"How reliable is the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee?"

"Based on 2732 NHTSA complaints, the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a median complaint mileage of 80000 miles. The most common issue is Electrical System."

"What are common problems with the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee is Electrical System, accounting for a significant portion of the 2732 total complaints filed."

2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 2732 complaints

2732

Total Complaints

80,000mi

Median Mileage

Electrical System

Top Issue

137

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

49,480 25th Percentile

80,000 Median Mileage

115,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Electrical System

879

Door

221

Power Train

163

Body

136

Latches/Locks/Linkages

135

Unknown Or Other

134

Engine

134

Vehicle Speed Control

Air Bags

Automatic Transmission

Severity Assessment

137

Crashes

Fires

115

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"DRIVER'S KNEE WOULD HIT THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE DRIVING,THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER NO COMPLAINT ON THIS PROBLEM WAS RECORDED. *AK"

"CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT AN IGNITION PROBLEM. MECHANIC STATED THAT A CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC. WHEN DRIVER ENTERED INTO THE VEHICLE AND STARTED IT UP, AND WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S KNEES HIT AGAINST THE IGNITION. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN ..."

"LET ME START BY SAYING THAT I DO NOT OWN THIS VEHICLE BUY WAS FOLLOWING ONE LAST EVENING. IT WAS DARK, I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON RT 55 NEAR FRONT ROYAL, VA. A NEW (04 / 05) JEEP CHEROKEE STYLE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE PLAINLY VISABLE BUT I COMMENTED ..."

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

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Electrical System 879 complaints

25th: 63,000 mi Median: 95,000 mi 75th: 129,881 mi

Door 221 complaints

25th: 55,000 mi Median: 71,500 mi 75th: 97,250 mi

Power Train 163 complaints

25th: 73,625 mi Median: 99,250 mi 75th: 124,750 mi

Body 136 complaints

25th: 59,250 mi Median: 84,350 mi 75th: 123,562 mi

Latches/Locks/Linkages 135 complaints

25th: 42,956 mi Median: 59,000 mi 75th: 77,750 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

FL: 262 TX: 195 CA: 178 PA: 175 NY: 153 NC: 114 VA: 112 GA: 99 NJ: 97 OH: 96

Who Files Complaints?

10.3%

Original Owners

89.7%

Second+ Owners

Jeep Grand Cherokee — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1993	784	129,000	Rotor	68
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
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 (5)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Switch

Campaign 14V438000 | 21/07/2014

If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Chrysler sent interim notifications to owners in September 2014. The recall began on October 9, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P4

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.

Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)

Campaign 13V175000 | 07/05/2013

If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the final drive controller which governs the transfer case, with new software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N23.

Suspension

Campaign 09E039000 | 19/06/2009

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF EFFECTIVE LIFT AND LOWERING OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLE, POSSIBLY CREATING THE DRIVER TO PANIC WHICH COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

ROCK KRAWLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE A FREE REMEDY. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15. 2008. ALL THE AFFECTED UNTITS HAVE BEEN REMEDIED. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ROCK KRAWLER AT 1-518-270-9822.

Automatic Transmission

Campaign 05V396000 | 14/09/2005

IT CAN LEAD TO INCREASED TRANSMISSION OPERATING TEMPERATURES, BOILING OF THE WATER, AND A SUBSEQUENT PURGING OF TRANSMISSION FLUID INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION FOR LEAKAGE AT THE FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL. IF NO LEAK IS DETECTED, A NEW FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL AND WATER DEFLECTOR SHIELD WILL BE INSTALLED, AND PROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE FILL TUBE VERIFIED. IF THE PRESENCE OF A LEAK IS DETECTED, THE VEHICLE WILL BE EVALUATED F

Maintain Your Electrical System

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Clean battery terminals annually with baking soda and water
Replace the battery every 3-5 years before it leaves you stranded
Don't leave accessories running with the engine off
Check for corroded ground connections if you have intermittent electrical issues
Replace dim headlights promptly — they're a safety issue and a wiring symptom

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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