2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk shutting down on long trips
I have a 2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, purchased June
2018. We tried to take it on vacation twice and each time it
"died", presenting first with a break warning light, then all
the other warning lights one after the other, shutting off
power steering and power breaks and not shifting out of
low gear.
The first time it happened was May of 2019 during a trip to
the Smoky mountains. We just got into the mountains when
the parking break light came on, then the check engine light
and every other warning light. The power steering and
breaks went out (awesome on mountain roads let me tell
you) and it died...after just rolling 7,000 miles. Jeep had it
towed to a local dealership, where they replaced the
alternator. After that it was fine for almost another 7,000
miles.
We attempted our second vacation with the Jeep, this time
to go up north and take a color tour. We got about 120
miles into the trip and the warning lights start coming on
and the power goodies shut down. Dead again, at 13,700
miles. Interesting how it was almost exactly the same
amount of miles as the first time. This time, after letting it
sit for several hours, it started back up with no warning
lights and made it back to its home dealership. The Jeep is
currently being checked out by the dealership...so far the
only thing they can tell me is that it had several "high
voltage" codes, which are generated by the alternator, but
the alternator is good. They generated a "star case" and
Chrysler has given them a list of things to check.
Can you tell me, are you aware of any possible causes?
While checking Google for mention of similar issues I did
find a recall case that seemed like it might be something
that could cause the problems, ELECTRICAL
SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD (Manufacturer
Recall Number: U87) but my VIN is not part of the recall. I
am wondering if more defective parts made it out than they
thought and we are one of the lucky ones who got em.
Here is a link to the site with recalls: 2019 Jeep Cherokee
Reliability & Recalls | U.S. News & World Report
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-
trucks/jeep/cherokee/reliability
Thanks!
Update: the second shutdown happened On Oct 12...it is now Nov 22. The Jeep went to the dealership once on 10/18-10/19, and due to a "communication error", they let me pick it up when I should have been given a loaner??? so back it went on 10/22 where it spent the next 16 days being put through all the testing the dealership could come up with and all the testing suggested by Chrysler (they generated a "STAR" case for it). On Wed 11/6 I was told that they had run all the diagnostics that had been suggested and were not able to locate an issue....other than the High Voltage codes they cleared... I was told that Chrysler had not suggested any more testing and that I could pick up the Jeep if I wanted. I decided to wait until that Friday, 11/8, just to make sure no new testing was suggested. I called Friday afternoon and was told they had no new testing and I could pick up the Jeep; so I did. When I got there they told me they did not have the paperwork ready and would send it to me...but they did not. I had to request it two more times. When I got the paperwork it stated that I "TOOK the vehicle before completing the diagnostics". Insert angry face here. I contacted the dealership, because I did everything I could to make sure I did not do exactly what they said I did. Oooops, another miscommunication. Now they want the Jeep back again. Due to Holidays coming up I scheduled the appointment for Dec 3. This is just Ridiculous. I am tired of dealing with this and have absolutely no hope of them finding a cause. I am worried all they are going to do with the testing is waste time and cause some other issue with the Jeep. I don't know if it would be helpful to anyone else who is experiencing their Jeeps shutting down...I have seen many questions about it here...but here is what the dealership has done so far:
