2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee · symptom sheet
Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own
- 30owner reports
- 19,000median miles
- 3involved a crash
Newest report Jun 18, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
350 of the 1,358 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 30 of those describe drops into neutral.
Tick what matches of 30 reports
Drops into neutral on other Grand Cherokee years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This sheet covers a transmission that drops into neutral or downshifts hard with nobody asking it to. Owners describe losing power at highway speed, or a sudden slam into first or second gear that can lock the rear wheels.
What got replaced
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The affected vehicles, equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a monostable gear selector, may not adequately warn the driver when driver's door is opened and the vehicle is not in PARK, allowing them to exit the vehicle while the vehicle is still in gear.
All 10 recalls on the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Grand Cherokee
Vehicle rollaway, engine on. Closed jun 24, 2016, led to recall 16V-240.
Powered vehicle rollaway. Closed feb 5, 2016.
Sudden acceleration. Closed sep 10, 2002.
Roll-away in reverse when parked. Closed dec 18, 2002, led to recall 02V-053.
Inadvertent rollaway in reverse park. Closed nov 1, 2001.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 11,000 and 85,000 miles, from the 22 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“The car will shift into neutral and become undrivable. Had car towed and they say the part is a transmission control module/valve body #R8259301AC. They say this is a common problem for this model and have had many complaints of same issue. It has been 3 months and the part is not available. This seems to be a very serious and common safety issue.”
Filed Dec 14, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 3 of 30 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Seat belt or seat problems 370 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 115 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 103 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 67 reports
- Rolls away in Park or will not shift out of Park 65 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 59 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 54 reports
- Diesel fuel system or injector problems 40 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 39 reports
- "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 32 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 31 reports
- Fuel pump failure 26 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 25 reports