In this article, we are going to look at Jeep Grand Cherokee problems and whether or not they are a reliable vehicle.
The Grand Cherokee was Jeep’s answer to the need for a luxury, urban, and family-friendly alternative to the more rugged Jeep Wrangler which is the flagship Jeep model.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee has had a number of recalls and experienced many problems over the years. Despite this fact, they are still a reliable vehicle offering value for money as well as a long lifespan which can go well past the 200,000-mile mark.
The best year of the Jeep Grand Cherokee to buy is the 2010 model. Launched in 1993, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the luxury vehicle of the Jeep stable.
It was designed with the family and the business executive who wanted an everyday town runner that could tackle the trails when it was called upon to do so.
The focus here was more luxury and technology to go along with it. To date is in its 4 th generation.
Do Jeep Grand Cherokees have a lot of problems?
As stated in the introduction to this article, Jeep Grand Cherokees have had a lot of problems mainly linked with the tech that was employed in the newer models.
As a general rule of thumb, don’t jump into buying the first edition of a new generation. This is because they usually come with new tech which may still have a number of kinks that need to be worked out.
Once these issues are worked out in later editions of that generation, however, you will have a reliable vehicle that will stand the test of time.
In fact, a Grand Cherokee that is well maintained can easily give you 200,000 or 300,000 miles. Besides the tech issues highlighted in the previous paragraphs, Jeep Cherokees have also been known to have transmission issues.
The transmission usually gives up around the 150,000km mark but it is common to have it exhibit problems quite early on. When the transmission does give out, you will, in most cases, need to replace it with a new one.
This is an expense that the owner has to deal with because, by this time, it will be off warranty. Another common issue that is prevalent in Jeep Grand Cherokees is drivetrain problems.
This particular problem has been common in Grand Cherokees throughout different generations and has somehow not been fully rectified. Grand Cherokees also experience start, stall issues. This is when the vehicle stalls while driving and refuses to start afterward.
Sometimes when this happens, the car may start after a few attempts and then struggle to get into first gear. The stall, start problem has mainly been noticed in cases where the vehicle has been driven for around 40 minutes or so and has occurred in Grand Cherokees which are still under 1000 miles.
This is definitely a bad record by any standards. This may be accompanied by choppy gear changes which are another one of the reported issues with the transmission.
The reason for the stalling was the Total Integrated Power Module or TIPM. This problem affected the 2011 to 2013 models.
Pre 2011 models are considered better than the later models because of better reliability and fewer mechanical problems. This can largely be attributed to the fact the Fiat had taken over the Jeep brand.
This, in turn, led to components developed by the Fiat brand being used in Jeeps. Fiats are known to be unreliable vehicles. There are documented issues with the drivetrain in other Fiat models so it’s only natural that the Grand Cherokee has inherited this problem.
Which Jeep Cherokee Years Have the Worst Problems?
If you are still deciding on whether or not to get a Jeep Grand Cherokee, there are some years that are the worst of the bunch when it comes to problems.
These are 2011, 2014, and 2015 Grand Cherokees. It’s best to steer clear of these particular models when shopping for one.
These have the worst reported cases and most recalls of the Grand Cherokee. Granted that some of the problems can be easily repaired, you can still look at these models under the guidance of a professional mechanic.
This is because the previous owner may have had the problems fixed and the vehicle won’t have these issues anymore.
An experienced mechanic will be able to inspect it and also conduct a pre-purchase test drive to inspect the vehicle. Though these years can basically be considered lemons, you may still get one that will give you some reliable performance.
Due to their bad reputation, you will most likely get them at a bargain because people tend to stay away from them. Just make sure to do your due diligence.
Conclusion
Jeep Grand Cherokees have the burden of carrying both a good and bad reputation. They were voted as the 25th most popular car in North America.
Overall, the model has had a good track record though marred by the problems noted in this article. When well maintained according to the recommended service schedule, you can expect them to last for as many as 200,000 miles or more.
