2020 Jeep GRAND CHEROKEE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Jeep GRAND CHEROKEE has 344 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2020 jeep grand cherokee. the contact stated that the vehicle was at stand still, heat would exit the vents when using the air conditional. the contact stated he had to open the windows for 10-15 minutes to be able to enter the vehicle, due to the extreme heat inside the cab. . ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.

8 fire reports 32 crash reports 15 injuries

344

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

67 complaints

19%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL, HEAT WOULD EXIT THE VENTS WHEN USING THE AIR CONDITIONAL. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS FOR 10-15 MINUTES TO BE ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT INSIDE THE CAB.
• CENTER DISPLAY THAT CONTAINS BACKUP CAMERA IMAGES, CLIMATE CONTROL, RADIO, NAVIGATION AND MANY OTHER FUNCTIONS IS INOPERABLE MOST OF THE TIME. THIS PROBLEM RECURS DAILY, AND THE DISPLAY IS INOPERABLE 90+% OF THE TIME. THE ABSENCE OF AN OPERABLE BACKUP CAMERA DISPLAY IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE.
• WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5 2020, WAS DRIVING ABOUT 3 MILES FROM MY HOUSE WHEN I NOTICED MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD "PLACE CAR IN PARK TO START CAR". THOUGHT IT WAS ODD BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING. I THEN NOTICED CAR WAS OFF SO PLACED IN PARK (ON THE ROAD BTW) AND STARTED IT UP AGAIN. NO MORE ISSUES THAT DAY. NEXT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL, HEAT WOULD EXIT THE VENTS WHEN USING THE AIR CONDITIONAL. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS FOR 10-15 MINUTES TO BE ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT INSIDE THE CAB. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

58 complaints

17%

• I WAS SLOWLY BACKING INTO A DRIVEWAY WHEN THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I REPEATEDLY HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE JEEP WOULDN'T STOP; INSTEAD IT KEPT GOING FASTER. IT SMASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AND THE BRICK WALL OF THE GARAGE, DEMOLISHING THEM. THE JEEP WAS BRAND NEW WIT
• I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A SNOW PLOW MOUNTED TO A FORD F-250 WHERE SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE, AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THERE'S NO WAY POSSIBLE THESE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN DEPLOYED.
• THE CAR WAS PARKED ON A CITY STREET, AND THE ENGINE OFF OVER NIGHT SOMETIME EARLY IN THE MORNING WITH THE CAR STILL OFF AND PARKED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“I WAS SLOWLY BACKING INTO A DRIVEWAY WHEN THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I REPEATEDLY HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE JEEP WOULDN'T STOP; INSTEAD IT KEPT GOING FASTER. IT SMASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AND THE BRICK WALL OF THE GARAGE, DEMOLISHING THEM. THE JEEP WAS BRAND NEW WIT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

52 complaints

15%

• WITH MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. WHILE IN STANDARD OR SPORT MODE, IN SECOND GEAR GOING ABOUT 20MPH, THERE IS A REPRODUCIBLE RPM SURGE THAT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. THIS SOMEWHAT FEELS LIKE BEING REAR ENDED.
• WHEN USING THE REAR PARK ASSIST, WITH MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE HAS SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED WHILE GOING IN REVERSE, REQUIRING ME TO HARD BREAK TO AVOID COLLISION. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES.
• AFTER ONLY 350 MILES MY ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING AND HAD TO PULL OVER. BY THE TIME WE STOPPED THE CAR THE SPUTTERING WAS VIOLENTLY SHAKING THE VEHICLE. WE HAD TO GET IT TOWED ONLY FOR THE DEALER SHIP TO TAKE SEVERAL HOURS TO REPLACE A SPARK PLUG. - AT ALMOST ALL TIME THERE THE AIR CONDITIONER NEV

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“WITH MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. WHILE IN STANDARD OR SPORT MODE, IN SECOND GEAR GOING ABOUT 20MPH, THERE IS A REPRODUCIBLE RPM SURGE THAT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. THIS SOMEWHAT FEELS LIKE BEING REAR ENDED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

38 complaints

11%

• WITH MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. WHILE IN STANDARD OR SPORT MODE, IN SECOND GEAR GOING ABOUT 20MPH, THERE IS A REPRODUCIBLE RPM SURGE THAT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. THIS SOMEWHAT FEELS LIKE BEING REAR ENDED.
• WHEN USING THE REAR PARK ASSIST, WITH MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE HAS SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED WHILE GOING IN REVERSE, REQUIRING ME TO HARD BREAK TO AVOID COLLISION. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES.
• WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AND THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 460 MILES TOTAL AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 940 TOTAL MILES AND I AM BEGINNING TO FEEL HARD SHIFTING AND SLIPPING WHILE DRIVING, THAT SEEMS TO ME TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 2 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

20 complaints

• LEASED MY GRAND CHEROKEE 2020. DROVE THE CAR TWICE. IT WASN'T EVEN 24 HRS SINCE I HAD THE CAR, MY CAR BROKE DOWN THE 2ND TIME I DROVE IT (ON A FRIDAY). I WAS WAITING ON LINE FOR MY SONS GRADUATION. IT WAS A DRIVE THROUGH GRADUATION BECAUSE OF COVID-19. I WAS THE 1ST ON LINE AND HAD 50 CARS BEHIND ME
• YOU CANNOT PROPERLY FILL YOUR GAS TANK WITHOUT HAVING TO MANIPULATE THE PUMP HANDLE THE WRONG WAYS. EVERY TIME I'VE HAD TO FILL UP I HAVE TO SIT THERE AND CONSTANTLY HAVE TO RESET THE PUMP HANDLE BECAUSE ALL THE PUMP THINK THE TANK IS FULL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE TANK I
• THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON IT HAS TO DO WITH THE EMISSIONS CONTROL THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES GOING ON NUMBER 4 FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT IT FALLS UNDER THE LEMON LAW BECAUSE THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE IN THAT VEHIC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“LEASED MY GRAND CHEROKEE 2020. DROVE THE CAR TWICE. IT WASN'T EVEN 24 HRS SINCE I HAD THE CAR, MY CAR BROKE DOWN THE 2ND TIME I DROVE IT (ON A FRIDAY). I WAS WAITING ON LINE FOR MY SONS GRADUATION. IT WAS A DRIVE THROUGH GRADUATION BECAUSE OF COVID-19. I WAS THE 1ST ON LINE AND HAD 50 CARS BEHIND ME”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 344 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL, HEAT WOULD EXIT THE VENTS WHEN USING THE AIR CONDITIONAL. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS FOR 10-15 MINUTES TO BE ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT INSIDE THE CAB.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I WAS SLOWLY BACKING INTO A DRIVEWAY WHEN THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I REPEATEDLY HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE JEEP WOULDN'T STOP; INSTEAD IT KEPT GOING FASTER. IT SMASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AND THE BRICK WALL OF THE GARAGE, DEMOLISHING THEM. THE JEEP WAS BRAND NEW WIT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WITH MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. WHILE IN STANDARD OR SPORT MODE, IN SECOND GEAR GOING ABOUT 20MPH, THERE IS A REPRODUCIBLE RPM SURGE THAT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. THIS SOMEWHAT FEELS LIKE BEING REAR ENDED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: WITH MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. WHILE IN STANDARD OR SPORT MODE, IN SECOND GEAR GOING ABOUT 20MPH, THERE IS A REPRODUCIBLE RPM SURGE THAT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. THIS SOMEWHAT FEELS LIKE BEING REAR ENDED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)