Jeep Grand Cherokee
Problems & Worst Years

Nine model years of Grand Cherokee complaints trace a shifting set of problems rather than one constant failure. Earlier years — 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020 — show a steadier mix of transmission shifting problems, brake hydraulic malfunctions, and electrical dashboard issues at moderate volume, without one single defect dominating. That changes with 2018, the highest-volume year in the data at 441 occurrences, almost entirely driven by touchscreen delamination and malfunction (255 occurrences) plus a related complaint about seat warmers and other features activating on their own (121 occurrences) — both electrical-system issues rather than anything mechanical. Recalls 18V332, 18V524, 20V699, and 23V411 attach to that model year.

Move forward to 2021, and the picture turns more serious even though total volume (205) was lower: seven complaints were tagged safety-severity, the most of any year in this dataset, including power steering failure (36 occurrences), an engine stall during operation, electrical glitches causing screen malfunctions, and a lane departure assistance failure. Recalls 22V284, 23V352, 23V413, and 24V132 apply here.

The following two years pivot toward the hybrid variant. In 2022, a hybrid system failure complaint drew 65 occurrences alongside a forward collision avoidance system malfunction (45, safety-severity) and a steering system malfunction causing loss of control. In 2023, complaints spread across 40 distinct problems, including a severe and sudden loss of vehicle power and recall repairs for suspension and electrical systems left incomplete. Both years carry a long recall tail, including 25V576, 25V741, 26V051, and 26V413.

By 2024, the newest year on record, a high-voltage battery fire risk complaint (12 occurrences, safety-severity) stands out against an otherwise lower total of 107, alongside forward collision system failures and brake malfunction reports, with recalls 24V872, 25V576, and 26V413 attached.

Given how much this model has changed across trims and powertrains within a single generation, a used buyer should weigh the specific model year's issues rather than assume continuity, and lean on a pre-purchase inspection and full recall-completion check over the model year by itself — these complaint counts show what owners chose to report, not a measured failure rate, and the newest years simply haven't had as long to accumulate them.