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2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Headlights Flickering

71K views 57 replies 22 participants last post by  wtriemst 
#1 ·
Last night when I was driving on the interstate I noticed that my headlights were flickering. It was pretty dark on the interstate so I could really tell when the headlights would flicker. They would go dim for maybe half a second and then go back to normal. They didn't turn off entirely but only dimmed a little where I could tell that it was a flicker. I put them on high beams and low beams and they would flicker on both settings. None of the interior lights were flickering and the evic display was fine as well. I also watched the battery voltage display on the evic to see if it would show a drop in voltage when the headlights would flicker but the battery stayed on 14V constantly.
Has anyone else had this issue? What could be the reason for this? If anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you.
 
#4 ·
Take the vehicle to an Auto electrician....................that way for a few $$$ you will get it fixed right the first time..............
 
#6 ·
So I did some more investigating into this and it turns out that the headlights seem to flicker ONLY when the engine is on and running. When the engine is off BUT only the headlights are on, they do not flicker at all. It's flickering only when the car is turned on and running and it could be at idle or while I'm cruising at 60mph and higher.
Does anyone have any idea what this could mean? Could it be a bad alternator?
P.S. I got the battery checked out at auto zone and it was fine. It was reading 12v before start up and 14.4 after start up.
 
#10 ·
Video tape the flickering to document and show it to the dealer. It's under warranty, let the dealer deal with it. Might have to bring it to a few different dealerships as some are very incompetent and will tell you they can't reproduce the problem, that's why you need to video the problem. Good luck!


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#11 ·
Did you ever come to a root cause? I am having the same issue, but the problem is I swapped out my headlights with an aftermarket set that include a LED strip. It would seem odd that new headlights would cause it as they are just a receiver for the bulbs.

I would hate to take off my bumper again to swap back to run more tests but I feel like the dealer would just blame my new headlights.
 
#12 ·
I know this thread is long gone but I had this problem as well. Headlights would flicker so I dropped it off this morning to replace something that cracked (evap related) and I mentioned the flicker. They just called me and said they found a short in the headlights somewhere and were tracing the wires back to figure it out. They would be replacing a lot of wiring they said so I wont have it for at least another day. Hopefully this fixes the issue.

Thank god for factory warranty's.
 
#14 ·
It was only obvious if I was really paying attention. The only reason I actually began to notice it was I was driving behind an overland right after I bought mine and I kept noticing the lights on the tail would randomly flicker on and off and I thought, well that's weird. Then I starting watching my head lights do it, it was really strange.
 
#15 ·
Hi, i think what your experiencing is a brake down of one or more diodes?rectifiers in the alternator. This would cause the lights to flicker, you may notice your battery may fail over time to as a result of voltage surge over time cooking the battery. They don't flicker when the engine is not running as the alternator has no effect. The test done on the battery with the engine running showing 14.5 volts is a bit misleading has with these faults until it gets worse and the charging warning light comes on. different vehicle but same outcome, My Kawasaki zzr1100 has the regulator rectifier separate from the charging unit but was getting the same lights flickering, dash lights too. Turned out to be the rectifier breaking down, well known problem on some Honda motorcycles. Having your lights on protects your battery from overloading when the alternator is playing up. get it to an auto electrician and have them check the alternator out explaining what has been happening with your lights. hope you get it sorted. P.S. be careful to cover your alternator with a plastic bag if you jet wash your engine bay (obviously without the engine running) :rolleyes: or hope to be lucky if you go in deep water.
 
#17 ·
I just bought my first Jeep less than 48hrs ago. I purchased a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Altitude. I noticed my headlights started to flicker on the interstate drive home. When I got home, I examined the headlights and found that moisture was getting into the headlight enclosure. It wasn't even raining out...
Shaakra, were you or the dealer able to find a solution? I have the tow package that provides the higher amp alternator. Does yours have the tow package also?
Has anyone else found a solution? This is my first new vehicle purchase of any brand and just a little disappointed. I've always purchased used previously.
 
#18 ·
Hi usamade, I apologize for the late reply due not being able to take my car back to the dealership. Yes, I do have the tow package which came with the jeep. Btw, I took my jeep in for an oil change this weekend and mentioned the flickering problem to the service department. They came back and told me that there was a body control module flash out there which should fix the flickering and he also said that if the flickering is still present then they would order a new steering column module? I'm not sure what the steering column module does or how it could prevent flickering? If anyone knows please feel free to chime in.


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#19 ·
I'm a GM retiree and this is our first non GM auto. Just bought 2015 Grand Cherokee. First day we had it this head light flicker thing has happened. Has anyone ever have there headlights flicker, shutting off/on fixed yet? Been to the dealer a total of six days for this and of course they can't duplicate. Soon as we get it back it happens again. Got a case number going now and from there technical data base there hasn't been one other case reported in USA on this. So no one has taken there's to the dealer for this yet because there's no record of this problem? Any help would be appreciated.
I belong to a diesel site with over 400,000 members and there's some GM technical members that help us out. Is there any Jeep techs on here that are members to help us out?
 
#20 ·
I'm a GM retiree and this is our first non GM auto. Just bought 2015 Grand Cherokee. First day we had it this head light flicker thing has happened. Has anyone ever have there headlights flicker, shutting off/on fixed yet? Been to the dealer a total of six days for this and of course they can't duplicate. Soon as we get it back it happens again. Got a case number going now and from there technical data base there hasn't been one other case reported in USA on this. So no one has taken there's to the dealer for this yet because there's no record of this problem? Any help would be appreciated.
I belong to a diesel site with over 400,000 members and there's some GM technical members that help us out. Is there any Jeep techs on here that are members to help us out?

I just went back and read an earlier post that said that the dealer found my issue and would fix it however I was wrong. They found a short that fixed another issue, they have never been able to replicate the headlight flickering and we actually joke about it now. Its annoying but this is a lease and I'm tired of bringing it back into the shop for an issue they can NEVER reproduce. I just figure in 2 years this is the next guys problem. Hopefully you get it sorted out. Over time its gotten a lot less frequent however I still notice it.
 
#27 · (Edited)
Well it goes in Tuesday 2/2 again for the seventh time. Jeep technical is supposed to show up sometime during the day to assist this service. We went out and bought a GoPro to capture this off/on lights for them to see for witch they could never duplicate. I don't know why they couldn't do the same in a dark room in there shop. It's kind of fishy it happened 6 times in a short trip and they had it for a whole week and nothing. Searching, this seems like a Jeep thing across all models going back to atleast 12 years ago and our dealer or Technical has never seen this befor.
 
#30 ·
Sorry man, sounds like you've just had no luck. My lights still flicker as well, I stopped caring though. Its actually a joke between me and the service people now at the dealership.

Mine is a lease so it will be the next guys problem. As long as it doesn't get worse, I'm just going to leave it be.
 
#32 ·
I lease a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Altitude. Back in January, my jeep had to be towed and have a new battery installed. Now, I'm having the same issues as I'm reading through the threads. The dealership has diagnosed the vehicle as a defective radio causing the headlights and dome light to flicker as well as the speakers to intermittently go mute and the digital dash to turn on and off. I'm hoping the new radio (and a new battery) will fix my problem.
 
#33 · (Edited)
I wasn't going to post on this thread anymore but I feel I should.
As my previous post I Quoted (Engineering is working on a fix witch is not available at this time. No repair required at this time.)
FCA stepped up and we have a brand new 2016 Grand Cherokee Limited sitting in our driveway.
I feel the 2016 might be more desirable because just for the shifter problems there having on previous models. I wouldn't be surprised if this turns into a recall and have them replaced for over 100,000 accidents.
They pad all Taxes, License, Title Fees and any proof of any aftermarket assesuries.
MI. Lemon Law I reminded and read it to them that our 2015 met since Bridgit from customer service and Lacy that handles replacement are from a Texas office.
I get free legal service from GM and I'm glad this didn't have to resort to this. Could of been very long and time consuming .
I can't count the times they kept reminding me how busy they are. I kinda get the feeling there not building a very good product.
 
#34 ·
My lights are still flicking also on my 2015 altitude. It happens randomly for part of a second. It's very noticeable though on a dark road or behind someone at a traffic light. I'm hoping to catch it on video one day. If anyone figures out a solution, please post on here.
 
#38 · (Edited)
We borrowed a GoPro and captured it and put it on our computer, and stick and they never wanted to look at it.
FCA doesn't even make a pimple on GM's ass.
We were directed to order a new one and there was nothing wrong.
Just get a complaint number and in six weeks you will be driving a new 2017 for you are no longer able to order a 2016
 
#41 · (Edited)
Our new 2016 is doing the same. We only have 2800 miles on it at this time and were going to wait till we have about 9k like last time and do this again.
FCA is so gullible, this is actually fun.
If any one wants a new one just put your light on manual and turn them off and back on. New 2017 free.
 
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