2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Slapped With a Stop Sale Order Over Bricking Issue

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee is probably the best thing that Jeep has done in years when it comes to its non-Wrangler output and punches well above its weight class in terms of interior quality and overall design. We’re fans. Unfortunately, not everything is hunky-dory in Jeep land, it seems. The Drive reported Thursday that some of the new Grand Cherokee (and the longer-wheelbase L models) have been bricking themselves.

According to a missive sent from Stellantis to its Jeep dealers, the issue seems to stem from something called the Radio Frequency Hub Module, which can apparently throw the proverbial wrench in the communication between the vehicle and its key fob, causing everything else to go haywire. The problem has reportedly led Jeep to place a stop-sale order on the Grand Cherokee.

Presently, Jeep is working on getting the appropriate replacement parts to dealers so that this issue can be fixed quickly without a full-on safety recall; those are a lot more complicated once the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gets involved.

Based on forum posts, it would seem that so far this issue is limited to vehicles purchased in February, which points to there being a bad batch of components that came and went through production. However, given that we’re still in February, we probably won’t know the full scope of the issue for a while.

We asked Jeep for comment but didn’t hear back in time for publication.

2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is a vacation hero

1/52 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow This is the first iteration of the fifth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, and it’s bigger and better than ever.

2/52 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow If that wheelbase and overall length look longer than expected, that’s because they are. This is the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and that L means this is a long-wheelbase model.

3/52 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow Riding atop a new chassis, this is the first Grand Cherokee model to carry a third row.

4/52 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow This is the range-topping Summit Reserve model, and it’s seriously posh.

5/52 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow Check out that finely stitched Palermo leather, and the vast, artfully curved expanses of open-pore waxed walnut.

6/52 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow Everything feels as good as it looks in here, plus there’s a lot of tech.

7/52 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The Grand Cherokee L’s look is evolutionary, but handsomely so. This is a design that should age well.

8/52 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow This particular model is powered by parent-company Stellantis’ Pentastar V6. In this application, the engine is tuned to deliver 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.

9/52 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow If you’d rather have a V8, you can opt for a 5.7-liter Hemi with 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. A 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain is due for the platform in the winter of 2022, but it’s not immediately clear if it will be offered on this larger L variant.

10/52 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow Roadshow hit the start button this Grand Cherokee L and drove it from Detroit all the way to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

11/52 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow This fully loaded Summit Reserve features Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension. Hit the switch and you’ll get up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance, enough to ford 2 feet of water.

12/52 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow Lower-spec Grand Cherokee L models will do battle against more carlike three-row crossovers, including the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Subaru Ascent and Volkswagen Atlas.

13/52 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow Step up to higher-end models like this, and this Jeep becomes a surprisingly legitimate rival for luxury three-row models like the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7.