2012 Ford Explorer vs 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Ford Explorer | 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 827 | 1,641 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 10 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 88 | 258 |
| Investigations | 4 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 46 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 104 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–23 | 15–19 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 70,500 mi | 66,450 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Jeep Grand Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 63 | 836 |
| Steering | 358 | 99 |
| Engine | 79 | 284 |
| Service Brakes | 19 | 277 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 27 | 216 |
| Structure | 144 | 26 |
| Power Train | 55 | 102 |
| Air Bags | 27 | 43 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 74 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 53 | 49 |
| Stalling | 41 | 325 |
| Airbag warning light | 22 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 16 | 73 |
| Vibration / shaking | 15 | 22 |
| Water leaks | 13 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 11 | 0 |
2012 Ford Explorer
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Jeep Grand Cherokee years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.