2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Reliability
The 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 734 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Compared with other Grand Cherokee model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Grand Cherokee's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
734
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
23
Complaints citing a crash
5
Complaints citing a fire
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 model year, filed between 2008 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 473 | 64% |
| Engine | 107 | 15% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 77 | 10% |
| Air bags | 40 | 5% |
| Engine & cooling | 39 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 35 | 5% |
| Visibility / wipers | 28 | 4% |
| Speed control / throttle | 27 | 4% |
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2008 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07V415000 | Sep 12, 2007 | Service brakes — foundation components / disc / caliper | On certain sport utility vehicles, front brake calipers in a certain lot may have been manufactured from gray iron instead of ductile iron as designed and could fracture without warning. |
| 08V059000 | Feb 6, 2008 | Electrical system | Chrysler is recalling 1,338 my 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee and commander vehicles. The front control module may have been incorrectly manufactured. |
| 09E039000 | Jun 19, 2009 | Suspension | Rock krawler is recalling 44 performance suspension systems sold as aftermarket equipment for use on the vehicle listed above. These suspension systems were produced with grade 2 carriage bolts instead of the proper grade 5 carriage bolts. The improper grade… |
| 13V175000 | May 7, 2013 | Powertrain / transmission — transfer case (4-wheel drive) | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer… |
| 14V567000 | Sep 17, 2014 | Electrical system — ignition | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008 Chrysler 300 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2007, to May 12, 2008, Dodge Magnum vehicles manufactured May 23, 2007, to May 12, 2008, Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured May 24, 2007, to May 12,… |
How the 2008 compares with nearby Grand Cherokee years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Grand Cherokee analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,297 | 6 | Electrical system | Caution |
| 2007 | 1,109 | 7 | Electrical system | Caution |
| 2008 (this page) | 734 | 5 | Electrical system | Solid |
| 2009 | 138 | 3 | Electrical system | Better year |
| 2010 | 118 | 5 | Electrical system | Better year |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliability FAQ
Is the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
The 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 734 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Compared with other Grand Cherokee model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Grand Cherokee's typical year.
What are the most common 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee are electrical system (473), engine (107), powertrain / transmission (77), air bags (40). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee, including 07V415000 (service brakes — foundation components / disc / caliper) and 08V059000 (electrical system). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee compare with the 2007 and 2009 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2007 has 1,109 complaints and 7 recalls (caution); the 2009 has 138 complaints and 3 recalls (better year). The 2008 has 734 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Jeep Grand Cherokee research
Other Jeep Grand Cherokee model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2008 Grand Cherokee, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.