Jeep Grand Cherokee Sunroof Leak Recall? Here’s The Truth

Noticed water dripping from the headliner, running down the A-pillar, or soaking your cargo area? Thousands of Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, especially from model years 2011 through 2020, have reported sunroof leaks that cause moldy carpets, shorted electronics, and warped trim. And while many assumed it would be a quick fix under warranty, that’s rarely how it plays out.

No official recall has been issued for the problem, despite a flood of complaints to the NHTSA and several Technical Service Bulletins. Some dealerships chalk it up to “maintenance.”

Others blame clogged drains, even when factory sealing was clearly the issue. In some cases, leaks returned just months after repairs.

This article unpacks the real scope of the issue, from design flaws and warranty pitfalls to TSBs, lawsuits, and how Jeep has responded (or hasn’t). If your headliner’s stained and your patience is wearing thin, here’s what you need to know before heading to the dealer or calling an attorney.

What’s Actually Causing the Leaks?

Drain tubes that quietly sabotage your interior

Let’s start with the usual suspect: the drain tubes. These little plastic lines are supposed to carry rainwater from the sunroof tray, down the A-pillars, and out through the bottom of the vehicle. When everything’s working, you’ll never even know they’re there.

But in a lot of Grand Cherokees, they don’t do their job. Some clog with dirt or pollen. Others slip loose or crack where they meet the firewall. And in more than a few cases, they were installed wrong from day one, pinched behind trim or bent too tightly, setting you up for a slow, steady drip.

The result? Water backing up into your headliner, soaking your carpets, or shorting out sensors behind the dash.

A sunroof tray that doesn’t hold its weight

Even when the drains are fine, the sunroof tray itself can be a problem. Some Grand Cherokee owners found that the tray warped or cracked, especially on the larger dual-pane panoramic setups in trims like the Overland or Summit. That lets water leak past the glass and straight into the roof cavity.

Once that happens, it’s not just a wet headliner. You’re looking at moisture creeping into wiring, side-curtain airbags, and all the places water should never be.

Sealant that just doesn’t last

Then there’s the sealant Jeep used around the edges of the sunroof tray. It’s a soft foam-like material, and over time, heat and vibration wear it down. A small gap is all it takes. Water finds it. And before you know it, your interior smells like a basement.

That kind of leak doesn’t show up on a basic drain test, which is why so many owners get sent home with “no issue found”, only to be back weeks later with soggy carpet and a bigger bill.

How It Shows Up: Damp Seats, Dead Electronics, and Dealer Shrugs

Headliner drip? That’s just the beginning

Most owners first spot the issue when water drips from the overhead console or stains start spreading across the headliner. It might look like a little condensation at first, but give it a day or two, and you’re drying out your sun visors with paper towels.

Some report full-on trickles from the map lights or a soaked dome light after a heavy rain. And when that water runs down the A-pillars, it doesn’t stop at the dash; it keeps going.

Carpets that squish when you step in

Step into the driver’s seat and hear a wet “squish”? That’s water pooling in the floor pan, often under the carpet, where you won’t notice it until the smell hits. By then, you’ve probably got mold brewing and insulation that’ll never dry properly without tearing the interior apart.

Rear cargo areas are hit just as hard, especially in models with the panoramic roof. Owners have opened the tailgate to find standing water in the spare tire well or a wet liftgate trim panel that never quite dries.

Electrical gremlins and mystery warnings

Water and electronics don’t mix, and the Grand Cherokee doesn’t make that easy. Moisture leaking into the cabin can wreak havoc with:

• Door harnesses, leading to false sensor warnings

• Airbag modules, especially side-curtain units hidden in the headliner

• Interior lighting and sunroof controls, which short or stop working altogether

Some owners even reported key fob range dropping or their push-button start failing after a leak.

And here’s the kicker: many dealers will dry things out, clear the codes, and send you on your way, without ever fixing the root problem.

What Jeep Has and Hasn’t Done About It

No official recall, no surprise

Despite a steady stream of complaints going back over a decade, Jeep has never issued a formal recall for Grand Cherokee sunroof leaks.

That means no NHTSA campaign number, no dealership postcards, and no automatic repairs, no matter how many times you’ve had to rip up your carpets.

Even after multiple model years and widespread reports of water damage tied directly to the sunroof system, Stellantis has stayed quiet.

Not because they don’t know, but because the issue doesn’t fit the recall rulebook. Unless a leak leads to a crash or major safety risk, federal law doesn’t require a recall.

The bulletins tell another story

What Jeep has done is issue a handful of Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) over the years, some acknowledging drain tube issues, others showing how to fix water intrusion from the front or rear of the roof panel.

Here are a few key ones:

These bulletins usually show up after the warranty clock has run out, and in many cases, dealers don’t mention them unless you ask directly.

Warranty? Only if you fight for it

Leaks caused by poor sealing or bad drain routing should be covered under the 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty. But once you’re past that mark, it’s a coin toss.

Some owners have managed to get “goodwill” repairs covered by Jeep, especially if they’ve had the vehicle serviced regularly at a dealership. Others are left paying out of pocket for full headliner replacements, wiring repairs, and mold remediation, all for a problem they didn’t cause.

If the vehicle is CPO (Certified Pre-Owned), you might have more leverage, but even then, water damage isn’t always included unless it’s tied to a known defect covered in a TSB.

What It Costs to Fix And Why One Repair’s Never Enough

Quick fixes rarely solve it

Plenty of Jeep owners have shelled out for what seemed like a cheap fix: blow out the drain tubes, reseal a corner, maybe pull the headliner to dry it out.

But without tracking the source of the leak, those quick jobs are band-aids at best. You’ll be back in the shop the next time it rains hard.

Basic drain cleanings can run $100–$200. But once water’s made its way behind trim or down into the wiring harnesses, that price climbs fast.

When the headliner gets soaked

If the leak has made its way into the headliner, expect to pay $800–$1,500 for replacement, depending on the trim level and whether your Jeep has a single-pane or panoramic sunroof.

Dealers often push full headliner swaps rather than trying to clean and dry the foam liner, especially if the material has started to delaminate or grow mold.

Some shops offer cheaper reconditioning options, but once mildew sets in, it’s tough to guarantee it won’t come back.

Electrical damage drives up the bill

The scariest costs come when water hits the electronics. Shorted sunroof control modules, airbag sensors, and interior lighting harnesses can send the repair bill well north of $2,000, and most of that won’t be covered if your warranty’s expired.

One common failure: moisture seeps into the curtain airbag zone, triggers a warning light, and suddenly you’re facing both a leak fix and a safety system repair.

Panoramic roof = panoramic problems

If your Grand Cherokee has the dual-pane panoramic setup, brace yourself. These larger assemblies are more prone to leaks around the rear tray, and replacing the full mechanism can cost over $3,000 in parts and labor. That doesn’t include drying out the interior or repairing secondary damage.

And yes, some owners have had to go through that twice.

Same Leak, New Invoice: Owner Stories Say It All

 “I fixed it once. It came back twice.”

One of the most common threads across Jeep forums and complaint boards? Repeat leaks. Owners spend hundreds fixing a clogged drain or resealing the sunroof… only to find water dripping again a few months later. The frustration’s real, especially when it rains hard, and suddenly your carpets feel like sponges.

In some cases, dealerships reapply sealant without even testing the drain system. Others blow out the tubes, ignore the warped tray, and chalk it up to “customer maintenance.” It’s a cycle that leaves people paying out of pocket with no lasting solution.

“My carpets were soaked, and so was my airbag sensor.”

Several Grand Cherokee drivers reported major electrical failures from seemingly small leaks. One minute, it’s just a water spot on the headliner.

Next thing you know, the airbag light’s on, the key fob won’t connect, or the push-button start fails altogether. And when they take it in? Dealers often say it’s unrelated or charge for diagnostics before they even pull the trim.

In more than a few cases, Jeep owners said the dealership needed to replace airbag control modules, curtain sensors, or wiring harnesses, all traced back to slow, hidden leaks from the roof.

“I opened the tailgate and found a puddle.”

Cargo-area leaks are especially common in the panoramic roof models. Jeep owners in wet states like Washington, New York, and Michigan described standing water in the spare tire well, soaked subwoofers, or liftgate trims falling apart from moisture buildup.

The worst part? Many say they didn’t even realize it was leaking until moldy smells or rust stains gave it away.

“The TSB existed, but nobody mentioned it.”

Even tech-savvy owners who did their homework often ran into a wall. Several forum posts tell the same story: they found the right TSB, printed it out, brought it to the dealer, and still got told nothing was wrong.

One owner said it took three separate visits before a service manager finally acknowledged that the panoramic roof drain grommet was loose, and that a known bulletin existed. Until then, the only “repair” was a carpet shampoo.

Legal Action, Lawsuits, and Jeep’s Shrug

No recall, but plenty of legal heat

Even without a recall on the books, Jeep hasn’t escaped the legal spotlight. Multiple class-action lawsuits have been filed over Grand Cherokee water leaks, many of them pointing directly at defective sunroof drain systems and sealing flaws.

One notable suit, filed in 2020, alleged that Fiat Chrysler (now Stellantis) knew about the defect but failed to notify owners or cover repairs once warranties expired. The complaint detailed mold exposure, electrical failures, and repeated dealer visits with no permanent fix.

While that case didn’t result in a national recall or major payout, it set the tone: owners are fed up with footing the bill for what appears to be a design flaw.

Thousands of NHTSA complaints and counting

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received hundreds of owner complaints citing water leaks in the cabin, many tied to the Grand Cherokee’s sunroof or roof seams. These aren’t just mild annoyances; some mention rusted fuse boxes, inoperative airbags, and total electrical shutdowns.

But since those issues don’t always present an immediate crash risk, the agency hasn’t triggered a full safety recall. It’s a frustrating gap: enough damage to destroy a vehicle’s interior, but not enough (in their eyes) to warrant federal intervention.

Jeep’s stance? “Maintenance issue.”

Officially, Jeep doesn’t consider most of these leaks a manufacturing defect. The party line? “Clogged drains are a maintenance issue.” That stance gives dealers cover to deny warranty claims once the basic 3-year/36,000-mile term ends.

It also lets Jeep off the hook for structural problems like poor sealing, warped sunroof trays, or improperly installed drain tubes, unless the dealership can tie it to a specific bulletin or TSB.

That leaves most owners stuck in a gray area: not covered by warranty, no open recall, and no admission of fault, just a soggy interior and a repair bill.

What Owners Can Do: Fixes, Warranties, and How to Push Back

Know your VIN, know your leverage

Before you call the dealer, run your VIN through both NHTSA.gov/recalls and Jeep’s own lookup tool.

Even though there’s no sunroof recall, your Grand Cherokee might have open campaigns for other water-related issues, like tailgate seals or wiring harness corrosion. These can give you extra leverage in getting the leak diagnosed for free.

Also, ask the service advisor to check for applicable TSBs, even if they don’t mention them first. If you’re armed with bulletin numbers like 23-033-14 or 23-019-20, you’re already ahead.

Out of warranty? Still worth the fight

Don’t assume you’re out of options just because your 3/36 warranty has expired. Jeep has granted “goodwill” coverage in cases where the leak clearly traced back to factory defects, especially if you’ve had consistent dealer service or brought the issue up early.

Here’s how to boost your odds:

• Bring documentation: repair invoices, service history, and dated photos of the damage.

• Stay calm but firm: explain that you’re aware of known TSBs and repeat customer reports.

• Ask to escalate: getting a case opened with Jeep corporate often triggers a more thorough review.

Some owners have reported getting partial reimbursement for major headliner or module repairs, even past 60,000 miles.

DIY buys you time, but not always peace of mind

If you’re stuck between appointments or waiting on parts, there are a few owner-tested band-aids that can keep things livable:

• Clear the drains with gentle compressed air or a weed-whacker line (don’t use wire, it can puncture the tube).

• Seal suspect seams with a UV-resistant automotive silicone, just be sure to test where the leak’s coming from first.

• Use moisture absorbers or a low-wattage car dehumidifier to fight mold inside.

But be realistic, these won’t solve cracked trays, warped panels, or bad grommets. For a lasting fix, the headliner usually needs to come down and the full system inspected.

Push until it sticks

If the dealership brushes you off, document everything. Take photos of water intrusion, keep copies of all service visits, and file a complaint with the NHTSA if the issue keeps returning.

You can also report pattern failures to CARFAX and independent watchdogs like the Center for Auto Safety. The more visibility the issue gets, the harder it becomes for Jeep to keep sidestepping it.

Adam Faris

Adam Faris is the founder and lead editor at Recall Brief, where he covers confirmed recalls, service bulletins, and widespread vehicle issues that often slip past official channels. He focuses on clear, fact-based reporting and breaks down complex problems into plain language so readers know what matters and what to do next.