← All vehicles

Jeep Grand Cherokee (3rd Gen)

05-10 · Jeep Grand Cherokee

68out of 100

The WK lost the legendary AMC 4.0L and replaced it with less reliable Chrysler-designed V6 and V8 engines, beautiful SUV, significantly worse ownership proposition than the WJ.

Score breakdown

55/ 100Reliability×2.554/ 100True Annual Cost×2.080/ 100Safety×2.565/ 100Practicality×2.0100/ 100Repairability×1.0

Our take

What it really is

A premium-looking body-on-frame SUV with Chrysler PowerTech V6 and Hemi V8 options. The 3.7L V6 is the base engine, adequate but not the AMC durability legend. The 5.7L Hemi is powerful but expensive to run. ESC not standard until late production. IIHS Acceptable.

Why it's on this list

Priced under $8k for clean examples. The 5.7L Hemi at high mileage is a known Craigslist special. For a buyer who wants body-on-frame capability with a comfortable interior, the WK is the pick over the WJ for livability.

The honest trade-offs

RepairPal 3.0/5. High repair costs ($741/yr). No ESC on most examples. Fuel economy in the mid-teens. The 4.7L V6 has documented sludge issues. Avoid MDS cylinder deactivation failures on early Hemi examples, verify it works correctly.

What to buy and what to avoid

08-10 Laredo with 5.7L Hemi and ESC (available from 2008). Verify MDS cylinder deactivation function, check for rough idle. Avoid 3.7L and 4.7L engines. High purchase price and high running costs, set budget accordingly.

Annual cost of ownership

Fuel (12k mi)
$2,750 (USD)[5]
Maintenance
$741 (USD)[1]
Tires (prorated)
$207 (USD)
Insurance (25yr male)
$2,020 (USD)[8]
Insurance (40yr female)
$1,560 (USD)[8]
Total (25yr male)
$4,018 (USD)
Total (40yr female)
$3,558 (USD)

Key specs

MPG combined
15[5]
MPG city / hwy
14 / 20[5]
Engine
3.7L V6 (EGK)
Horsepower
210 hp
Torque
235 lb-ft
Seats
5
Cargo max
68.6 cu ft
Stock tires
245/70R17
Body
SUV
Rear seats
60/40 split

Safety

NHTSA overall
4/5 ★[2]
Rollover risk
22%[2]
IIHS rating
Acceptable[4]
ESC standard
No

Rust vulnerability

Overall severity
Moderate
Frame rust risk
Low

Reliability data

RepairPal annual cost
$741 (USD)[1]
Industry avg annual cost
$652 (USD)[1]
RepairPal rating
3/5[1]
Unscheduled visits/yr
0.7[1]
Severe issue probability
18%[1]
250k-mile survival
30%[7]

Repairability

Headlight type
Halogen
DIY replacement cost
$25 (USD)
At major retailer
Yes
Headlight benchmark
10/10

References

Sources used to research and score this vehicle. Superscript numbers in the sections above link here.

  1. [1]dataset
    RepairPal

    Annual repair cost, visit frequency, and severe issue probability. Used in the reliability formula.

  2. [2]government
    NHTSA Crash Test Ratings

    Federal crash test star ratings and rollover percentages. Used in the safety formula.

  3. [3]government
    NHTSA Technical Service Bulletins

    Manufacturer-issued service bulletins flagging known defects. Used in the PPI checklist generator.

  4. [4]dataset
    IIHS Safety Ratings

    Insurance Institute crash test ratings (small overlap, side, headlight quality). Used in the safety formula and the repairability headlight benchmark.

  5. [5]government
    EPA Fuel Economy Guide

    Official combined/city/highway MPG figures. Used in the true annual cost formula.

  6. [6]forum thread
    CarComplaints

    Owner-reported defect patterns by mileage and year. Used in the known-issues list and PPI checklist.

  7. [7]dataset
    iSeeCars Long-Term Reliability

    Probability of reaching 250,000 miles by make and model. Used in the reliability formula.

  8. [8]publication
    Bankrate / Insurify Insurance Estimates

    Full-coverage insurance estimates by driver profile (25M, 40F). Used in the true annual cost formula.

Before you buy

Looking to buy a Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Start with our fully customized pre-purchase inspection checklist for you or your mechanic. Three versions: one for buyers who are not mechanics, one for enthusiasts with tools, one for handing off to a professional. Print or save as PDF.

Get the checklist

Modernize this car

CarPlay, backup cameras, blind spot monitoring, TPMS, and dashcams. Researched picks and honest watch-outs.

View options

If you like the Jeep Grand Cherokee (3rd Gen), also consider

Picked by segment, score, and ownership cost.

Cheaper to own
Toyota Highlander (3rd Gen)
91
Also in this segment
Toyota Sienna 3rd Gen
91
Also in this segment
Honda Odyssey 4th Gen
91
Also in this segment
Toyota Highlander (2nd Gen)
89
Also in this segment
Honda Pilot (2nd Gen)
88

Owner ratings

Owner stories

Real owners. Real mileage. Not a press release.

No stories yet. Be the first.

Community comments

Sign in to leave a comment.