Brand record
Jeep Recalls by Model: Reliability and Common Problems
Every Jeep model in NHTSA's owner complaint file, 2010 to 2025: the recall campaigns for each model, which models and years owners complain about most, and the problems they report.
NHTSA owner complaintsChecked Oct 2, 202642,287 complaints18 models
The Grand Cherokee drew the most owner complaints of any Jeep in NHTSA's file for 2010 to 2025, then the Wrangler and the Cherokee. The Grand Cherokee and the Wrangler have the most recall campaigns, 80 and 61.
Best-sellers draw the most reports, so a high count is not a failure rate. Check one car with its VIN.
Two Cherokee recalls cover a 9-speed automatic that can shift to neutral on its own: 16V-529 for the 2014 and 2015 Cherokee, over poorly crimped wiring in the transmission harness, and 19V-447 for the 2014 Cherokee with the 3.2L engine, over software that shifts to neutral when a clutch sticks. A third, 20V-343, covers the 2014 to 2017 Cherokee with the two-speed power transfer unit, whose worn splines can cut drive and the Park function; the dealer fix is software that switches to rear-wheel drive and sets the electric parking brake.
The one documented fault in the power module (TIPM) of the 2011 and 2012 Grand Cherokee is its fuel pump relay, which can fail and stall the engine; recall 19V-813, which took over from 14V-530 and 15V-115, replaces the relay and its wiring for free. NHTSA's review of wider TIPM claims (DP14-004) found no valid evidence of airbag, acceleration or fire faults.
On the 2018 Wrangler, a shimmy in the steering wheel after a bump, worse in cold weather, comes from air in the steering damper; Jeep replaces the damper under customer satisfaction notice V41 and warranty extension bulletin 19-002-24, not a safety recall. NHTSA's investigation PE19-012 traced the shimmy to that damper and closed without a recall order.
Jeep recalls by model
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for each Jeep model, model years 2010 to 2025, read Oct 2, 2026. Each campaign counts once per model, however many years it covers. NHTSA's recall service returned no answer for Compass 2021, 2024 and 2025; Patriot 2017, so those years are not counted. Recall repairs are free at the dealer; check one car with its VIN.
- Grand CherokeeMost often: electrical system80
- WranglerMost often: airbag system61
- CherokeeMost often: powertrain39
- CompassMost often: electrical system22
- RenegadeMost often: electrical system14
- PatriotMost often: steering9
Jeep complaints by model
Owner complaints to NHTSA for each Jeep model with at least 1,000 of them, model years 2010 to 2025, and the year that drew the most. A best-seller draws more reports than a rare model, so read these as counts, not failure rates. 12 smaller models are left out.
- Grand CherokeeMost: 2014 · powertrain11,374
- WranglerMost: 2018 · steering10,033
- CherokeeMost: 2014 · powertrain9,933
- CompassMost: 2018 · engine3,270
- PatriotMost: 2014 · engine2,312
- RenegadeMost: 2017 · engine2,194
Jeep model years with the most complaints
The ten Jeep model years owners complained about most, with the system they named most. These are the years to inspect hardest before you buy, not a verdict on every car.
- 2014 CherokeePowertrain55%2,641
- 2014 Grand CherokeePowertrain20%2,373
- 2018 WranglerSteering62%1,806
- 2015 CherokeePowertrain56%1,784
- 2011 Grand CherokeeElectrical system46%1,639
- 2012 Grand CherokeeElectrical system49%1,638
- 2019 CherokeePowertrain48%1,615
- 2016 CherokeePowertrain44%1,403
- 2015 Grand CherokeePowertrain26%1,354
- 2017 CherokeePowertrain48%1,328
Most common Jeep problems
The systems owners named most across every Jeep model and year in the file, counted from each model year's six most-named systems.
- Electrical system26% of the complaints11,008
- Engine23% of the complaints9,519
- Powertrain22% of the complaints9,480
- Steering8% of the complaints3,590
- Braking system6% of the complaints2,334
- Fuel and power delivery5% of the complaints2,113
Our guides for these problems
Check engine codes Jeep owners name
The OBD-II codes owners wrote into their complaints for the 9 Jeep model years we have read in full, one count per complaint. Tap a code to read our guide; grey codes have no guide yet.
Common questions
Are Jeeps reliable?
The complaint file can't grade a brand, because it counts reports, not failures per car sold. What it shows is where Jeep owners report trouble: the electrical system most, then the engine, and the Grand Cherokee, Wrangler and Cherokee draw the most complaints.
Which Jeeps should you stay away from?
No model is bad in every year. The model years with the most owner complaints are 2014 Cherokee, 2014 Grand Cherokee, 2018 Wrangler and 2015 Cherokee; inspect those hardest and check their recalls before you buy.
Which Jeep has the most recalls?
The Grand Cherokee, with 80 recall campaigns across model years 2010 to 2025, then the Wrangler with 61.
What is the most common problem with Jeeps?
Owners name the electrical system most, in 11,008 complaints, 26% of the Jeep record, then the engine, in 9,519.
How do I check if my Jeep has a recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN in our free recall checker or on NHTSA's recall page. It lists open recalls for that one car, and the dealer does the repair for free.
Jeep pages