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.

8.1

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,300
Average Mileage:
48,550 miles
Total Complaints:
21 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (11 reports)
  2. defective tipms (6 reports)
  3. engine shuts down while driving and doesn't start (2 reports)
  4. new timp switch (2 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

Nov 032018

Grand Cherokee Laredo V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 71,000 miles

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

Daughter in college drives the car. She called us to tell us the car won't start but car has power (lights). Dealership was closed so we told her we'd have it towed the next day. She tried it the next day and said it started so we had her take it to Autozone to check the battery and alternator. They said the battery had dead cells and suggested replacement, so we did.

A few weeks later her car wouldn't start again. It just clicks and won't turn over. She has now figured out if she waits a bit, it will start and act fine. She also reported getting the warning that the key fob wasn't detected even though it is in the car. That is sporadic too. New problems are the car seems like it has started up (dash shows its on) but engine isn't running (similar to the auto start feature). Sometimes the radio won't come on and sometimes it won't turn off.

Two weeks ago, she couldn't start the car, waited a bit, tried it again and it started. She backed out of our driveway to have it die on her and wouldn't go into park, neutral or drive. She was stuck sitting having to keep her foot on the brake. Tried and tried to re start it but it wouldn't start or go into hear so she sat with her hazards on while waiting for roadside assistance.

While waiting, she tried it again (45 minutes later) and it started and she was able to pull back into driveway. We cancelled roadside assistance so we could deal with it when we returned from out of state. Two days later the car started and drove fine for a week. Christmas Eve the car starts its hellish behavior again. Have scheduled a visit to the Jeep dealership but after reading other posts, I am not feeling very confident they will fix the problem.

- kealy, Plano, US

problem #20

Jul 172018

Grand Cherokee Overland 5.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,272 miles

After spending $1087.55, 3000 miles later it's back. Fuel pump replaced. TIPM?

- Shannon O., Independence, US

problem #19

Jun 302018

Grand Cherokee Limited 5.7L V8 Hemi 1c4rjeat5cc1

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

Engine turns off while driving! Replaced three batteries so far! Chrysler had a recall on electrical problems and was told it would take care of the problem. It just happened again June 30th 2018. Put voltage meter on the positive side negative side and got a reading of 7.7 volts! Thinking I need to replace it!

- Christopher G., San Antonio, US

problem #18

Feb 072017

Grand Cherokee Overland

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,000 miles

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

For a few weeks the key fob was shorting out, "Key Not Detected" or "Damaged Key". Last week it the dealership replaced it for $300. The next day I was still getting "Key Not Detected" message and the car would only start if I put the fob directly against the push/start button. Two days later (yesterday) the battery light came on and a whirring noise was detected. Of course being Sunday I wasn't able to make an appt with dealership so today (Monday) I was there at opening. The battery light was still on, whirring sound still going, now no volume on radio and really worrisome was a burning/hot odor. Dealership said it's the alternator and they'd replace it for $1000. They also said the previous week's $300 visit wasn't related, which I think is odd. At the moment I'm holding off on repair and thinking about a new car. Very frustrating and as I read the other comments, I'm so thankful that the drive from my house to the dealership was only 3 miles -- the burning smell was strengthening.

- Kristin G., Acton, US

problem #17

Mar 212016

Grand Cherokee Laredo 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

Problem: About 8 out of 100 times my 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee does not start right: engine cranks but does not start, or engine starts for about 1 second and then turns off.. • It is fairly rare but super annoying. • It hard to reproduce the problem.Therefored ocumented this problem with a video on YouTube when this actually happened to me: • Link to YouTube movie: http://bit.ly/1UDsMEz

Other problems – maybe related? 1. Gas cap indicator light comes on at a regular basis, disappears after a while. 2. One time: check engine light on - steady light, not flashing. 3. Two days later: check engine light off – by itself. 4. Vicksburg Chrysler checked: no engine code, but says the cable to the computer is bad. Needs replaced. 5. Part/cable ordered. Have not replaced cable yet because problem did not occur anymore.

TIPM recall: 1. Brought car in at Vicksburg for original TIPM recall (Feb. 2015), 2. FCA status on this recall for my car says: "inspected" ... I expected status "repaired"...

- Bart L., Portage, MI, US

problem #16

Feb 232015

Grand Cherokee Laredo 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 34,175 miles

Absolute PAIN IN THE ASS this whole fiasco was for me! The damn thing has been in the shop for over a month now and the finish day keeps being pushed back due to MORE PROBLEMS being discovered or existing problems turning out to be MORE COMPLICATED than initially anticipated. Before the purchase I had been warned by my mechanic mate about the myriad of problems his other clients have had with the Grand Cherokee but I didn't listen, hoping I'd strike lucky and score a "rare gem". Surprise surprise luck was not on my side.

I bought a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee model last August 2014 from a 2nd owner who had only owned it for about 12 months. He cited the reason as "needing urgent cash for his business" for selling the car below market value, now I realize the REAL reason is "needing to get rid of this disaster on 4 wheels before it sucks all the cash out of his business!" Bought it at 45,000 KM, put another 10,000 KM on it within 6 months before the car started having issues:

ISSUE #1

The problem: The car would turn on and off intermittenly and eventually would not turn on at all. At first, I though it was a battery issue with the key as the light kept illuminating so I changed the battery of the key. Problem persisted. I brought it into the shop for my mechanic mate to have a look at and after the inspection he concluded that the problem was with the fuel pump!

The solution: replacing the fuel pump

The cost: $1600 (part) + $400 (labour) = $2000

The time: 3 weeks turn around

ISSUE #2

The problem: Once the new fuel pump was installed, the Jeep started turning on and running as normal again...for a day! THEN the original problem came back - the damn thing would turn on and off intermittently. After doing another extensive inspection and growing countless white hair, my mechanic mate discovered the problem on top of the original problem: it wasn't the fuel pump, it was the defective TIPMS which caused the fuel pump to malfunction! F*cking fantastic, so now not only do I have to fork out MORE cash to fix the new problem, I just wasted $2K on fixing something that might not have been really problematic at all!

The solution: replacing the TIPMS

The cost: $1500 (part) + $300 (labour) = $1800

The time: 2 weeks turn around

BOTTOM LINE: $3800 and more than a month later I am STILL without my jeep. After this fiasco, the Grand Cherokee is going to be my first and my last Jeep purchase for the rest of my life.

- A very disgruntled Jeep customer from Australia

- Brandon T., Sydney, NSW, Australia

problem #15

Mar 172015

Grand Cherokee Laredo X 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,600 miles

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

The first time this happened about two weeks ago... The car would start. After about 5 or 10 minutes, the car started. A couple of days after, the problem reoccurred. A few days after, while driving the car just shut down. That became a very dangerous situation, since the power steering and the power breaks did not function. It was a little scary. A few minutes later, the car started.

Now every morning the is the care will not turn on, after a few minutes of trying, the car turns on.

I have an appointment set up for this Monday April 7, at the dealer (Auto65, @ San Juan, PR) so they can work on the problem. When I explained to them the problem, they said it would take them a few days to fix.

We'll see what they can do.

- Angel S., San Juan, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico

problem #14

Feb 162015

Grand Cherokee Overland V6 Vvt

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,500 miles

I bought a vehicle from CarMax, the same day I bought the vehicle the engine would not start the call would not turn over at all. They took the car to a Jeep dealership. The Jeep dealership said it was the TIPM, and that the radio was interfering with the electrical system used to start the vehicle. Two days later I got the vehicle back. I've been driving a vehicle home for the first time when I noticed that the steering wheel would not go up. It would go in, out, down, but was stuck on my legs and would not go up making it hard to drive the vehicle. I just took the vehicle back today for them to fix the discrepancies. Wish me luck I hope that everything come back alright and I don't have to deal with this issue again.

- Dishern T., Jacksonville, FL, US

problem #13

Aug 022014

Grand Cherokee

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

I have a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee that has quickly turned into a nightmare. The truck starts when it feels like it, completely unreliable, out of the blue it will tell me the key fob has left the vehicle when it hasn't moved, every few weeks it tells me the key battery is low, it gets changed, and to no avail it happens again. The check engine light comes on, I take it in to get checked and they find nothing wrong, my auto start no loner works, the tailgate glass will open automatically. Of course Chrysler would like me to pay 1400 dollars to fix the TIPM. They act as though they have never heard of this issue, but obviously through online forums I have come to realize I am not alone here. Get it together Chrysler!

- LeAnne Z., Lockport, IL, US

problem #12

Oct 012014

Grand Cherokee Overland 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

When it had about 15,000 miles on it, my child got locked in the car, electrical malfunction, and the fireman had to come get her out of it. The doors randomly locked and would not unlock, electrical issue. Jeep dealer in Jacksonville could not find any issues...

More Electrical issues... one time the headlight went out, when I went to replace the bulb it started working again, electrical malfunction... Now it will not start, but sometimes it will..

Sometimes it will start but then the engine kills, sputters... Electrical or fuel pump issues.

Sounds like the typical TIPM and fuel pump issue.

- chstewart, Lake City, FL, US

problem #11

Sep 012014

Grand Cherokee Overland 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

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

Intermittent problem with the vehicle starting. The starter works but it seems like there is no fuel being supplied by the electric fuel pump. Suspect the problem is the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM), specifically the electrical control of the fuel pump relay. It occurs approximately 5 or 6 times per week. Expect it to completely fail soon.

- Herman M., Orlando, FL, US

problem #10

Jun 202014

Grand Cherokee Overland

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,000 miles

Second time at 24,000 I received "Key not detected" and my Jeep wouldn't start. Took 15 minutes of messing with the key/start button to finally get the Jeep to turn over. Scheduled service appointment for the next day. The dealer gave me a crappy loaner car for a couple of days. The service manager never got the Jeep to repeat the problem and said he never had this problem with another Jeep.

3rd visit for the Jeep saying "Key not detected" and the Jeep not starting. This has been happening once or twice a week for a few months, okay more times weekly as the past 3 months went on, but frequently. This time they kept my Jeep for a week, again gave me a loaner car and the service manager once again told me, I have the only Jeep he has ever heard of having this issue.

- Cathy C., Frederick, CO, US

problem #9

Oct 152013

Grand Cherokee Overland

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,000 miles

Jeep had "key not detected" and wouldn't start again. This time my husband took a video of the problem and sent it to the service manager. Wish I would have kept the video. The dealer had my Jeep for nearly a month this time, and guess what, they couldn't duplicate the problem. Again, I have the only Jeep that is having this problem. The service manager told me that frankly, he didn't believe I was telling the truth about it until he got the video. They told me they would replace the TIPM, even thought they couldn't see the Jeep do it when they drove it. Seemed to fix the problem.

Then in May of 2014 the whole thing started over. This time I took my Jeep to a Dodge dealer in Boulder. The service guy there said he didn't see record of them replacing the TIPM, that they may have just re-programmed the key or replaced something else that effected it. IDK. I traded the Jeep in off in July. I won't ever buy Jeep or Chrysler again. Stranded with my kids so many times in a $48,000 vehicle. Back to BMW!

- Cathy C., Frederick, CO, US

problem #8

Jul 012014

Grand Cherokee Laredo X 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 57,000 miles

My 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee began having a hard time starting until it eventually did not start at all. After doing a lot of research and taking it to the dealership, it is a Faulty TIPM.

Because of the electrical issues my car was having, apparently the fuel pump did not turn off and that is why it completely drained my battery.

First, after getting my car towed to the dealership, the price to replace the drained battery was $375 dollars. Next, the "diagnostic" was $128 dollars. So, basically $500 just get the car running to try to figure out the problem.

Although the dealership acknowledged that this issue was cause by the TIPM, their solution to the issue was to install a fuel pump harness bypass. I asked them to just replace the TIPM so that I was certain to take care of ALL of my electrical issues and his response was "Chrysler has not fixed the issue with the TIPM, so if we replaced it you would have the same issues 6 months, 1 year, or 2 years down the road. The bypass harness with fix the fuel pump issue. This is the cheaper fix".

Now that they are going to install this bypass harness, they still need to find out if they battery is being drained by any other electrical functions of the car. I'm at $750 and still waiting to find out what other issues there are. The car has been there for 5 days now - oh not to mention they wrecked my car while it was at the shop and will need to go to the body shop after these issues are figured out.

Then today my neighbor across the street, who also owns a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was getting his car towed from HIS house. I went and talked to him and he described the exact same problem!!! My mind was honestly blown. THIS IS NO COINCIDENCE!

Basically, the TIPM is a known defect in the car. Search the internet, forums, whatever, there are reports everywhere. There was an article in the NY times about it the same day it happened to my car! The service rep at Helfman Dodge in Houston, Texas acknowledged that even replacing the part would not fix the issue because the part has not been fixed. So, they have a "cheap fix" that has only cost me $750 as of today, but they have to check the other electrical components, so who knows.

I'm pissed that Chrysler wants to act like this is an issue that their consumers should pay for when they sold me a product with defective parts. This TIPM also controls many of the safely features of the car and has been known to stall the vehicle when driving, turning off lights while driving, and affect the air bags. AIR BAGS! I'm just making my complaint to add it to the hundreds that have already been made on the internet, because Chrysler needs to suck it up and replace the bad TIPMs that they installed in numerous Jeep and Dodge models.

- rjohnsontx, Houston, TX, US

problem #7

Apr 132014

Grand Cherokee Loredo 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,956 miles

Apparently, Chyrsler is aware of a problem with vehicles that are factory equipped with a Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM). My truck ( Jeep Grand Cherokee) would not start, all it did was click. I had a friend try to jump start it with his Jeep. This did not work. I also could not take the key out of the ignition. I had to leave the key in it overnight. The next day I awoke and prepared to call roadside assistance. I went outside for one last attempt. It started. Now I am worried it is going to happen more frequently. I have also read the vehicle can shut off while driving...Real nice....

- ftomlinson117, Scranton, PA, US

problem #6

Jun 022014

Grand Cherokee LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

Can't get an appt. for a week and not sure if I will be stranded somewhere...

- Leslie M., Flagstaff, AZ, US

problem #5

May 252014

Grand Cherokee Overland 4X4 5.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

It took the dealer several days to determine what the problem was so I had a $500 rental to boot. Truly rediculous. From what I have read this is a widespread failure and Chryler couldn't figure it out.

- gbrush4, Brooklyn, NY, US

problem #4

Jun 122013

Grand Cherokee V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,000 miles

I bought my Jeep April 2013. At that time every one out of ten starts my Jeep wouldn't find the key and wouldn't start. June 2013 my family and I were driving 60 mph and the Jeep completely shut off, power steering everything shut off, and almost killed my family. Chrysler than took my Jeep and worked on it for a few days. Since than my Jeep starts 50% of the time, and now it just turns over and won't start or says it can't find the key. I eventually get the car started, but we are deathly afraid our Jeep will shut off driving down the 405 in southern California and kill my family at any point in time.

- rgilly1981, Beverly Hills, CA, US

problem #3

Dec 272013

Grand Cherokee

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles

I have had this car less than one month and it continues NOT to start. Chrysler will NOT acknowledge the TIPM defect.

- April W., Marysville, OH, US

problem #2

Aug 232013

Grand Cherokee Limited V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,650 miles

My 2012 Grand Cherokee had the same electrical issue, all the dash lights come on, wipers come on, it engages the 4x4 or will only stay in first gear and sometime you cant get it out of park. I lease the vehicle and have about 14 months left on the lease, I leased from a dealer in Bridgewater NJ but just took it this morning for repair to a Jeep dealer in Summit NJ. I will keep advised if they can fix it...

- Jeffrey C., Garwood, NJ, US

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