InsightArise CarsU.S. Owner Complaint Index
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2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems, complaints & recalls

Far more Steady

NHTSA has received 478 owner complaints about the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, or 84.3 per year on the road — far more complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 2.00, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #76 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Jeep models its rate is 16% higher; against other Midsize SUVs it is 59% higher.

Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count

Complaints filed between 2020-11-28 and 2026-08-26. Median delay from incident to filing: 11 days.

478Complaints
84.3Complaints per year on the road
2.0Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
15Recalls
6.7%Share involving a crash or fire
90Last 12 months

Analysis

The previous model year (2020) drew 34.9 complaints per year, fewer than this one. The following model year (2022) drew 93.7 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2021 model collected 159 complaints, 160% higher than the average vehicle of the same model year.

The most common problem area is Electrical (20.1% of complaints), followed by Steering (15.1%) and Engine (14.4%). Within Electrical reports, owners most often mention “power steering”, “italian”, “turn”, “unavailable” and “warning instruments”. 32 reports (6.7%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 15 injuries and 0 deaths.

Half of the reported incidents happened within 32 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was years three to five (36% of incidents). In the last 12 months 90 new complaints were filed, versus 95 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.

NHTSA lists 15 safety recalls for this model year. 69% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses. 1 NHTSA defect investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “Recall 23V-413 Post Remedy Failures” (opened 2025-12-11, still open).

Complaint index

  • vs. all tracked vehicles2.0
  • vs. other Jeep models1.16
  • vs. other 2021 models2.21
  • vs. other Midsize SUVs1.59
  • Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (159)2.6
  • #76 of 85 · 2021Rankings ›

1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.

Other model years

  • 201898.3 per year2.34
  • 201947.4 per year1.13
  • 202034.9 per year0.83
  • 202184.3 per year2.0
  • 202293.7 per year2.23
  • 2023153.0 per year3.64
  • 2024113.3 per year2.69
  • 202562.2 per year1.48

Jeep Grand Cherokee problems, complaints & recalls by model year ›

What owners complain about

  • Electrical96 · 20.1% · 1.28×
  • Steering72 · 15.1% · 2.33×
  • Engine69 · 14.4% · 0.65×
  • Transmission / powertrain55 · 11.5% · 0.99×
  • Interior & equipment39 · 8.2% · 0.91×
  • Lighting33 · 6.9% · 4.41×
  • Brakes22 · 4.6% · 0.76×
  • Fuel system20 · 4.2% · 0.98×

vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average

Electrical · Common terms in reports

  • power steering27
  • italian5
  • turn23
  • unavailable13
  • warning instruments4
  • instruments gauges4

Steering · Common terms in reports

  • power steering46
  • steering unavailable13
  • steering warning8
  • suspension steering7
  • steering lane6
  • difficult12

Engine · Common terms in reports

  • engine43
  • shut13
  • park13
  • light22
  • traffic14
  • check14

Problem areas: Electrical · Engine · Interior & equipment · Transmission / powertrain · Brakes · Steering · Wheels, tires & suspension · Airbags & seat belts · Fuel system · Driver-assist systems · Body & structure · Lighting

When complaints were filed

2020: 3 3 2020 2021: 50 50 2021 2022: 106 106 2022 2023: 78 78 2023 2024: 81 81 2024 2025: 100 100 2025 2026: 60 60 2026
  • Crashes reported: 23
  • Fires reported: 9
  • Injuries: 15
  • Deaths: 0

Vehicle age at incident

  • <1 yr16.5%
  • 1–2 yrs23.2%
  • 2–3 yrs15.1%
  • 3–5 yrs36.2%
  • 5+ yrs9.0%

Median age at incident: 32 months

What owners report

Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.

Segment peers · 2021 · Midsize SUVs

ModelsComplaintsComplaints per year on the roadComplaint index
2021 Kia Sorento295.10.12
2021 Chevrolet Traverse8815.50.37
2021 Ford Edge10718.90.45
2021 Honda Passport13924.50.58
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe18532.60.77
2021 Dodge Durango19935.10.83
2021 Subaru Outback29652.21.24
2021 Kia Telluride35462.41.48
2021 Ford Explorer42074.01.76
2021 Honda Pilot42474.71.78
2021 Hyundai Palisade42975.61.8
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee47884.32.0
2021 Toyota Highlander51691.02.16

Safety recalls (15)

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS Campaign 26V051000 · 2026-01-29

Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L and 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The rear coil springs may be incorrectly installed and detach from the vehicle while driving.

Risk: Rear coil springs that detach from the vehicle while driving increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the rear coil spring assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 12, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in March 2026. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 20D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 30, 2026. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 23V413. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:VIDEO (TOUCH)SCREEN/MONITOR/UNIT Campaign 25V083000 · 2025-02-13

Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. The center stack upper display (DCSD) contains a transistor that may overheat and prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers replaced the DCSD, free of charge. All affected vehicles have been repaired. Owner notification letters were mailed February 27, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 11C.

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW Campaign 24V897000 · 2024-11-27

Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. An improperly secured connector for the front seat side air bags (SAB) may prevent the air bags from deploying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection."

Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers secured the connector, free of charge. All affected vehicles have been remedied. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2024. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is B3B.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA Campaign 24V436000 · 2024-06-13 · Over-the-air fix

Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Dodge Durango, 2021-2023 Chrysler Pacifica, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, Chrysler Voyager, 2022-2023 Jeep Compass, Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and Ram Promaster vehicles. The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the radio software or the software will be OTA, "Over-The-Air," free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning July 9, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's numbers for this recall are 66B and 79B.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT Campaign 24V132000 · 2024-02-22

Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L and 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The upper control arm ball joint and steering knuckle may separate and cause the wheel to fall outward, resulting in a loss of vehicle control.

Risk: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the upper control arm pinch bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 2, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 10B.

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION Campaign 23V577000 · 2023-08-14

Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and 2022-2024 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer vehicles. The Central Vision Park Assist module (CVPAM) software may prevent the rearview image from displaying when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: A rearview image that does not display while in reverse decreases the driver's visibility of the rear view, increasing the risk of injury or crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the Central Vision Park Assist Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 31, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 56A.

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS Campaign 23V413000 · 2023-06-08

Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. The rear coil springs may have been incorrectly installed and detach from the vehicle while driving.

Risk: Rear coil springs that detach from the vehicle while driving increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and if necessary, repair the rear coil spring assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 29, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 64A. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall 26V051. All vehicles will need to have the new recall remedy performed.

STEERING:COLUMN Campaign 23V352000 · 2023-05-18

Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. An incorrectly assembled steering column intermediate shaft may disconnect from the u-joint, and result in a loss of steering control.

Risk: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the intermediate shaft and assembly parts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 58A.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS Campaign 22V544000 · 2022-07-28

Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. The tail light side marker assemblies may be damaged and not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamp, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: A tail light side marker that does not illuminate can reduce vehicle visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace both body-mounted tail light assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 8, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z50.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) Campaign 22V284000 · 2022-04-28

Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee WK, 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may stick open, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.

Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the EGR valve assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z31.

CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE TETHER ANCHOR Campaign 22V180000 · 2022-03-24

Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. These vehicles may have been built with a missing weld from the seat back frame to the child seat tether anchorage. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

Risk: A missing weld may allow the child seat tether to separate from the seat frame during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the second-row seat back frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Z24.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE Campaign 21V950000 · 2021-12-09

Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles equipped with smart lighting modules (SLM). An incomplete SLM software update may cause one or both headlights to become inoperable. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: Inoperable headlights can reduce visibility for the driver and oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the SLM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y72.

AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE Campaign 21V873000 · 2021-11-10

Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Jeep Wagoneer, and Grand Wagoneer vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) may have incorrect software which can disable the driver, passenger, and knee air bags without warning.

Risk: Disabled air bags can increase the risk of injury to occupants in a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the ORC, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 2, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y79.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS Campaign 21V797000 · 2021-10-14

Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles not equipped with automatic high beams. When the master lighting switch is set to the auto position, the high beam headlights will not activate unless the master lighting switch is first changed to the 'on" position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: Difficulty activating the headlight high beams may result in reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y66.

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES Campaign 21V729000 · 2021-09-21

Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. A radio software error may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: FCA US LLC will update the radio software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 28, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y67.

How to check whether your car has an open recall ›

Investigations

Frequently asked questions

How many complaints were filed for the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee?

478 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, or about 84.3 per year on the road.

What is the most common problem reported for the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee?

The most common category is Electrical, accounting for 20.1% of complaints.

Does the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee have any recalls?

NHTSA lists 15 safety recall(s) for this model year. 1 NHTSA defect investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “Recall 23V-413 Post Remedy Failures” (opened 2025-12-11, still open).

Is the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee still generating complaints?

In the last 12 months 90 new complaints were filed, versus 95 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.

How does the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee compare with similar vehicles?

NHTSA has received 478 owner complaints about the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, or 84.3 per year on the road — far more complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 2.00, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #76 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Jeep models its rate is 16% higher; against other Midsize SUVs it is 59% higher.