"How reliable is the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee?"

"Based on 2308 NHTSA complaints, the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a median complaint mileage of 65000 miles. The most common issue is Electrical System."

"What are common problems with the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee is Electrical System, accounting for a significant portion of the 2308 total complaints filed."

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 2308 complaints

2308

Total Complaints

65,000mi

Median Mileage

Electrical System

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

40,000 25th Percentile

65,000 Median Mileage

95,293 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Electrical System

800

Engine

281

Service Brakes

273

Fuel/Propulsion System

213

Unknown Or Other

114

Power Train

Steering

Air Bags

Vehicle Speed Control

Exterior Lighting

Severity Assessment

Crashes

144

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE FOLLOWING DANGEROUS CONDITION IN THE 2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HAS BEEN RAISED BY MANY DRIVERS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND JEEP REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM. NAMELY, THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM IS TILTED DOWN SO VISIBILITY DISTANCE IS VERY LOW. THERE IS ABOUT 25 TO 30 FEET OF VISIBILITY TH..."

"I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 20-25 APPROACHING A SIGNAL LIGHT. I LET OFF THE GAS AND APPLIED THE BRAKE AS THE LIGHT WAS RED. AS I LET OFF THE GAS, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV HIGHER AND AS I APPLIED THE BRAKE I HAD TO APPLY IT HARDER AND HARDER AS THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV EVEN HIGHER. I BEGAN TO SMELL T..."

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 800 complaints

25th: 44,000 mi Median: 70,017 mi 75th: 96,718 mi

Engine 281 complaints

25th: 41,000 mi Median: 74,000 mi 75th: 100,400 mi

Service Brakes 273 complaints

25th: 28,142 mi Median: 50,000 mi 75th: 75,000 mi

Fuel/Propulsion System 213 complaints

25th: 43,374 mi Median: 76,452 mi 75th: 106,168 mi

Unknown Or Other 114 complaints

25th: 52,100 mi Median: 80,000 mi 75th: 105,000 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 224 NY: 176 TX: 176 NJ: 137 FL: 121 PA: 119 IL: 99 MI: 88 MA: 79 OH: 72

Who Files Complaints?

1.8%

Original Owners

98.2%

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
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
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 (11)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Electrical System

Campaign 19V813000 | 14/11/2019

A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) will replace the affected fuel pump relay and related wire harness. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed beginning December 19, 2019. Vehicles that experience a fuel pump failure will receive an interim repair. Owners will receive a second notice w

Alternator/Generator/Regulator

Campaign 17V435000 | 10/07/2017

If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and depending on the part number, will replace the alternator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall i

Turbo/Supercharger

Campaign 17E061000 | 19/10/2017

A brake fluid leak may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

ATI will notify owners and will replace the supercharger brackets, free of charge. The recall began on December 12, 2017. Owners may contact ATI customer service at 1-913-338-2886.

Service Brakes

Campaign 17V572000 | 18/09/2017

If the brake booster shield was not installed properly, the vehicle's braking ability may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake booster shield, correcting the installation as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November10, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T59.

Wiring

Campaign 15V879000 | 28/12/2015

The vanity lamp wiring may short, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealer will install clearance for sun visor wiring, protection from sharp edges, and replace the sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R71.

Service Brakes

Campaign 14V154000 | 01/04/2014

The water inside could freeze and limit the braking ability of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will add a water diverter shield to the booster after the booster has been tested to confirm it can hold an acceptable amount of vacuum pressure. If the booster inspection confirms an unacceptable loss of vacuum pressure, the booster will be replaced. Repai

Wiring

Campaign 14V391000 | 02/07/2014

If the vanity lamp wiring shorts, there is an increased risk of fire.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair any damaged wiring, and install a new sun visor that properly routes the wire, free of charge. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P36.

Electrical System

Campaign 15V115000 | 27/02/2015

A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump relay with one external to the TIPM. The recall began on August 7, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R09. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 14V-5

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Campaign 14V104000 | 04/03/2014

If the driver experiences a hard brake pedal, the driver may not push the pedal as intended, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS module software, free of charge. The recall began on April 3, 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number associated with this recall is P05.

Engine And Engine Cooling

Campaign 11V487000 | 29/09/2011

CONNECTING ROD FAILURE MAY LEAD TO ENGINE SEIZURE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE ENGINE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 18, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Alternator/Generator/Regulator

Campaign 14V634000 | 08/10/2014

If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace the alternator, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P60.

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