Head-to-head reliability
JEEP Grand Cherokee L vs FORD F 150
How the JEEP Grand Cherokee L and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
JEEP Grand Cherokee L vs FORD F 150: The Jeep averages 79 complaints per year, with key issues in electrical and forward collision systems, while the Ford averages 1131 complaints per year, dominated by powertrain problems. The Jeep has 24 recalls, the Ford 145. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the JEEP Grand Cherokee L or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
JEEP Grand Cherokee L
The Jeep Grand Cherokee L, in its first six years, shows a high rate of owner complaints, averaging 79 per year. The dominant issues are electrical system failures, particularly around gear shifting and park-state errors, and forward collision avoidance problems, including reports of brakes failing and airbags not deploying in crashes. Engine complaints include abnormal noises and warning lights. This pattern suggests a vehicle that may have significant electronic and safety system reliability concerns, which could lead to unexpected and potentially dangerous situations.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, over a decade, has a much higher total complaint count but also a higher annual average of 1131 complaints. The most frequent issues are in the powertrain, especially the 10R80 automatic transmission, with owners reporting hard shifts, jerks, and even loss of power. Electrical system problems, such as camera and pre-collision assist malfunctions, are also common. While the F-150 has more complaints overall, its long production run and high sales volume contribute to the numbers, but the transmission issues are a clear and recurring concern for owners.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | JEEP Grand Cherokee L | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 474 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 25 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 79.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 15 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
JEEP Grand Cherokee L
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM152
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE110
- 03ENGINE75
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER66
- 05STEERING63
Owners report the vehicle failing to shift properly from Reverse to Drive, and other gear/park-state errors. This can leave the driver unable to move or uncertain if the vehicle is in park, a serious safety risk.
There are reports of sudden brake failure during a crash, and the airbag system failing to deploy in a serious collision. These are critical safety systems that owners expect to work flawlessly, and their failure is alarming.
Complaints include abnormal hissing and tapping sounds from the engine compartment with the check engine light on. This suggests potential engine issues that could lead to breakdowns or performance problems.
“I am reporting recurring safety-related shifting and vehicle gear/park-state concerns involving my 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve. On multiple occasions, the vehicle has failed to transition properly from Reverse into Drive. I reported this Reverse…”
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Component: Engine/Powertrain and Electrical System. Availability: Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection. ⸻ 2. How was your safety or the safety of others…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 transmission is a major source of complaints, with hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even loss of power and vehicle shutdown. These issues can be unpredictable and dangerous in traffic.
Owners report persistent warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' appearing every time they start the truck. This indicates a recurring electronic issue that may disable safety features.
While not detailed in the sample, exterior lighting complaints are numerous, suggesting potential headlight failures or malfunctions that could reduce visibility at night.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
JEEP Grand Cherokee L — 24 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L vehicles. A software error in the instrument panel cluster may cause the speedometer to display the incorrect vehicle speed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicl…
The risk: Driving without knowing the vehicle's actual speed increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and update the instrument panel cluster software as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 3, 2024. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this r…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. An improperly secured connector for the front seat side air bags (SAB) may prevent the air bags from deploying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Fed…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers secured the connector, free of charge. All affected vehicles have been remedied. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2024. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is B…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L vehicles. The radiator crossmember bolts may not be properly secured, which can lead to improper air bag deployments and a fuel leak during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements…
The risk: An improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury. A fuel leak can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and secure the crossmember bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 9, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is D1B.
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024 Jeep Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, Grand Cherokee, and Grand Cherokee L vehicles. Incorrect software in the rearview camera module may cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal…
The risk: A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is D5B.
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
JEEP Grand Cherokee L or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Jeep Grand Cherokee L has fewer complaints per year (79) compared to the Ford F-150 (1131), but the nature of the Jeep's issues—especially with safety systems like brakes and airbags—may be more concerning. The F-150's transmission problems are widespread but perhaps more predictable. In practice, the Jeep may have a lower frequency of issues, but the severity of potential failures could be higher.
Key differences
- The Jeep has a higher proportion of complaints related to forward collision avoidance and airbag deployment failures, which are critical safety systems.
- The Ford's most common issue is transmission harshness and failure, which can lead to loss of power and dangerous situations.
- The Jeep's electrical system complaints often involve gear shifting and park-state errors, while the Ford's electrical issues are more about camera and pre-collision warnings.
- The Ford has a much higher annual complaint rate, but also a longer production history and higher sales volume, which may skew the numbers.
- Check for any signs of transmission or gear shifting issues, such as hesitation or failure to engage Drive or Reverse.
- Inspect the forward collision and airbag systems for any warning lights or previous repair history, as failures have been reported.
- Test drive the F-150 and pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears, for any hard jerks or clunks.
- Look for persistent dashboard warnings about front camera or pre-collision assist, which may indicate an electrical issue.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission and electrical systems.
- Test drive both vehicles in stop-and-go traffic to assess transmission behavior and any electronic glitches.
- Ask for service records, especially for any transmission or electrical repairs.
- Check the NHTSA website for the latest complaints and recalls on the specific model year you are considering.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | JEEP Grand Cherokee L | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 24 | 24 |
| 2025 | 32 | 329 |
| 2024 | 40 | 617 |
| 2023 | 85 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 216 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 77 | 5234 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific JEEP Grand Cherokee L or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- JEEP Grand Cherokee L vs FORD F 150
- JEEP Grand Cherokee L total complaints
- 474
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- JEEP Grand Cherokee L total recalls
- 24
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- JEEP Grand Cherokee L avg complaints/year
- 79.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- JEEP Grand Cherokee L
- JEEP Grand Cherokee L top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN