Head-to-head reliability
JEEP Grand Cherokee vs FORD F 150
How the JEEP Grand Cherokee 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 vs FORD F 150: Jeep averages 332 complaints per year, Ford 1,131. Jeep owners report hybrid/electrical failures and sudden power loss; Ford owners report transmission hard shifts and camera malfunctions. Ford has 145 recalls, Jeep 96. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the JEEP Grand Cherokee or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
JEEP Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee, over the past decade, has accumulated a substantial number of complaints, averaging about 332 per year. Owners frequently report issues with the electrical system, including hybrid/electric malfunctions, and engine problems such as sudden loss of propulsion. These patterns suggest that while the vehicle offers comfort and capability, it may require frequent dealer visits for recurring electronic and powertrain glitches.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, with an average of over 1,100 complaints per year, shows a high volume of reported issues, particularly in the powertrain and electrical systems. Many owners describe harsh shifting and transmission failures, along with camera and sensor malfunctions. This indicates that despite its popularity, the F-150 may have reliability concerns that could affect daily driving and ownership satisfaction.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | JEEP Grand Cherokee | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,319 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 96 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 174 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 331.9 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 122 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 | 1 Better |
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
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,177
- 02ENGINE705
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER687
- 04POWER TRAIN449
- 05SERVICE BRAKES321
Owners report serious malfunctions between hybrid and electric systems, with loud engine noises and failure of both modes. Warning lights for fuel and oil refresh persist even after refueling, indicating software or sensor issues.
Sudden loss of propulsion at highway speeds has occurred multiple times in some vehicles, requiring towing. This dangerous defect can leave drivers stranded and poses a safety risk.
Progressive alignment issues, with caster out of specification, cause ongoing handling problems. Owners also report serious safety issues with new vehicles, leading to warranty claims.
A strange thump at highway speeds and shuddering at lower speeds are reported, with dealers often dismissing them as normal. These symptoms may indicate driveline or transmission problems.
“See attached document for complaint. This letter is to fo rmally notify you of my vehicle's fai lure to conform to the express warranties under the Ill inois Lemon Law, and to demand compensation. The vehicle had a significant defect that was not, and r bel i…”
“There is a serious malfunction between the hybrid and electric systems. The engine is making a loud noise, and neither the hybrid nor electric mode functions properly. In addition, the fuel and oil refresh warning remains on, even after refueling. These issue…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Hard and delayed shifts, particularly from 7th to 8th gear, are common. Some owners experience complete loss of power and vehicle shutdown, followed by hard jerks, indicating transmission control issues.
Loud bangs from the transmission during downshifts are accompanied by popping sounds from the rear suspension. Additionally, front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist unavailability warnings appear on the dash frequently.
While not detailed in the sample, the high number of 'unknown or other' complaints suggests a variety of unclassified issues that may affect overall satisfaction.
Although not in the sample, exterior lighting complaints are numerous, with recalls for headlights, indicating potential visibility or durability concerns.
“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 — 96 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. A software error within the hybrid control processor may result in a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the hybrid control processer software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 14, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 73C. Veh…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Jeep Wrangler 4Xe and 2022-2026 Grand Cherokee 4Xe vehicles. The high voltage battery may fail internally and lead to a vehicle fire while parked or driving.
The risk: A vehicle fire can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and not to charge their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will update the high voltage battery software, and replace the high voltage battery, as necessary, free of…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2023-2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. A software error in the occupant restraint controller module may cause the delayed deployment of the side air bags during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the…
The risk: Delayed air bag deployment during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the occupant restraint controller module software, free of charge. Some owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 18, 2026. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. A software error within the hybrid control processor may result in a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the hybrid control processer software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 14, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 73C. Veh…
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 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Jeep Grand Cherokee has fewer complaints per year (about 332) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,131). This suggests that, on average, Jeep owners report fewer issues annually, but the nature of the problems (e.g., sudden loss of power) can be severe. In practice, the F-150's higher complaint volume may translate to more frequent visits to the shop.
Key differences
- Jeep Grand Cherokee owners report hybrid/electric system malfunctions and sudden loss of propulsion, while Ford F-150 owners report transmission hard shifting and loss of power.
- The Ford F-150 has a much higher annual complaint rate (1,131 vs 332), indicating a higher likelihood of encountering issues.
- Jeep Grand Cherokee has more electrical system complaints (1,177) relative to its total, while Ford F-150 has more powertrain complaints (3,553).
- Both vehicles have recalls, but the Ford F-150 has more recalls (145 vs 96), suggesting more widespread issues.
- Check for any warning lights related to hybrid or electric systems, and test both modes to ensure they function properly.
- Inspect the vehicle's alignment and handling, as owners report progressive caster issues that can worsen over time.
- Test drive at highway speeds and listen for hard shifts or clunks, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears.
- Check if the front camera and pre-collision assist warnings appear on startup, as these are common electrical issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to see if any recalls have been performed, especially for the hybrid system on the Jeep and transmission on the Ford.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the electrical system and transmission.
- Test drive both vehicles under various conditions, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic, to feel for any unusual vibrations or shifts.
- Ask for maintenance records to see if the owner addressed any recurring issues.
- Check for open recalls using the VIN on the NHTSA website before finalizing the purchase.
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 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 45 | 24 |
| 2025 | 70 | 329 |
| 2024 | 240 | 617 |
| 2023 | 381 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 366 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 401 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 234 | 33 |
| 2019 | 365 | 36 |
| 2018 | 853 | 56 |
| 2017 | 364 | 43 |
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 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- JEEP Grand Cherokee vs FORD F 150
- JEEP Grand Cherokee total complaints
- 3,319
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- JEEP Grand Cherokee total recalls
- 96
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- JEEP Grand Cherokee avg complaints/year
- 331.9
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- JEEP Grand Cherokee
- JEEP Grand Cherokee top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN