Wagoneer Overheating Due to Air Flap Malfunction

Based on a similar issue with my 2018 Grand Cherokee, this sounds like a grille shutter malfunction. The active air flap system plays a crucial role in thermal management and when it fails, the engine can definitely overheat. Running a diagnostic scan on mine revealed error codes related to the grille shutter actuator. The electromechanical unit that controls the air intake flaps was completely stuck in a closed position. This restricted proper airflow to the cooling system. The repair involved replacing the entire grille shutter assembly and recalibrating the control module. It was a serious issue that needed immediate attention since continuous overheating can lead to engine damage. Your symptoms match exactly what happened with mine, temperature gauge climbing and check engine light. Best to have it checked by a shop that specializes in Jeep cooling systems. The diagnostic scan will confirm if its the same grille shutter problem affecting many models from that generation.

Thanks for sharing your experience. It sounds exactly like what I am dealing with. My fault code reader also pointed to the flap motor being the culprit. Did you remember roughly what the repair cost for the grille shutter replacement? Also curious if you have had any related cooling issues since getting it fixed. I want to budget properly and make sure this takes care of the problem for good.

Got my active air flap fault fixed last week actually. The total repair came to 590 Euro which covered replacing the defective electromechanism and full system calibration. The thermal management is working perfectly now. No more check engine lights or overheating issues since the repair. The temperature gauge stays firmly in the normal range, even during highway driving. Getting proper airflow through the cooling system makes a huge difference. My advice would be to get it fixed soon. Running with a faulty flap motor can lead to repeated overheating, which risks more expensive engine damage down the line. The repair cost is worth it for the peace of mind and proper engine protection. The shop confirmed this is a known issue with these models. Once fixed properly, it tends to stay fixed without recurring problems. Just make sure to go with a reputable shop that knows how to properly calibrate the system after replacement.

After getting that helpful input, I took my Wagoneer to the mechanic yesterday. The diagnostic confirmed the grille shutter actuator was stuck closed, exactly as suspected. Total bill came to 620 Euro for parts and labor, including the calibration work. Shop had it done in about 4 hours. Already notice a huge difference, temperature gauge stays steady now and the check engine light is off. The cooling system is working like it should with proper air intake flow. Really glad I got this sorted before any serious engine damage occurred. The thermal management seems completely back to normal now. Will keep monitoring but looks like this fixed the overheating problem for good.