also told me if I brought it back for the same problem they would not cover anything because I couldn't prove it was their fault.

Anyway, I got my vehicle back after 1 day and it seemed to be running fine so I thought the problem was fixed. WRONG-I have had to miss work because this damn car won't start again and I had it towed to the Jeep dealership. They immediately knew what was wrong but went ahead and ran a diagnostic test, I haven't heard back from them yet and I imagine it could be much later when I do judging from the long line of Jeeps waiting to get serviced.

- Meranda M., Fort Walton Beach, FL, US

problem #6

Aug 012014

Grand Cherokee V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,000 miles

This is a known problem for Jeep -- the infamous intermittent no start. The first time I took it in, they applied three flash fixes (software). It was unsuccessful.

A week later I took it in and they installed a new wiring harness for the fuel pump. It was unsuccessful.

The third time I took it in -- a week later -- they couldn't get it to intermittent no start (hello? That's why they call it intermittent!). So they did nothing. Explained to me it wasn't prudent for them to just replace parts at random.

I explained no need to replace them at random -- they know the problem -- the TIPM, or at least that's one fix. The Service Manager was pretty nasty, essentially blaming me for the problem, or at least blaming me for expecting him to be able to fix something he can't get to do again (intermittent no start).

I tried to point him to a Chrysler website that showed the possible fixes, but he wasn't interested.

A REAL black eye for Chrysler, and I will never purchase another Chrysler product again. Now I just need to figure out what to do with a vehicle that I can't trust to take anyplace where AAA isn't immediately available. Piece of junk, but looks nice going down the road -- behind a tow truck!

- Daniel Q., Centennial, CO, US

problem #5

May 082014

Grand Cherokee Laredo 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 27,962 miles

Chrysler sold a car knowing it has a problem with the TIPM

- robertosolo, Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala

problem #4

Aug 082014

Grand Cherokee Laredo 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,554 miles

In a period of 3 months, my 33 months old car has given me 3 situations where the car didn't start. Very annoying to have a relative new car with so many problems.

I was a little tired of hearing my wife saying to me "I told you, you should have bought a Toyota"

- robertosolo, Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala

problem #3

Oct 142014

Grand Cherokee LX 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,400 miles

TOTAL POWER LOSS IN CABIN AND ENGINE, UNABLE TO OPEN PASSENGER DOORS FROM INSIDE.

The vehicle would not start and there was a burning circuit smell emitting from under the TIPM. AAA tried giving a jump but the vehicle would not turn over even though temporary electrical power had been established while connected to AAA power source. Electrical Power was lost upon disconnect from AAA source. Dealership determined that the problem was alternator failure which resulted in subsequent damage to the vehicle's battery and connecting cables. Dealership also determined that the burning smell emitted from the battery.

- knew york, NEW YORK CITY, NY, US

problem #2

Aug 152014

Grand Cherokee V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,250 miles

This is a known problem for Jeep -- the infamous intermittent no start. The first time I took it in, they applied three flash fixes (software). It was unsuccessful.

A week later I took it in and they installed a new wiring harness for the fuel pump. It was unsuccessful.

The third time I took it in -- a week later -- they couldn't get it to intermittent no start (hello? That's why they call it intermittent!). So they did nothing. Explained to me it wasn't prudent for them to just replace parts at random.

I explained no need to replace them at random -- they know the problem -- the TIPM, or at least that's one fix. The Service Manager was pretty nasty, essentially blaming me for the problem, or at least blaming me for expecting him to be able to fix something he can't get to do again (intermittent no start).

I tried to point him to a Chrysler website that showed the possible fixes, but he wasn't interested.

A REAL black eye for Chrysler, and I will never purchase another Chrysler product again. Now I just need to figure out what to do with a vehicle that I can't trust to take anyplace where AAA isn't immediately available. Piece of junk, but looks nice going down the road -- behind a tow truck!

- Daniel Q., Centennial, CO, US

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