The Grand Cherokee has offered near-limitless capabilities since 1993. We pick the best year for pre-owned GCs that hold up on reliability.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee helped reintroduce the Jeep brand as one of the most reliable and well-rounded vehicles on the market. Over the years, it has kept up with other noteworthy vehicles in its class like the Ford Explorer and Toyota RAV4, both being consistently at the top of their class.
Jeep sold 217,430 Grand Cherokees in its first full year, which is actually only 7,644 short of its 2020 numbers. This is pretty close to average, with 1999 being the high (300,031 units) and 2009 being the low (50,328).
Today you can pick up a 10-year-old Grand Cherokee with less than 100,000 miles for $10,000-$15,000. Just make sure it’s 4WD, as there aren’t any visual cues other than a trail-rated badge.
The Grand Cherokee has always been a capable mid-size SUV. However, some years have been better than others, to say the least.
Here we’ll examine the Jeep Grand Cherokee Generations through an unbiased, well-researched lens, including problem areas and generational updates.
Jeep Grand Cherokee First-generation (1993-1998)
The first generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee was created out of necessity to keep up with the rise of competing SUVs from other automotive brands. With a fresh and new design that closely modeled other SUVs while maintaining the unforgettable Jeep exterior frame. The first Grand Cherokee was offered with a rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive and offered drivers a standard 4.0L inline six-cylinder engine that was capable of 190 horsepower.
It also came with a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic transmission for backroad exploring and off-road adventuring. For drivers who wanted to get the most out of their off-road expeditions, the top-level Jeep Grand Cherokee trim for 1993, the Grand Wagoneer, had a 5.2L V8 engine that was capable of producing 235 horsepower and also featured woodgrain exterior paneling.
Jeep Grand Cherokee First-gen. Problem Areas
Some of the biggest complaints about the first generation have been potential fuel tank leaks, most notably in the 1996-1998 models. For the overall 1993-1998 generation, Chrysler had a recall due to problems with the shifter lever.
If drivers had not put the shifter lever all the way in the “park” position and had left the vehicle running, then the Grand Cherokee would sometimes unexpectedly move backward even though it appeared to be stable. However, this problem was an easy fix, and nothing too significant ever occurred from the models of this generation.
Jeep Grand Cherokee First-gen. Updates
Towards the end of the first generation, Jeep unleashed a Grand Cherokee with a 5.9L V8 engine. Other than the new engine, the exterior design remained pretty similar over the years. Now that we’ve traveled back in time, let’s take a look at the second generation.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Second-generation (1999-2004)
With the second generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee came a bold new exterior design. Jeep managed to create a lighter and more aerodynamic exterior while also offering more power underneath the hood.
The new Jeep Grand Cherokee continued with the base six-cylinder engine, but it could now produce up to 195 horsepower. A new engine was also available: a 4.7L V8 engine capable of 235 horsepower. With more power and a sleek new exterior, Jeep proved that it could up the ante even further to keep up with the changing times.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Second-gen. Problem Areas
While the second generation came with plenty of advancements, it didn’t come without its own set of problems. While different problems occurred for each year, one common issue with the second generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee seemed to be with the seating.
With the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the rear seat belt and the seat belt top mounting bolts were a note-worthy issue. In the 2001 model, a common seating issue was with the heated seating feature getting too hot and even, in some cases, starting a fire.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Second-gen. Updates
For the four-wheel-drive model, drivers could access automatic locking hubs, a limited-slip differential, and an electronic transfer case. In 2001, the Jeep Grand Cherokee became available with a five-speed automatic transmission and side-curtain airbags.
In 2004, a navigation system was built into the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Third-generation (2005-2010)
The third generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee brought a more robust exterior design and frame into the picture, becoming a larger model than it was in the previous generation.
With an all-new suspension system and an updated four-wheel-drive system, off-roading became easier and more exciting than ever before. The Jeep Grand Cherokee also received an updated interior cabin and redesign to make for a cozier and more spacious interior.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Third-gen. Problem Areas
One of the most common problems among the third generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee was the electrical systems, particularly with the exterior lighting and the ignition switch.
With some of the later models, problems were noted with the suspension systems. This could be due to the fact that the suspension system was recently upgraded at the start of the third generation and was still new.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Third-gen. Updates
The third generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee offered drivers the choice of three engines and three four-wheel-drive systems. For interior convenience and entertainment, a navigation system and a rear-seat DVD system were installed. The 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered a powerful SRT8 version with a 6.1L V8 engine capable of 420 horsepower.
In 2007, a 3.0L diesel V8 engine and a flex-fuel V8 engine became available.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Fourth-generation (2011-2021)
The fourth generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee maintains a similar design to the previous generation but adds much more technology and safety features to the mix.
With the addition of the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has shown how it can continue to improve with speed and power. With plenty of new additional engine upgrades, drivers can get a whole lot more out of every trip to the grocery store or weekend off-road exploration than they ever could before.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Fourth-gen. Updates & Problem Areas
The Jeep Grand Cherokee fourth generation had a relatively light recall amount. Most of the problems only really occurred with the 2011 model, which was due mostly to electrical systems and interior wiring issues. Other problems with the 2011 model included brake service issues.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk was introduced in 2018 and was regarded as one of the fastest SUVs available.
In 2014, the Jeep Grand Cherokee received a total refresh and redesign. The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT features a 6.4L V8 engine capable of 475 horsepower.
Best Year for the Jeep Grand Cherokee
The best year for the Jeep Grand Cherokee will depend on what your specific driving needs are. If you prefer an SUV with a little more engine power and technology features, then the fourth generation will be your best bet, specifically the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.
However, the 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee model has a heavier frame and an impressive suspension system which allows for better off-roading and smooth driving on the highways.
So, if your main focus is smooth handling on and off the roads, then we would recommend the 2010 model. What’s more, the 2010 model year had just five recalls and 111 registered complaints with the NHTSA, suggesting that you should have a great overall experience owning a 2010 Grand Cherokee.
Worst Year for Jeep Grand Cherokee
While it’s tough to determine what year was the worst for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, we would probably recommend avoiding the 2005 model. This suggestion is largely due to the fact that the 2005 model was the start of the third generation, and there were still plenty of kinks to be worked out as many updates were still relatively new. While there were “only” five recalls, there were 2,019 complaints registered with the NHTSA, which is almost double that of 2006.
Photos: Jeep
