Front Click Noise at Low Speed Turns This bulletin involves installing a friction disc kit on both front hub bearings and rotors. The customer may comment on the following: When making a sharp turn at low speed (parking lot) maneuvers, a click noise is heard. Most of the time the noise can be heard if the windows are open.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee visibility problems
severe Owners of the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the visibility at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Grand Cherokee | 27 |
| 2015 Grand Cherokee | 10 |
| 2016 Grand Cherokee | 3 |
| 2017 Grand Cherokee | 3 |
| 2018 Grand Cherokee (this page) | 10 |
| 2019 Grand Cherokee | 3 |
| 2021 Grand Cherokee | 5 |
| 2022 Grand Cherokee | 6 |
1injury
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering visibility 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.
Front Click Noise at Low Speed Turns This bulletin involves installing a friction disc kit on both front hub bearings and rotors. The customer may comment on the following:When making a sharp turn at low speed (parking lot) maneuvers, a click noise is heard. Most of the time the noise can be heard if the windows are open.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Front Click Noise at Low Speed Turns This bulletin involves installing a friction disc kit on both front hub bearings and rotors. The customer may comment on the following:When making a sharp turn at low speed (parking lot) maneuvers, a click noise is heard. Most of the time the noise can be heard if the windows are open.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗LED Front Fog Lamps Flicker Or Intermittently Light, Are Dim Or Inoperative. A U11E9, or B16FB-15 may be set
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Authentic Mopar® Glass Replacement This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the recommended usage of Authentic Mopar® Glass.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Ten 2018 Grand Cherokee owners report visibility and glass defects that create real safety hazards. The most dangerous: dashboard leather delaminates and blocks warm-air defrost vents, causing windshield wipers to freeze in place during winter driving. One owner nearly rear-ended another vehicle on a freeway during a blizzard, unable to see, and had to physically flip the wipers while moving at highway speed.
Windshield problems are widespread. Several owners report cracks that recur at the same location after repair, with one needing four replacements in the identical spot within the first 20,000 miles. One owner heard a sharp crack when activating the defrost on a 47-degree day and watched the crack spread across the entire windshield in two hours—classic thermal stress failure.
Sunroofs and rear glass fail without impact. Multiple owners report panoramic sunroofs shattering while driving or parked, with one sending glass fragments into the cabin while children sat in back. A rear window also fractured spontaneously at 57,000 miles.
Night driving suffers too: the backup camera display runs at full brightness with no dimming, causing temporary blindness when backing up. One owner reports hundreds of tiny pot-mark indentations between windshield panes visible at low sun angles. FCA rejected early complaints as non-defects.
Same Jeep Grand Cherokee visibility reports on nearby years: 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Dashboard leather delamination blocking defrost vents
Dashboard leather bubbles and delaminates over time, progressively blocking the defroster air vents that direct warm air to the windshield and wipers. When vents are blocked, warm air cannot reach the windshield or wiper area, preventing defrosting and defogging and causing windshield wipers to freeze in place.
When: Began in early 2020, progressed over 3+ years to complete blockage by November 2023
Symptoms owners cite: Leather bubbling on dashboard; Delaminating leather blocking air vents; Windshield wipers freezing in closed position in cold/wet conditions; Windshield frosting/fogging on lower half; Inadequate warm air reaching windshield and wiper area
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: FCA replied (February 2018) that the condition was not related to a defect in materials, workmanship, manufacturing, or factory preparation and nothing could be done. Owner noted that 2018 Cherokee models offered a feature (heated wiper area) not available on Grand Cherokee.
Windshield cracking at same location repeatedly
Windshield develops cracks, typically starting at the top passenger side or middle, without clear impact. Cracks recur in the same or similar spot after repair, requiring multiple replacements at the same location within short timeframes.
When: Occurred within first 20,000 miles; one case had crack recurring within 2 weeks of previous repair
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal popping sound; Windshield cracking without apparent impact; Crack recurring in same general location after repair; Crack spreading progressively over time
Repairs/costs cited: Windshield replaced multiple times (one owner reported four repairs in same spot). Mechanics attributed cracks to rock impact, but pattern of recurring cracks in same location suggests possible stress concentration or manufacturing defect.
Backup camera display excessive brightness at night
Backup camera display operates at full brightness when vehicle is placed in reverse at night, with no dimming control. The intense brightness causes temporary light blindness and impairs ability to see mirrors and external visibility when backing up in dark conditions.
When: Occurs every time vehicle is placed in reverse at night
Symptoms owners cite: Backup camera display at full brightness at night; No dimming capability; Temporary light blindness when reversing at night; Impaired visibility of mirrors and external environment; Screen off button does not turn off the backup camera display
Repairs/costs cited: Owner manually covers the screen with a shield as a workaround
Panoramic sunroof spontaneous glass fracture
Panoramic or fixed sunroof glass shatters without impact, impact is unobserved, or no apparent reason. Glass breaks while vehicle is in operation or at rest, and in one case fragments fell into the cabin; in another case an interior cover contained the glass.
When: Occurred between 52,820 and 90,000 miles; one case while driving 65 mph, another at undisclosed speed while children were in rear seat
Symptoms owners cite: Sunroof glass shatters spontaneously without observed impact; Glass fragments fall into vehicle interior or are contained by interior cover; No warning or prior damage noted
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired in some cases; interior sunroof cover in one case prevented glass from falling into cabin
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was contacted in one case and informed of failure
Windshield stress cracking from temperature change
Windshield cracks suddenly after HVAC defrost is activated during moderate temperature conditions. A sharp crack sound is heard, followed by rapid crack propagation across the windshield, suggesting thermal stress from rapid temperature change at the glass surface.
When: Occurred while driving on highway after approximately 30 minutes of driving with interior set to 72°F and outside temperature around 47°F; crack spread significantly within 2 hours
Symptoms owners cite: Sharp crack sound heard upon turning on defrost; Windshield cracks rapidly after defrost activation; Crack spreads progressively across windshield over short time period; Crack originates in middle of windshield and spreads to top and driver side
Rear glass spontaneous fracture
Rear window glass fractures without any impact while vehicle is in operation. No prior damage or impact observed.
When: Occurred at approximately 57,000 miles while driving at undisclosed speed
Symptoms owners cite: Rear glass fractures spontaneously; No impact or contact observed; Failure occurred while minor children were in rear seat
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was not diagnosed, repaired, or reported to manufacturer
Windshield internal pitting and damage
Windshield develops hundreds of small pot-mark-like impressions or pits between the glass layers. The damage is cosmetic but noticeable and reduces visibility when sunlight is at a low angle.
When: Identified during vehicle ownership; specific timing not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Hundreds of tiny pot-mark-like marks in windshield; Marks appear between glass layers; Marks very noticeable when sun is low in sky; Reduced visibility from glass defects
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had visibility trouble with your 2018 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 visibility problem on the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $350.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, visibility issues most often appear around 42,349 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $350 for visibility 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 visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility 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/2018/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.