Jeep Grand Cherokee — reported problems

CarFaultIQ holds 72,180 evidence records for the Jeep Grand Cherokee (1995–2026), drawn from official sources and owner complaints.

What owners report: issue areas

Owner complaints are classified by the system they concern: 78,476 classifications in all. One complaint can concern several systems, so these add up to more than the number of complaints.

  • Electrical system15,448 (19.7%)Official recall records for this system: 46, covering model years 1996–2024.
  • Powertrain (transmission & drivetrain)9,050 (11.5%)Official recall records for this system: 20, covering model years 1995–2024.
  • Brakes8,646 (11.0%)Official recall records for this system: 35, covering model years 1995–2019.
  • Engine7,778 (9.9%)Official recall records for this system: 24, covering model years 1999–2025.
  • Fuel system4,972 (6.3%)Official recall records for this system: 23, covering model years 1995–2024.
  • Air bags (restraint system)4,444 (5.7%)Official recall records for this system: 27, covering model years 1997–2026.

Other / uncategorized: 4,212 classifications (5.4%) were not assigned to a specific system by the source. They are counted but not treated as an issue area.

These are counts of records held by CarFaultIQ, not a failure rate. More records can simply mean more vehicles were sold or more owners reported. No vehicles-in-service figure exists in this data, so no reliability or risk score can be derived from it.

What the records are about, by source

Each source is kept separate: owner complaints, recalls, manufacturer communications and investigations are different kinds of record and are never added together. All model years.

  • Owner complaints (56,883 records, model years 1995–2026) are most frequently classified under: electrical system, powertrain (transmission & drivetrain) and brakes.
  • Safety recalls (469 records, model years 1995–2026) are most frequently classified under: electrical system, brakes and lights.
  • Transport Canada recalls (373 records, model years 1995–2026) are most frequently classified under: electrical system, brakes and engine.
  • Manufacturer communications (14,302 records, model years 1995–2026) are most frequently classified under: electrical system, equipment & accessories and powertrain (transmission & drivetrain).
  • Investigations (153 records, model years 1995–2023) are most frequently classified under: powertrain (transmission & drivetrain), electrical system and air bags (restraint system).

"Most frequently classified under" reports how the records are filed by the source. It is not a finding about causes, and a record can be filed under more than one system. Read the individual records

Mileage reported when the issue occurred

  • 29,104reports included a mileage
  • 73,253average of those mileages

This is the mileage owners recorded at the time they reported, not an expected failure mileage and not a prediction for any individual vehicle. The lowest and highest figures on record are not shown: they are unverified odometer entries that include zeros and implausibly high readings, so they would not describe a real range. A median is not shown either, because the stored figures are group totals and a median cannot be recovered from them.

Evidence by model year

Records held per model year. Select a year to narrow this page to it.

  1. 1995 813 records for 1995
  2. 1996 1,011 records for 1996
  3. 1997 1,119 records for 1997
  4. 1998 1,139 records for 1998
  5. 1999 1,836 records for 1999
  6. 2000 1,591 records for 2000
  7. 2001 980 records for 2001
  8. 2002 1,608 records for 2002
  9. 2003 869 records for 2003
  10. 2004 1,401 records for 2004
  11. 2005 2,177 records for 2005
  12. 2006 1,379 records for 2006
  13. 2007 1,189 records for 2007
  14. 2008 804 records for 2008
  15. 2009 195 records for 2009
  16. 2010 184 records for 2010
  17. 2011 1,852 records for 2011
  18. 2012 1,923 records for 2012
  19. 2013 1,115 records for 2013
  20. 2014 3,054 records for 2014
  21. 2015 1,893 records for 2015
  22. 2016 735 records for 2016
  23. 2017 731 records for 2017
  24. 2018 1,322 records for 2018
  25. 2019 895 records for 2019
  26. 2020 774 records for 2020
  27. 2021 1,827 records for 2021
  28. 2022 1,669 records for 2022
  29. 2023 1,456 records for 2023
  30. 2024 906 records for 2024
  31. 2025 526 records for 2025
  32. 2026 280 records for 2026

Counts are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold in each year, so a taller year is not necessarily a worse year.

Reports mentioning outcomes

  • 3,792mention a crash
  • 1,082mention a fire
  • 2,936mention an injury
  • 116mention a fatality

These are counts of records whose report mentioned the outcome. They are not a severity rating and not a safety assessment of this vehicle.

Official records held

  • Safety recalls NHTSA 469
  • Manufacturer communications NHTSA 14,302
  • Investigations NHTSA 153
  • Transport Canada recalls Transport Canada 373
  • Owner complaints NHTSA 56,883

Explore the underlying evidence records

Diagnostic codes found in evidence for this vehicle

These codes appear by explicit identifier in official records matched to this exact model and year.

  • P0733 in 28 records · 2017–2026
  • P0513 in 20 records · 2018–2022
  • B3A11 in 15 records · 2022–2024
  • P0461 in 13 records · 2020–2026
  • P062A in 13 records · 2020–2026
  • P0716 in 9 records · 2018–2026
  • P07E4 in 9 records · 2018–2026
  • P0456 in 8 records · 2018–2019
  • P1494 in 8 records · 1997–2000
  • P2299 in 8 records · 2015–2017
  • P0197 in 6 records · 2019–2021
  • U0080 in 6 records · 2024–2026

A code appearing in a record means the code was named in that document. It is not a diagnosis of this vehicle, not a fault this vehicle has, and not an indication of urgency. Diagnosis requires reading live data from the vehicle.

Before you buy a used Jeep Grand Cherokee: what to check

Give these systems extra attention Model-specific · evidence-led

These systems are listed first because owner complaints for the Jeep Grand Cherokee most often concern them. That is where records concentrate — it is not a finding that any individual car has a fault.

  1. Electrical system 15,448 complaints classified here (19.7% of classifications)

    • Test every electrical item: windows, locks, lights, infotainment, instrument cluster and charging ports.
    • Ask about battery replacement history and any recurring electrical faults.
  2. Powertrain (transmission & drivetrain) 9,050 complaints classified here (11.5% of classifications)

    • Check for delayed or harsh shifts, slipping or shudder, both cold and when warm.
    • Ask when the transmission fluid was last serviced, and for any transmission repair records.
  3. Brakes 8,646 complaints classified here (11.0% of classifications)

    • Check the pedal feels firm and the car stops straight without pulsing or grinding.
    • Check the brake and ABS warning lamps go out after starting.
  4. Engine 7,778 complaints classified here (9.9% of classifications)

    • Check for oil leaks and the oil level; ask how often it needs topping up between changes.
    • Listen for knocking or ticking at idle and under light acceleration.
Good practice for any used car Generic

Documents & seller questions

  • Run the VIN through the official recall lookup (NHTSA in the US, Transport Canada in Canada) and ask for proof that open recalls were completed.
  • Ask for service records, and when the transmission fluid, coolant and brake fluid were last changed.
  • Ask whether the car has been in a collision or a flood, and whether any warning light has been on recently.

Before starting

  • Arrange to see it with the engine cold — ask the seller not to warm it up first.
  • Look for uneven panel gaps, mismatched paint and fresh underseal, which can indicate repair work.

Cold start

  • Watch every warning lamp light up with the ignition on, then go out once the engine runs.
  • Listen for rattles, knocks or a rough idle in the first minute, and look for smoke from the exhaust.

Engine bay

  • Check the oil and coolant levels and condition; note any milky oil or oily coolant.
  • Look for fresh leaks, wet hoses and signs of recent cleaning that could hide leaks.

Test drive

  • Drive at town and highway speeds; note hesitation, vibration, pulling or unusual noise.
  • Check that every gear engages smoothly, including reverse, from cold and when warm.

Underbody & leaks

  • After the drive, look under the car for fresh drips.
  • Have a mechanic check the underside for corrosion, damaged components and leaks on a lift.

An inspection checklist, not a diagnosis. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is the reliable way to assess a specific car.

Where to go next