2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Lighting Control Module Software Recall (21V950)

Recall 21V950 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee in recall 21V950?

An incomplete SLM software update may cause one or both headlights to become inoperable.

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles equipped with smart lighting modules (SLM). An incomplete SLM software update may cause one or both headlights to become inoperable. 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 21V950?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Inoperable headlights can reduce visibility for the driver and oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: Inoperable headlights can reduce visibility for the driver and oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Grand Cherokee shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the software, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V950?

Recall 21V950 covers 36,929 vehicles: 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

NHTSA lists 36,929 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Grand Cherokee lighting control module software recall?

Yes. Dealers will reprogram the SLM software, free of charge.

Dealers will reprogram the SLM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y72.

When was recall 21V950 announced?

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) reported recall 21V950 to NHTSA on December 9, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as December 23, 2021.

This recall was filed 58 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 21V950?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V950 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 21V950?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V950000 applies to your Grand Cherokee.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Jeep dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. 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.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the software happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to 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.

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

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

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 21V950 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.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (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.

California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.

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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 21V950