NHTSA Complaint #11718792 — 2023 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

Since shortly after taking delivery of my 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, I have repeatedly experienced intermittent safety-related malfunctions involving sudden steering stiffness and braking intervention. From early in ownership, the vehicle would unexpectedly engage what I later learned is the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system. During these events, the steering would feel locked or restricted and the brakes would apply without driver input. In order to restore normal operation, I was required to pull over, turn the vehicle off, and restart it. These concerns were reported multiple times to the dealership over the course of ownership. On January 13, 2026, while traveling at approximately 60 mph on the highway in normal traffic conditions, the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion without warning. At that time, the instrument cluster displayed a “HYBRID / ELECTRIC MODE UNAVAILABLE” message along with a wrench indicator light. The vehicle immediately began losing power and was unable to maintain highway speed. As the vehicle slowed unexpectedly in active traffic, two tractor-trailers were approaching from behind. The sudden loss of propulsion created an immediate risk of a rear-end collision. The driver was forced to maneuver across lanes while the vehicle was losing power in order to reach the shoulder safely. The loss of propulsion and warning messages occurred simultaneously. The vehicle was towed to the authorized dealership, where it remains. The dealership has indicated they have been unable to duplicate the failure. These recurring electrical, braking, steering, and hybrid propulsion malfunctions present serious safety concerns, particularly when occurring at highway speeds or in traffic. Due to severe weather conditions, the vehicle was not towed until January 29, 2026. The vehicle was removed from service following the incident and subsequently transported to the authorized dealership, where it remains.