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Jeep

Grand Cherokee

WL· 2021-2026 suv-4wd Caution

Top issues

11 known problems · 3 high

high

Rear coil spring detachment (recall)

3.6L Pentastar V6 petrol

Any · ~$0 under recall

high

Upper control arm ball joint separation (recall)

3.6L Pentastar V6 petrol

Any · ~$0 under recall

high

High-voltage battery failure / fire risk

2.0L 4xe turbo plug-in hybrid

Any · ~$0 under recall / very high out of warranty

All 11 problems ↓ Inspection checklist →

Recalls

2 on record

REC-005708 2023-06-26

Defect: Incorrectly installed rear coil springs, a manufacturing defect.

Hazard: Rear coil spring may detach while driving, risking loss of vehicle control.

Remedy: Jeep dealer inspects/replaces the rear coil springs, free of charge.

Affected: 2,052 units, WL Grand Cherokee 2021-2023 (campaign 64A)

Official notice: www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au · details checked 2026-09-30

REC-005957 2024-04-29

Defect: Upper control arm retaining bolts may have been damaged during vehicle assembly.

Hazard: Upper control arm may detach from the steering knuckle while driving, risking loss of control.

Remedy: Jeep dealer rectification, free of charge.

Affected: 2,868 units, WL Grand Cherokee 2021-2023 (campaign 10B)

Official notice: www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au · details checked 2026-09-30

Check a specific car by VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.

At this odometer

See which of this car's known problems are due at that mileage, which should already have been dealt with, and what's coming up.

Generations

Best and worst years for the Jeep Grand Cherokee →

Before: Grand Cherokee WK2 (2011-2021) →

After: TBA (current generation)

Price (AUD)

$55k-$130k

Body styles

5-door wagon (5-seat), 5-door wagon (7-seat, Grand Cherokee L)

Drivetrain

Full-time 4WD with front-axle disconnect (Quadra-Trac I), Active on-demand 4WD with low-range (Quadra-Trac II / Quadra-Drive II)

Origin

USA

Built in

USA (Detroit - Mack and Jefferson North assembly)

Overview

The fifth-generation WL Grand Cherokee landed in Australia in mid-2022, first as the seven-seat Grand Cherokee L, then the five-seat wagon and the Summit Reserve 4xe plug-in hybrid through 2023. Sold here as Night Eagle, Limited, Overland and the flagship Summit Reserve 4xe. Unlike the old WK2 there is NO diesel and NO V8 in Australia: every petrol model uses the 3.6L Pentastar V6, and the only electrified option is the 2.0L turbo 4xe PHEV. It is a genuine ladder-influenced unibody touring 4WD with dual-range (low-range) gearing, locking centre/rear options on Quadra-Drive II grades, and air suspension on Overland/Summit. Much more refined and better-built than the heavily-recalled WK2 - Jeep states the WL shares only about 2 percent of components with its predecessor - but it is still early in its life with several significant safety recalls (rear coil spring detachment and upper control arm ball joint separation) plus the usual Stellantis electrical/Uconnect gremlins. Towing tops out around 2,800kg braked (not a true 3,500kg tourer), and the V6 is thirsty and short on low-down torque for heavy loads. Buy one with every recall closed out and a transferable factory warranty, and treat the 4xe's high-voltage battery and software as the key risk items.

Engines & variants

3.6L Pentastar V6 petrol

Engine

3.6L naturally-aspirated DOHC 24-valve V6 with VVT and stop-start

Config

V6 NA

Displacement

3604cc

Power

210-214kW @ 6400rpm

Torque

344Nm @ 4000rpm

Drivetrain

Full-time/on-demand 4WD with front-axle disconnect, dual-range

0–100

~7.5-8.0s

Economy

9.9 L/100km ADR combined (12-14 real world)

Tow (braked)

2813kg

Tow (unbraked)

750kg

Transmission

8AT (ZF 8HP)

Timing chain / belt / gear

Chain-driven

Pros

Smooth, refined and proven 3.6 Pentastar - the strongest part of the package
ZF 8-speed auto is a good, well-understood transmission
Genuine low-range and capable off-road hardware
Cheaper to buy and simpler than the 4xe hybrid
Big, comfortable, well-equipped family tourer

Cons

No diesel torque - lacks low-down grunt for heavy towing
Only ~2,800kg braked tow rating, not the 3,500kg some buyers expect
Thirsty in the real world (12-14 L/100km) for a petrol six
Subject to the WL suspension and electrical recalls
Patchy Jeep dealer/service reputation in Australia

Known problems

high

Rear coil spring detachment (recall)

A factory recall covers steel-sprung WL/WL L models where the rear coil springs may have been incorrectly seated and can detach from the vehicle while driving - a serious safety issue. Air-suspension cars are not affected.

Fix: Have the recall closed out at a Jeep dealer (spring/seat inspection and correction). Confirm the recall is completed before purchase via VIN.

Any · ~$0 under recall

high

Upper control arm ball joint separation (recall)

A pinch bolt clamping the upper control arm ball joint to the steering knuckle can break, letting the arm separate and the wheel fall outboard - potentially without warning. Owners may hear a clunk over bumps beforehand.

Fix: Jeep replaces the UCA pinch bolts under recall. Verify completion by VIN and investigate any front-end knock immediately.

Any · ~$0 under recall

low

Pentastar real-world fuel use and weight on brakes

The V6 in a 2.2-tonne-plus body returns 12-14 L/100km in real use and works the brakes hard, especially when towing or loaded.

Fix: Not a fault; quality pads/rotors for tow duty and accept the fuel bill.

Any · Running cost

2.0L 4xe turbo plug-in hybrid

Engine

2.0L turbocharged DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder petrol paired with two electric motors and a 17.3kWh battery (400V plug-in hybrid)

Engine code

GME-T4

Config

I4 turbo + electric (PHEV)

Displacement

1995cc

Power

280kW combined (2.0T alone ~200kW)

Torque

637Nm combined (2.0T alone ~400Nm)

Drivetrain

Full-time/on-demand 4WD with low-range, dual-range

0–100

~6.3s

Economy

3.2 L/100km ADR (PHEV) / ~52km EV range NEDC

Tow (braked)

2722kg

Tow (unbraked)

750kg

Transmission

8AT (ZF 8P75PH hybrid)

Timing chain / belt / gear

Chain-driven

Pros

Strong 280kW/637Nm combined output - quickest GC here
Up to ~50km electric-only range for commuting
Quiet, torquey EV launch feel with V6-rivalling tow rating
Flagship Summit Reserve trim and equipment
Lower fuel use if charged regularly

Cons

High-voltage battery has been subject to fire-risk concerns/recalls on 4xe models
Complex PHEV hardware on a brand with a patchy electrical reputation
Expensive to buy ($129,950 new) and to repair out of warranty
Software/charging glitches reported by early owners
Heavy - towing and economy suffer once the battery is depleted

Known problems

high

High-voltage battery failure / fire risk

The 4xe high-voltage battery has been linked to failures and fire risk across 2022-2024 Jeep/Stellantis 4xe products, prompting recalls and software/hardware remedies. Owners were in some cases advised not to charge or to park away from structures pending the fix.

Fix: Ensure all 4xe battery recalls and software updates are completed; buy only with a valid factory warranty and documented remedy.

Any · ~$0 under recall / very high out of warranty

medium

PHEV software / charging interruptions and check-engine lights

Early 4xe owners report charging interruptions, hybrid-system warning lights, and powertrain glitches often traced to software, mirroring issues seen on the Wrangler 4xe.

Fix: Apply the latest Uconnect/hybrid control software; have the dealer scan and reflash. Confirm charging works on the supplied cable before buying.

Any · ~$0-1500

low

Reduced effective range and economy when depleted

Once the battery is flat the 2.0 turbo hauls a heavy PHEV on its own, so real fuel use rises well above the 3.2 L/100km ADR figure, especially towing.

Fix: Charge regularly to benefit; not a fault.

Any · Running cost

Common problems (all variants)

medium

Air suspension faults (Overland / Summit)

Quadra-Lift air suspension on higher grades can develop uneven ride height, compressor wear, air-line/strut leaks and ride-height errors, worse in cold conditions. Repairs are expensive once out of warranty.

Fix: Diagnose for leaks/compressor; replace failed struts or compressor. Steel-sprung Night Eagle/Limited avoid this entirely.

From 60k+ km · ~$1000-4000

medium

Uconnect infotainment freezing / rebooting

The large Uconnect 5 touchscreen can freeze, reboot, drop Bluetooth/CarPlay, or lose the reversing camera. Common Stellantis software gremlin reported by many WL owners.

Fix: Software/firmware updates at the dealer; occasional head-unit replacement under warranty.

Any · ~$0-1200

medium

Electrical / phantom warning lights

Spurious dash warnings, key-fob recognition faults and intelligent-battery-sensor (IBS) false low-battery alerts are reported, sometimes causing no-start or stop-start dropouts.

Fix: Scan and reflash modules; replace/recalibrate the IBS or 12V battery as needed.

Any · ~$200-1500

low

Brake wear on a heavy body

At well over 2 tonnes the WL is hard on brakes; rotors and pads wear faster than lighter SUVs, particularly when towing near the ~2,800kg limit.

Fix: Quality pads/rotors; consider tow-rated pads if used for towing.

From 50k+ km · ~$500-1200

low

Jeep dealer support and parts wait times (AU)

Owners report variable Jeep dealer service quality and slow parts supply in Australia, which can stretch out warranty and recall work.

Fix: Choose a well-regarded dealer/independent; confirm parts availability before booking major work.

Any · Varies

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