New Car Advice: Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit

"bobkustofawitshz" (bobkustofawitshz) 12/19/2019 at 20:23 • Filed to: Jeep, Grand Cherokee, WK2

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Anybody on Oppo have experience with these?

I’ve been thinking about it and browsing for a while, but now that a catastrophic head gasket failure has rendered my 2006 Exploder (once again) inoperable, I find myself in the market for a new ride. I’m pretty much set on a 2015 JGC Summit 4x4. This would be my daily driver. I’d prefer the 3.6L V6 for better fuel economy, and from what I gather the Pentastar is actually pretty reliable.

Why the Summit in particular?

Because I’ve absolutely fallen in love with this interior:

...which is IMO the nicest interior ever put in any Jeep ever, but is only available on the top of the line Summit trim.

Now I’ll admit, FCA reliability does scare me a bit. I’ve read the horror stories. Then again, I see these things everywhere, and the optimist in me wants to believe they’re pretty well screwed together these days. And I’d like to think by 2015 the WK2 had been around long enough for them to get the bugs worked out. But having only ever driven Fords, this is new territory for me.

Are concerns over build quality and reliability unfounded? What should I be looking out for? Major areas of concern would be stuff like engine, transmission, 4x4 system and of course the air suspension.

What does Oppo think? Any input, particularly from folks who currently own or have owned one, would be greatly  appreciated.

Nibby > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 20:37

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if you find an overland or limited for cheaper that might be your best bet.. i’m always wary about air suspensions in terms of longevity. my dad leased a 2016 limited V6 and had no issues with it (36K miles) but it did creak and rattle a bit. otherwise it was a nice ride

i had a 2015 ram 1500 with the hemi and the gas mileage wasn’t really much different... my 2018 F150 with 2.7L definitely gets better gas mileage than the WK2 did

Thisismydisplayname > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 20:44

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You say, grand Cherokee SRT? ... oh sorry must have misread your post... I’ve got SRT GC on the brain. But that interior looks great, the pentastar is plenty powerful, for most normal people. I’m not one of those people, but I’ll freely admit I have issues. Go for it. I’ve been driving a 10 year old German car for the past few years with air suspension and supposedly bullet proof engine, but guess what failed me and is currently sidelining my car? A stupid $10 roller rocker that decided to part ways with its assigned exhaust valve.  So it’s always a dice roll.  But I imagine you’ll like it a lot.  And worse case, if the air ride fails there’s likely a coil over retrofit out there that will replace it.      

bucking-bronco > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 20:44

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That Pentastar has been in everything. I have it in my Wrangler and it’s been very reliable. The 8 speed in the GC is a MUCH better pairing than the 5 speed in the Wrangler, actually makes the GC feel decently fast even with the V6.  I have a family member who is on her 2nd GC lease, I don’t think she’s ever had any issues while it was under warranty. Summit looks beautiful!

412GTI > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 20:46

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Don’t have ownership experience but do spend a lot of time around Grand Cherokee’s. One of my favorite SUVs, very comfortable and the 3.6/8-speed combo is great for most people. Air Suspension is the only thing that would scare me. 

bobkustofawitshz > Nibby 12/19/2019 at 20:53

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Overland has the air suspension, the Limited does not, however neither came with that saddle interior color which was only offered on the Summit for 2015+.

I drove an earlier WK2 with the Hemi and came away underwhelmed. It just didn’t feel that much faster, and honestly I’d rather save even a few mpgs if I can. The Explorer only averages around 13 ( on a good day), so just about anything else would be an improvement.

Reliability is also important— while I’ve heard the Pentastar is pretty good, I’m not sure how it compares to the Hemi; I’ve seen mixed reviews.

Anecdotally, a friend traded his V8 Overland for a V6 and reports significantly better mileage with  more than adequate power. 

RacinBob > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 20:54

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My go to is Edmunds reviews. I pick the ‘18 as it gives the reviewers some time for ownership experience. But read it and draw your own conclusions.

https://www.edmunds.com/jeep/grand-cherokee/2018/consumer-reviews/?sorting=created%3Adesc

Spanfeller is a twat > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 21:00

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I mean, unless you absolutely need the saddle brown interior; get a Limited; we have a summit and there’s nothing special about it 

Nibby > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 21:12

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Hemi is a reliable engine as well. But whatever you get ensure it has the LED lights (I think overland and up do, optional on limited)

and keep us posted

and 100 more > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 21:30

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I have a 2012 Laredo with zero options, 3.6/5speed combo... Picked it up used a couple years ago with 86k in the clock, and now it’s over 140k. I love the damn thing.

At the current mileage, it’s beginning to show it’s age. The front suspension is getting a little crashy over bumps, occasional interior   noises, and the tranny is beginning to shift a little funny... But over all, it has been fantastic, very trouble free. The 3.6 pulls pretty good, considering how much ass it has to haul. I average 19mpg over the course of a week, but I’ve had it up to 26 on road trips. I’ve driven it from Texas to California and back, never once had a hiccup.

bobkustofawitshz > Spanfeller is a twat 12/19/2019 at 21:32

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Yeah the saddle interior is what attracted me to these in the first place (I like unique interior colors) so it’s pretty much a must have. Honestly a Limited would be easier on the wallet and serve my needs just fine, but I like the stitched leather dash and contrasting piping on the seats of the Overland and Summit trims. This would be the newest and most expensive car I’ve ever bought, and one I’d plan to keep for a long time, so I’d rather get what I really want and have no regrets.

How’s the reliability been on yours? Any major issues?

Steve in Manhattan > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 21:39

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My sister has a Grand Cherokee (3 years old) and loves it. If you want reliable, get a Toyota Highlander. If you like self-flagellation, get an Alfa Stelvio. Fiat-Chrysler quality is a bit suspect, so do the research before you buy.

Under_Score > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 21:43

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The Grand Cherokee is nice, but I have a wild card.

The 2015-present Nissan Murano Platinum. Very loaded, a nice interior, super comfy seats, similar pricing used to a GC Summit, and a better reputation for reliability (even though it has a CVT). If you can find a 2017 or so at a great price with AWD, you’re in luck. No air suspension, either.

Spanfeller is a twat > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 21:50

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No issues really, I think some of the chrome accents on the inside started peeling off, and for some reason the exhaust pipes are hanging lower than then should be. But that’s it. Prior to that summit we had a 2012 limited and, it was nicely equipped. it had everything that the Summit had that I wanted; heated/cooled seats, parking sensors, a panoramic roof.... it didn’t have bluetooth, but a newer 2015 limited surely does. T he fancy gearbox and air suspension is something we’ve ever used so... we don’t consider it as good value as maybe you do... Nibby also mentioned the overland which is really good to, albeit a bit less intense on the chrome. 

I don’t think the interior is significantly more luxurious than a Limited from the same year. Other than the suede roof and the stitched dash...

bobkustofawitshz > and 100 more 12/19/2019 at 21:55

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Good to hear that. I had been looking at the early WK2s (2011-13) but had   some concerns about an early-run FCA product from a quality/reliability standpoint. Now that the facelifted 2014+ models are starting to drop into my price range it opens up more options. But the 2011-13s are cheaper and did offer the saddle leather on the Overland trim.

19 MPG average sounds like a dream— th e Explorer gets around 13 on a good day. It was also on its 2nd tranny and 3rd radiator before 100,000 miles, the suspension is shot and there are all kinds of squeals, squeaks and rattles. It’s a 2006, so it’s the first year of the 4th gen (you can understand why I’d prefer to avoid early-run cars) and now  seems to   have committed Seppuku at just over 108K .   Glad your Jeep has been trouble free.

WildlyMild > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 21:57

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Working the aftermarket repair side in the wealthiest counties in MN we see 3-4 every day. I like them a lot but user reviews vary greatly. They don’t seem to be put together with any consistency at all. But overall we dont see many with more than 120k miles and the owners typically move to a toyota, BMW or honda product

bobkustofawitshz > Under_Score 12/19/2019 at 22:04

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I don’t like the styling and have zero interest in a FWD-based CUV or anything with a CVT.

I drive 10-20 year old Fords, so I’m willing to gamble a bit and don’t mind the occasional repair. I just don’t want something that will be in the shop every 3 months and cost thousands of dollars to fix. 

dieseldub > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 23:06

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My shop neighbor was a specialist Jeep shop. I came away pretty impressed with the interior on the WK2s as a whole. The whole thing just looks good, too. Nicely featured.

Haven’t seen any super high miles, but the Pentastar 6 does seem to be reasonably long lived. Some occasional issues with the Hemis with cylinder deactivation, though apparently using the right quality of oil can go a long way towards preventing those issues.

I’m not normally an SUV guy, but a lot of vehicles in this class are reaaaal nice these days. 4 wheel independent suspension, very good 4WD systems with amazingly effective traction management via ABS usually. They handle quite well for what they are...

Damn Touareg has ruined me. Being the diesel nerd I am, I’d totally rock a WK2 diesel.

whatisthatsound > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 23:08

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I was shopping for these extensively then went with a ‘17 GLE 350 4MATIC as it has better reliability scores, and a pretty comparable interior with the same tow rating.

Biggus Dickus (RevsBro) > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 23:36

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I have a ‘14 Summit. 5.7hemi. Its been pretty good. I use it as my DD in the winter and my racebike trailer tower in the summer. Reliability - ive had no meaningful issues. I get a CEL for the atupid evap system and the air suspension d oesnt work if its stupid cold, like below zero F. Ask me any other questions you can think of.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 23:43

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Summit is great. I probably could have gone that way, rather than the Overland I have, as much off-roading as I don’t really do. The saddle and blue interior is gorgeous, and the Summit is a nice blend between SRT and Overland. (the bumper covers and flush fender flares are common with SRT, the options and drivetrains are similar to Overland, but with a few extras beyond that.)

I would exchange the wheels for the Sterling edition wheels, though, that replicate the ZJ wheel.

One thing... if you don’t park it inside during the day... invest in a sunshade and park facing away from the sun.

Grand Cherokees with leather dashboards... the leather pulls away and wrinkles. The only way to fix it is for an upholsterer to re-stretch and glue it.

But to do that, either the windshield or the dash need to be off the car. The windshield is likely easier, but windshields aren’t covered for replacement unless the glass is broken, and re-installation of used glass and adhesive is also not covered.

So basically repairing the leather has to happen during a broken windshield replacement.

Indulgenceiniowa > bobkustofawitshz 12/19/2019 at 23:51

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I have a 2017 JGC Summit. I bought it used with 39k miles. I paid $36k. It has just about every o ption: California package, V-8 Hemi. I decided to buy an extended warranty because of what I read about the air suspension and well, other things about this make. So here’s the good news: EVERYTHING! I love the interior which is the color you like and my exterior is the pearl white. It looks so much better IMO than any other JGC trim option. I’m getting about 14mpg around town but the sound of the Hemi makes it all worthwhile. There is acoustic glass and headliner that make it quiet. Again, all I hear is the roar of the Hemi and the Harmon Kardon sound system. I’ve owned everything under the sun and this is certainly one of the best vehicles I’ve had. I'm a believer.

bobkustofawitshz > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 12/20/2019 at 00:14

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I was aware of the wrinkled  dash issue, but had no idea the fix was THAT involved— wow. Thanks for the tip.

Nothing > bobkustofawitshz 12/20/2019 at 01:10

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We bough our ‘14 Overland new. Had a wheel bearing go bad last year, along with a cracked thermostat housing, covered under warranty. Other than that, it’s been a great vehicle. Very comfy, quick enough, roomy. We have the V6. My wife still loves it, and loves the blue/brown interior combo on it.

Norris Muhammad > bobkustofawitshz 12/20/2019 at 01:29

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I have a 2015 Limited. I went out searching for a Summit because I was attracted to the interior like you but I was talked into a limited which I regret. Get exactly what you want. I plan on trading mine in a year or so. If I were you I would go at least to a 2016 model. You will hate the shifter on the 2015. They went back to the normal shifter in 2016. Also I believe the head unit got upgraded in 2016 with Apple Car Play and Android Auto. You also get LED running lights in the 2016 and above. If you get talked down to the Limited you won't get the panoramic sun roof, the upgraded sound system nor adaptive cruise control. 

avalonian > bobkustofawitshz 12/20/2019 at 01:31

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Or, just tint the windshield. That's what I did here in Georgia, its awesome. 

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > bobkustofawitshz 12/20/2019 at 02:07

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Jeep interiors may not win any styling awards , but with the saddle brown it looks good and of course uConnect is the best of the business.

From our limited experience with a current generation Compass, it seems like Jeeps seem to drive and ride a notch better than the less expensive competition.

RogueDiver > bobkustofawitshz 12/20/2019 at 09:15

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I purchased a 2015 Grand Cherokee Summit V6 in 2017. I too have been a Ford person my whole life. I purchased the vehicle from an estate sale and I’ve got to tell you, it’s the best vehicle I’ve ever had. It’s reliable, comfortable and tough. I’m sure there are things that could be said that are negative like it could get better gas mileage or maintenance costs could be lower than other vehicles but I really love this vehicle. I enjoy the air suspension, the different ride heights, the handling in all conditions as well as the look of the vehicle. It's a great vehicle and after all, it's a Jeep!  I have over 80k miles and it still feels new to me. My experience with the Summit has been awesome and the interior is fantastic! I say go for it!

Takuro Spirit > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 12/20/2019 at 09:55

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FCA literally just extended the warranty on th e WK leather wrapped dashboards.

Tate 04 > bobkustofawitshz 12/20/2019 at 10:39

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Have a 2014 GC Summit built in August of 2014 and ought new . Best vehicle I’ve ever owned for reliability, cost to run, QUIET, super smooth ride, features, and the stunning grade leather. Has a truck frame so its heavier and solid but still great gas mileage with the 8 speed t ransmittion. I travel northern Minnesota year around. It’ s been flawless in the sub 0 temps and snow. Have 195,000 miles on it. Only issue was the chip in the radio that controls nav, AC, radio and a few other things. Dealer will say it needs a new radio at $1,200. After reading posts I sent the radio off to be fixed for $300 and that was super easy to remove and reinstall. it worked. After always having higher end SUV’s for 30+ years, this is my favorite. I did extensive homework prior to buying and this was the easy value winner over BMW, MB, and General motors products. Dont understand the reliability issues of others. Id buy it again! Good luck!

WK2EcodieseLHA > bobkustofawitshz 12/20/2019 at 14:30

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Hey, I think your vehicle choice is a great one. If I could add my two cents because I am a owner of a 2016 Grand Cherokee High Altitude Ecodiesel which is a 3.0 V6 turbocharged diesel, which I researched for months before I made the $55,000 purchase. If you are going to do any towing (which I haven’t yet and it’s almost been 4 years) or if like you mentioned want great fuel economy with amazing torque for acceleration that turbo gives you ability to easily pass someone on the highway or at high speeds and feel the get up and go when you hit the gas instead of taking awhile at high speeds to get passed someone/something. Also the appearance of the HA & Summit which is different than the overland and all other models besides the SRT. The ecodiesel had some bumps in its first year but by 2015 -2016 they were smoothed out, and it gets 26-28 city and 32-35 highway and those are my real world mileage #’s I usually get 600 mile range mixed city/hwy to a full tank or around 760-820!! if it’s all highway driving. The High Altitude and the Summit are almost identical in appearance from the outside, they both have a smoother wider wheel fender appearance and bigger better looking front fascia which any model under them doesn’t have the option to get, besides the SRT. My HA has the 19 speaker Harmon Kardon stereo system, panoramic sunroof, Adaptive Cruise Control (my favorite feature if I had to pick 1 and leave all the rest) 8.4 Uconnect, silver SRT floor pedals, collision detection and active braking that literally doesn’t allow you to hit anyone or back up into anything or drive into anything because it applies the brakes and kills the accelerator so even if you want to you couldnt back up or drive into your garage. I do have the air suspension which I enjoy especially if you need a little more ground clearance off road or want to get closer to the ground than normal for individuals that are older or handicapped or just for easier enter/exit which is easier the upholstery because you arent hopping up in and sliding into your leather seat your able to plant a foot on the ground and sit into the vehicle the correct/comfortable way the first try. Thier was a class action lawsuit (because FCA lied about how much emissions the engine made) way more ecodiesels went into the dodge ram than the grand Cherokee’s but still if you own/owned one you got $3100 or if you leased you got $900. They fixed the emissions issue with a software update. Lastly I like 1000's of other ecodiesel engine owners got the Green Diesel Engineering Hot tune or Eco tune which is the #1 rated full engine and transmission tune for that specific engine. Not only does it get more HP and Torque it also gets 2-4 more mpg and allows the engine to have less regens as well as no more turbo lag and the shifting times were changed so the amazing 8 speed in all jeeps holds gears longer into the rpms before shifting which gets rid of the trans jumping multiple gears searching for the right one when you accelerate onto the highway or decelerate. It made the jeep feel like it should have felt when I came off the line, but for some reason they dont put that much R&D into those issues that drivers complain about. Well GDE does, they are 3 Engineers that still work for the big 3 but didnt like what they saw as fas as tuning engines correctly so they started this company and they work on a lot of different diesel vehicles and are known world wide as one of the best diesel tuners out there.

Well that’s my opinion. Go with the Summit or a high altitude but I would suggest the diesel option. Either way hope your enjoying whatever your driving!

14summittoffroad > bobkustofawitshz 12/20/2019 at 16:10

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I have a 14 Summit. Plenty of power, great ride, and reasonable mileage(19 avg /23 highway). Have had some recent issues that I have fixed myself. Rear hatch power strut replaced, parts $200. Blend door actuator /gear replaced on drivers side, parts $60 but a nightmare to replace. Also did the passenger side, wasn’t broken, but it will break, much easier. 44k miles. I love the looks of the Summit over the limited, adaptive cruise is awesome, cooled seats, 19 speaker system rocks, quiet for an suv. 

DanOrt > Under_Score 12/20/2019 at 16:34

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The murano is not an SUV , is a car/stationwagon with higher clrance. Same with any other fwr wheel drive whana be suv

DanOrt > bobkustofawitshz 12/20/2019 at 16:38

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I have 2011 overland with 5.7L engine. The air suspension is amazing as long is working fine. However it had give me several troubles and is expensive to fix. Also JGC is based on older Mercedes ML. Many comp onents from the p ower train and suspenssion are shared on both. Anyways, I’ m consediring buying another one. The ride, the power and the fact is a real suv is worth it. Specially when there is a lack for RWD SUV these dyas . For me anything fwrd drive is a car not an SUV. Just my opinion.

CompactLuxuryFan > bobkustofawitshz 12/20/2019 at 17:58

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You won’t regret springing for the brown interior! You’ll see it quite a bit every time you use the car and feel good about it every time. Highly recommend.

Bren16 > Nibby 12/20/2019 at 18:13

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I had a 2015 used Summit for a couple of years and traded it in recently for a used 2019 Limited with one on the luxury packages. The summit was cush, but I’m very happy with the Limited. It seems to run snappier for me but I could just be imaging that . The newer uconnect software definitely  is faster. Nice to have Android auto available. Best of luck!

Eaglesfly > bobkustofawitshz 12/20/2019 at 18:32

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I been driving jeeps for over 20 years. I have 1998 5.9. Drove it across country twice in last three years. Excellent ride. We also bought out second Cherokee. I think Jeep builds one  of the best vehicle on the road. 

MuchMaligned1 > bobkustofawitshz 12/20/2019 at 19:32

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It is a good vehicle. I am a GMC guy, but our 2015 Summit is my wife’s 2nd JGC. When we decided we’d had enough of the costly maintenance, r epairs and recalls associated with the 2011 JGC Laredo, I did all the research and recommended the Volvo or Audi in the same class. Wife decided on the Summit. If you are a married man, you know how this can happen. Anywho, the Summit has been awesome! All the toys, very reliable, very goodlooking vehicle and not awful on mpg. Excellent on the highway, a bit awkward in town. It also has a little pep, especially in sport mode! If you’ve decided on a JGC or something similar, this is the one.

MuchMaligned1 > bobkustofawitshz 12/20/2019 at 19:38

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Our Summit has the Chocolate brown, stitched interior. We have a chocolate lab. That’s was the clincher for her. I love the self-leveling (on the highway) and air suspension options. 

Tisbury > bobkustofawitshz 12/20/2019 at 20:08

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I literally just bought a 15 Summit three weeks ago. I was also worried about the leather dash so I had a professionally tinted with Air80.

I got the 3.6 as well, and it has the Platinum package.  So far I love it.  

bobkustofawitshz > Tisbury 12/20/2019 at 22:57

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I hadn’t considered that, I’ll have to look   into the Air80 more. Thanks for the tip.

A quick google search finds some folks with it on the windshield   reporting visibility issues, particularly at night from oncoming headlights. Have you experienced anything like that?

bobkustofawitshz > WK2EcodieseLHA 12/20/2019 at 23:14

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That’s a beautiful Jeep! Thanks for sharing.

I’ve read some horror stories about those diesels and hadn’t really considered one for that reason. I noticed they seem to be trading for a little less compared to the gas models and figured it was due to reliability concerns. Perhaps there are some deals to be had. Glad to hear you’re happy with yours . I certainly would appreciate the torque, and that mileage is incredible.

bobkustofawitshz > DanOrt 12/20/2019 at 23:22

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Thanks for sharing. Curious what suspension issues you encountered specifically and how much did  they cost to fix?

JoeX > bobkustofawitshz 12/21/2019 at 02:08

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Chances are, with jeep’s famous build quality, the frame isn’t properly welded, so your interior choice is pointless....Why not but American, instead of formerly German, currently Italian replicas of formerly American icons? I would also make sure you have roadside assistance, and unlimited towing, along with comfortable shoes.

JoeX > bobkustofawitshz 12/21/2019 at 02:15

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If you don’t want to be in the shop often, why are you even considering a jeep (jeep) at all?....And there is a solutely NOTHING wrong with CVT transmissions....I have one with 200+ k miles on it with ab solutely no issues. I' d take a Nissan CVT over any jeep transmission any day of the week.

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 12/21/2019 at 11:44

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There’s an upcoming recall on the 11-14 leather de- laminating. Top one on the list. 

iTradeShips > bobkustofawitshz 12/21/2019 at 21:36

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I’ve had 4 Grand Cherokees over the years - a 1994 Laredo, a 1999 Laredo, a 2014 Summit Hemi V8 and a 2018 Overland EcoDiesel. We also have a 2016 Cherokee Limited, which is relevant to the Jeep critique .

The total build quality has improved considerably since the 1990's models we owned on the first go round. There are still some issues in my opinion, unique to the Summit models and common to all the Jeeps we currently own.

Our Summit currently has 114,000 miles on it. Better than average reliability, with only 1 unscheduled maintenance requirement which saw the water pump need replacing at 78 k miles for about $600 out of warranty . FCA eventually was forced to replace all water pumps in that 2014 +/- build range which meant since we had already done ours, they reimbursed us for the repair cost but I had to follow up with FCA corporate 3 times to get my check.

My biggest issue with our Summit has always been fit and finish issues with the Summit’s unique wheel well/quarter panel outer moldings. They have on numerous occasions required work to keep them properly attached and fitted to the car as they start to peel away (almost as if they are glued on). The Overland’s wheel well moldings are a totally different design, clearly more secure to the vehicle and studier.

Both vehicles are so heavily optioned I really couldn’t tell you what the Summit has that the Overland doesn’t. We bought the Overland Eco-Diesel to replace the Hemi V8 Summit because of the amount of mileage my wife would be driving in her new job (my son sold his car and bought the Summit from us) . While the V8 averaged about 17.1 combined for my wife the EcoDiesel achieves 2 7.1 combined and we have seen highway trips where we’ve achieved 33 mpg. The V8 may have been peppier but EcoDiesel’s massive torque grabs you by the seat of your pants and pulls hard when you stomp on the pedal.

The EcoDiesel was a pain in the neck the first 3 months we owned it. Within a month after delivery we received notice that the ECM required a software update that could not be done by the consumer (Both the 2014 Summit and 2016 Cherokee required software updates that the consumer could do on their own or bring to the dealer free of charge). After the ECM Software update, we had two episodes of the dashboard lighting up like a Christmas tree. The first time required the ABS computer module to be replaced - free of charge but had to wait over two weeks for the dealer to receive the part (no loaner provided), and the second time required replacement of another (forgotten) set of circuitry which also saw us lose use of the vehicle for another 3 weeks. I wouldn’t have believed all of it but the dealer showed me the mechanics printout from the FCA OBD2 port reader. It was an incredibly frustrating first few months of ownerships because the lack of availability and timing didn’t qualify for lemon law protection. However, the car has been perfect since then with 41,000 miles on it now. The car starts quickly and easily after being left outside overnight with single digit low temperatures WITHOUT the use of the optional engine warmer plug. The highway mileage is amazing (beats our Porsche Cayenne Hybrid’s 24 mpg combined) and is worth the premium engine price, especially with the type of mileage we put on the cars.

Now the common problem we have with all 3 of our Jeeps - All 3 have required their heating/cooling systems have relays and dampers replaced. In the winter you either had cold air blowing with the temperature set at or below 71 or scalding hot air blowing with the temperature set at 72 . There was no middle ground. The exact same problem with all 3 vehicles. Looking at the repair orders, its the exact same parts being replaced. Curious to know if other people have had this problem.

In general these Jeeps have been as reliable as any other cars we have owned in the past 20 years including a Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid , BMW X5, and Buick Enclave and were more reliable than a Toyota Sequoia and a VW Toureg (that car had a black cloud follow it. I got sick of waiting for tow trucks so its the only car in this list that didn’t have at least 100,000 miles on it before we moved on to something else.)

I think the GC’s drive and handle the best of the American SUV’s. The Explorers have always driven like a truck (we had 1st and 2nd gen Explorers in the 1990's). Perhaps their new unibody construction for 2020 will close the gap. All 3 German SUV’s outdrove the Jeep on Connecticut’s backroads and we aren’t off-roaders.  The Jeeps plowed through snow with just all-season tires, whereas all my German cars required snow tires to get the same traction. Once I realized they needed snows, I switched to Performance Summer tires once the All-Season OEM’s were ready for replacement.

You should enjoy the upgrade from the Explorer.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > I Will Always Be The Honey Badger 12/22/2019 at 18:22

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Thank you to you and Takuro, I’ll bring this up with my dealer, and see if I can get my dash fixed at some point.

If the recall only applies to 11-14 vehicles, does that indicate that newer ones are somehow changed and not similarly affected?

The other day I had to replace a tail light bulb, and noticed that it was listed as a 7440, but it actually was a significantly different bulb... and I wondered if it was a wiring harness hold-over from the 11-13 WK, even though the 14 was the first year of the model face lift.