Jeep Grand Cherokee 2011–2020

4th generation (WK2) · WK2 · 14,124 complaints, 8,252 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

Which systems, and when

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 52,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The electrical system accounts for 23.1% of complaints (3,256 reports, 1,824 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 56,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 32,000 and 88,000 miles.

The engine accounts for 12.4% of complaints (1,746 reports, 1,106 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 29,000 and 92,000 miles.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 9.8% of complaints (1,388 reports, 1,004 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 28,492 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 6,000 and 69,000 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 9.0% of complaints (1,274 reports, 580 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 51,128 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 19,161 and 87,000 miles.

The brakes account for 8.3% of complaints (1,172 reports, 560 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 41,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 67,000 miles.

The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 6.3% of complaints (887 reports, 531 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 63,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 37,000 and 96,000 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2014 model year drew the most — 3,399 complaints — while 2020 drew the fewest at 353. The median year sits at 1,160.

That makes 2014 an outlier: roughly 2.9 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 37 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 electrical system (10), the hydraulic brake circuit (4), the engine and its cooling system (4). 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.

Reported severity

Of the 14,124 complaints filed against this generation, 837 reported a crash; 421 reported a fire; 605 reported an injury; 6 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 5.9% 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.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 20,250 and 85,000 miles, with a median of 52,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the electrical system and the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 56,000, 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.

Documented problems

Recalls (37)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Jeep Grand Cherokee 1993–1998
• Jeep Grand Cherokee 1999–2004
• Jeep Grand Cherokee 2005–2010
• Jeep Grand Cherokee 2021–2025