Lemberg Law is investigating widespread consumer complaints about faulty thermostats that cause overheating in certain Jeep vehicles. These relate to Jeep Wagoneer and Jeep Grand Wagoneer 2022 and 2023 model years with 3.0L inline-six Hurricane engines. Owners are complaining that engines overheat. Dealerships are telling them it is a problem with faulty thermostats. But, there are reports of parts being on backorder for more than 45 days.
Wagoneer Overheating Problem Overview
There are major problems with 2022-2023 Jeep Wagoneer and Jeep Grand Wagoneer vehicles with 3.0L inline-six engines that overheat. Vehicles with V8 engines are not affected.
The issue stems from the twin-turbocharged inline-six Hurricane engines that were introduced in 2022. Very different from the traditional V8 engines usually associated with large SUVs, they offer impressive power and torque along with improved fuel efficiency. Furthermore, according to a media release from the manufacturer, Stellantis, “High-flow ball-valve thermostat minimizes restriction in the cooling system, reducing mechanical losses.”
However, there are increasing reports of premature thermostat failures that lead to engines overheating, reduced performance, and potentially more severe problems.
Complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and comments in the Wagoneer Fans forum tell the story. They are all dated between March and July 2024, indicating that the problem occurs after vehicles have been on the road for some time. This introduces warranty concerns.
What Does Jeep Say?
While there are no recalls for the affected vehicles, Stellantis has acknowledged that there may be a thermostat problem with as many as 5,100 2022-2023 Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer vehicles. A Customer Satisfaction Notification Reference 26B, issued in June 2024, limits the scope of their procedural “campaign” to replace faulty thermostats. Specifically, “This campaign applies only to the above vehicles equipped with a 3.0L GMET6 engine.”
Additionally, it notes that some vehicles “may have been identified as not in this campaign” and so might have been excluded. Others may still be in dealers’ new vehicle inventory.
The notification document describes the symptoms Jeep owners will experience. “The Thermostat Ball Valve Drive Pin on about 5,100 of the above vehicles may fail due to contamination. This condition can cause the thermostat to fail in a closed position which will prevent coolant flow to the radiator and may cause the engine to overheat.”
Dealerships are advised to replace thermostats, an operation that takes about 3.1 hours. The required service procedure is detailed in the document.
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As consumers and Stellantis confirm, faulty thermostats cause engines to overheat. Related issues include reduced engine performance, erratic temperature gauge readings, and illumination of the check engine light.
Complaints
Here are two complaints lodged by owners of the 2023 Jeep Wagoneer. Both are from Texas, but different parts of the state. Both were submitted in July 2024.
Sudden Overheating in an Intersection
One tells how the SUV suddenly overheated in the middle of an intersection. The driver couldn’t go any faster than about 1 mph because of the sudden thermostat failure, and because the transmission was also slipping. “I was able to pull over to check (the) coolant level.” It was low, so he went to remove the coolant reservoir cap — but the “pressure in (the) system blew the cap off as I was removing it. Coolant instantly returned from the engine. I suffered severe burns to my left hand.” The complaint also mentions that the vehicle, which he traded in after the incident, had an “I6 3.0 SO Hurricane engine on the 2023 Wagoneer Series 2.”
Overheating while Driving
The other states that while driving 45 mph down a city street, “My 2023 Wagoneer II Carbide started to overheat and then the engine just stopped running. I was able to get the car out of traffic. Dash was saying the engine oil level was low, but when checking the menu for oil, it showed everything was fine. The car cooled down, and we tried to drive it again and it died again 3 times on the way to the dealership. I was told it was a faulty thermostat and the dealership replaced the part with a new version of the same part, which means it will die again.
“This seems to be a known issue with the Hurricane engines, and I have seen a small recall of 500 cars (mine was not part of that recall) for this thermostat issue. I am now stuck with a car that I am afraid to drive and it is a ticking time bomb for another thermostat failure. This failure is after the real differential had been replaced.”
Note: There aren’t any recalls for these vehicles — only the Customer Satisfaction Notification, which Stellantis admits excludes some possibly affected vehicles.
Online Discussion
A conversation about the thermostat/overheating problem started on the Wagoneer Fans community forum in March 2024. It asks whether any other owners of Jeep Wagoneers have experienced a mechanical breakdown due to their engines overheating.
“On Saturday 2023 GW S3, which has been flawless, broke down because of a stuck thermostat. I have been told that these thermostats are on backorder with about a 45+ days wait, but still no hard ETA. They are telling me that this is popping up as a national issue.” Quoting the reference from Stellantis about the Hurricane engine thermostat (see above) he says, “ Hopefully all the other technologies they employed hold up better than the thermostat!”
Customer Satisfaction Notification
Another forum member mentions the notification sent to dealerships. He asks if anyone in the group has managed to get their thermostats replaced. Because his VIN wasn’t on the notification, he was told he must “wait until FCA puts it in the system and sends the letter.”
In response, another member states, “I’ve read there is a shortage of parts so they are only doing it when they break down.”
Warranties and Repair Issues
Another concern is that many owners are either out of or near the end of their warranties. “The way to make this right and increase our horrific resale values is to double the warranty and make it limited on certain parts like the thermostat to the original owner. I guarantee, as soon as the warranty is up, they stop working on the defects and bugs, and we will be even worse off.”
The owner of a 2023 Wagoneer SIII with 20k miles experienced overheating and a low oil pressure warning. “Dealer diagnosed (it) as a thermostat issue and the part is currently on order, but the technician could find no codes associated with the low oil pressure warning.” His concern is that “they will repair one problem but leave another. But (it) also seems like the two issues are interrelated, and maybe replacing the thermostat will take care of everything?”
Experiencing This Issue? What to do:
If you are the owner of a 2022 or 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer or Jeep Wagoneer, and you have experienced overheating problems, Lemberg Law would like to know about them.
You can call our Helpline or fill out a contact form and we’ll assess your problems free of charge. In terms of lemon law, if we pursue the case, Stellantis will have to pay your legal bills.
About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions.
He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
