2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Lighting Problems

The HID headlights failed and is available for inspection. Can't drive in the dark or rain, less visible to other motorists. Yes, confirmed by dealer. No other inspections. No notices were given. My friend noticed it and we drove home from an event at night with running lights. Numerous other Jeep Grand Cherokees have the same issue and do have the recall and repair available, but for some reason the Summit was overlooked and should be placed in the recall ASAP. Clearly, this is a Jeepwide problem and not limited by VIN number.

Driver side headlamp assembly highbeam function inoperative, lens shutter does not activate. Vehicle operator is unable to safely see road, hazards and surrounding area in front of the vehicle when function is commanded to on. This puts other the vehicle operator, other vehicle operators and bystanders in the area at high risk of death or severe injury. The condition has been replicated by 3 certified technicians No other symptoms

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JAMIESON MOTORS INC (115 US-2, CHINOOK, MT 59523), AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HID HEADLAMPS BURNED THE PLASTIC LENSES. THE FAILURE CREATED A SHADOW EFFECT ON THE PLASTIC LENSES AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LADD-HANFORD DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (2247 CUMBERLAND ST, LEBANON, PA 17042, (717) 273-4585) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLAMP BULBS WERE TOO HOT FOR THE LENSES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

FOR THE SECOND TIME, I WAS PULLED OVER BY THE STATE POLICE BECAUSE MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT ON AT NIGHT. IN BOTH CASES, IT IS LIKELY THAT WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY JEEP MY KNEE BRUSHED THE DIAL THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS AND MOVED IT FROM "A" TO "O" (AUTO TO OFF). BOTH TIMES IT WAS AFTER DARK AND BECAUSE OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR TO ME THAT THE HEADLIGHTS (AND TAILLIGHTS) WERE NOT ON. IN BOTH CASES, THE TROOPER LET ME OFF, BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD CREATE A MAJOR PROBLEM IF A CAR WERE FOLLOWING ME AND DID NOT SEE ME.

ON MOST NEWER CARDS THE DASHBOARD IS DIGITAL AND BACK-LIT. SOME OF THESE CARS ALSO HAVE VERY BRIGHT DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS THAT SOME OWNERS INADVERTENTLY TURN OFF THE AUTO LIGHTS, AND THINK THEY HAVE LIGHTS ON BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE WHERE THEY ARE GOING, BUT THEY LACK ANY REAR LIGHTS BECAUSE THE LIGHTS ARE NOT TECHNICALLY ON. I'VE SEEN THIS IN JEEP VEHICLES AS AN EXAMPLE. THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW YOUR LIGHTS ARE ON IN A JEEP FOR EXAMPLE IS A LITTLE GREEN HEADLIGHT ICON, THAT IS EASILY IGNORED. SOMETHING MORE NEEDS TO BE ON THE DASH WHEN LIGHTS ARE IN THE OFF POSITION AT NIGHT.

THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HAS A "SAFETY" FEATURE CALLED AUTOMATIC HIGH-BEAMS, A FEATURE THEY CHARGE AN ADDITIONAL FEE FOR. THE FEATURE ITSELF CAN BE TURNED ON/OFF ONLY THROUGH THE UCONNECT SYSTEM OF SETTINGS, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. THE ACTUAL FEATURE ONCE TURNED ON CAN BE ENABLED AND DISABLED THROUGH THE TURN SIGNAL STALK (PUSHING FORWARD TO ENABLE, BACK TO DISABLE) ONCE THE FEATURE IS TURNED ON VIA UCONNECT, THERE IS NO WAY TO MANUALLY TURN ON YOUR HIGH-BEAMS EXCEPT BY PULLING BACK ON THE TURN SIGNAL STALK TO ENABLE YOUR FLASH-TO-PASS HIGH-BEAMS. THIS ALLOWS THE HIGH-BEAMS TO TURN ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 SECONDS BEFORE THEY AUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF, EVEN IF YOU ARE STILL HOLDING THE STALK BACK TOWARDS YOU. THE REASON THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THE UCONNECT SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY DISABLES AUTOMATIC HIGH-BEAMS AT SPEEDS OF 15MPH OR LESS. ONCE THIS FEATURE IS AUTOMATICALLY DISABLED, IT CANNOT BE RE-ENABLED UNTIL YOU HIT A SPEED OF 23MPH, AT THIS POINT THE AUTOMATIC HIGH-BEAMS IS RE-ENABLED BY THE UCONNECT SYSTEM. WHERE THIS BECOMES AN INCREASED SAFETY ISSUE IS ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS WITH SPEED LIMITS OF 20MPH. THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN ON YOUR HIGH BEAMS ON RESIDENTIAL ROADS, UNLESS YOU ARE ABLE TO TURN ONTO THE RESIDENTIAL ROAD WHERE THE LIGHTS WERE PREVIOUSLY AUTOMATICALLY ENABLED (IE DRIVING ABOVE 23MPH) AND YOU KEEP YOUR VEHICLE SPEED ABOVE 15MPH. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN ON YOUR HIGH BEAMS IN THIS SITUATION IS TO DO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: 1- BREAK THE SPEED LIMIT TO REACH 23 MPH THEN DROP BACK DOWN TO THE LEGAL SPEED LIMIT (SO NOT AN OPTION). 2- DRIVE WITH 1 HAND ON THE WHEEL, WHILE HOLDING BACK THE TURN-SIGNAL STALK TO ENABLE FLASH TO PASS HIGH-BEAMS, AND EVERY 6 SECONDS RESETTING THE STALK AFTER THEY TURN OFF. 3- STOP YOUR VEHICLE, ENTER THE UCONNECT SYSTEM ON THE RADIO, CHANGE THE SETTINGS TO TURN OFF THE AUTOMATIC HIGH-BEAM FEATURE. *TR