How-to · Elgin CDJR · Streamwood, IL
Jeep Grand Cherokee Air Suspension: Quadra-Lift Ride Heights
The available Quadra-Lift Air Suspension on the Jeep Grand Cherokee levels the vehicle full time and lets you raise or lower it with a toggle switch near the terrain switch in the center console. Here is what each ride height does, when it changes height on its own, how Selec-Terrain modes set the height, and the modes for tire changes, transport and towing, from the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner's Manual.
About 2.4 inup in Off-Road 2 (3.0 in on Trailhawk)
About 1.6 inup in Off-Road 1
About 1 indown at the rear in Aero Height
About 2 indown at the rear in Entry/Exit Height
The short answer
Quadra-Lift keeps the Grand Cherokee level and has five ride heights: Off-Road 2 and Off-Road 1 raise it for off-road driving, Normal Ride Height is for everyday driving, Aero Height lowers it at highway speeds, and Entry/Exit Height lowers it for getting in and loading. With the engine running, push the toggle switch up or down one step at a time; each height has a speed limit, and the vehicle also changes height on its own with speed and with some Selec-Terrain modes.
Grand Cherokee Quadra-Lift ride heights
Heights are approximate and measured from Normal Ride Height (NRH):
| Ride height | Change | How to select it and when it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Off-Road 2 (OR2) | Up about 2.4 in (60 mm); Trailhawk about 3.0 in (75 mm) | For off-road use only, where maximum ground clearance is required. Push the UP button twice from NRH, or once from OR1, below 20 mph. Above 25 mph it lowers to OR1. |
| Off-Road 1 (OR1) | Up about 1.6 in (40 mm) | The primary position for all off-road driving until OR2 is needed. Push UP once from NRH below 38 mph. Above 50 mph, or between 40 and 50 mph for more than 20 seconds, it lowers to NRH. |
| Normal Ride Height (NRH) | 0 in | The standard position, for normal driving. |
| Aero Height | Down about 0.8 in (21 mm) front, 1.0 in (25 mm) rear | Improves aerodynamics. Entered automatically above 66 mph, or between 62 and 66 mph for more than 20 seconds; returns to NRH below 30 mph, or between 30 and 35 mph for more than 20 seconds. In SPORT mode it enters Aero regardless of speed. |
| Entry/Exit Height | Down about 1.8 in (46 mm) front, 2.0 in (50 mm) rear | For easier entry and exit and for loading cargo. Push the DOWN button twice from NRH below 4 mph. Push UP twice, or drive over 6 mph, to leave it. |
From the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner's Manual (Air Suspension, If Equipped: Quadra-Lift, If Equipped), read October 27, 2026.
How to use the Quadra-Lift switch
Each push of the toggle switch moves the suspension one position up or down, as long as the conditions are met: ignition on, speed below the limit for that height, and doors closed when lowering. You can push it several times, up to OR2 or down to Entry/Exit Height, or to the highest or lowest position allowed at the time. The engine must be running for all changes.
- If a door is opened while the vehicle is lowering, the change is not completed until the doors are closed.
- When raising, the rear moves up first and then the front; when lowering, the front moves down first and then the rear. This keeps the headlights from shining into oncoming traffic.
- After the engine is turned off, the air suspension may operate briefly. The manual says this is normal: the system is correcting the vehicle's position.
- Default ride height is Aero Height or Normal Ride Height. To store it, move the switch to the height you want and stay there for 2.5 seconds.
- On vehicles with a touchscreen radio, all enabling and disabling of air suspension features is done through the radio.
Auto Entry/Exit: if you turn on the "Auto Entry/Exit" setting in the Uconnect touchscreen radio, the vehicle lowers to Entry/Exit Height on its own, but only with the gear selector in PARK, the terrain switch and the transfer case in AUTO, and the vehicle at Normal or Aero Height. It does not lower automatically from OR1 or OR2.
From the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner's Manual (Quadra-Lift: Description, Operation, Default Ride Height, Auto Entry/Exit Mode), read October 27, 2026.
How Selec-Terrain modes set the ride height
On a Grand Cherokee with air suspension, the Selec-Terrain system changes the height to match the mode. You can still change it from the default with the air suspension buttons.
| Selec-Terrain mode | Air suspension height |
|---|---|
| ROCK (4WD LOW only) | Changes to Off-Road 2 (OR2) for ground clearance. If the transfer case is switched from 4WD LOW to 4WD HI, Selec-Terrain returns to AUTO. |
| SAND/MUD | Changes to Off-Road 1 (OR1). |
| SNOW | Default ride height is Normal Ride Height. |
| AUTO | Only raises to Normal Ride Height. If the vehicle is in OR1 or OR2, it does not lower automatically until the speed thresholds are exceeded. |
| SPORT (4WD HI only) | Drops the vehicle to Aero Height, with firmer suspension and steering. |
From the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner's Manual (Selec-Terrain; Sport Mode), read October 27, 2026.
Tire/Jack, Transport and Wheel Alignment modes
Tire/Jack Mode
Disables automatic leveling to help with changing a spare tire. Turn it on in the radio with the ignition on. Driving above 5 mph or deselecting the setting turns it off.
Transport Mode
For flatbed towing: puts the vehicle at Entry/Exit Height and disables automatic load leveling. A Grand Cherokee with Quadra-Lift must be in Transport Mode before it is tied down by the body on a trailer or flatbed; if it cannot be (for example, the engine will not run), fasten tie-downs over the tires with straps, not to the body. Driving above 3 mph turns it off.
Wheel Alignment Mode
Must be turned on before a wheel alignment. Driving above 5 mph or deselecting the setting turns it off.
Suspension Display Messages
A setting that lets you display only suspension warnings in the instrument cluster.
From the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner's Manual (Air Suspension Modes; Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle), read October 27, 2026. Each mode is intended to be enabled with the ignition on.
What the indicator lamps and lights mean
Indicator lamps 1 through 5 show the current height, and flashing lamps show a position the system is working to reach: when raising, the highest flashing lamp is the target; when lowering, the lowest solid lamp is the target.
| Lamps lit | Height or mode |
|---|---|
| 1 through 5 | Off-Road 2 |
| 2 through 5 | Off-Road 1 |
| 3 through 5 | Normal Ride Height, Tire/Jack Mode or Wheel Alignment Mode |
| 4 and 5 | Aero Height |
| 5 only | Entry/Exit Height or Transport Mode |
From the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner's Manual (Quadra-Lift: Operation; Warning Lights; Indicator Lights), read October 27, 2026.
In the instrument cluster, the Air Suspension Fault Warning Light turns on when a fault is detected in the air suspension system. The Air Suspension Active Indicator Light turns on while the system is adjusting the ride height, and the Max Payload Exceeded Indicator Light means the maximum payload may have been exceeded or load leveling cannot be achieved at the current height.
Towing with Quadra-Lift
Keep the engine running with all doors closed while you attach a trailer, so the air suspension levels properly. If the gross trailer weight is 5,000 lb or more, the manual requires a weight-distributing hitch; its adjustment steps for Quadra-Lift vehicles start at Normal Ride Height and use Tire/Jack mode, which you switch off at the end and check that the vehicle returns to Normal Ride Height.
Towing the Grand Cherokee itself behind another vehicle depends on the drivetrain. The manual says two-wheel drive models must not be flat towed (only with the rear wheels off the ground), and Quadra-Trac I models without 4WD Low may not be recreationally towed at all; they may go on a flatbed or vehicle trailer with all four wheels off the ground. Only Quadra-Trac II models with 4WD Low can be flat towed, after shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL by the full procedure in the manual. For those models with Quadra-Lift, the manual says to set Normal Ride Height with Auto Entry/Exit deselected, and to start the engine and leave it running for at least 60 seconds, with all doors closed, at least once every 24 hours so the air suspension can adjust for temperature.
From the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner's Manual (Weight-Distributing Hitch; Recommended Distribution Hitch Adjustment; Recreational Towing: Two-Wheel Drive, Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II With 4WD Low Range), read October 27, 2026. Follow every step in your manual before towing.
Jeep service at Elgin CDJR
The manual says the air suspension system uses a high-pressure volume of air, and to avoid personal injury or damage to the system, see an authorized dealer for service. If the Air Suspension Fault Warning Light comes on or your Grand Cherokee will not hold its height, schedule a visit with our Jeep service department and tell your service advisor what the cluster shows.
Our service department is open Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sunday; holiday hours can differ. Elgin CDJR is at 1500 W. Lake St. (U.S. 20) in Streamwood. Get directions.
Schedule service online, or see our Jeep service center page.
Jeep Grand Cherokee air suspension FAQ
How do I raise my Grand Cherokee air suspension?
With the engine running, push the UP button once from Normal Ride Height for Off-Road 1 (about 1.6 inches, below 38 mph), or twice for Off-Road 2 (about 2.4 inches, or 3.0 inches on Trailhawk, below 20 mph).
How do I lower my Grand Cherokee to load it?
Push the DOWN button twice from Normal Ride Height below 4 mph for Entry/Exit Height. Push UP twice or drive over 6 mph to leave it. You can also turn on Auto Entry/Exit in the radio.
Why does my Grand Cherokee lower itself on the highway?
That is Aero Height. It lowers about 0.8 inch in front and 1.0 inch at the rear above 66 mph, or between 62 and 66 mph for more than 20 seconds, and returns to Normal below 30 mph.
Why does the air suspension run after I turn the engine off?
The manual says it is normal: the system briefly corrects the vehicle's position after the engine is turned off.
How do I change a tire on a Grand Cherokee with air suspension?
Turn on Tire/Jack Mode in the radio with the ignition on. It disables automatic leveling, and it turns off when you drive above 5 mph or deselect it.
Which Selec-Terrain modes change the ride height?
ROCK raises it to Off-Road 2, SAND/MUD to Off-Road 1, SPORT lowers it to Aero Height, and SNOW defaults to Normal Ride Height.
Does Quadra-Lift need to be in a special mode on a flatbed?
Yes. Put it in Transport Mode before tying it down by the body. If it cannot be put in Transport Mode, fasten tie-downs over the tires with straps.
Air suspension warning light on?
Schedule a visit at Elgin CDJR in Streamwood, and tell your advisor which light or message the cluster shows.
Sources
Ride heights, speeds, modes and towing notes are from the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner's Manual, read on October 27, 2026; not every Grand Cherokee has Quadra-Lift, and other model years can differ, so check your own manual. Our services, address and hours are from our own website, checked the same day. Photo is illustrative.