2nd generation (WJ) · WJ (WG in Europe) · 9,535 complaints, 5,053 with mileage
Owners filed 9,535 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999–2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 5,053 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 42,000 and 115,000 miles. The median is 75,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the hydraulic brake circuit (19.0% of complaints, typically around 20,000 miles), visibility equipment (13.5% of complaints, typically around 68,000 miles), the airbag system (13.0% of complaints, typically around 120,000 miles).
3 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1,812 | 19.0% | 20,000 | 12,000–44,000 |
| Visibility | 1,288 | 13.5% | 68,000 | 50,000–90,000 |
| Air Bags | 1,243 | 13.0% | 120,000 | 83,082–155,000 |
| Power Train | 897 | 9.4% | 57,000 | 26,500–89,000 |
| Seats | 712 | 7.5% | 100,000 | 73,000–133,000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 619 | 6.5% | 78,450 | 51,611–100,000 |
| Electrical System | 546 | 5.7% | 97,000 | 55,000–135,620 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 295 | 3.1% | 60,000 | 34,500–113,101 |
| Steering | 287 | 3.0% | 76,250 | 42,900–129,000 |
| Exterior Lighting | 209 | 2.2% | 88,450 | 56,000–127,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 2,319 | 693 |
| 2000 | 1,855 | 948 |
| 2001 | 1,128 | 685 |
| 2002 | 1,771 | 1,123 |
| 2003 | 890 | 574 |
| 2004 | 1,572 | 1,030 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 75,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 19.0% of complaints (1,812 reports, 717 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 20,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,000 and 44,000 miles.
Visibility equipment accounts for 13.5% of complaints (1,288 reports, 961 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 90,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 13.0% of complaints (1,243 reports, 457 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 120,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 83,082 and 155,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 9.4% of complaints (897 reports, 239 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 57,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 26,500 and 89,000 miles.
Seats account for 7.5% of complaints (712 reports, 566 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 100,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 73,000 and 133,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 6.5% of complaints (619 reports, 392 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 78,450 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 51,611 and 100,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 1999 model year drew the most — 2,319 complaints — while 2003 drew the fewest at 890. The median year sits at 1,671.
NHTSA records 3 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (3). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 9,535 complaints filed against this generation, 691 reported a crash; 139 reported a fire; 574 reported an injury; 17 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 7.2% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 42,000 and 115,000 miles, with a median of 75,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the hydraulic brake circuit and visibility equipment are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The hydraulic brake circuit in particular shows a median failure mileage of 20,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Head gasket failure and cracked cylinder heads following overheating; the 4.7L PowerTech has narrow coolant passages and is intolerant of low coolant. Sludge accumulation with extended oil-change intervals damages the rocker/valvetrain.
Window regulator and door-lock actuator failures; HVAC blend-door actuator failures causing stuck-temperature complaints.
45RFE/545RFE solenoid pack and torque-converter complaints producing harsh or delayed engagement.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 15V673000 | 2016-05-05 | Air Bags:Side/Window |
| 15V046000 | 2015-12-29 | Air Bags:Frontal |
| 12V527000 | 2013-09-13 | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive |