Jeep Grand Cherokee Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some, but not unusually many. Owners have filed 2,457 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee. For the Jeep Grand Cherokee, that's 0.45 engine complaints per 1,000 sold across the 2015–2022 cohorts, close to the 0.44 median of the 53 models we can rate. The worst years are 2014, 2011 and 2012.
Engine complaints
2,457
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
0.45
2015–2022 cohorts
Share of all complaints
19.3%
of 12,759 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
7
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Jeep Grand Cherokee engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling, and per 1,000 vehicles sold where a published U.S. sales figure exists. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Per 1,000 sold | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 146 | — | 19.9% | 3 | — | 16 |
| 2009 | 27 | — | 19.6% | 0 | — | 14 |
| 2010 | 24 | — | 20.5% | 2 | — | 13 |
| 2011WORST | 358 | — | 21.9% | 15 | — | 30 |
| 2012WORST | 300 | — | 18.3% | 22 | 17E06100011V487000 | 31 |
| 2013 | 108 | — | 13.5% | 7 | 17E061000 | 41 |
| 2014WORST | 445 | — | 18.8% | 30 | 23V41100020V69900020V47500017E061000 | 93 |
| 2015 | 215 | 1.1 | 16% | 20 | 23V41100020V69900020V47500017E061000 | 77 |
| 2016 | 83 | 0.39 | 27.1% | 7 | 23V41100020V69900020V47500017E061000 | 113 |
| 2017 | 106 | 0.44 | 29.4% | 1 | 23V41100020V69900017E061000 | 88 |
| 2018 | 134 | 0.6 | 16% | 10 | 23V41100020V699000 | 99 |
| 2019 | 65 | 0.27 | 18.3% | 2 | 23V41100020V699000 | 98 |
| 2020 | 53 | 0.25 | 23.7% | 3 | 23V411000 | 96 |
| 2021 | 74 | 0.29 | 14.6% | 4 | 22V284000 | 92 |
| 2022 | 80 | 0.36 | 17.6% | 3 | — | 45 |
| 2023 | 110 | — | 19.4% | 6 | — | 45 |
| 2024 | 107 | — | 38.8% | 1 | 24V926000 | 45 |
| 2025 | 22 | — | 22.7% | 0 | — | 33 |
- Per 1,000 sold = complaints ÷ published U.S. calendar-year sales × 1,000. Calendar-year sales stand in for the model-year cohort. A dash means no published figure or fewer than 5,000 sold, too small to divide by.
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common Jeep Grand Cherokee engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 2,457 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Jeep Grand Cherokee years to avoid for the engine
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
445 engine complaints (18.8% of the year's 2,369). Most often described: misfire or check-engine light. Covered by engine recalls 23V411000, 20V699000, 20V475000, 17E061000.
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
358 engine complaints (21.9% of the year's 1,638). Most often described: stalling or shutting off while driving.
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee
300 engine complaints (18.3% of the year's 1,637). Most often described: stalling or shutting off while driving. Covered by engine recalls 17E061000, 11V487000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Jeep Grand Cherokee years to avoid.
Jeep Grand Cherokee engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Jeep Grand Cherokee model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 24V926000 · 2024-12-12 · 2024 models
The radiator crossmember bolts may not be properly secured, which can lead to improper air bag deployments and a fuel leak during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers…
- 23V411000 · 2023-06-08 · 2014–2020 models
The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
- 22V284000 · 2022-04-28 · 2021 models
The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may stick open, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
- 20V699000 · 2020-11-12 · 2014–2019 models
The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may crack and allow pre-heated vaporized coolant to enter the EGR system. This mixture may combust inside the intake manifold.
- 20V475000 · 2020-08-13 · 2014–2016 models
The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
- 17E061000 · 2017-10-19 · 2012–2017 models
The supercharger mounting bracket may contact and damage the ABS line, possibly resulting in a brake fluid leak.
- 11V487000 · 2011-09-29 · 2012 models
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHRYSLER VEHICLES, INCLUDING 200 AND TOWN AND COUNTRY MODELS, DODGE VEHICLES, INCLUDING CHARGER, DURANGO, GRAND CARAVAN AND JOURNEY MODELS AND JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 31, 2011,…
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Frequently asked questions
Does the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 445 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 18.8% of all 2,369 complaints for that year. The most common description is "misfire or check-engine light" (80 complaints). 4 engine-related recalls cover it: 23V411000, 20V699000, 20V475000, 17E061000. 30 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 358 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 21.9% of all 1,638 complaints for that year. The most common description is "stalling or shutting off while driving" (179 complaints). 15 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 300 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 18.3% of all 1,637 complaints for that year. The most common description is "stalling or shutting off while driving" (137 complaints). 2 engine-related recalls cover it: 17E061000, 11V487000. 22 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Jeep Grand Cherokee years have the most engine complaints?
2014 (445), 2011 (358) and 2012 (300), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so compare the per-1,000-sold column too.
What are the most common Jeep Grand Cherokee engine problems?
In the 2,457 engine complaints, owners most often describe stalling or shutting off while driving (31.7%), misfire or check-engine light (18.4%) and smoke, burning smell or fire (10.9%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Dividing by sales shows how often owners complain relative to how many were sold, which makes models of different sizes comparable.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Jeep Grand Cherokee model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration