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Jeep Grand Cherokee 2011–2020

4th generation (WK2)

NHTSA data through 12 August 202614,124 complaints, 8,252 with mileageMethod

On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 20,250 and 85,000 miles.

10%

3,500

25%

20,250

Median

52,000

75%

85,000

90%

116,500

Tallest bin: 966 complaints between 0 and 5,000 miles. Based on 8,252 complaints that record mileage. Bin width 5,000 miles.

What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.

What fails, and when

Each bar spans the middle half of reports for that system; the tick marks the median.

1. Electrical system56,000median 56,000 miles, middle half 32,000 to 88,000
2. Engine60,000median 60,000 miles, middle half 29,000 to 92,000
3. Transmission and driveline28,000median 28,492 miles, middle half 6,000 to 69,000
4. Problems owners could not categorise51,000median 51,128 miles, middle half 19,000 to 87,000
5. Brakes41,000median 41,000 miles, middle half 15,000 to 67,000
6. Fuel and propulsion system63,000median 63,000 miles, middle half 37,000 to 96,000
7. Seats71,000median 71,000 miles, middle half 51,000 to 93,000

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

By model year

Recalls (37)

What owners reported

Fuel pump relay recall- i purchased the used car in may 2018, nothing about the recalls was disclose. Recently the car has been shut down or rumbling as i'm driving. Thankfully i'm driving in the city and i can pull to the side. Every time i shake the fuel pump relay 'repair' it starts up strong again. I tried taking…

2011 · Fuel and propulsion system

Prior to receiving the current recall on my 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, i was merging onto the freeway and my Jeep lost complete power. I started to panic because there was nothing i could do to control my Jeep. Luckily, i was on the outside lane and just coasted to a stop. Then, i sat there for about 10 minutes while i…

2011 · 5 miles · Engine

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the automatic starter failed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the wiring harness under the hood was repositioned, allowing the hood to close correctly and allowing the automatic starter to function. The contact also stated…

2011 · 20 miles · Engine and its cooling system

Purchased 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee laredo new from dealer mick's north hills Chrysler. Have had vehicle in for repair or reprogramming of passive entry and pushbutton start multiple times. The problem began happening the day after it was purchased. Repair took quite a while and also had downtime where vehicle shut…

2011 · 100 miles · Electrical system

Built from 8,252 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page

Other generations

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