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2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland- Granite

66K views 214 replies 44 participants last post by  JeepGCOverland 
#1 · (Edited)
After a 7 week wait, I took delivery of my 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland on Tuesday. I have put 300 miles on it so far, including a 100 mile trip on Wednesday (averaged 20 MPG). The HEMI provides plenty of power (and great acceleration in Sport Mode), and the 8-speed transmission puts that power down very well (except in eco-mode). Fuel economy is atrocious (15 MPG overall), but I did not buy the Jeep for fuel economy. I did some very light off-roading on Wednesday, and the Jeep did very well as expected. I finally took some decent pictures this morning in an empty parking lot near my house. They turned out OK, but are nothing special.

Standard Height:





ORII:






Some others (My friend just bought a 2013 Wrangler and wanted me to take pictures of his too):






I tried removing the front plate using Aperture and here is the result:



And finally, my first mod:


Future Mods (planned so far):
-Mopar Rock Rails
-Skid Plates
-GY Silent Armor tires (possibly with set 18" rims dedicated for off-roading)

If you want to see a picture of something not pictured here (night shots or interior, for example) don't hesitate to ask! However, I will be out of town until July 26 starting tomorrow, so unless I already have the picture, it will be a bit of a wait! :)
 
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#99 ·
I don't know if it's the cold weather, break-in, or something else, but suddenly my Jeep feels like it is pulling a lot harder. I'll test this out at some point, but it feels like I could pull off a 0-60 time in under 6 seconds.

Then again, it could just be me. :)
 
#100 ·
I don't know if it's the cold weather, break-in, or something else, but suddenly my Jeep feels like it is pulling a lot harder. I'll test this out at some point, but it feels like I could pull off a 0-60 time in under 6 seconds.

Then again, it could just be me. :)
This isn't helping me with my decision to upgrade to either an 2014 SRT vs. a 2014 Overland.

:slapfight:
 
#101 ·
I'm taking the Jeep on a mini-roadtrip (2 hours each way) this weekend to look at some property I am thinking of buying. It's 500 acres and it looks like there could be some good off-roading spots. I'll get you guys an update when I get back (with pictures and maybe some video) on how the Jeep did. Hopefully I like the property and the owners like the price I am offering them. :) If so, I will be going down there fairly frequently and will get to put the Jeep through its paces a lot more often than otherwise. Also, I will definitely build it up a little more (skids for sure, probably new tires, not sure what else yet). :thumbsup:
 
#104 ·
Yes they do. Part of the appeal of the rock rails for me is that they will stop door dings from a of cars.
 
#105 ·
Update:

As you can see in a few pictures, the hood is not properly aligned. This can be fixed with large rubber screws located on either side underneath the hood. However, the gap between the body and the hood on the right side of my Jeep is twice the width as the same gap on the left side. Also, the fuel door is not quite aligned properly, the trim on the center console is crooked, and one of the pieces leather on the right front door is wrinkled (it is taught on all of the other doors). I will talk to the dealer about getting some of these fixed, but it might be better just to leave some the way they are.

None of these are big issues and detract from my experience with my Jeep at all. I still think it is a great vehicle and would buy another one in an instant (honestly, I might actually be buying an SRT in addition to the Overland). I will follow up with the dealer's response, but honestly these are just little fit and finish issues that some people would not even notice, so I don't care too much about what happens.

As I have mentioned before, I will also be taking a mini-roadtrip this weekend (probably with some off-roading) and will get some pictures and a review up after that.
 
#106 ·
Well, I left this morning in one Jeep and came back in another, and no, I did not trade up for an SRT.

About 70 miles into my trip I started to feel some shaking, similar to what you feel when driving over rough road. I ignored it and continued and everything seemed fine for ~10 miles. At that point, the shaking became much more severe and I started to smell gas. At first, I thought that the road was just rough and that the vehicle was not recirculating air, but the road looked completely smooth and the recirculate switch was lit. The gas smell quickly worsened, the engine started to sound weird, and the engine light was flashing, so I pulled over. At that point, the engine started to smoke and I quickly popped the hood and got out. The smoke cleared in 10-15 seconds and nothing in the engine compartment looked horribly out of place, so I let the Jeep sit for a minute and tried restarting it. The Jeep did start, but sounded absolutely horrible and smelled even worse than before. Obviously I turned it off and looked up what the flashing engine light meant (something along the lines of, "severe engine damage may have occurred, service immediately"), decided that I was screwed and evaluated my situation. I was 80 miles from home and pulled over at the side of the road with my 16 year-old son. He looked up the Chrysler Roadside Assistance phone number and I called. Now, I will admit that I was not expecting much at all from Chrysler Roadside Assistance, and at first, it did not seem to be the best. I was told that Chrysler only covers towing to the nearest dealer, meaning that I have to get my Jeep fixed by some tiny dealer in the middle-of-nowhere Virginia that I have never heard of, and then had to drive all of the way back down to pick it up. However, I got a tow truck within 10 minutes of calling and was at a dealer within 30 minutes. Because of this, I have to admit that I am surprisingly pleased with Chrysler's response to my situation (at least thus far). The dealer also gave me a loner (a base 2012 Patriot with manual locks, crank windows, and a manual transmission), and while not the best, it is still a loner. I was surprised to get a loner, especially from a dealer that I have never been to.

I honestly have no idea what is wrong with the Jeep or how long it will take to get fixed, but I have no reason not to be optimistic at this point. However, I will admit that I am not thrilled that my JGC with only 3000 miles on it is suffering what is possibly major engine trouble. I guess we will just wait and see what happens. As I've always said, it is what it is.

As for the property, the house was not as nice as I thought it would be and half of the 500 acres is the side of a mountain and is completely unusable, so it is a no-go. I will be looking at some more properties and will be able to give you guys an off-road review of the Jeep when it is fixed.

Also, I still think that the Jeep is a great vehicle and have no regrets buying it. This is obviously and isolated incident, and if worst comes to worst, I will get the head of the dealer to get Chrysler to give me a new one. He is a really nice guy from what I can tell. I actually met him the day after I picked my Jeep up at my golf instructor's facility and have seen him multiple times afterwards. I have no doubt that he would fight on my behalf, and have no doubt that Chrysler would listen given he is one of the top three volume dealers in the world.

Lastly, I promise I will not go around the forum whining about my experience as others have done. Any mentions of my situation will stay within this thread. :thumbsup:
 
#108 ·
Well, after a "preliminary look", the service manager said it "will not be a quick or easy fix", and the dealer wants me to bring back the loner vehicle they gave me within a few days. The dealer is 80 miles away, meaning that I will have to find time to get back down there and somehow get a ride back. I am not thrilled at all at this point, but I will wait and see how Chrysler handles this. Apparently the district manager is involved, so I will see how that plays out as well.

Lastly, the possibility of me buying an SRT over a Range Rover Sport is quickly diminishing. I am not saying that the RRS would be more reliable, but I am sure that they will handle any problems better. A friend of mine had his transmission and engine die in the first month of owing his RRS and was given a new one without any hassle. I doubt the same would hold same for Jeep, but I could be wrong.
 
#109 ·
So, the shop called and said I need a full engine replacement, and that it will be done in 2 weeks. I am not at all thrilled with this news, as this will likely kill resale value. Furthermore, replacement parts never work or fit quite as well as the originals, and I doubt the Jeep will be the same after the replacement. Obviously, I will wait and see how the Jeep functions after the replacement before doing anything, but I might try to get a replacement. Does anyone with more experience have any input?
 
#110 ·
What exactly was the failure with the engine?

I see from your profile that you have the 5.7. I wouldn't necessarily think a replacement won't "fit" or "feel" the same--engine swap out on these vehicles is actually fairly straightforward as they're pretty modular in nature. It basically comes down to supporting the transmission, unbolting the engine from the transmission case and torque converter, disconnecting wiring harnesses, coolant and cooler lines, unbolting from the mounts, and lifting the engine out, then doing the reverse. It'll come down to the technicians care and attention more than anything else.

Resale value wise...it probably won't be as big of a hit as you're concerned unless you're planning on selling it in the next year. Even then I haven't seen an engine replacement hit resale that much, if at all. Remember, you're getting a new engine which means the clock starts over on that component. You'd have a bigger resale issue if the engine type had a big history of failures, not a specific engine, and the 5.7 isn't a huge problem child these days.

I'd say let them do the replacement, then drive it a bit and see if anything is amiss. Remember to go through a bit of a break-in cycle again with the new one. If you're not satisfied with the repair, then start investigating or pursuing other options. As it stands right now you won't have any recourse legally, and although your dealership GM might argue your case it's going to be rare to get a replacement without continuing issues or long (a month at least) periods of down time.
 
#113 ·
I thought about it, and maybe would have even paid extra, but I don't think the swap is that simple.
 
#114 ·
So, I am either purchasing either a RRS or JGC SRT soon. If I can get a pretty good deal on the RRS, I am getting that. I'd say there is a 50% chance I get the HSE, a 40% chance I get the Supercharged, and a 10% chance I get the Autobiography (depends on which one I get the best deal on). If I cannot get a good deal on a RRS, I will probably get a JGC SRT. The RRS is undeniably nicer than the JGC SRT (not to say the JGC SRT is not nice, the RRS is just on another level) has more features, and is less of a hardcore performance SUV (which is not a bad thing, but I am not sure that is what I want). The RRS is a lot more expensive, but I am willing to spend the extra money (even though it is not as good of a value). Right now I would say there is a 45% chance I get a RRS, a 20% chance I get a JGC SRT, a 10% chance I get a Porsche Macan, and a 25% chance I keep the Lexus GX460 for a little longer.
 
#117 · (Edited)
So, I am either purchasing either a RRS or JGC SRT soon. If I can get a pretty good deal on the RRS, I am getting that. I'd say there is a 50% chance I get the HSE, a 40% chance I get the Supercharged, and a 10% chance I get the Autobiography (depends on which one I get the best deal on). If I cannot get a good deal on a RRS, I will probably get a JGC SRT. The RRS is undeniably nicer than the JGC SRT (not to say the JGC SRT is not nice, the RRS is just on another level) has more features, and is less of a hardcore performance SUV (which is not a bad thing, but I am not sure that is what I want). The RRS is a lot more expensive, but I am willing to spend the extra money (even though it is not as good of a value). Right now I would say there is a 45% chance I get a RRS, a 20% chance I get a JGC SRT, a 10% chance I get a Porsche Macan, and a 25% chance I keep the Lexus GX460 for a little longer.
Sorry to hear about your problem! It was your pictures and experience that was making me lean heavily towards trading in my 2012 Overland for a 2014.

Well the RRS has far more off road ability than the SRT so that is a plus. And the V8 Super Charged model is almost as fast as the SRT.

But I'd do more research into Land Rover/Range Rover reliability. Its not much (if any) better than Jeep/Chrysler. :(
 
#119 ·
Update: The problem with the JGC was a fuel injector that broke and flooded the engine with gas. As for a rental, Chrysler got me a 2014 JGC Limited (Lux II, V6, RWD) with 20,000 miles. I am happy with this rental, as it is about the closest they could have gotten to what I have. I take back all of my comments about Chrysler not handling the situation very well, as I have been very impressed and the whole process has gone rather smoothly. I do understand the rough shifting problem that people with the V6's have been having after a few days, and it is extremely annoying. The 1-2-3 shifts, especially in SPort mode, are clunky, jerky, and horrible. Other than that, I am definitely missing my HEMI power. The V6 is ample but not quick, does not sound as good as my HEMI, and has to try a lot harder. For instance, the V6 shifts down a ton of gears and revs extremely high when passing, and it also takes a second for the power to kick in. My HEMI feels effortless when passing, even at 80 MPH. Overall, the V6 is not too bad but I am definitely glad I got the HEMI.

The next update I give you guys will either come when I buy a JGC SRT or RRS, or when my Jeep is fixed (hopefully this week).
 
#121 ·
Update: The problem with the JGC was a fuel injector that broke and flooded the engine with gas. As for a rental, Chrysler got me a 2014 JGC Limited (Lux II, V6, RWD) with 20,000 miles. I am happy with this rental, as it is about the closest they could have gotten to what I have. I take back all of my comments about Chrysler not handling the situation very well, as I have been very impressed and the whole process has gone rather smoothly. I do understand the rough shifting problem that people with the V6's have been having after a few days, and it is extremely annoying. The 1-2-3 shifts, especially in SPort mode, are clunky, jerky, and horrible. Other than that, I am definitely missing my HEMI power. The V6 is ample but not quick, does not sound as good as my HEMI, and has to try a lot harder. For instance, the V6 shifts down a ton of gears and revs extremely high when passing, and it also takes a second for the power to kick in. My HEMI feels effortless when passing, even at 80 MPH. Overall, the V6 is not too bad but I am definitely glad I got the HEMI. The next update I give you guys will either come when I buy a JGC SRT or RRS, or when my Jeep is fixed (hopefully this week).
Seriously? You actually had an injector fail wide open and (from the sounds of things) hydrolock that cylinder? You're serious?

Do strange events and occurrences follow you around in general? Just wondering :)
 
#120 ·
I am glad they took care of you! so far my overland has zero problems. Ok I can't shut off the heated seats and steering wheel on remote stare. but im not that picky. As far as the paint I believe what a poster said about all paint is soft due to environmental concerns. Hey its a jeep it's going to get scratched.
 
#122 ·
I'm not very picky either, and something like that does not really bother me. Even the engine blowing out does not bother me that much, as long as the replacement works well and doesn't bring up any new issues. I have had no problems at all with the paint, but I agree, it is a Jeep and a few scratches aren't going to hurt anything. I came to the same conclusion with the rock rails. At first I didn't love them because they did not blend perfectly with the vehicle, but it is a Jeep and the rails look rugged and help distinguish the Jeep from other so-called SUVs. Also, they will help when off-roading.
 
#127 ·
Welcome to construction my brotha. All joking aside, that's a freaking nightmare. It is extremely hard to find a good contractor at a normal rate who does the job right. I am so sorry to hear about it and I'd definitely be interested in hearing more. We can exchange horror stories. Just got my first, new, place on a rural piece of family land. Nightmare! I just want to landscape and then sell the damn place. I have not had one guy do a good job here. Not one.

Hopefully your new hemi won't let you down.
 
#131 ·
Thanks! Just for the record, I will not be replacing the Jeep with the RRS, I would be replacing my Lexus GX. I will have a Jeep no matter what (either the one I have or a new one if the engine swap goes badly).
 
#133 · (Edited)
Update: The engine swap is completed and my Jeep is ready to be picked up! I will either pick it up tomorrow or Saturday. I can't wait to get it back, partially because I am tired of my rental. It isn't as nice, is older, has less power, shifts horribly, and worst of all has been smoked in by a previous renter (the power and the shifting aren't ideal, but I absolutely despise the smell of smoke). Normally I don't drive the Jeep much during the week anyways as my son drives it to school (with his two younger brothers) most days now, but he can't drive the rental (have to be 25 or something) so he is driving my car (Infiniti M, within 2 years will be an Audi S6, Cadillac CTS Vsport, or maybe even a CTS-V when the new one comes out). I would take my wife's Lexus GX (soon to be a RRS or JGC SRT) but she won't take the rental Jeep because of the shifting and the smoke, so I am stuck with it until we get MY Jeep back. I actually love this Jeep, much more than any car I have had in a while, and it has really reinvigorated my passion for cars/SUVs/Jeeps. If I do end up buying the land I am looking at, I could see a Wrangler (probably Willys edition) added to the family as well. :thumbsup:
 
#135 ·
I picked up the Jeep yesterday and all is good.

Also, I finally got a chance to drive the Jeep in the snow today (used Snow mode), and it is a BEAST! The roads were pretty bad, and at no point did I feel like I was not in complete control. I think I am going to order winter wheels and tires just because they will work better in the snow and I will be more comfortable with my son driving it, especially when he has his two little brothers in the Jeep with him. I think I am going to get 18" rims (Part Number: 82212286), but I am undecided on the tires. Could I go with something like a GY Silent Armor and still have better snow traction than stock, or do I need to go with a dedicated snow tire? Also, would I have to get my tires balanced every time I switched between the 18" wheels and the stock 20" inch wheels?
 
#137 ·
Thanks! Make a thread and post pictures once you pick it up!
 
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