The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee earned six recalls, five investigations, and more than 1,500 complaints. Most concerning is faulty wiring inside the Totally Integrated Power Module that can cause a wide range of problems, from stalling to braking loss.
Key Points
- The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee racked up more than 1,500 registered NHTSA complaints with nearly half of them referencing an iffy electrical system.
- A bad Totally Integrated Power Module includes a fuel pump relay that fails and resulted in two recall attempts to fix the issue.
- A pair of recalls tried to address an issue with the brake boosters, which failed to perform when damaged by water splashing up from the road.
- A recall was launched over a problem with the wiring for the vanity lamp in the sun visor, which may short circuit after a service repair is performed.
- An open investigation into corroding airbag inflators may result in another major recall that could include the 2011 Grand Cherokee.
2011 Grand Cherokee’s Bad TIPM and Fuel Pump Relay Results in Stalls, Braking Issues, and Draining Batteries
Back in 2014, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a recall for some 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokees for a bad fuel pump relay located inside its Totally Integrated Power Module. If the fuel pump relay fails, the SUV may stall, which results in power loss to the brakes and steering. The fix added a fuel pump relay outside the TIPM.
In November 2019, an expanded second recall called for replacing the relocated relay, failed fuel pumps, and even the TIPM if needed. To make matters worse, Jeep is unable to source enough parts to complete the recalls on the affected half-million vehicles due to pandemic supply issues.
Just how bad is the problem? This model gathered over 1,500 complaints through its 10-year history. Over 700 of the tickets relate to the electrical system, 300 for brakes, 300 for the engine, and 200 for the fuel system.
However, when you dig through the actual complaints it becomes clear that many of the issues in all those systems actually refer back to the TIPM and the bad relays. So many owners struggled with the TIPM that they filed a class-action lawsuit. While the case was settled, the lack of current parts resulted in a hollow victory.
Two Recalls on the 2011 Grand Cherokee Concern Waterlogged Brake Boosters that Can Reduce Stopping Power
Owners of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee reported that their brakes struggled to function in panic stops. Jeep did some research and discovered that water was getting into the brake booster assembly, which caused loss of vacuum pressure and poor brake response.
The original recall in 2014 added a water shield around the problematic brake booster. But, in 2017 the NHTSA launched a new recall that requires an inspection of the water shield and brake booster. If any part is showing signs of failure, it will be replaced at the expense of the manufacturer. The brake boosters were corroding as a result of improperly installed water shields from the first recall. The follow-up applied to every Jeep Grand Cherokee manufactured for the model year.
Bad Wiring in Vanity Mirrors of Some 2011 Grand Cherokees Could Increase Risk of Fire
Finally, on the list of repeat offenders in the recall category comes the burning headliners. Early owners of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee experienced fires due to an electrical short. Officials traced the cause of the fires back to the wiring for the illuminated vanity mirrors. A July 2014 recall was provided for replacing the bad wiring, but just 18 months later another campaign was launched to replace the repaired wiring for the same problem.
Open Airbag Investigation Could Result in a New Recall for Jeep’s 2011 Grand Cherokee
Of the five investigations opened on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, four have resulted in the six active recalls. The fifth is part of an international investigation into airbag inflators that may explode or fail to operate in the case of an accident.
The inflators do not use a desiccant to prevent moisture from getting into the airbag, which may cause corrosion and lead to a failure of the inflator. These inflators are found on nearly 1,400 models manufactured across the globe. If the NHTSA determines that a recall is needed, it will be on a similar scale as the ongoing Takata Airbag debacle.
Ultimately, Cross the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Off Your Short List to Avoid Its Problematic TIPM
What is most concerning about the known problems and recalls associated with the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is that they have not been properly addressed by the manufacturer. It leaves the consumer wondering if a third recall may be issued for any of the problems. The bad TIPM design is included on every SUV built between 2011 and 2013. If you are considering adding a used Grand Cherokee to your garage, you may want to look at a 2010 or 2014 or later year to avoid the serious and potentially dangerous design flaw.
Photos: Stellantis
