Are you thinking about buying a Jeep Grand Cherokee? If so, you probably want to know whether or not they are reliable. The short answer is yes; they are reliable.
How reliable is the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a great reliability rating according to both experts and owners. And, it was even awarded an 83 out of 100 point quality and reliability score by J.D. Power based on consumer-verified reviews.
- Owner Reviews: 4.77 Stars
- Expert Reviews: 4.3/10
There is much more information available from the NHTSA and the huge database at VehicleHistory. So keep reading to get the Jeep Grand Cherokee reliability information you need all in one place. We will talk about the vehicle history, owner and expert reviews, recalls, consumer complaints, and more.
Looking Back at the Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Grand Cherokee is a mid-size SUV that is manufactured on a unibody chassis. Other SUV manufacturers typically use a body-on-frame construction. This vehicle’s origin dates back to 1983 as the concept was a successor to the smaller Jeep Cherokee. The 1993 Grand Cherokee then made its official debut in 1992 at the North American Auto Show in Detroit.
This four-generation vehicle is known as one of the most off-road-capable mid-size SUVs on the market. They come in either a two- or four-wheel drive and have a variety of trim levels and engines. The most current model was rolled out in 2011, and it was refreshed in 2014. So it hasn’t changed much over the years. But, that is changing with the 2021 Grand Cherokee.
The new 2021 version will have a larger wheelbase that is wider than 114.8 inches. That means it will also have a larger interior, but it still won’t have third-row seating, not yet, at least. But Jeep has stated that they probably will add a third row in the future.
Crash Ratings
The NHTSA safety ratings for the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee differ between the two- and four-wheel-drive models. The four-wheel-drive option has an overall five-star crash rating. But the two-wheel drive option only received an overall four-star crash rating. And it only received three stars for the rollover rating. So make sure you pay attention to that.
Safety Features
This vehicle offers several safety features, some that come standard, and some that are optional.
- Electronic stability control, roll stability control, front and rear anti-roll bars
- Dual-stage air bags, driver and passenger seat-mounted, front, and 1st- and 2nd-row curtain, as well as a driver’s side knee air bag
- ParkSense with stop rear parking sensors and a ParkView backup camera
- Optional blind-spot monitoring
- ABS and driveline traction control
Expert Reviews
J.D. Power gives this SUV a decent recommendation due to its many powertrain options and trim levels. They also love it because of its exterior styling and off-road capabilities. However, they do mention its decade-old design. But that is changing with the new, larger, redesigned 2021 model.
The Vehicle History expert review gives it a 4.3 rating out of 10. The expert mentions the wide variety of models, everything from basic transportation to luxury and performance variants that rival the BMW, Mercedes, and Audi.
The expert also mentions the variety of powerful engines that leave most competitors struggling to keep up. This is because many mid-size SUVs are woefully underpowered, but not the Grand Cherokee.
It’s also comforting to know that the interior rivals many luxury brands and that this vehicle has a great resale value as well. Another bonus is that it can tow up to 7,200 pounds.
What you might not like, though, according to the experts, is that it can only seat five people; the backseat is small; it has poor gas mileage; and it’s more expensive than its rivals. Not to mention that it only has a comparatively average reliability record.
Owner Reviews
As we mentioned above, according to Vehicle History, people who own this SUV give it a 4.77-star rating. So those who own this vehicle absolutely love it. In fact, 81% of its owners recommend it. Here are some of the owner comments about the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
- It’s superior to other vehicles.
- It drives nice and has been very reliable.
- A great family vehicle that has nice styling.
- Great car, very versatile.
- Some people like the legroom in the back, and some don’t.
Interestingly, some people comment on this vehicle’s great gas mileage, and others are less than impressed. So it probably depends on which engine you get. And, some people love the leather seats, and others don’t, saying they are hard to clean.
There are many more reviews on the Vehicle History website. Sometimes, the best way to decide whether or not any given vehicle is right for you is to get as much information as you can find. It also helps tremendously to read the owner reviews as well because these are solid, unembellished facts for the most part.
Are There Any Recalls on the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Fortunately, there has only been one recall to date for this vehicle. This recall is dated April 2, 2020, and it was for the back over prevention feature. The recall states that the rearview image can remain on the display. This could distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
What are the Most Common Complaints about this SUV?
The NHTSA has a total of 21 complaints about this vehicle. The top three complaints are about the engine, powertrain, and vehicle speed control, all with six complaints each.
Two of the engine complaints were about unintended acceleration causing the vehicle to lunge forward or backward. Other engine complaints included the engine shutting off with a “place car in park to start” message on the dashboard. All other engine complaints were unrelated.
The powertrain complaints include the transmission lost power while driving. The vehicle failed to shift into gear and stalled with a “place vehicle in park” message. The vehicle sputters and shakes violently. The transmission is extremely rough. And several were the same as the unintended acceleration complaints from above.
Each of the vehicle speed control complaints was about unintended acceleration in one form or another. This might be something that you need to research a little more before making any final decisions.
Final Thoughts…
The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee is beloved by experts and owners alike. It is responsive, has a luxury interior, and plenty of cargo space for a mid-size SUV.
It does, however, have some issues, such as the lower crash rating on the two-wheel-drive Cherokees and some potential unintended acceleration issues. But overall, most people who own this vehicle love it, and there is not one mention of its being underpowered in any way.
So, is this the right vehicle for you?
Wait!
Before you do anything else, be sure to check the vehicle history first. Keep reading, and we will show you where you can get a free, instant, no-obligation, no credit card required vehicle history report.
What’s Next?
Click here for a free Vehicle History report.
The best way to learn about your vehicle or any vehicle you are thinking about buying is to study its history. This one simple step could help you avoid buying a vehicle with known issues, or worse.
