2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Not shifting properly
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2017 Grand Cherokee report: not shifting properly. CarComplaints.com lists 23 owner complaints, average mileage 11,150 miles.
NHTSA has 88 owner complaints for the 2017 Grand Cherokee in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11757968 (filed 08/19/2026): “On november 23, 2025, i was driving approximately 60 mph in the middle lane of i-495 near exit 62 in marlborough, massachusetts, with a passenger in the vehicle. i signaled to change lanes to pass a slower vehicle, selected sport mode, and accelerated. the eng…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11737363 (filed 05/12/2026): “My 2017 jeep grand cherokee just completely lost power again and almost got hit by the car following me. almost got hit again coasting to the side of the road! this has happened before and the repair shop tried updating software which did not fix it. why was …”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace transmission (6 reports) body control module was replaced (tcm) (1 reports) replace esm module (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Diagnosis needs a scan tool; repair or replacement needs a lift, transmission jack and the manufacturer's fluid fill/relearn procedure. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $900 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
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