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Reliability report · 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee · Updated July 2026 · ~$2,950/yr fuel · what it costs to keep →

The loudest WK2 year in our data — the 3.6L camshaft failures and the Uconnect screen meltdown are out-of-warranty realities, so only buy one that's been through both.

The 2018 is the most-complained-about year in our Grand Cherokee data (837, versus 356 for 2019 and 224 for 2020), and the file is dominated by two things. First, the 3.6L Pentastar valvetrain: owners report cylinder-3 misfires, camshaft and rocker wear, coolant burning into the engine, and outright seized engines — one at low mileage 'with no warning lights.' A mechanic quotes $1,000 to $2,000 to fix the rockers early, far more once the engine is damaged. Second, the Uconnect radio screen delaminates and ghost-touches — owners report the screen calling random contacts and 911, switching climate settings, and going black, with a roughly $1,700 out-of-warranty quote.

On top of that sits an ABS-module rollaway recall (22V-426, later superseded by 24V-838) that can let the truck start and shift out of Park without the brake pressed. Almost everything here has a remedy — but the valvetrain and the screen are the ones that empty a wallet if the previous owner ducked them. Buy the 2018 whose service file proves both were handled.

Evidence: 837 NHTSA complaints · 11 recall campaigns · 6 mechanic & forum sources

Canary status

Squawking

What that means: 837 federal complaints — more than double the surrounding years — and eleven recalls. Two costly, out-of-warranty patterns drive it: the 3.6L Pentastar camshaft-and-rocker failure (misfires, seized engines), and a Uconnect touchscreen that delaminates and 'ghost-touches,' placing random calls and going black. There's a fix or a program for most of it, but these are the expensive ones to catch.

CalmChirpingSquawkingFainted

837

Federal complaints

11

Recalls

Federal crash tests

5-star scale
Overall
Frontal crash
Side crash
Rollover

Tested variant: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV 2WD (NHTSA VehicleId 12449)

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) →

Known issues

Ranked by the cost of ignoring them. Every claim carries its source.

3.6L Pentastar camshaft and rocker failure — the out-of-warranty one

major
  • 3.6L Pentastar V6

The dominant engine cluster in the 2018 file. Owners report a top-end tick that becomes a cylinder-3 (and other) misfire, worn camshaft lobes and rocker arms, and in the worst cases a seized engine — one owner describes 'a sudden, catastrophic engine failure with no warning lights,' the dealer confirming the engine could not be repaired. A teardown mechanic showed the failed parts from a 3.6L at 88,000 miles and quotes $1,000 to $2,000 to fix the rockers if caught before the damage spreads. Chrysler documents the misfire-and-valvetrain-noise condition in service bulletins spanning these years. On any 2018 3.6L, a top-end tick or a stored misfire code is a serious bargaining point — or a walk-away at high mileage.

This is a 3.6L Pentastar V6 problem. The 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 and 5.7L HEMI V8 don’t share it.

Which engine is in the one you found? →

Rocker/lifter repair caught early (mechanic-quoted)

$1,000–$2,000

Engine replacement after seizure

several thousand

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee · Independent mechanic channel transcripts (WK2 Grand Cherokee, incl. 3.6L valvetrain teardown)

Uconnect screen delamination and ghost-touchmajor

The 2018's signature electrical complaint. The Uconnect radio screen delaminates — the top edge bubbles and separates — and then 'ghost-touches': owners report the screen randomly calling contacts and even 911, switching climate from A/C to heat, changing map directions, and eventually going completely black, taking the backup camera and climate controls with it. One owner was quoted about $1,700 out of warranty for a 'known issue' the dealer wouldn't cover. There is no recall for the delamination itself; inspect the screen edge and test that it responds cleanly and shows the reverse camera before buying.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee · Independent mechanic channel transcripts (WK2 Grand Cherokee, incl. 3.6L valvetrain teardown)

~$1,700

Infotainment/screen replacement (one owner quote)

ABS-module rollaway recall — 22V-426, superseded by 24V-838major

A malfunction in the antilock-brake-system (ABS) module can illuminate the brake lights and let the vehicle start and shift out of Park without the brake pedal pressed — a rollaway risk — and can disable ABS and stability control. The original recall (22V-426, Chrysler code Z48) was replaced by 24V-838 (code 94B), which replaces the pressure transducer and updates the software; cars fixed under the first recall need the newer remedy. This one has teeth. Confirm 24V-838 shows completed by VIN.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee · Independent mechanic channel transcripts (WK2 Grand Cherokee, incl. 3.6L valvetrain teardown)

$0

Recall remedy (24V-838)

Transmission park-lock rod and PCM stall recallsmoderate

Two 2018 powertrain recalls: an incorrect transmission park-lock rod may have been installed, so the transmission may not actually hold 'Park' (18V-280, Chrysler code U43); and the powertrain-control-module (PCM) circuit board can have a failing voltage-regulator chip that causes a stall or no-start (18V-524, code U87). Both are free and both are the kind of item a listing never mentions. Verify each by VIN.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee · Independent mechanic channel transcripts (WK2 Grand Cherokee, incl. 3.6L valvetrain teardown)

$0

Recall repairs (18V-280, 18V-524)

Coolant, water pump, and the EcoDiesel stackmoderate

The WK2 leaks carry over — brittle oil-filter housing, HEMI water pump, cracked thermostat housing — so check for coolant loss. On a 3.0L EcoDiesel, the EGR-cooler fire recall (20V-699), the high-pressure-fuel-pump recall (22V-406), and the tone-wheel recall (23V-411) apply, plus the emissions program. All free; a diesel with them undone is a walk-away.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee · NHTSA manufacturer communications (valvetrain TSBs; X88/X95 warranty extensions; recall documents) · Independent mechanic channel transcripts (WK2 Grand Cherokee, incl. 3.6L valvetrain teardown)

$0 recalls; a few hundred for leaks

EcoDiesel recall repairs / coolant-leak part

My 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee suffered a sudden, catastrophic engine failure with no warning lights.
6 mechanic & owner sources

Open recalls

Free fixes at any Jeep dealer. Run the VIN — “completed” isn’t always completed.

  1. 18V-280Incorrect transmission park-lock rod may be installed — transmission may not hold Park (rollaway risk). Free correct-rod installation. Chrysler code U43.open
  2. 18V-524PCM circuit-board voltage-regulator chip may fail, causing a stall or no-start (large multi-model). Free PCM replacement. Chrysler code U87.open
  3. 22V-426ABS module may illuminate brake lights and allow start/shift out of Park without the brake — rollaway (2018-2019). Replaced by 24V-838. Chrysler code Z48.open
  4. 24V-838Supersedes 22V-426: replaces the integrated pressure transducer and updates ABS software; disabled ABS/ESC and rollaway risk (2018-2019). Free. Chrysler code 94B.open
  5. 18V-332Cruise control may not disengage due to a wiring short (2014-2018). Free PCM/ECM software flash.open
  6. 18V-759SRT/Trackhawk driver floor mat may interfere with the accelerator pedal. Free floor-mat replacement. Chrysler code UB3.open
  7. 18E-097Accessory Mopar floor mats (SRT/Trackhawk) may interfere with the accelerator pedal. Free replacement. Chrysler code UB5.open
  8. 18V-048Trackhawk 6.2L supercharged fuel line may separate — stall and engine-compartment fire risk. Free inspection/replacement. Chrysler code U02.open
  9. 20V-6993.0L EcoDiesel EGR cooler may crack and combust in the intake manifold — fire risk (2014-2019). Free EGR cooler replacement. Chrysler code W79.open
  10. 22V-4063.0L diesel high-pressure fuel pump may fail — loss of drive power (2014-2020 GC). Free HPFP/fuel-system service. Chrysler code Z46.open
  11. 23V-4113.0L diesel crankshaft tone wheel delamination → stall (2014-2020 GC). Free PCM update. Chrysler code 66A.open

What it costs to keep

The purchase price is what you negotiate. These are the numbers you live with afterward — each one sourced, none of them blended into a fake total.

The ownership picture — 2018 Grand Cherokee

Three sourced numbers. No fake total.

Fuel

21 MPG combined (19 city / 26 highway) for the RWD, 3.6L on the EPA federal fuel-economy test.

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (EPA) — EPA’s federal fuel-economy test, recomputed with current gas prices. EPA record 39101 (Grand Cherokee 2WD).
Other builds EPA lists: AWD, 3.6L 21 MPG · AWD, 5.7L (midgrade fuel) 17 MPG · Diesel AWD, 3.0L turbo 24 MPG · Diesel RWD, 3.0L turbo 25 MPG.

$2,950/yr

at $4.15/gal · 15,000 mi/yr · 55/45 city/hwy · pulled Jul 12, 2026

Theft

Stolen at about the average rate.

Source: HLDI — the insurance industry’s loss-data institute — HLDI whole vehicle theft losses, 2016–18 models, published May 2019 (report WT-18). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Jeep Grand Cherokee 4dr 4WD.
Other series: Jeep Grand Cherokee 4dr 101, where 100 = average.

110 vs 100

10% above average

Repair risk

What this specific year is known to need. Pulled from the issues above — the repairs owners actually report, at the costs they report them. Averages from other sites blend every year together; these are this year’s own numbers.

Source: this report — 01 Known issues.

Rocker/lifter repair caught early (mechanic-quoted)$1,000–$2,000
Engine replacement after seizureseveral thousand
Infotainment/screen replacement (one owner quote)~$1,700
Recall remedy (24V-838)$0
Recall repairs (18V-280, 18V-524)$0
EcoDiesel recall repairs / coolant-leak part$0 recalls; a few hundred for leaks
Why there’s no single “cost to own” number: sites that promise one are guessing at your insurance quote, your annual miles, and your luck. These are the numbers we can actually source — and each one carries its receipt.

Shopping this year?

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Have a specific one in your sights?

The VIN is on the listing. We’ll check this exact car — build, open recalls, and whether the “completed” repairs stayed fixed.

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Before you buy

Print this
  1. 01On the 3.6L V6, listen hard for a top-end tick and scan for misfire codes — the camshaft/rocker failure is this year's biggest out-of-warranty risk.
  2. 02Inspect the Uconnect screen edge for delamination and test that it responds cleanly and shows the backup camera — no ghost-touch, no black-out.
  3. 03Verify the ABS rollaway recall in its current form (24V-838) shows completed — not just the superseded 22V-426.
  4. 04Confirm the park-lock-rod (18V-280) and PCM (18V-524) recalls were done.
  5. 05If it's an EcoDiesel, verify 20V-699, 22V-406, and 23V-411 by VIN.
  6. 06Given this is the loudest year, treat an incomplete service/recall history as a walk-away rather than a negotiation.

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