OBD codes / P0302 / Jeep Grand Cherokee
P0302 on a Jeep Grand Cherokee
Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected
3.6L Pentastar V6, WK2 (2011–2021) and later
What P0302 usually means on a Grand Cherokee
P0302 isolates a misfire to cylinder 2, and on the 3.6 Pentastar that location carries weight. The early-generation cylinder-head failures on 2011–2013 engines frequently showed up as a left-bank or cylinder-2 misfire, often paired with a P0300. That said, the ordinary causes come first: a failed coil or plug on cylinder 2, or an injector problem. A head-related failure usually adds a rough cold start and a ticking, exhaust-like noise, and the misfire returns after plugs and coils are swapped.
Most likely causes on this model
- Ignition coil or spark plug on cylinder 2
Swap-test the coil to a neighboring cylinder first; if the misfire follows the coil, you have your answer cheaply.
- Fuel injector on cylinder 2
A clogged or failing injector starves that one cylinder and mimics an ignition fault.
- Early Pentastar cylinder-head / valve-seat failure
On 2011–2013 3.6 engines this is a documented pattern, typically with low compression on the affected cylinder.
- Low compression from a burnt valve
A leak-down test confirms whether the misfire is mechanical rather than electrical.
What it costs on a Grand Cherokee
If it is a coil or plug, this is an inexpensive repair well under a couple hundred dollars. If a leak-down points to the early-build head problem, you are into a cylinder-head replacement that runs well into four figures with labor. The wide gap between those outcomes is exactly why testing before parts matters here.
Grand Cherokee owners also ask
Does a cylinder 2 misfire always mean a bad head on the Pentastar?
No. Most cylinder-2 misfires are a bad coil or plug and clear for under a couple hundred dollars. The head-failure pattern is real on early 3.6 engines but should be confirmed with a compression or leak-down test, not assumed.
How do I quickly tell a coil problem from a head problem?
Move the cylinder-2 coil to another cylinder and clear the code. If the misfire follows the coil, the coil is bad; if it stays on cylinder 2, suspect the plug, injector, or a mechanical fault in that cylinder.
Year, engine and mileage change the answer. Get a diagnosis for your Grand Cherokee — it weighs these causes against your exact configuration and real complaint data.
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Based on widely reported patterns for this model; individual causes vary by year, engine and history. Generic P0302 behavior is covered on the main P0302 page. Confirm with a scan tool before buying parts.