FIXED: 2020 jeep grand cherokee remote start not working

If your 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee remote start isn't working, the most common reason is that the Check Engine Light is on or a door, hood, or liftgate is not fully closed. The computer system in these Jeeps is designed to disable the remote start feature the second it detects a safety risk or a mechanical fault.

It’s incredibly annoying, right? You press the button on the fob twice, you hear a honk (or maybe nothing), and the engine stays silent. Meanwhile, its freezing outside and you just wanted the heat to run for a few minutes. I've been there with my own Jeep, and honestly, troubleshooting this usually comes down to a process of elimination. You don't need a mechanic for most of this, just a little patience.

Below, I’m going to walk you through exactly how to figure out which sensor or setting is messing up your morning routine.

The "Stupid" Stuff We All Forget

Before we start tearing apart the dashboard or buying new batteries, lets check the basics. The 2020 Grand Cherokee has a logic built into the Uconnect system that basically says, "If the car isn't perfectly safe, do not start."

According to the owner's manual, the remote start will abort if:

• The transmission is not in PARK.
• The hazard lights are turned on.
• The fuel level is low (usually when the light triggers).
• The panic button was pressed recently.
• The hood is open (or the car thinks it's open).

Double-check your dashboard. Is the low fuel light on? If yes, go get gas. The system preserves fuel so you don't idle the car until its empty. That’s actually a pretty smart feature even if it is annoying when you're cold.

Also, walk around the car. Open and slam shut every single door and the rear liftgate. Sometimes a sensor gets stuck and just needs a firm jarring to reset.

The Number One Culprit: The Check Engine Light

This is the big one. If your Check Engine Light (CEL) is illuminated on the dash, the remote start will not work. Period.

Jeep engineers designed it this way to protect the engine. If the computer senses a misfire, an emissions leak, or a sensor failure, it doesn't want the engine running without a driver present to monitor it. It makes sense, but it means a loose gas cap can ruin your remote start capabilities.

The "Hidden" Codes

Here is where it gets tricky. Sometimes the Check Engine Light isn't actually glowing on your dashboard, but there is a "pending" code stored in the computer. This happens when the car detects an issue but hasn't seen it happen enough times to trigger the light yet.

However, the remote start system is sensitive. It sees that pending code and disables itself just to be safe.

The Fix: You need an OBDII scanner. You can buy a cheap one online for like $20. Plug it into the port under the steering wheel and scan for codes. If you see anything relating to emissions (like an EVAP leak) or engine sensors, that is your problem. Clear the codes with the scanner, and try the remote start again. If it works, you know you have a mechanical repair to deal with eventually.

The Hood Pin Sensor Issue

On the 2020 Grand Cherokee models, this is a surprisingly common failure point. There is a safety switch under the hood that tells the computer if the hood is open. If the hood is up, the car won't remote start because it doesn't want to chew up a mechanic's hand who might be working on the engine.

Over time, this switch gets dirty, bent, or corroded. When that happens, the circuit breaks, and the car thinks the hood is wide open, even when it's latched tight.

How to test it:

1. Sit inside the car with the doors closed.
2. Turn the ignition to ON (engine off).
3. Look at the dashboard cluster. Does it say "Hood Open"?
4. If it says the hood is open but you know it's closed, that sensor is your problem.

You can usually find this switch near the hood latch or along the fender wall. Sometimes just unplugging it and cleaning the contacts with some electrical cleaner is enough to fix it. If the bracket is bent, just bend it back so it makes contact when the hood closes.

Battery Voltage: The Silent Killer

Jeeps nowadays are basically rolling computers. They are incredibly sensitive to voltage drops. Your 2020 Grand Cherokee likely has the Auto Start/Stop feature, which means it actually has two batteries:

1. The big main battery.
2. A smaller "Auxiliary" battery tucked away (usually under the passenger seat or near the main battery).

If either of these batteries is starting to fail, the remote start is the first thing the system kills to save power. The car needs a strong surge of electricity to crank over remotely.

If your voltage drops below a certain threshold (usually around 11.5 or 12 volts while sitting), the Uconnect system will disable remote start. You might notice the car starts fine with the push button, but remote start fails. That’s because when you are in the car, you are bypassing some of the safety voltage checks.

The Fix: Go to an auto parts store and have them load test both batteries. If the Aux battery is dead (which happens a lot on these Jeeps after 3-4 years), it drags down the main battery and causes all sorts of weird electrical gremlins.

Troubleshooting the Key Fob Itself

Sometimes we overthink it and its just the remote. The range on the 2020 key fob is pretty good, but as the battery gets weaker, the signal might not be strong enough to send the "double click" sequence properly.

If you press the button and the little red light on the fob doesn't flash brightly, swap the battery. It takes a CR2032 battery. It takes two minutes to change.

Reprogramming Issues

If you recently changed the car battery or the fob battery, the remote might have lost its sync with the vehicle. Usually, the Jeep is smart enough to re-pair itself, but sometimes it glitches.

Try this to "soft reset" the fob connection:

1. Get in the car with the fob.
2. Press the Start button to "Run" (don't start the engine).
3. Hold down the Unlock and Lock buttons on the fob at the same time for about 10 seconds.
4. Turn the car off and step out.
5. Try the remote start.

The "Two Start" Limit

I feel like nobody tells new owners this, but you can only remote start the Jeep twice in a row.

Let's say you remote start it, it runs for 15 minutes, and then shuts off. You remote start it again, runs for another 15. If you try to do it a third time, it will ignore you. The car demands that you physically unlock the door and cycle the ignition (turn it on and off) to reset the timer.

This is to prevent you from accidentally starting the car in your pocket and letting it run for 5 hours until it runs out of gas.

Uconnect Settings and Valet Mode

Dig into your radio screen. The Uconnect system allows you to toggle the remote start system on and off. I've seen it happen where a software update resets settings to default, or a kid playing with the screen accidentally turns it off.

Go to Settings -> Doors & Locks -> Remote Start. Make sure the box is checked. If it is checked, uncheck it, turn the car off, open the door to shut down the radio, then turn it back on and re-check the box. Sometimes toggling it resets the software logic.

Also, check if Valet Mode is on. Valet mode limits the car's performance and disables features like remote start so a parking attendant can't joyride your Jeep. If this is active, you'll need your PIN to turn it off.

How to Reset the System (The Hard Reset)

If you have checked the gas, the hood, the batteries, and there is no Check Engine Light, the computer might just be frozen. It happens. Think of it like rebooting your phone.

To do a hard reset on the Grand Cherokee modules:

1. Open the hood and locate the battery (remember, on the Grand Cherokee the battery is technically under the seat, but there are jump terminals under the hood-however, for a reset, you really want to disconnect the actual negative terminal under the passenger seat if you can reach it. If not, disconnecting the jump post negative under the hood might work but accessing the battery is better).
2. Disconnect the Negative (-) cable.
3. Let it sit for about 15 to 30 minutes. This drains the capacitors in the computer modules.
4. Reconnect the cable.
5. Start the car manually and drive it for a few miles to let the sensors recalibrate.
6. Park, lock up, and try the remote start.

Be warned: this will likely reset your radio presets and clock.

When to see the Dealer

If you've done all the above and it's still dead, you might have a bad RF Hub. The RF Hub is the receiver that catches the signal from your key. There was actually a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for some Jeep models regarding the RF Hub locking up.

If the RF Hub is bad, no amount of battery changing will fix it. The dealership has to replace the module and reprogram your keys. It’s not cheap, usually running a few hundred bucks, but if you're still under warranty, it should be covered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does my Jeep honk once but not start?
A: One short honk usually indicates the system tried to engage but failed a safety check immediately. This is almost always a door ajar, hood ajar, or a key fob left inside the vehicle.

Q: Can I use remote start if my Check Engine Light is on?
A: Generally, no. The system is hard-coded to disable remote start if the CEL is active to prevent engine damage. You must clear the code first.

Q: How long will the remote start run for?
A: On the 2020 Grand Cherokee, it runs for 15 minutes. You can extend it once for another 15 minutes, giving you a total of 30 minutes.

Q: My lights flash, but the engine doesn't crank. Why?
A: This usually points to the Immobilizer system. The car is receiving the signal (lights flash) but isn't authorizing the engine to fire. This often requires a key reprogramming at the dealer.

Q: Does the weather affect remote start?
A: Only if it kills your battery. Extreme cold drops battery voltage. Since the remote start system has a voltage cutoff, a super cold morning might drop your battery just low enough to disable the system, even if the car would still start manually.