A small number of 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles may have been produced with child seat mounts that were not sufficiently welded to the second-row seatback frame. Instead of Auburn Hills-based FCA US LLC, the blame for this recall has fallen on the supplier of the second-row seatback frame, Magna International.
Stellantis North America became aware of the issue described on March 8. Engineering, technical safety and regulatory compliance organizations reviewed production conditions and records, confirming the manufacturing issue on 243 vehicles. Due to reduced occupant restraint performance in the event of a crash, 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles will be repaired at no cost to affected owners.
Instead of replacement anchors, the original anchor structure on the seatback frame will be reinforced to exceed federally mandated strength requirements. Owner notification letters will be mailed on or about September 27. Because it is nearly impossible to determine the exact production date of a given vehicle, owners should verify if their Jeep is affected by this recall by running the 17-character VIN on the Mopar recall portal. The identification number should begin with a 1 because all U.S.-market Grand Cherokee vehicles are manufactured in the United States.
The long-wheelbase version is built at the Mack Avenue Assembly Complex in Detroit, which also produces the standard-wheelbase version and the plug-in hybrid. Meanwhile, the Jefferson North Assembly Plant's current product lineup includes the Grand Cherokee, Grand Cherokee 4xe, and Durango.
To refresh your memory, the Dodge-branded utility vehicle is about to go, as the Durango will be replaced by an electrified utility vehicle with Charger Daytona and Charger SIXPACK underpinnings. According to the latest UAW-Stellantis agreement, the successor will arrive in 2026, presumably for MY26, with battery-electric and internal combustion engine powertrains.
Photo: Jeep
The next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee is due in 2027 with similar powertrains, which likely means Stellantis will ditch the current-generation Giorgio platform for the STLA Large. With the Grand Cherokee and Durango designated D6U and J6U, the STLA Large hypothesis seems to be a good one.
Internally designated WL, the fifth-generation Grand Cherokee was launched in 2021 for the 2021 model year. The Grand Cherokee L was the only trim available for 2021, with the Grand Cherokee following suit for 2022. The most affordable specification available today is the Laredo A, which sports only rear-wheel drive and second-row seating. All-wheel drive and three-row seating are available from the Laredo on up.
The Laredo A starts at $36,495 before destination and options, while the Laredo starts at $38,035. Opting for the Grand Cherokee L means $40,035 with rear-wheel drive or $42,035 with all-wheel drive. Finally, the Grand Cherokee 4xe starts at $60,490 and has two rows of seats exclusively for MY24.
The plug-in hybrid setup is good for 26 miles (kilometers) of electric range and 23 miles per gallon (10.2 liters per 100 kilometers) combined without any electric assistance. By comparison, the most frugal unassisted Grand Cherokee gets more than 22 miles per gallon (10.7 liters per 100 kilometers) on the combined cycle.