Best And Worst Years For The Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of Jeep’s star sellers, and it’s a popular option in the midsize SUV segment. With a cheaper entry price than its competitors, this SUV becomes an interesting option for many buyers. Sales figures from GoodCarBadCar show how consistently it moves.

That’s why we must look at the best and worst years for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. This article goes past magazine reliability rankings. We’re diving deep into complaints, recalls, and owners’ perspectives.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is already more than thirty years old. That means there are many generations and plenty of options. That’s why we’re focusing on the fourth generation and newer models. At the end of the article, we’ll give some of the best and worst years for the Jeep Grand Cherokee in the first three generations.

What Are The Best and Worst Years For The Jeep Grand Cherokee?

The best years for the Jeep Grand Cherokee are 2021, 2020, and 2016 from the fourth generation. If you’re a keen-eyed reader, you may have noticed that the fourth generation has lasted longer than most models from other companies. That’s because, even though the parent company changed hands, the Grand Cherokee kept selling well.

The fifth generation also has some excellent years and others you’d be best to avoid. The best year for the fifth-generation Grand Cherokee is the 2025 model year. It has shown excellent reliability, especially compared with the immediately preceding and following years.

As of September 2026, NHTSA records show the 2025 model with 70% fewer owner complaints than the 2024, and reviews such as J.D. Power’s have highlighted its reliability.

This is interesting for us because the 2025 model year is relatively early in the fifth generation’s lifespan. Usually, the most reliable year comes near the end of production. However, Jeep has hit it out of the park with the 2025 model.

As we’ll see later, it’s a standout year, while the surrounding production years aren’t as reliable.

The Best and Worst Years for the Jeep Grand Cherokee: Fourth Generation

The best years for the Jeep Grand Cherokee in the fourth generation are the 2021, 2020, and 2016 model years. A viable fourth option is the 2017 model year. Although it has slightly more complaints than the 2016, it’s still well received.

The fourth generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee entered the market in 2011, keeping some traits from the previous generation, such as a unibody construction and the company’s trademark 4WD systems. However, it was also a considerable improvement over other models, thanks to its independent four-wheel suspension and updated interiors.

Looking at the fourth generation, it’s clear the first production years were troublesome. NHTSA records show the 2011 and 2012 model years each carry more than 1,600 owner complaints, and the 2014 sits higher still at more than 2,300.

The same is reflected on Car Complaints, which rates vehicles on how many real-life complaints exist. The 2011 model is by far the worst there, and it makes perfect sense. After all, it’s the first production year of a new model, which typically means lots of bugs.

If you’re looking to buy a fourth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, it’s best to avoid the 2011 and 2012 model years. The 2014 model year is also worth caution.

So, what are the problems that you’ll find in the worst years for the Jeep Grand Cherokee in this generation? They are:

• TIPM Malfunction. The Totally Integrated Power Module, or TIPM, controls the electrical system in your Jeep (and Dodge, Chrysler, and Ram vehicles). It’s basically your car’s nervous system, and when it fails, it can do some serious damage. Most owners report being unable to start the car at all, and repairs are upwards of $1,100.
• Engine Stall/Engine Shutdown. While an engine shutdown or stall isn’t the core problem, it’s one of the most common complaints with troublesome Jeep Grand Cherokees in the fourth generation.
• Electronic Shifting Unreliable. The Jeep Grand Cherokee has had issues with electronic shifting. Users noted that the SUV often fails to shift or shifts suddenly and jerkily. In more extreme cases, the Grand Cherokee fails to get out of gear, meaning it doesn’t go from Neutral to Park even when the driver selects it, leading to unintended crawling. This is most common in 2014 and 2015 model years.

The Best and Worst Years For The Jeep Grand Cherokee: Fifth Generation

The fifth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee debuted for 2022 with updated aesthetics and new powertrains, including the Hurricane 4 turbocharged inline-four for 2026 and, until this year, a plug-in hybrid. Although the Grand Cherokee was well received for its looks and performance (with some engines), reliability hasn’t been great.

So, when looking for the best and worst years for the fifth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, it’s important to note two things. First, good years are really good, and bad years are really bad. Second, in January 2026 Stellantis pulled the plug on the 4xe plug-in hybrid option (get it? lol) and discontinued its production.

The best years for the Jeep Grand Cherokee in the fifth generation are the 2025 model year and, surprisingly, the 2022, which usually contradicts what we’ve said before about buying a first-year model.

These two years stand out amidst a flurry of bad years. The worst years for the Jeep Grand Cherokee in the fifth generation include the 2023, 2024, and 2026 model years. Most of the complaints revolve around electronic issues, although not directly. What we mean is that owners highlight lighting issues, key fob problems, and others. These directly end up being in the electrical system.

Another common complaint is how the suspension can sometimes feel rougher than it should. This could be tied to components loosening more rapidly than normal.

On the other hand, the best years often draw praise for an excellent driving position, great acceleration in the more powerful engines, and its looks.

The Best And Worst Years For The Jeep Grand Cherokee: Older Generations

If you want to know about the older models, this section is for you, but there’s a caveat. The third generation is already more than twenty years old, which means that finding one in good condition is increasingly harder.

However, that doesn’t stop us from exploring the best and worst years for these older models.

What Are The Best And Worst Years For The Third Generation Jeep Grand Cherokee?

The third-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee is much less refined than newer generations. Ironically, that’s a good thing if you want to feel like you’re driving a 4×4 with the rough edges left on.

One of the best years for the third generation is the 2010 model year. It’s one of the final production years, with most of its problems weeded out and a powerful, reliable V8. That’s the combination we recommend, with the 5.7L V8.

If you want more power, the SRT8 is a coveted option, but finding one that hasn’t been thrashed about is harder. On the other end of the scale, one of the worst years in the third generation is 2006, with common problems including ticking in the 3.7L V6 and transmission issues.

What Are The Best And Worst Years In The Second Generation Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Chrysler introduced the second generation Jeep Grand Cherokee in 1998 for the 1999 model year, and it was a serious upgrade from the first generation. It felt more refined, with better fuel mileage and a more comfortable interior, instead of the basic interiors of the past.

The second-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee had a short life, as it was replaced for the 2005 model year. So, you might think the 2004 is a compromised final year, and the opposite is true. One of the best options is the 2004 model year, which has an excellent reputation and offers an inline-6 or V8. On the other hand, the 2000 model year is one of the worst to have, because it has serious engine problems.

What Is The Best Year For The First Generation Jeep Grand Cherokee?

If you want to know what is the best year for the first generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, the answer is quite simple. It’s the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It has a tried-and-true engine, a simple interior, and a tough four-wheel-drive system. There’s very little it can go wrong with, and more often than not, it doesn’t go wrong.

However, we are talking about a car that’s nearly thirty years old. So, this means that finding one in good condition is extremely hard, especially one that hasn’t been modified or put through the paces.

Closing thoughts on the best and worst years for the Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of Jeep’s most popular options. In fact, it has been one of the best-selling products of the Jeep lineup. With a long history, there are plenty of generations, but that doesn’t mean all of them are great.

When looking at the best and worst years for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, we see that each generation has, at most, three years that are worth having. That’s because, although popular, the Jeep Grand Cherokee hasn’t had the best reputation.

So, if you want to buy the latest generation, stick to the 2025 model year. The fourth generation gives you three options, and the third generation gives you one. The second generation sees the 2004 being the best year, and the first generation has the 1998 model year as the best.