Transfer Case problems of the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee

I bought the vehicle. In less than 1000 miles within purchase the 4w drive light came on. I was parked on a curb at a retirement home and a ambulance was parked in front of me. While I was inside people ran in and said my Jeep was rolling away and it hit the ambulance in front of me. The Jeep was parked and turned off when it rolled away. Witnesses and the police report confirm this. After getting the run around from the dealership for 6 months I took it somewhere else to get it looked at and was told the transfer case needed to be replaced.

This Jeep had the n23 recall done and I posted earlier about the ongoing problems not going into 4 lo and neutral. . . But the problem is worse than before the recall and is a safety issue now. This problem is worse on mine than I first thought. But if the intent by Chrysler to solve a safety problem with going into neutral unintentionally, was the reason for the recall, they failed. I just did some tests on my 08 gc and found: ignition on, motor off in any gear but park and the transfer case is in neutral. In park it's locked. Motor on, the transfer case won't go into for 4 lo or neutral and the service "4 wd" comes on immediately when trying to go into 4 lo or neutral. My scanner shows no codes, and the message on the evic disappears once the Jeep is off and then restarted. In summary, if the Jeep stalls and the key is still on, the transfer case is in neutral!!! this is more of a safety issue than before.

Chrysler issued a recall (n23) for problems with Jeep transfer cases shifting into neutral unexpectantly. I've seen no posts where this actually happened. Against my better judgment, I had the recall done. Immediately people started having issues with 4lo no longer working, and "service 4wd" messages showing on the dash. These are my symptoms also. People that flat tow the Jeep behind a motor home could no longer switch the transfer case to neutral (ironic huh?). What does Chrysler do? they don't even acknowledge their problem. A year after the fiasco started, the dealer that did my recall doesn't know about the issue? apparently Chrysler dealers loaded defective software or installed the software improperly. The software cannot be unloaded and reverted to before the recall. Chrysler's answer when I called 800 number yesterday, over a year since this recall fiasco started, was for me to pay the dealer to diagnose the symptom and if the diagnostic code is correct, they'll reload the software. . . After I've paid the service call! there are thousands of posts on line about the problems with the n23 recall, both on automotive sites and RV sites from owners that flat tow them. And Chrysler has their head in the sand. . . Or elsewhere. This is the biggest scam. Per the posts, Chrysler is charging people thousands to replace components when it's the recall that started the problem. The problem occurs immediately when trying to actuate 4 lo. It doesn't go into 4 lo and the service 4wd message occurs on the information center. I had to show the dealer the service bulletin number calling attention to the problem, from posts on the web. That tells me that Chrysler is not even informing their own dealers about the problem created by the n23 recall. And the quadratrac ii transfer case with the 4lo capability is an option upgrade. The recall takes away this functionality!.

I believe this issue/complaint is a result of safety recall n23/NHTSA 13v-175. Ten days ago we were preparing to hook up my Jeep for towing behind our RV. When I attempted to put the transfer case into neutral it would not move and I would get a 'service 4w system' error message. We took the Jeep to the dealer and was advised the transfer case module was bad. The worst news was there were none to be found within hundreds of miles and I had no powertrain warranty. Ten days later and I am still waiting for a replacement part. This is the part that was 'reprogrammed' as part of the safety recall n23/NHTSA 13v-175. Ever since this reprogramming was performed I have no 4x4, no 4low or neutral. This is expensive to repair and we were forced to cancel our trip. Now, as a realtor in upstate NY I am not able to do my job as I cannot take buyers to properties on snow covered roads. My Jeep worked perfectly fine until this module was reprogrammed. Additionally, now I hear a thumping noise from the rear (it sounds like the rear,) when I first start out every morning. I see other Jeep owners are experiencing the same problem, and feel confident that this part is being replaced all over the us as a result of faulty reprogramming. . . And that is why they cannot get a new one. I do not want to wait till this problem causes other electrical issues, which it very well could. I believe Chrysler is ultimately responsible for this repair as my transfer case worked fine till they reprogrammed it.

No 4x4 low ever since I had the n23 recall work performed to reprogram the final drive controller. Called Chrysler about it and the scheduled an appointment for me at a dealer. Dealer said the transfer case actuator motor is fried and needs to be replaced. They also said that the part is back ordered 6-8 weeks because so many people have had this problem after having the n23 recall work performed. Chrysler says that the issue is not related to the recall work and they will not cover the repair. I did some of my own research and there are 1000's of other people who ar having the same issue. I've given Chrysler many opportunities to address this issue but they refuse to do so.

2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Consumer writes in regards to final drive controller module recall. Consumer states recall repair damaged vehicle. The consumer stated the recall was performed in October 2013. However, he did not know at the time, it damaged the vehicle. It wasn't until January 2014, that the vehicle would not go into towable mode. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. An inspection revealed the vehicle needed a new transfer case motor, and Chrysler would pay for the repairs, but the part would not be available for six months. The consumer filed a claim with Chrysler, and five weeks later the part arrived, and was eventually installed. Late April 2014, the vehicle would not shift into towable mode. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was fixed again. The dealer guaranteed that it wouldn't happen again. But, it did happen again, and a warning appeared on the dashboard, that read service 4-wheel drive system and the transmission light illuminated. The consumer was informed, there was no permanent fix at the moment.

Jeep has a known problem with the transfer case actuator motor. Last fall, 9-19-13 I brought it in for a recall, number n23. Prior to the recall I had no problems with my Jeep and I had towed it up to alaska and back, over 7,000 mi. This winter we decided to spend it in arizona. About 2 months into it is when we get a service message to have our 4wd system looked at and that it wouldn't shift into neutral for towing purposes. So I get on the internet forums and find out that there are thousands of other Jeep owners experiencing the same thing and not shifting into 4 low also. They too had not had any troubles until they had taken their vehicles in for the recall fix which, was a reflash of the transmission software. The transfer case actuator are on backorder from Jeep at one per dealer every 14 days. And I get to shell out $500. 00 for a problem that didn't exist until the recall. Oh, I had towed the Jeep several times since the alaska trip in 2011. The bigger problem here is that there are a lot of Jeep owners who don't ever take their Jeep's off road or tow it behind something so they don't get the trouble message until they do and they need it. That means there are millions of Jeep owners that don't know they have a problem.

We are full time rvers and have towed our Jeep about 40,000 miles without any issues, until the recent recall. Nhtsa #13v75000, Chrysler n23. The very innocuous recall notice spoke of the dot requiring the recall based on a number of cases where the transfer case shifted into neutral on it's own and the vehicle rolled away, causing damage. The recall went on to say that the fix was to take it to the dealer for a software reprogramming to take care of the issue. The recall notice was very carefully and cleverly written to leave one with the impression that a software issue was the cause of the problem, and Jeep was going to fix it with the reflash of the transmission computer. This is not true. The issue is caused by the failure of hardware in the transfer case, and the ?fix? offered by Jeep is nothing more than a band aid to meet the strict letter of the demand by the NHTSA. As thousands of Jeep owners are now learning, after the recall they find themselves in a situation where the transfer case will no longer shift into neutral, or 4wd low, at all. I have personal knowledge of dozens of Jeep owners with these issues who never had a problem before the recall. This problem creates a great uncertainty among owners. We don't know if the 4wd system will work when needed, or end up stuck in neutral or 4wd low, making the vehicle unusable. While not being able to tow may not be a safety issue, I think that disabling a 4wd system that many people rely on in bad terrain or weather would be. I don't think that NHTSA has monitored this situation properly and has allowed Chrysler to commit what amounts to a fraud upon their customers. I think NHTSA needs to take another look at this issue.

Wife traveling with son on fwy at legal speed of 70 mph w/cruise control on, car suddenly decelerated causing a violent maneuver forcing car into neighboring lane and almost crashing. She stated it was as if it suddenly downshifted into lowest gear and brakes applied forcefully. Regaining control she deactivated the cruise control and proceeded to destination at 50 mph. Took to dealership in davis where it was diagnosed as catastrophic failure of the transfer case which was then replaced at the cost of $2842. 75. She retrieved car two days later and proceeded to drive back home (distance is @ 178 mi one way). Car repeated sudden deceleration upon entering the fwy and getting up to speed. Continued home due to medical appointments to keep. Kept cruise control off but called dealership to report that replacing the transfer case did not solve the problem. I pulled codes upon her arriving home and found only code 0430 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold [bank 2] indicating the converter not working to specs. Today she was returning to davis to visit with grandchildren and experienced the same situation. At 70 mph car suddenly decelerated rapidly (as if brakes were applied forcefully) and caused her to abruptly move into the lane to her left. She regained control and continued on at 50 mph. The dealership informed her no mechanics would be available until Monday but as she has a flight out of lax to catch early Monday a. M. She decided to continue on to l. A. Without using the cruise control and proceeding at slower speed. The power steering pump was replaced on 4/15/2013 at dealerships recommendation due to a leak and the transmission was serviced in addition to having new valve cover and gasket put on. Spark plugs replaced, throttle body and combustion chambers cleaned and pcv valve replaced. Internet research indicates this is a repeated problem with the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

I am not able to shift the transfer case into 4 wheel drive low range or neutral after the safety recall reprogramed the computer.

Vehicle shifted into 4wd low by itself while driving in a parking lot. I parked the Jeep in a parking space, and after placing the transmission selector in park, the Jeep started rolling. I had to use the parking brake to keep it from rolling out of the space. The repair shop replaced the transfer case actuator and harness due to the transfer case shifting in and out of 4wd, and having no park, which caused it to roll. I paid to have this repair work done, just prior to Jeep issuing recall n23. Jeep has refused to reimburse me for this repair. On three occasions, I have explained to the reimbursement dept, that my vehicle rolled out of it's parking space and shifted in and out of 4wd and neutral on its own. Chrysler customer assistance refuses to reimburse per the stated language in their own recall. I have sent Chrysler all the required repair documents and receipts.