Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel 3.0 CRD Problems & Reliability?(Explained)

The Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel 3.0 CRD is an excellent option to tackle off-road and harsher environments like heat, or extreme cold. It has a solid reputation among consumers for its reliability and longevity, but sometimes it runs into issues, and people do complain about it.

However, if you maintain it correctly, make repairs, and do it properly, you can increase its reliability and lifespan. 

In this article, we will cover every detail, including common problems and how to diagnose and fix the Grand Cherokee diesel 3.0 CRD issues. Keep reading!

Are Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD Diesel Engines Reliable? 

As previously mentioned, the 3.0 CRD has a good reputation among consumers for its dependability and longevity. 

Still, you should take into account a lot of important factors when assessing this engine’s reliability. So, before going into a detailed discussion, here is a summarized table showing scores by different sources-

Entity	Rating
Repair pal	3.5 out of 5
Among Midsize SUV	15th out of the 26
J.D. Power and Kelley Blue	Rated Cherokee as average reliability
Drivers Score	83 points out of 100
Vehicle Owners Score	54%

From the above table, we can conclude that the Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel 3.0 CRD is neither extremely reliable nor less but fall somewhere in the middle. 

However, what should you consider when evaluating reliability? Here are some important factors that you must evaluate to determine reliability.

Are Parts for the 3.0 Cherokee Diesel Engine Available?

There is no denying the strength of the Cherokee 3.0 CRD engine, which has a strong torque output and a high top speed. Thus, these factors ensure the reliability of this engine.

On the other hand, The company has a strong support network, and the parts are readily available; From this perspective, Cherokee 3.0 CRD is a reliable engine.

How Long Does the 3.0 CRD Diesel Engine last?

The engine hours, or the total number of hours the engine runs, is another crucial aspect of determining the reliability of an engine. It can significantly impact the engine’s reliability. 

The jeep grand cherokee diesel 3.0 CRD typically has a minimum expected lifespan of 200000 miles. Depending on your maintenance habits, you can go more than 250000 miles with 3.0 before it stops working. 

Does Cherokee 3.0 CRD have a good Maintenance History?

If you want to buy an old Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel 3.0 CRD, the crucial factors determining reliability include knowing the vehicle’s maintenance history.

Typically, you should consider an engine with few hours when purchasing a used Grand Cherokee, which unquestionably ensures greater reliability. On the other hand, you ought to think about going over maintenance logs.

A maintenance record indicates whether the correct coolant level is kept or whether the oil and filter have been changed on schedule. These records will tell you a lot about the engine’s reliability for the rest of its life.

Reliability indicator	Opinion
Is Diesel 3.0 CRD Powerful	Yes
How Long it lasts	At least 200000
Brand reputation of this engine	Good
Support Network, and Availability of parts	Excellent support network and parts are available

5 Common Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel 3.0 CRD Problems  

Here in this part; we will discuss some common issues people have experienced with Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0. Due to the operating condition of the vehicle, individual experience may vary.  

For instance, a Cherokee engine operated in less favorable conditions may exhibit different issues than one operated in extreme weather, such as an extreme cold. 

#1- Transmission Failure 

Transmission failure is a common problem of jeep grand cherokee diesel 3.0 CRD. We have some good evidence to support this statement. 

FCA has recalled around 32,267 SUVs for a potential issue with the transmission in the jeep Grand Cherokee.

If you have ever experienced transmission failure, you might face difficulty entering the traffic safely. 

Often the owner has complained about the difficulty in shifting gears. To deal with this, the best course of action is to talk to a professional mechanic.

#2- Faulty Crankshaft Sensor Failure 

Faulty sensor is another common problem of Cherokee diesel 3.0. Many have complained about Cherokee running rough for a few seconds while driving. 

Sometimes a car will suddenly stop and not restart. This is generally a dangerous issue for people inside the vehicle and outside.

If you experience this with 3. 0 CRD, the first thing that you must look for is to check out the crankshaft sensor. Failure of the crankshaft sensor can occur at any time and without prior notice.

Read Also: How To Unlock Jeep Cherokee With Keys Inside?(Easy Steps)

#3- Engine Starts Knocking and Overheats

This is another common problem owners complained about. Engine overheating could happen for multiple reasons but knock and overheating happen in jeep cherokee, especially when the car pulls a trailer. You should stop the vehicle and contact the dealer to deal with this problem.

#4- Catastrophic Alternator Failure

Failure of the alternator is another frequent problem you might encounter; this problem needs to be addressed seriously. Noise, smoldering, and a burning odor are common warning signs. 

Also, the alternator could impact the electrical system, causing the car to go into battery-saving mode, disable the ABS, and turn on the check engine light.

To deal with it, a voltmeter should be used to check the voltage. The first step in fixing the problem is to replace the battery. If the light is on and the battery is still in the saver mode, replace the alternator.

#5- Check Engine light due to Nox sensor or Catalytic converter failure

Nox sensor failure is not an isolated event. Many complained about nox sensor failure and the check engine light coming on in grand cherokee 3.0. In this case, the car will not run smoothly. 

On the other hand, owners also have faced issues with grand cherokee diesel having catalytic converter failure. 

Read Also: Jeep Cherokee Bad Ground Symptoms: With Quick Solutions

Troubleshooting & Fix For The 3.0 CRD Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel Problems

In addition to the common issues we have described earlier, Jeep Cherokee owners might also face many other issues. Therefore, troubleshooting is necessary to find the root cause of the problem. 

If you have a good understanding of the 3.0 CRD, you can troubleshoot. But make sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation. 

Let a qualified mechanic handle the job if you lack the necessary skills and experience. Here is a basic troubleshooting guide.

Troubleshooting The alternator failure

Your first job is to check the symptoms. Faulty alternator symptoms include engine stalling, Noise, the Smell of Burning Rubber or Wires, and a Battery Warning Light on the Dash. Now do the following:

• Do a visual inspection: check everything under the hood
• Look corroded battery terminal and test the battery 
• Test the alternator output

If the battery is dead, replace the battery. If the alternator is failed, replace the alternator

Troubleshooting The engine overheats

Overheating may create some serious damage. You must stop driving and fix the issue. 

If you have a basic idea of how the cooling system works, Troubleshooting overheating issues is easy. Here is what you must do:

• Make sure to park the vehicle in a cool place. Now check the coolant level. If it is too low, top off the coolant
• Check whether the radiator fan is spinning. If not, check the fan motor 
• Check for leaks, especially around the hoses of the coolant
• Check the thermostat. A faulty thermostat will prevent the coolant from circulating

How To Improve Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD Diesel Engines performance?

When it comes to improving engine performance, there are a few strategies you can follow. If you want to tune the engine and improve its performance, it is a risky project because bad tuning can lead to safety issues. 

Thus, tuning of the engine should be done by a professional mechanic. You can easily improve performance by doing the following:

• You can try an aftermarket kit such as an air filter or air intake kit 
• Exhaust that has a bigger capacity can improve the performance of the engine 
• Upgrade fuel injector 
• Improve performance using a diesel fuel additive 
• Regular maintenance 

FAQs

Hopefully, by this point, the majority of your questions about typical Jeep Grand Cherokee issues and engine dependability have been answered. Here are some FAQ questions that you might want to know.

Final words

There you have it. Like any other diesel engine, the jeep grand cherokee diesel 3.0 CRD runs into issues. Some issues are a bit complex and require mechanical assistance.

Many people have different perspectives on reliability. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel 3.0 CRD is a reliable vehicle that falls somewhere in the middle: Neither highly reliable nor less reliable.