Reportedly, only 0.9% of all Jeep Grand Cherokees make it to 200,000 miles of longevity, which is below the industry average of 1.2%. In comparison, 18.2% of all Toyota Land Cruisers make it to that mileage mark.
Key Points
- The Jeep Grand Cherokee has been around since 1992. The current fifth generation of the SUV came out for the 2021 model year.
- There are Grand Cherokees that have reached over 150,000 miles, but they account for a small percentage of all Grand Cherokees.
- Data shows that only 0.9% of all Jeep Grand Cherokees make it to 200,000 miles, which is below the industry average of 1.2%.
High-mileage Grand Cherokees Do Exist but are Rarer Than Other SUVs With High Mileage
The automotive research firm iSeecars used data to create a list of the vehicles most likely to reach 200,000 miles. The Jeep Grand Cherokee did not make the list. Their data shows that only 0.9% of all Jeep Grand Cherokees make it to 200,000 miles, which is below the industry average of 1.2%.
So, only a small percentage of Grand Cherokees will ever see 200,000 miles on their odometer. In comparison, 18.2% of all Toyota Land Cruisers make it to that mileage mark.
A thread on the Jeep Garage forum features owners revealing the mileage on their Grand Cherokees, with most reporting an average of just under 150,000 miles on the odometer.
“Got 144,000 miles on our 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi Overland,” says one owner, adding that when it comes to maintenance, he “…just replaced the original AGM battery (in 2022) and tires/brakes a few times, and she still runs and looks amazing.”
A few Grand Cherokee owners in the forum boast of reaching over 150,000 miles, with one 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee driver mentioning getting 177,645 miles so far from “a pretty solid vehicle that’s showing signs of age. She’s been beat on pretty good though!”
The highest mileage reported comes from an original owner of a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland who reports having 305,000 miles on the odometer.
Grand Cherokee Owners With Over 100,000 Miles Report that Repairs Have Been Necessary to Keep Their Jeep Running
There are a few comments on Vehicle History from owners of Jeep Grand Cherokees with over 100,000 miles. Most of them like their SUV, but they mention that repairs have been needed to keep their vehicle running for a long time.
Many owners of high-mileage Grand Cherokees say they have performed regular maintenance on their Jeeps. In 2021, one Vehicle History visitor commenting on his 1998 Grand Cherokee reports that it has over 272,300 miles on it.
“The engine runs smoothly,” he notes, “but the transmission slips every now and then. Regular oil changes every 3,500 miles, using quality oil and filter. And taking it easy on the skinny pedal will make the 4.0 inline-six last forever.”
Routine Maintenance is Simple, but Repairs are Costly Once the Warranty Ends
The Jeep Grand Cherokee comes with an oil change indicator system that reminds the owner when it is time for scheduled maintenance. The owner’s manual says that severe operating conditions may cause the “change oil” message to illuminate as early as 3,500 miles.
In no instance should a Grand Cherokee be driven more than 10,000 miles or 12 months between oil changes. Other major maintenance, including transmission fluid flushes, should be done every 30,000 miles.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee comes from the factory with a three-year or 60,000-mile basic warranty. The powertrain is covered for a total of five years or 60,000 miles. Many expensive repairs need to be done after the warranty has expired.
A look at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website shows that the largest number of complaints filed about the Grand Cherokee were in reference to the powertrain. Many of the powertrain issues are regarding the transmission itself. Almost all of them were filed after the vehicle’s warranty had expired.
Certain Older Model Years of the Grand Cherokee Are Notably Less Reliable and Likely Won’t Last as Long as those from 2016 Onward
When it comes to the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s longevity, there are some problem years to note. The 2011 and 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokees each have over 1,500 complaints filed with the NHTSA. The number of complaints dropped to just over 700 for the 2013 Grand Cherokee. But things took a turn for the worse in 2014, when the Jeep Grand Cherokee amassed over 1,900 complaints filed with the NHTSA for that model year.
The situation improved for the 2015 model with just 900 complaints. Then it gets much better starting in 2016 when the number of complaints drops to less than 200 a year. So, with the exception of the 2013 model year, older Grand Cherokees do have some problems.
Jeep Grand Cherokee is a Reliable Road Beast, but Hitting 150,000 Miles of Longevity May Be a Challenge
There are Jeep Grand Cherokees with 150,000 or more miles. But they are rare. It is much more likely to find other types of cars with high mileage.
If you are considering buying a used Jeep Grand Cherokee, that already has a lot of miles on it you should check to see that it has been properly maintained and whether certain components have already been replaced. You should also find out if the previous owner drove the vehicle off-road or used it for towing, as those types of driving conditions can put extra wear on a car.
Photos: Stellantis
