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Biggest P.O.S. I've ever owned

2463 Views 20 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  Dascatfreak
I have a 2014 Grand Cherokee ecodiesel. This is the most expensive vehicle I've ever owned, the nicest vehicle I've ever owned, and by far the most unreliable piece of garbage I've ever owned. This thing did great the first year I owned it, but has spent almost the entire last year broken down. The best one was when it shut off on me while driving. That repair took 4 months at the dealer and took out the ECU, high pressure injection pump (now a recall), in-tank fuel pump, and possibly started by a crushed wiring harness that runs on top of the fuel tank. Don't see how that could be anything but factory caused. This repair was $6000 and I've now spent $8000 in repairs and its currently sitting dead in my driveway. I've had the DEF system malfunction leave me stranded twice. Last time it drove it overheated only at freeway speeds. Now has new radiator and thermostat but will not restart because of yet another DEF system failure even though DEF tank is over half full of MOPAR DEF fluid. I'm over an hour away from a dealer and last time it cost $700 to have it towed here after dealer couldn't fix it. Now it needs to go back to have DEF system checked again. I can't even get it to start now or I would sell it immediately. I am disabled with MS so I can't just jump out and check things every time I drive it. Code reader will not reset anything to let me start it. This thing is horrible. I will never buy another.
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Sounds like you need another dealer. Over 80,000 Trouble Free miles here.
I definitely do. When it shut off while driving the dealer said they only found a bad battery. That would not shut it down while driving. I went to pick it up, it moved about 2 feet and shut down again. It was there for 4 months because of supply issues with a final cost of $6000. The last time it was there for overheating when it blew a small cooling hose that almost needed the engine pulled to access. When I went to pick it up it made it about 10 minutes on the freeway and overheated again. Brought it back. They said $3000 for thermostat, radiator and oil cooler and they weren't even sure that would fix it. That's why it went to the dealer, so they WOULD be sure! I spent $700 to have it towed home where it sat. We changed thermostat and radiator here and when it was out for a test drive drive the notice of "service def system, engine will not restart" came on and now it sits dead in my driveway. I've tried clearing codes many time but won't clear and won't start. They already had it for this exact issue and it just did it again. Plenty of def so that isn't the problem. Now if I have it towed back to the dealership and they fix that problem it may still overheat on the drive home. I have spent $8000 in repairs just last year and it's just sitting dead now. As I have MS and cannot get out for help I don't trust this thing at all. It so dang nice, but I just can't trust this thing. Don't know what to do. I don't like how all electronics are tied together and make it so vulnerable.
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I agree with part of the issue being a bad dealer. That fuel pump issue should not have affected the ECU and bad dealers often blame problems they can't find on the ECU.
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Yes, I have found that you almost have to be a diesel mechanic to own one of these. Most dealer techs are worthless. Most indy Jeep techs don't know the diesel. Many indy diesel shops don't do the ED, or are super busy.

I have had a multitude of issues with my 2014 JGC ED.

Summer of 2022 I paid $9k to a dealer that has done good work for me before, hoping that a competent tech would fix several things. I was sadly disappointed that it came back to me with more items wrong with it that I brought it in with. I don't really feel like getting into the legal battle to recover the money, of course have no faith in having them "fix it."

I have decided to be rid of it as soon as I find something to replace it, but I have to do some more work to keep it running until then. So disheartened to spend more time and money on this rig. The worst part is that when it is running well, it's a blast to drive, however; it is so unreliable that I can't trust it to get me home from an adventure.

I hope you find a way to unload yours soon.
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Yes, I have found that you almost have to be a diesel mechanic to own one of these. Most dealer techs are worthless. Most indy Jeep techs don't know the diesel. Many indy diesel shops don't do the ED, or are super busy.

I have had a multitude of issues with my 2014 JGC ED.

Summer of 2022 I paid $9k to a dealer that has done good work for me before, hoping that a competent tech would fix several things. I was sadly disappointed that it came back to me with more items wrong with it that I brought it in with. I don't really feel like getting into the legal battle to recover the money, of course have no faith in having them "fix it."

I have decided to be rid of it as soon as I find something to replace it, but I have to do some more work to keep it running until then. So disheartened to spend more time and money on this rig. The worst part is that when it is running well, it's a blast to drive, however; it is so unreliable that I can't trust it to get me home from an adventure.

I hope you find a way to unload yours soon.
This is exactly my dilemma. When it was working it was so nice to drive and I love all of the features. I was hoping to get out exploring but at any point it could shut down or not restart. Since I cannot walk to get help if it dies it becomes a major, major concern. I keep going back and forth on whether to fix it or sell it. Even if I spend the money to fix it it could just die on me at any point. I just don't think I can risk that happening. Then I'd have to sell it and buy something that won't be as nice. Wonderful.
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Loved all the features the GC Overland had and it was so nice to drive and did excellent in the snow.... however.

Sold our literal VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX ticking time bomb just in time.

What a P.O.S!

Traded it in and they gave us more then we paid for 3 years prior.

Bought a Toyota Highlander!

BIG sigh of relief....... phew! 😅
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I test drove a 2014 and was scared away by all the electric motor powered gizmos and gadgets. I ended up with a 2008 GC diesel, which has it share of foibles. but I think they are fixable - so far. 😉
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Loved all the features the GC Overland had and it was so nice to drive and did excellent in the snow.... however.

Sold our literal VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX ticking time bomb just in time.

What a P.O.S!

Traded it in and they gave us more then we paid for 3 years prior.

Bought a Toyota Highlander!

BIG sigh of relief....... phew! 😅
I had a Tundra :(... Thirsty, Gutless and plagued with problems from electrical to transmission the dealer never could figure out . So happy to have a reliable vehicle now that i never worry about . So far 80,000 Drama free miles.. 30 + MPG, pulls like a Fright train and so much more comfortable, Quiet, and stable . Im so glad i got one of these before they discontinued them.. I seen a few with close to 300,000 miles. Looks like many miles of smiles ahead of me :)
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Glad you are having a good experience with yours!
2014 with over 111,000 miles with no problems. Love it.
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2014 with over 111,000 miles with no problems. Love it.
I’m at appx the same mileage as you, but with a lot more issues.
Unfortunately the diesel engine has by far been the most unreliable part of this. About 130,000 miles now and I dont think the previous owner took very good care of it, and I totally agree that has a lot to do with it, but it just shouldn't be this unreliable. I'm sure the diesels aren't All this bad, I hope. When it was working it was awesome! It has tons of power and pretty good fuel mileage for being 5000lbs. Overall it still is such a nice vehicle. Very comfortable and all the gadgets are really nice. It does freak me out how tied together all the electronics are. Mine shut off on me while driving at about 60mph. I just happened to be in a good spot to pull over while coasting. That repair was 4 months at the dealer and $6000. Twice it left me stranded after it wouldn't allow the engine to start saying faulty def system or too low on def, even though it was over half full each time. If you have a good one, good luck and enjoy it. It really is nice. But mine is not. I've had it two years and it's spent more than the last year undriveable. It's finally running again but is now overheating at highway speeds and usually fine when driven lower speeds or at idle. Any recommendations? Seems to be possibly pointing toward the oil cooler now. First the oil temp and coolant temp would rapidly rise together, now it's the coolant temp that shoots up. Radiator and thermostat were just replaced and it made no difference. It could refuse to start of just shut off while driving at any moment. I trust it as far as I can push it.. and I can't push it.
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Sounds like you definitely need a better dealer.
It pretty amazing how bad the Jeep service is the diesel in the Los Angeles area. I’ve been to 6 different service centers in the greater LA area.
It pretty amazing how bad the Jeep service is the diesel in the Los Angeles area. I’ve been to 6 different service centers in the greater LA area.
That's horrible! And too bad also. These things are known to go hundreds of thousands of miles. Trouble free
I have a 2014 Grand Cherokee ecodiesel. This is the most expensive vehicle I've ever owned, the nicest vehicle I've ever owned, and by far the most unreliable piece of garbage I've ever owned. This thing did great the first year I owned it, but has spent almost the entire last year broken down. The best one was when it shut off on me while driving. That repair took 4 months at the dealer and took out the ECU, high pressure injection pump (now a recall), in-tank fuel pump, and possibly started by a crushed wiring harness that runs on top of the fuel tank. Don't see how that could be anything but factory caused. This repair was $6000 and I've now spent $8000 in repairs and its currently sitting dead in my driveway. I've had the DEF system malfunction leave me stranded twice. Last time it drove it overheated only at freeway speeds. Now has new radiator and thermostat but will not restart because of yet another DEF system failure even though DEF tank is over half full of MOPAR DEF fluid. I'm over an hour away from a dealer and last time it cost $700 to have it towed here after dealer couldn't fix it. Now it needs to go back to have DEF system checked again. I can't even get it to start now or I would sell it immediately. I am disabled with MS so I can't just jump out and check things every time I drive it. Code reader will not reset anything to let me start it. This thing is horrible. I will never buy another.
Are you aware of the extended warranty on these jeeps from the recalls? I just bought one and if I hadn't did some digging I'd never know.
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I love my St. Louis area dealers, both the one in the city and the one I use in the rural area.
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Are you aware of the extended warranty on these jeeps from the recalls? I just bought one and if I hadn't did some digging I'd never know.
I've had a lot of interaction with the local dealer but they've never said anything about it. But I also have no trust in that dealer. I'm pretty sure I've asked if anything would be covered and was told no. I just now got the approval for recall reimbursement for the injection pump and module and I'm getting back over $4600 which I'm thrilled about! I just wish I could trust it on a daily basis, but I just can't. I'm currently looking for a better diesel shop to get it to point where I can sell it. I don't see any other option.
I had to have the manager at the Jeep dealership go into the computer and I don't know what he looked up but eventually he seen where it was still under warranty and thank God because had the service Def light come on and they ended up replacing the scr and 3 sensors, 1 glow plug. I'd say around 4-5 grand worth of parts and labor. The one that covered me was the 120,000 or 10 year warranty whatevers first. If I hadn't kept at them at the dealership about the extended warranty I'd be paying out of pocket.
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