According to the Jeep Garage forum, both the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L and the 2022 Grand Cherokee are having some key fob issues. Multiple owners have posted stories about key fobs losing communication with their new Jeeps.
In fact, there are more than five pages worth of chatter and devoted to this issue.
So, while there’s nothing official from NHTSA about a recall or an investigation, you have to wonder if that’s next.
Eric Mayne, media relations manager for vehicle safety, customer experience and regulatory compliance at Stellantis North America, confirmed this is a known issue, adding no safety recall was needed as this was related to a very limited amount of vehicles.
“A temporary stop-sale is in effect, but for a limited number of vehicles,” Mayne said. “We have identified a solution and are expediting delivery of service parts to our dealer network. We don’t detail day-to-day output, but I can confirm the affected population accounts for a brief production window. And that total is well under the number of vehicles available on dealer lots.”
So, what’s the Jeep Grand Cherokee key fob issue?
Many of the current issues have the same basic story. Drive it for a little bit, park it, then come back and the vehicle won’t recognize the fob. When the key fob loses functionality, any attempt to unlock the vehicle with the physical key fools the SUV into thinking an attempted theft was occurring, rendering it to shut down completely.
Many frustrated owners have had to have their Grand Cherokees towed to a dealership to be fixed. Others were stranded for hours or had to abandon their vehicles in parking lots.
One forum poster only had his SUV for 15 minutes when the issue happened. Yikes!
Another owner tried using the app to start up the Grand Cherokee L to no avail. That same user said: “Even emergency tow release doesn’t work.”
The key fob issue appears to software related. One dealer reported disconnecting the antenna and then reconnecting it to re-establish the key fob communication. Another person reported his dealer claimed the issue was related to the “RF Hub Module.”
The “RFHM’ is the Radio Frequency Hub Module that communicates with the vehicle’s remote start system and theft alarm system. This would explain how some complaints include owners receiving multiple theft alerts on their phones through the app — even when the vehicles were at the dealerships being repaired.
What to do if your Grand Cherokee experiences this issue?
As of now, it is not clear if this impacts only specific trims or engine configurations. Both the two-row Grand Cherokee and three-row Grand Cherokee L are impacted.
Jeep said owners will be contacted shortly to arrange a fix for their Grand Cherokee.
To check if your Grand Cherokee is involved (even if you haven’t had this issue yet), you can look it up by VIN on the Mopar recalls website.
The bottom line on Jeep Grand Cherokee key fob issue
As automakers continue to advance automotive technology, they must always be ready to fix issues like this when they crop up. Thankfully, Stellantis is addressing it head on and working on a quick resolution with its dealer network.
With fewer manual keys in new cars, we rely on this key fob technology to work. Every time. Without fail. When it does fail, it can be maddening.
Were you one of the people who experienced this key fob issue? Do you have your own key fob story? Leave us your comments below.
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11 comments
Lauren
I purchased a 2024 GC L. I call her Miss Alzhiemer’s. Constantly forgets her key fob. I purchased it in Jan 2024. The first time this happened was Feb 2024. Needless to say it has been in. the shop multiple times. Once I had to use the keyfob to push start the car, and it started. However, it was in lock mode. I couldn’t turn it off or anything. Had it flatbedded to the dealer. They. said the auxillary battery was bad and replaced it. Since dit continues to forget its keyfob. Not all the time. Often, but sporatic. Other quirk: sometimes the radio screen blinks off. Also, sometimes, Miss Alzheimers doesnt recognize my phone. Very frustrating. Also, I do not feel the car is dependable.
KAREN L ZACHARIAS
i purchased a brand new 2024 Grand Cherokee L in March and since day one I have had issues with the fob not starting my car remotely, locking or unlocking the car and the Jeep app was a joke. I deleted that almost immediately. I had it back to the dealer several times and they state it works fine. I call BS. They need to come up with a fix for this as it is frustrating to no end.
Kassandra Barrett
This has actually accrued numerous times on my 2018 jeep compass Trailhawk. The first time being at 34000 miles.
W.A.
Just happened to my 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit. I purchased in November 2022 as a newly ordered vehicle. Panoroof didn’t work upon delivery, and it took about 4 months to finally fix (after MULTIPLE trips to two different dealerships). Also had a bunch of minor tech glitches along the way, As I thought to myself, “I’m just glad the car runs,” I was soon surprised that it wouldn’t because of a radio frequency/key fob issue. Had the car towed out of my garage this morning (4/29/23) with less than 6500 miles on it, scratching the floor and loosing some rubber off the wheels in the driveway. My first new car experience has not been ideal, at all!! I have a lemon law letter ready to go on the next issue that will undoubtedly happen within the next few weeks.
Mary
Bought my Jepp Grand Cherokee L Overland in 10/21. I have 1050 miles on it. I went to get in the car to go to a doctor’s appointment and nother happened. I could not gtet thie car open. I took the key out of the fob to open the door. Then the alarms wnet off and light flashing. I got the spare fob and it worked. Took them to dealership and they said the battery was dead nad the spare was low. They replaced the batteries. Now keyless entry does not work. Dealaership doesn’t know how to fix this. Great
don
i bought my new 2023 jeep grand cherokee l overland with the v8 hemi 9-22 from an out of state dealer , they delivered it to my home and drove me trade back , they delivered the car with the tire sensor warning lites on, i cheked and adjusted pressures but 7 weeks latter they have never went off , also airbag warning lite is on now plusrear headrest alert plis now both my remotes have stopped working leaving me standing in te rain and then 2 days latter started working again(only 500 miles) i am very dissapointed in this $70,000 car , i loves te engine power but now im afraid of it , beware
Mike Konieczny
Friday, July 1, 2022: Just happened to me. Have owned the Grand Cherokee Overland L since April 4, 2022 and last night one of the key fobs went total LInda Blair on me. Alarm blaring, Rotational gear selector being able to rotate 360 degrees (just like good ole’ Linda’s head in the Exorcist), and notifications on Jeep Connect saying that my Jeep was being stolen. I used the other operational key fob to calm the situation down. Went out to try the whole process again on Friday, July 1, at 2:00PM using the formerly operational key fob but that was dead, too. Called Earnhardt’s at 3:30PM and I could not get any tech to even return my phone call –this being a Holiday weekend and all. Kinda’ wanted to drive the “L” this weekend but it looks like that’snot gonna’ happen.. Think I’ll give my priest a call if I can get the POS started. We’ll go out and find a heard of swine and he can try casting the demons in the vehicle off into them. This is not what I expected for $70k.
Larry
just happened on my 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland. However, I used the key to open the door. The alarm went off and the jeep app alerted me to acknowledge that it was me. I did. I sat in the jeep and saw that the dash read “push start button with key fob. When I did the jeep started. The entire way home the dash read “key fob not in the vehicle”. Once I got home I shut the jeep off. Dash message cleared. Key fob began working again. I have a call in to dealership. This is a problem. And on a side note, 2 days after I bought vehicle, as I was slowing to a light, I heard a loud noise up front and my vehicle would no longer go in to drive or ny other gear. towed in. Dealer had to replace the Transmission valve body. worst part is you cant push car off road when this happens. FYI.
Larry
just happened on my 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland. However, I used the key to open the door. The alarm went off and the jeep app alerted me to acknowledge that it was me. I did. I sat in the jeep and saw that the dash read “push start button with key fob. When I did the jeep started. The entire way home the dash read “key fob not in the vehicle”. Once I got home I shut the jeep off. Dash message cleared. Key fob began working again. I have a call in to dealership. This is a problem. And on a side note, 2 days after I bought vehicle, as I was slowing to a light, I heard a loud noise up front and my vehicle would no longer go in to drive or ny other gear. towed in. Dealer had to replace the Transmission valve body. worst part is you cant push car off road when this happens. FYI.
Jim
We got a 2022 on December 31, 2021. We’ve had opposite issues where it drives without a key and doesn’t notify, and then wont start up at destination… and realized our keys were still at home. That was fun. We’ve also had the alarm going off at different times when the doors were already unlocked (but opened)
John
I have had the same issue. We purchased the L on 2/12 and on morning of 2/14 it would not work. Had to have it towed to to the dealer after having service techs come out to the house. They messed around with it and after disconnecting the fuse for the starter button and reinserting the car worked again. We got the car back and this morning 3/6 I went out to start the car and it has happened again! When this happens to he vehicle is completely useless, it locks down all functions and cannot even be easily towed because it locks the electric parking brake and there is no way to manually undo it. So the car has to be placed on a dolly to tow.