FIXED: 2024 jeep grand cherokee remote start not working

If your 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee remote start isn't working, the first thing you need to do is check your dashboard for a Check Engine Light or a Low Fuel warning. Those are the two biggest culprits. If those are clear, walk around the car and firmly shut every single door, the hood, and the rear liftgate. The car's computer cancels the start command if it thinks the car isn't sealed up tight.

It's incredibly frustrating when you press that x2 button on the fob, see the lights flash, and then... nothing happens. Or worse, the horn honks once and the engine refuses to turn over. I've been there, and usually, it's a safety feature doing its job rather than a broken part. Here is a deep dive into everything that stops the 2024 Grand Cherokee from remote starting and how you can fix it yourself.

The "Safety Lockout" Features

Jeep designed the remote start system to be overly cautious. According to the manufacturer guidelines, the car is programmed to disable remote start if any specific safety parameters aren't met. It feels annoying, but its actually there to stop the car from running in a dangerous situation or getting stolen.

1. The Hood Pin Switch

This is honestly the most common mechanical reason I see. There is a sensor under the hood (usually near the latch) that tells the computer if the hood is open. If this sensor is broken, bent, or if the hood just isn't slammed down hard enough, the Jeep thinks the hood is up.

If the car thinks the hood is up, it won't start. Why? Because if a mechanic had their hands in the fan belt and someone remote started it from the kitchen, that mechanic would lose a finger. So, go out to the Jeep, pop the hood, and slam it shut firmly. Try the remote start again.

2. Door and Liftgate Sensors

Similar to the hood, if a door is slightly ajar-even if it looks closed-the system aborts. Sometimes a seatbelt gets caught in the door jamb or the rear liftgate didn't latch all the way because a cargo mat slid back.

Check your dashboard display. If the cluster says "Door Ajar" or "Liftgate Open," that is your problem. Clear the obstruction, close it, and you're good to go.

3. The Hazard Lights

This is a weird one that people forget. If your hazard lights (flashers) are turned on, the remote start is disabled. Maybe you parked temporarily and forgot to turn them off? Double check that button.

Fluid and Mechanical Levels

Your Jeep is smart enough to know its own vitals. If it doesn't feel "healthy," it won't run without you in the driver's seat.

4. Low Fuel Level

If your gas light is on, remote start is a no-go. The logic here is pretty solid: the car doesn't want to idle for 15 minutes, burn up the last gallon of gas, and leave you stranded with a dead car in your driveway. Usually, if the needle is hovering around the "E" or the specific low fuel warning is triggered, the remote start feature turns off until you fill up.

5. Oil Pressure and Coolant

If the oil pressure is reading dangerously low or the coolant temperature is already too high, the system protects the engine by refusing to start. However, if this is happening, you likely have bigger problems than just the remote start not working.

The Check Engine Light (CEL)

This is the big one. If your Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)-better known as the Check Engine Light-is on, remote start is disabled immediately. No exceptions.

The computer (ECU) figures that if there is an emission problem or engine fault, it shouldn't be running unattended. The frustrating part is that a CEL can be triggered by something super minor, like a loose gas cap.

How to fix it:
Check your gas cap. If it wasn't clicked tight, tighten it and drive the car for a few cycles. The light might go off on its own. If the light stays on, you need to get an OBDII scanner (you can borrow one from an auto parts store) to see what the code is. Once the code is cleared and the problem fixed, remote start will work again.

Battery Issues

When we talk about batteries, we are talking about two different things: the one in your hand and the one under the hood.

6. The Key Fob Battery

Even though your Grand Cherokee is a 2024 model, it's possible the battery in the fob was part of a bad batch or has just drained. If the battery is weak, the signal might not be strong enough to reach the car, or the car might ignore it.

Usually, the dash will tell you "Key Fob Battery Low." If you see that, swap it out. It takes a CR2032 battery. Its a cheap fix and takes about two minutes.

7. The Vehicle Battery

Modern Jeeps have massive electrical demands. If your main 12-volt battery is getting weak, the car starts shutting down "non-essential" services to save power for the actual starter motor. Remote start is considered non-essential.

If you live in a really cold climate, your battery voltage might drop overnight. If it drops below a certain threshold, the remote start system won't engage. If you notice the car struggling to start even when you are inside pushing the button, get your battery tested.

Tech and Software Glitches

The 2024 Grand Cherokee is basically a rolling computer. Sometimes, computers need a reboot.

8. The "Two Start" Limit

Did you know there is a hard limit on how many times you can use the feature? You can remote start the Jeep twice. Each time it runs for 15 minutes. After two consecutive remote starts, the system locks out.

To reset this counter, you have to physically get in the car, press the brake, and start the engine with the Push-to-Start button. Once you've done a manual start cycle, the remote start counter resets to zero.

9. Gear Selection

This sounds obvious, but the car must be in PARK. Sometimes the shifter knob (since it's a dial now) doesn't click fully into 'P'. If the car thinks it is in Reverse or Neutral, it absolutely will not start. Toggle the shifter to Drive and back to Park just to be sure.

10. Uconnect and Subscription Issues

If you are trying to start the car using the Jeep app on your phone rather than the key fob, you are dealing with a whole different set of issues. The app relies on three things:

• Your phone having signal.
• The Jeep having 4G/LTE signal (AT&T usually).
• Your subscription being active.

If your trial period for Jeep Connect expired, the app button won't work anymore. Also, the app is notoriously glitchy. Sometimes signing out and signing back in fixes it. If the key fob works but the app doesn't, you know its a network or software issue, not a mechanical one.

The 4xe Hybrid Nuance

If you drove off the lot with the Grand Cherokee 4xe (the plug-in hybrid), you have a few extra variables. The 4xe system manages the High Voltage (HV) battery and the gas engine.

According to some forums and owner manuals, if the High Voltage battery is critically low or if the system is in a specific "Electric Mode" lockout, it might behave differently than the standard V6 or V8 models. However, usually, the gas engine should still kick on for climate control unless the fuel is also low.

How to Troubleshoot (Step-by-Step)

Okay, so you've read the list and you aren't sure which one it is. Follow this flow to figure it out.

Step 1: The Dashboard Check
Get in the car and start it manually. Look at the dash. Is the Check Engine Light on? Is the Low Fuel light on? Is there a message saying "Door Ajar"? If yes, fix that first.

Step 2: The Physical Check
Walk around. Push on the hood. Push on the liftgate. Make sure the gas cap is tight.

Step 3: The Battery Reboot (The "IT Crowd" Fix)
If there are no warning lights and everything is closed, the computer might just be confused. You can try disconnecting the negative terminal on the 12v battery for about 15 minutes. This forces the modules to reset.

Note: This might reset your radio presets and clock, but it often clears temporary glitches in the remote start module.

Step 4: Check Valet Mode
Some Jeeps have a "Valet Mode" buried in the Uconnect settings. When this is on, it restricts performance and features. Make sure you didn't accidentally toggle this on.

Common Questions on RF Interference

Sometimes the problem isn't the car, it's the air. Radio Frequency (RF) interference can block the signal from your fob.

If you are parked near a massive radio tower, high-tension power lines, or even a building with a ton of WiFi networks, the signal might get scrambled. If the remote start works perfectly at the grocery store but never works in your driveway, interference might be the issue. Try holding the fob under your chin (yes, it sounds crazy, but your skull acts as a parabolic reflector) to boost the range slightly, or just get closer to the vehicle.

When to Visit the Dealer

Since your car is a 2024 model, it is almost certainly still under the factory warranty. If you have checked the fuel, the doors, and the battery, and it still won't work, don't tear the car apart.

There is a module called the RF Hub or the BCM (Body Control Module) that handles these requests. If that module is faulty, no amount of hood slamming will fix it. Also, there might be a software update available. Manufacturers release "flashes" (updates) for the computer systems all the time to fix bugs like this.

Take it to the dealer and tell them: "I've checked the doors and there is no check engine light, but remote start fails." They can plug in their heavy-duty scanners and see exactly why the request was denied. The computer actually logs the "Refusal Reason" deep in the code.

Quick Summary of the Remote Start Sequence

Just to make sure you are doing it right (we all have brain farts sometimes):

1. Press and release the LOCK button on the fob.
2. Immediately press and release the REMOTE START (x2) button twice.
3. The turn signals should flash.
4. The engine should start (or the electric mode should engage for 4xe).

Some people hold the button down. Don't hold it. Just press-press.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Jeep honk but not start?

If it honks once and doesn't start, that is usually the car telling you, "I received the command, but I am refusing to do it." This is almost always a safety lockout issue like a door ajar or a hood switch issue. It means the signal is good, but the car's status is bad.

Does remote start turn on the heated seats?

Yes, usually! In the Uconnect settings, there is a section called "Auto-On Comfort." You can set it so that if the outside temperature is below 40 degrees, the remote start automatically turns on the heated driver seat and heated steering wheel. Its a life saver in the winter.

How long will the Jeep run on remote start?

It runs for 15 minutes. You can extend it by performing the remote start sequence again while it is running, which adds another 15 minutes to the timer (for a total of 30 minutes max). After that, it shuts off.

Can I drive off without the key if I remote started it?

No. Even though the engine is running, the shifter remains locked. You have to get in with the key fob on your person and press the "Start/Stop" button to "take over" the car. If you tap the brake pedal before pushing the start button, the engine will likely shut off.

Will remote start work if my panic alarm is going off?

No. If the panic alarm has been triggered, the remote start system is disabled until the alarm is cleared and the car is reset.