CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2014 (and 2015) Jeep Grand Cherokee have a serious defect trend of transmission complaints. Most of the complaints are for rough shifting — things like jerking & hesitation when shifting gears.
After reading the remarks from others I've worked up the courage to go (just a little way) "Out on the Limb" and announce to the Jeep World that the Grand Cherokee Automatic Transmission including Transfer Case was a Design Project for a class of 8th Grade Shop Students. They were all Held Back a Year.
Once able to take Off-Road (after purchase of course) I followed the instructions and engaged 4X4 "Rock". (Told at Dealership, Low Range only works in "Rock Mode".) On a slight incline I approached a Hump (9"/45°-) and ran the rt. front tire up where it started to spin (wet leaves, wet earth below) and there I sat, radio off, or perhaps as I've learned, under a Leafless Tree Limb will do the job, listening to a Flurry of clicking sounds coming from beneath the Shifter (from Hell). I assume the 'clicking' was a 'solenoid', that remarkably did work, trying its very best to engage the other Wheels or any Wheel for that matter would have been fine for this test.
On a later date in 4X4 "Mud", on what I now had 'Dubbed' "The Test Hump", I grew tired of the 'clicking' sound and 'peeking' (a must) at the Shifter to move it 'gently' the 1/4" to N (to avoid R) the 'solenoid' finally "Won One". All Four Wheels engaged and like a Rocket I was twenty feet up the hill. This is when I thought I must have done the $2500.00 in damage to the Rt. side of the vehicle. My brother called the next day and asked if I was missing any Jeepy Kinda Stuff.
Nope, not the place. It, the accident, happened on the way out when (with plenty of clearance) on the best hill available I tried "Hill Assist" going down. Peeked, found the Button, mashed it and dropped four gears in a "Heartbeat" to 1 causing the wheels to act like a Hard Brake, Lock Up on wet leaves and then go with the flow a slight rt. slant grazing a 4" Maple. To me it sounded like going over a bent limb that rolls up and rattles along the underside or into the "oil pan" if its not "Your Day".
I find this transmission etc. faulty and unreliable at best and a real "Hazard" to self or anyone within a 100' such as kids in the drive, at worst. The Vehicles Idea of "Off Road" is: "turn right at the light, you have arrived at your destination, enjoy your time at "WalMart".
Update from Nov 25, 2013: The little hesitation I and others have noticed from the transmission shifting gears while just getting up to highway speeds is NOT just a little "Tweaking Problem". Mine, this last time, didn't just hesitate it HUNG to the point were the Engine Lugged to almost Stalling before it moved to the next gear. This was at about 50mph and the incident cost me about 20mph in speed before rectifying. No one was behind me thankfully because I'm sure whatever happened would not have activated the 'Brake Lights'. Imagine On-Ramping at "Rush Hour" and the MAYHEM that could ensue!
The "I See Nothing" Dealer Computer (now I call my "CHEAP" 'Schultzie') needs an Upgrade its self. This is no laughing matter and Chrysler needs to get their "COMPULSIVE DENIAL" under control.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
After reading the remarks from others I've worked up the courage to go (just a little way) "Out on the Limb" and announce to the Jeep World that the Grand Cherokee Automatic Transmission including Transfer Case was a Design Project for a class of 8th Grade Shop Students. They were all Held Back a Year.
Once able to take Off-Road (after purchase of course) I followed the instructions and engaged 4X4 "Rock". (Told at Dealership, Low Range only works in "Rock Mode".) On a slight incline I approached a Hump (9"/45°-) and ran the rt. front tire up where it started to spin (wet leaves, wet earth below) and there I sat, radio off, or perhaps as I've learned, under a Leafless Tree Limb will do the job, listening to a Flurry of clicking sounds coming from beneath the Shifter (from Hell). I assume the 'clicking' was a 'solenoid', that remarkably did work, trying its very best to engage the other Wheels or any Wheel for that matter would have been fine for this test.
On a later date in 4X4 "Mud", on what I now had 'Dubbed' "The Test Hump", I grew tired of the 'clicking' sound and 'peeking' (a must) at the Shifter to move it 'gently' the 1/4" to N (to avoid R) the 'solenoid' finally "Won One". All Four Wheels engaged and like a Rocket I was twenty feet up the hill. This is when I thought I must have done the $2500.00 in damage to the Rt. side of the vehicle. My brother called the next day and asked if I was missing any Jeepy Kinda Stuff.
Nope, not the place. It, the accident, happened on the way out when (with plenty of clearance) on the best hill available I tried "Hill Assist" going down. Peeked, found the Button, mashed it and dropped four gears in a "Heartbeat" to 1 causing the wheels to act like a Hard Brake, Lock Up on wet leaves and then go with the flow a slight rt. slant grazing a 4" Maple. To me it sounded like going over a bent limb that rolls up and rattles along the underside or into the "oil pan" if its not "Your Day".
I find this transmission etc. faulty and unreliable at best and a real "Hazard" to self or anyone within a 100' such as kids in the drive, at worst. The Vehicles Idea of "Off Road" is: "turn right at the light, you have arrived at your destination, enjoy your time at "WalMart".
Update from Nov 25, 2013: The little hesitation I and others have noticed from the transmission shifting gears while just getting up to highway speeds is NOT just a little "Tweaking Problem". Mine, this last time, didn't just hesitate it HUNG to the point were the Engine Lugged to almost Stalling before it moved to the next gear. This was at about 50mph and the incident cost me about 20mph in speed before rectifying. No one was behind me thankfully because I'm sure whatever happened would not have activated the 'Brake Lights'. Imagine On-Ramping at "Rush Hour" and the MAYHEM that could ensue!
The "I See Nothing" Dealer Computer (now I call my "CHEAP" 'Schultzie') needs an Upgrade its self. This is no laughing matter and Chrysler needs to get their "COMPULSIVE DENIAL" under control.
- chenzo, Norwood, NY, US