Jeep Grand Cherokee (4th Gen)
11-21 · Jeep Grand Cherokee
The WK2 Grand Cherokee finally has safety scores worth mentioning, standard ESC, 5-star NHTSA, IIHS Good, but the Pentastar V6's camshaft phaser and electrical issues mean ownership costs are meaningfully above average.
Score breakdown
Our take
What it really is
FCA's most capable Grand Cherokee generation. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 is chain-driven and makes 295hp, a genuinely capable engine. But camshaft phaser wear, oil consumption above 80k, and FCA electrical gremlins drive repair costs to $741/yr. Standard ESC, 5-star NHTSA, and IIHS Good are the positives.
Why it's on this list
Strong performance, good safety ratings, and serious off-road capability on Trail Rated trims. At $14k–$20k for clean 15-18 examples, it's a capable premium SUV at a discount.
The honest trade-offs
$741/yr average repair costs, the highest of any SUV on this list in its price tier. Camshaft phaser issues on Pentastar above 80k miles. Electrical issues endemic to FCA platform. Fuel economy unimpressive at 19 combined. Worth buying at a price that reflects the higher ownership cost.
What to buy and what to avoid
16-19 Limited or Overland with 3.6L Pentastar and ESC. Listen for camshaft phaser rattle on cold start above 60k miles. Verify Uconnect electronics work. The 5.7L Hemi option provides better towing but costs more to run. Budget $1,500 for expected electrical and phaser maintenance.
Annual cost of ownership
Key specs
Safety
Rust vulnerability
Reliability data
Repairability
References
Sources used to research and score this vehicle. Superscript numbers in the sections above link here.
- [1]datasetRepairPal
Annual repair cost, visit frequency, and severe issue probability. Used in the reliability formula.
- [2]governmentNHTSA Crash Test Ratings
Federal crash test star ratings and rollover percentages. Used in the safety formula.
- [3]governmentNHTSA Technical Service Bulletins
Manufacturer-issued service bulletins flagging known defects. Used in the PPI checklist generator.
- [4]datasetIIHS Safety Ratings
Insurance Institute crash test ratings (small overlap, side, headlight quality). Used in the safety formula and the repairability headlight benchmark.
- [5]governmentEPA Fuel Economy Guide
Official combined/city/highway MPG figures. Used in the true annual cost formula.
- [6]forum threadCarComplaints
Owner-reported defect patterns by mileage and year. Used in the known-issues list and PPI checklist.
- [7]datasetiSeeCars Long-Term Reliability
Probability of reaching 250,000 miles by make and model. Used in the reliability formula.
- [8]publicationBankrate / Insurify Insurance Estimates
Full-coverage insurance estimates by driver profile (25M, 40F). Used in the true annual cost formula.
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.
Modernize this car
CarPlay, backup cameras, blind spot monitoring, TPMS, and dashcams. Researched picks and honest watch-outs.
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