2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Headlight Recall (21V797)
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) · 7,082 vehicles · Reported October 14, 2021
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling 7,082 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. When the master lighting switch is set to the auto position, the high beam headlights will not activate unless the master lighting switch is first changed to the 'on" position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." Difficulty activating the headlight high beams may result in reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V797 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V797000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Y66 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | October 14, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| Vehicles | 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
| Units affected | 7,082 |
| Component | Exterior Lighting > Headlights |
| Safety risk | Difficulty activating the headlight high beams may result in reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee in recall 21V797?
When the master lighting switch is set to the auto position, the high beam headlights will not activate unless the master lighting switch is first changed to the 'on" position.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles not equipped with automatic high beams. When the master lighting switch is set to the auto position, the high beam headlights will not activate unless the master lighting switch is first changed to the 'on" position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Grand Cherokee with recall 21V797?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Difficulty activating the headlight high beams may result in reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Difficulty activating the headlight high beams may result in reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the headlights.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V797?
Recall 21V797 covers 7,082 vehicles: 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
NHTSA lists 7,082 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Jeep | Grand Cherokee |
What is the fix for the Grand Cherokee headlight recall?
Yes. Dealers will reprogram the vehicles, free of charge.
Dealers will reprogram the vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y66.
When was recall 21V797 announced?
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) reported recall 21V797 to NHTSA on October 14, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as October 28, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 14, 2021 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V797000. |
| October 28, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 60 months ago. If your Grand Cherokee was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Grand Cherokee is part of recall 21V797?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V797 is open on your Grand Cherokee, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Grand Cherokee vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Grand Cherokee owners do about recall 21V797?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V797000 applies to your Grand Cherokee.
- Call a Jeep dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the headlights happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Grand Cherokee owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 405 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 42 of them about the lighting and visibility.
Since recall 21V797 was reported on October 14, 2021, owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 1 of them (2%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the lighting and visibility and were received on or after October 14, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related lighting and visibility issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 405 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 42 of them involve the lighting and visibility. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee: 405 complaints in total, 42 about the lighting and visibility
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the low beam headlights were inoperable. The contact attempted to set the headlight knob from automatic to manual however, the low beam headlights failed to function as needed. The contact stated that the high beam headlights and running lights operated as designed.
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee owner, OK, NHTSA complaint 11646439, filed March 5, 2025
The high beam lights are not working. Dealer said the shutter door internal to headlamp assemblies are unresponsive. BOTH headlamps went out at the same time. Dealer said they haven't seen any issues before with the high beams.
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11690738, filed October 1, 2025
Car has 28k miles. It is driven by a [XX] year old. It is a Jeep GC Summit which is top of the line for Jeep. Both headlights were blown and the dash warning system never alerted that the lights were out. Car is equipped with the headlight monitoring system.
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11716392, filed February 7, 2026
Can recall 21V797 make my Grand Cherokee a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 21V797000 does not automatically make your Grand Cherokee a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Lighting and visibility defects, such as headlights that fail, wipers that stop or mirrors that do not work, reduce your ability to see and be seen. They are often electrical, and they often come back.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Grand Cherokee went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Grand Cherokee been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V797
Did the recall 21V797 fix work?
Since recall 21V797 was reported on October 14, 2021, owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 1 of them (2%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed October 28, 2021.
Is the 21V797000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Grand Cherokee is part of recall 21V797000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V797000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Jeep. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.