"How reliable is the 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee?"

"Based on 784 NHTSA complaints, the 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a median complaint mileage of 129000 miles. The most common issue is Rotor."

"What are common problems with the 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee is Rotor, accounting for a significant portion of the 784 total complaints filed."

1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 784 complaints

784

Total Complaints

129,000mi

Median Mileage

Rotor

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

100,000 25th Percentile

129,000 Median Mileage

158,334 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Rotor

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Speed Control

Engine

Air Conditioner

Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch

Ignition

Frontal

Door

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"VEHICLE HAD UNWANTED ACCELERATION FROM PARK TO REVERSE GEAR AND HIT A HOUSE. TT"

"WHILE DRIVING ON AN INCLINE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, THEN CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT IN TRANSMISSION, ACCORDING TO FIRE DEPT REPORT. TT"

"WHEN SNOWING ON ICE ROAD ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILED. TT"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

OH: 152 CA: 83 NY: 49 VA: 47 PA: 41 NJ: 33 FL: 30 TX: 28 GA: 20 IL: 19

Who Files Complaints?

32%

Original Owners

68%

Second+ Owners

Jeep Grand Cherokee — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1994	775	146,000	Vehicle Speed Control	142
1995	983	115,461	Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch	146
1996	1249	139,000	Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch	156
1997	1432	120,000	Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch	143
1998	1349	105,000	Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch	194
1999	2319	80,800	Rotor	157
2000	1855	85,000	Rotor	132
2001	1128	69,000	Rotor	95
2002	1770	74,000	Air Bags	98
2003	887	71,000	Air Bags	60
2004	1570	64,000	Air Bags	149
2005	2732	80,000	Electrical System	137
2006	1750	81,000	Electrical System	79
2007	1475	70,000	Electrical System	47
2008	990	76,200	Electrical System	35
2009	195	62,360	Electrical System	9
2010	171	70,000	Electrical System	18
2011	2421	64,000	Electrical System	90
2012	2308	65,000	Electrical System	72
2013	1102	66,000	Electrical System	41
2014	3365	46,865	Power Train	224
2015	1725	40,000	Power Train	179
2016	434	32,537	Power Train	45
2017	552	33,000	Engine	38
2018	1160	19,000	Electrical System	75
2019	516	31,000	Electrical System	25
2020	329	7,100	Electrical System	39
2021	643	17,500	Electrical System	34
2022	415	26,000	Electrical System	12
2023	617	13,266	Electrical System	26
2024	355	12,000	Electrical System	9
2025	87	-	Electrical System	3

Active Recalls (12)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Tank Assembly

Campaign 13V252000 | 19/06/2013

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Owners may take their vehicles to dealers and the dealers will perform a free inspection of the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch, Chrysler will install a Chrysler designed tow hitch free of charge, provided the condition of the vehicle can support pro

Exterior Lighting

Campaign 09E012000 | 07/04/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Headlights

Campaign 09E025000 | 11/05/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Exterior Lighting

Campaign 06E026000 | 23/03/2006

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Hatchback/Liftgate

Campaign 93V055000 | 08/04/1993

AN UNLATCHED LIFTGATE CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS INMOTION, AND COULD RESULT IN AN OCCUPANT FALLING OUT.

REPLACE THE LIFTGATE ASSEMBLY ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Front

Campaign 93V051000 | 02/04/1993

CAM BOLT FAILURES CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO ONESIDE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION CAM BOLTS, CAM WASHERS, AND NUTS WITH COMPONENTS OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN.

Floor Shift

Campaign 02V053000 | 15/02/2002

INADVERTENT MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY DETENT SYSTEM TO THE FLOOR SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. DAIMLERCHRYSLER SENT INTERIM NOTICES TO OWNERS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM ON MARCH 22, 2002. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE D

Pedals And Linkages

Campaign 92V181000 | 14/12/1992

DISENGAGEMENT OF THE RETAINER CLIP WILL ALLOW FREE PLAYIN THE ATTACHMENT AND CAN ALLOW THE INPUT ROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE BRAKE PEDALCAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE APPLICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

IMPROPERLY INSTALLED RETAINER CLIPS WILL BE REMOVED AND NEW RETAINER CLIPS WILL BE PROPERLY INSTALLED.

Rotor

Campaign 98V005000 | 12/01/1998

THE REDUCED STRENGTH CAN ALLOW THE CAST IRON WEAR SURFACE TO SEPARATE FROM THE HUB, REDUCING THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VEHICLE.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ROTORS WITH ROTORS THAT ARE COATED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION.

Rear/Other

Campaign 96I004000 | 01/01/1996

IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THE OCCUPANT OF THE CENTER REAR SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.

Accelerator Pedal

Campaign 97I002000 | 02/05/1997

PEDAL MISAPPLICATION BY A DRIVER CAN CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIFT INTERLOCK ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF THESE VEHICLES.

Steering Wheel/Handle Bar

Campaign 93V210000 | 13/12/1993

IF THE UPPER AND LOWER STEERING SHAFTS SEPARATE, COMPLETELOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WILL OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

A RESTRAINING SLEEVE WILL BE ADDED TO THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF STEERING SHAFT MOVEMENT AVAILABLE.

Extend Your Brake Life

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Replace brake pads before they wear to the metal — rotors cost 3x more
Flush brake fluid every 2-3 years regardless of mileage
Don't ride the brakes downhill — use engine braking
Address any grinding, pulsing, or pulling immediately
Have brakes inspected during every tire rotation

Compare Jeep Grand Cherokee

vs Ford Explorer →

Vehicle Rankings

Most complained Worst transmissions Worst engines Worst brakes Most crashes Compare vehicles

Looking for a replacement?

Based on the data above, here are relevant options.

1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee parts on Amazon

→

Affiliate link

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28