JEEP Grand Cherokee Reliability by Year
Best & Worst Years, Problems & Recalls — NHTSA Data
Comparing used JEEP Grand Cherokee options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
Model-year trends show patterns. Run a VIN check for the exact JEEP Grand Cherokee you plan to buy.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the JEEP Grand Cherokee has 3,123 owner complaints and 84 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2018 drew the most complaints; 2026 drew the fewest.
- Make
- JEEP
- Model
- Grand Cherokee
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 3,123
- Safety recall campaigns
- 84
- Crash-related complaints
- 162
- Fire-related complaints
- 32
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2018 (826 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2026 (2 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
JEEP Grand Cherokee: Which Years to Avoid & Which to Buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
⭐ NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
PoorThe JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE has 3,123 NHTSA complaints and 84 recalls on record. 162 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 3,123 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 84 federal recall campaigns
- 162 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
🔔 NHTSA Safety Recalls
84 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
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Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
🔧 Most-Reported Problem Areas
Based on component keywords extracted from all 3,123 NHTSA complaints.
📋 NHTSA Complaint Reports
3,123 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
First, after a trip of approximately 100 miles, the vehicle would not advance after stopping at a STOP sign. I had to shift from DRIVE to PARK and back to DRIVE before the vehicle would move. In the second case, again after a trip over 100 miles, primarily on the highway, the vehicle failed to shift out of first gear while the engine revved to over 7,000 RPM when I left an intersection. In that instance a warning light came up on the dash indicating RPMs in the red zone. Once again I had to pull over, put the vehicle in PARK and re-engage DRIVE before the vehicle would drive in a more normal fashion. It was the following day, when I entered the dealership for a service appointment, that the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle did not run smoothly. The service department determined it was a spark plug issue and claims the problem has been resolved. They also said this issue is fairly common on new (2026) Jeep Grand Cherokee models. There is less than 1,200 miles on the vehicle. I feel I was very lucky that the situation in both instances was relatively safe and there was minimal risk of injury, death and/or property damage. I have lost all confidence in the vehicle.
Heavy vibration of entire vehicle when in reverse. Occasional lack of power when accelerating. Issues with the transmission occasionally failing to shift gears.
The contact owns a 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle felt like it went into neutral. All the instrument lights illuminated. The brakes were depressed but failed to respond. The driver lost control of the vehicle and clipped an unknown vehicle. and crashed into a concrete barrier. The driver sustained knee, back, and stomach injuries, and medical attention was provided at the emergency room. The airbags deployed. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The failure mileage was unknown.
I am writing to formally report a serious safety issue with my brand-new Jeep Grand Cherokee (got it from DARCARS Rockville, MD dealership) and to request immediate resolution under warranty and applicable consumer protection laws. I purchased this vehicle with the expectation of reliability, safety, and comfort for my family. Unfortunately, within a very short period of ownership, the vehicle has experienced repeated and dangerous failures. On 17th April 2026, while traveling at approximately 65 mph on a highway in Pennsylvania around 1:00 AM, the vehicle suddenly shut down without warning. This created an extremely hazardous situation for my family. We contacted roadside assistance, but no help arrived until approximately 8:00 AM. Due to freezing temperatures and lack of heat in the vehicle, we were forced to call 911 for assistance and were transported to a nearby hotel around 3:30 AM. The vehicle was subsequently towed to a dealership, where diagnostics were performed. We were informed that the issue was related to a coding or malfunction and that it had been resolved. However, just two days later, while returning home, the exact same issue occurred again under similar conditions—vehicle shutdown at highway speed. Once again, we were stranded at night, forced to rely on emergency services, and did not reach home until approximately 4:30 AM. This pattern of failure is unacceptable and represents a severe safety defect. My family’s safety was put at significant risk on two separate occasions. As a result, we have completely lost confidence in the vehicle’s reliability and safety. Immediate escalation of this case and a full technical investigation A written explanation of the root cause of these failures A permanent resolution to ensure this issue cannot recur Consideration of a manufacturer buyback or replacement under applicable Lemon Law provisions
Was in a head on collision with a lifted Silverado. my vehicle going 35 and other vehicle approximately going 50, took out almost my entire front driver side. No air bags Went off, accident happened @5:55am jeep app says “air bag failure” @ 6:08am
During a cross country trip we exited the highway and noticed a grinding sound from our new 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee. We then limped to a near-by Jeep dealer who diagnosed a bad transmission. We feel very lucky this did not occur on the highway as a crash may have occurred due to the manufacturer defect. The transmission has been replaced after a delay of 35 days. The mileage at the time of the incident was 3,135.
While driving approximately 70 mph on the highway, my 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe experienced a sudden and complete loss of power without warning. This created a dangerous situation with risk of collision. The vehicle is also subject to an active recall related to high-voltage battery fire risk, which prevents safe charging and normal hybrid operation. Additionally, at approximately 12,000 miles, the vehicle developed a transmission pump failure requiring repair. Due to these combined issues, I do not feel the vehicle is safe to operate, particularly when transporting my children. This incident represents a serious safety concern involving loss of propulsion at highway speeds.
The contact owns a 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the tailgate was inoperable. While in the rear of the vehicle, his wife pressed the tailgate button, and the tailgate forcibly closed without warning. The contact sustained an injury to the top of the head that made him fall to the ground, where he lay injured for approximately 20 minutes; medical attention was provided at the clinic and a hospital. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unfamiliar with the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and assigned an inspector from Bosch who was unable to keep the tailgate raised. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000.
The contact owns a 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Auto Emergency Braking Limited - Service Required" was displayed with an audible chime. Additionally, the cruise control became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who reprogrammed the CADM. After retrieving the vehicle, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 4,800.
I am having issues with the screen in my vehicle going black. The dealership repair facility keeps pushing me to Case Number S258A000007 and says that my rear camera and safety features are not impacted, but as you can see from the video and pictures, they are. I have tried contacting the manufacturer with no return call. The dealership repair facility said they will not touch my vehicle, so I am left with an intermediate safety feature issue.
Subject: Forward Collision Warning Plus and Advanced Brake Assist Failure – 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo I am reporting a safety defect involving the Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning Plus and Advanced Brake Assist systems on my 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. The vehicle does not provide forward collision warnings or apply assistive braking in situations where a collision is imminent. On multiple occasions, a vehicle in front of me slowed or stopped while turning into a driveway or parking lot. My Jeep provided no visual alert, no audible warning, and no braking assistance. I had to manually brake to avoid rear‑ending the other vehicles. I brought the vehicle to the dealership. During testing, the system could not be activated on my Jeep. We then tested another Jeep of the same model and year; its system also failed to activate until we were within approximately three feet of the vehicle ahead. My Jeep never activated at any distance. The dealership stated that because Adaptive Cruise Control slows the vehicle when active, the collision warning and brake assist systems must also be functioning. This explanation is inconsistent with how these systems are designed to operate, and it does not address the failure of the Forward Collision Warning Plus system to activate in real‑world or controlled conditions. This appears to be a systemic failure of the collision‑avoidance technology on this model, creating a significant risk of rear‑end collisions.
Vehicle lunges at a dead stop. Vehicle power quit while driving on the highway
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 ieve could never have been, corrected after a reasonable number of attempts. As of the date of this letter, there is still no remedy available for thjs dangerous defect and dealerships cannot and still will not attempt to repair due to this failure on your company. Furthermore, this dangerous recall has been in effect without a remedy for more than 30 business days. The following is a summary of the problem and the repair attempts: • Description of Defect: The charger in the vehicle did not fi rst work in August 2025. The dealership where we purchased the vehicle referenced above, was able to temporarily repair this issue. We were without the car for approximately one week. ln mid-October 2025, we were alerted for a software recall regarding the vehicle which was handled at the same dealership. In late October 2025 we were alerted to another recall alert regarding the vehicle (NHTSA #25V74 J, Chrysler #68C). This recall had no remedy and sti ll does not have a remedy as of the date of this letter and at the time we were left not choice but to " fire sale" the vehicle back to the dealership. Please note due to no fix being available, any attempts to repair wer,e futile and the dealership would not take any appointments when we contacted them several times. Further, the recall advisory stated the following "A vehicle fi re can result in increased risk of occupant injury and injury to persons outside the vehicle. Vehicle risk is reduced when the battery charge level is depleted. Accordingly, owners are advised to refrain from recharging. Out of abundance of caution, FCA US is also advising owners of these vehicles to park away from structures or other vehicles until a remedy is obtained." Clearly, we were not able to use our vehicle due to the recall and were advised not to park near other structures or other vehicles (not sure where we were supposed to park the vehicle). Furthermore, there is yet another recall (issued in early November) that had no remedy regarding the engine and potential issue with propulsion stopping unexpectedly. Obviously, this car was and still is dangerous to charge, drive and even park near anything; basically a ticking time bomb. Again, at the time we fire sold for a huge loss due to the defect not being able to be remedied, the vehicle had not been able to be stored or used safely for over 30 business days, and there still was not a remedy or solution to repair or fix the defect relating to the recalls (and there still is not one as of the date of this letter). This clearly meets the criteria for a "reasonable number of attempts" under the Illinois Lemon Law, specifically either the vehicle being out of service for 30 or more business days or the same issue being repaired four or more times without success. Furthermore. the defect has potentially caused severe and emotional distress for my wife and family due to the fact the recommendation for the defect is to not park the vehicle near a structure or any other vehicle. This has caused sleepless nights in not knowing if this vehicle will sporadically set fire and cause irreparable harm and injury, yet alone loss of life. Due to the fact this defect posed a severe hazard and potentially could cause greater harm (not only severe structure damage but injury and/or loss of life), we sold the car back to the dealership on December 4, 2025 for $38,000 (a much lower value than if it were not for your defects). Please note even the dealership said they could not re-sell the vehicle with a recall without a remedy and would have to auction the vehicle (hence the depressed value they bought the car from us). I am formally requesting that you resolve this matter in accordance with the Ill inois Lemon Law and a
The contact owns a 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V741000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
On multiple occasions, the transmission does not respond to gear changes such as moving from drive to reverse or park into drive. On those occasions, the D for drive would be blinking. More concerning and very dangerous is a lack of propulsion mid drive, the transmission would not go into gear. The engine would rev high, and it would not move forward, except by whatever momentum it originally had. This has happened to me on at least four occasions two of which I was in the left lane of three and four lane wide streets with cars passing me at high speed on the right. I needed to pull over turn the car off and then on again, which is the only way that the transmission would start working again. Sometimes the transmission would be jerky, especially after those incidents. crossing three and four lanes while people are going 50 and 60 miles an hour is a very dangerous situation when you have no power. The car is a new car. I have had it for only two months and it has been doing this intermittently the entire time. This has been at the dealer for service two times so far and has not been able to be replicated, however, I do have one incident on video. There were no warning lamps messages, and there are no error codes that are found by the dealer.
See uploads for detailed information.
The current recall is unable to happen as it has to be over 50 degrees. This is the second major recall in under one year. I have had issues with the radio, apple car play, the engine dying while in park and idling. Additionally, the vehicle suddenly lost power while driving it at 65 mph on a major highway when trying to pass. The only answers I get is the lemon law. This vehicle is not safe, the dealer has only offered for me to trade out of it into something extremely higher of payment. I am requesting a dealer buyback due to major safety concerns. This vehicle should not even be on the market. The acceleration issues continue and I am DONE!
While driving at highway speed, I accidentally brushed one of the paddle shifters on the steering wheel. This immediately forced the transmission into a lower gear, causing the engine to rev very high. I had to pull over on the highway shoulder to figure out how to return the vehicle to normal automatic Drive. This situation felt unsafe and distracting, especially in traffic. I contacted my local Jeep service department to ask whether the paddle shifters can be disabled or if there is a software setting to prevent accidental engagement. I was told there is no way to disable this feature. Given how easy it is to trigger unintentionally, I’m concerned this could lead to unsafe situations for other drivers as well.
The above vehicle was rented to my wife from Avis location at Bradley Airport in Connecticut from January 4th,we had it until January 12th before learning about the recall. Avis swapped the vehicle for use when learend about it, but have not refunded us for the days of diving with a recalled vehicle.
It’s been an ongoing and progressively worsening condition since about week two after my purchase. Was not experiencing any of these things upon purchase or I would not have purchased a consistently and worsening progressively alignment issue castor is out and there is no adjustments provided by the manufacturer, therefore it can’t be fixed . Second issue is the transmission which has had continued issues progressively worsening. It doesn’t shift right at rattles it vibrates it shutters on the highway. It likes to make me put it in Park before putting it back in your to proceed further not even from limp mode just out of the blue that has a weird thump around 70 miles an hour at a steady speed has a highway shutter for about 20 seconds that feels like you’re going over the Rumpel sticks, but you could be in the middle lane and there are no rumble sticks and it’s not lane assist. It has a groan to it. That is worsening. It winds in reverse it howls upon startup. I’ve had multiple claims with the manufacturer closed without resolve. I take it to multiple dealers, and they all say the same thing can’t duplicate operating ass design, which clearly it is not because if it was operating like this when I bought it, I wouldn’t have bought it again. I’ll repeat it. Third-party ASE tax have confirmed the issue with the alignment that the castor is out and it is not repairable and furthermore when I call the manufacturer there’s no direct number. There is no number for the Customer Care to push me forward too. There’s no email there’s no address. There’s no nothing provided. Communication is halted. It’s not allowed. I have asked I’ve requested and it isn’t providedfor a vehicle that is not operating as designed or normal operation.it is unrepairable, and unresolved. TSB‘s have been provided and refused. Taking to dealership at this point results in a car wash, which is not what I request. Too many documents to upload. 14 dealership visits multiple others to outside ase techs
Showing 20 of 3,123 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Before You Buy, Check the Exact JEEP Grand Cherokee
These pages show model-year patterns across 10years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
📖 Understanding This Data
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The JEEP Grand Cherokee has 3,123 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The JEEP Grand Cherokee has 84 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 162 of the JEEP Grand Cherokee's 3,123 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all JEEP Grand Cherokee vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two JEEP Grand Cherokee vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The JEEP Grand Cherokee has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.