Improper Up Shift With Paddle Shift This bulletin involves replacing both steering wheel paddle shifter. Customers may experience the following:When trying to upshift using the paddle shifter on the steering, the transmission will downshift instead.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee steering problems
severe 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 18 steering complaints filed for the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Improper Up Shift With Paddle Shift This bulletin involves replacing both steering wheel paddle shifter. Customers may experience the following:When trying to upshift using the paddle shifter on the steering, the transmission will downshift instead.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Hands On Steering Wheel Message In EVIC
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Electric Power Steering Gear If any of the following DTCs exist, it is okay to replace the steering gear: C2217-00, C15C1-00 (EPS Mechanical Performance) or C15DB-00 (Latch Active) otherwise perform the following; 1) Electrical, Communication or DTC (other then above) issue please contact: Terry Gavit @ cell (248) 882-6108 terry.gavit@fcagroup.com Engineering is requesting a copy of Vehicle Scan Report (VSR) to be emailed to the above address. 2) Noise or Mechanical issue please contact: Ruth Delong @ cell (810) 569-0354.~ If you do not receive a return call within 15 minutes, proceed with the repair.~ Please be sure to attach a copy of the Vehicle Scan Report on the repair order
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Electric Power Steering Gear If any of the following DTCs exist, it is okay to replace the steering gear: C2217-00, C15C1-00 (EPS Mechanical Performance) or C15DB-00 (Latch Active) otherwise perform the following; 1) Electrical, Communication or DTC (other then above) issue please contact: Terry Gavit @ cell (248) 882-6108 terry.gavit@fcagroup.com Engineering is requesting a copy of Vehicle Scan Report (VSR) to be emailed to the above address. 2) Noise or Mechanical issue please contact: Ruth Delong @ cell (810) 569-0354.~ If you do not receive a return call within 15 minutes, proceed with the repair.~ Please be sure to attach a copy of the Vehicle Scan Report on the repair order
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report five distinct steering and related electrical problems in 2017 Grand Cherokees. Most common is "death wobble"—violent front-end oscillation during low-speed towing turns or when hitting road bumps, shaking both Jeep and motorhome; only hard braking stops it. Owners say it's endemic to 2016+ models and link it to the new electric power steering system; one owner paid $500 for a harness to mitigate it.
Steering wheel lock-up occurs unpredictably while driving at any speed—parking lot, local road, or highway. One vehicle at 14k miles had a dozen lock-ups despite five dealer repair attempts; dealer generated error codes but couldn't fix it. One lock-up caused a minor accident.
Power steering suddenly becomes unavailable at highway speeds, causing hard veering. Warnings display "Power Steering Unavailable" and "LandSense Unavailable." One case happened the day after a cruise control recall repair; dealer called it a "glitch" and did nothing.
Complete electrical failure has struck vehicles mid-drive, stalling the engine and locking steering, brakes, and shifter simultaneously while illuminating every dashboard light. One 33k-mile vehicle sat at the dealership a month with the fault unrecreated; dealer found nothing wrong.
Transmission shifter issues include PRNDL display failure and subsequent stuck-in-park after dealer service, requiring costly full shifter replacement outside warranty coverage.
Same Jeep Grand Cherokee steering reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble During Towing
When flat-towed behind a motorhome, the front steering wheels oscillate violently left-to-right during slow-speed turns or when hitting road irregularities. The wobbling shakes both vehicle and towing motorhome; only hard braking stops it. Owners report it's a known issue in RV forums specific to 2016+ Grand Cherokees and attribute it to the electric power steering system introduced in 2017.
When: During towing at low speeds, particularly after turns or road surface irregularities
Symptoms owners cite: Violent left-to-right steering wheel oscillation when towing; Shaking of both Jeep and motorhome; Wobble triggered by bumps, potholes, manhole covers while towing; Occurs during slow-speed turns from complete or near-stop
Repairs/costs cited: One owner spent $500 on a wiring harness installation to prevent death wobble
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Jeep reportedly created a fix for similar issue in Cherokee; owners mention this as precedent but no recall noted for Grand Cherokee
Steering Wheel Lock-Up While Driving
Steering wheel locks and becomes immobile, preventing turns. Occurs at various speeds and locations (parking garage, local roads, highway). One incident resulted in minor accident during left-hand turn. Happens repeatedly despite multiple dealer visits and numerous error codes generated.
When: Unpredictable, multiple instances over short period; one vehicle at 14k miles had 12 incidents in multiple visits to dealer
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks and cannot be turned; Occurs while driving at various speeds; No prior warning or indication; Repeated failures despite dealer repairs
Codes mentioned: Multiple unspecified error codes generated; dealer unable to resolve
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer suspected pinched wire in driver-side door after one week of investigation; another dealer made 5 repair attempts without resolution
Power Steering Loss/Unavailability
Power steering becomes unavailable while driving, causing vehicle to veer uncontrollably. Warnings display 'Power Steering Unavailable Service Required.' Occurs suddenly at highway speeds. One case happened the day after cruise control recall repair at dealership; dealer attributed it to 'computer glitch' with no repairs performed. Another instance involved complete electrical system failure.
When: At 23,395 miles (one case); after 30 minutes of driving (another case); unpredictable occurrences
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering suddenly becomes unavailable; Vehicle veers hard to one direction without power steering; Warning lights display 'Power Steering Unavailable' and 'LandSense Unavailable'; Instrument panel flickering, speedometer and gauges inoperable; Windows randomly rolling down, headlights flashing; Traction control warning light illuminated
Codes mentioned: Power Steering Unavailable, LandSense Unavailable
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic replaced battery and window switch without resolving issue; dealership has not yet provided repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claimed 'computer glitch' with no repairs performed; tow truck driver also experienced power steering loss but service tech did not
Complete Electrical System Failure While Driving
Vehicle stalls while in motion, causing simultaneous loss of power steering, brake function, and shifter control. Steering wheel locks, brake pedal becomes non-functional, gas pedal unresponsive, and car cannot be shifted out of park. Dashboard lights come on ('like a Christmas tree'). Car becomes immobilized in traffic. Multiple instances reported at different mileages.
When: While coming to stop at 10-15 mph (one case); at red light on hill (another case); after 30+ minutes of driving (another); unpredictable
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls while in motion; All dashboard lights illuminate simultaneously; Steering wheel locks; Brakes become non-functional; Gas pedal unresponsive; Shifter locked, cannot move out of park; Vehicle immobilized in roadway; Malfunction light appears after incident
Codes mentioned: Malfunction warning light (code unspecified)
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle at 33k miles held at dealership for one month; dealership found no fault and noted another 2018 Jeep with identical symptoms
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership unable to identify cause; told owner 'nothing wrong with it' after month of testing; offered no recall or repair
PRNDL and Shifter Malfunction
Transmission range/status display (PRNDL) fails to illuminate at startup with 'Service Shifter' warning that clears after seconds. After dealer replacement of PRNDL, vehicle becomes stuck in park and will not move. Entire shifter replacement then required at significant cost not covered by warranty.
When: At startup; after 3-week wait for part replacement
Symptoms owners cite: PRNDL display does not light up at startup; 'Service Shifter' warning appears and clears; After PRNDL replacement, vehicle stuck in park; Vehicle will not shift out of park
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced PRNDL ($617 quoted for part alone); then required full shifter replacement not covered under extended warranty; owner reports forums discuss this issue extensively
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership warranty denied for full shifter replacement after initial PRNDL replacement failed
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced unknown electrical failures. Additionally, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and stalled. The contact stated that the instrument panel was flickering, and the speedometer and gauges became inoperable. The contact stated that the windows randomly rolled down and the…
Had steering trouble with your 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 23,395 and 50,000 miles, with the median around 33,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 23,395; a quarter make it past 50,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Jeep/Grand Cherokee.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.