2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems & reliability
1,638 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, alongside 10 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
24 complaints report injuries (35 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles were involved in 74 fatal crashes with 23 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System → | 834 | 51% |
| Engine → | 284 | 17% |
| Service Brakes → | 277 | 17% |
| Fuel/propulsion System → | 215 | 13% |
| Unknown OR Other | 119 | 7% |
| Power Train → | 101 | 6% |
| Steering → | 99 | 6% |
| Air Bags → | 43 | 3% |
| Vehicle Speed Control → | 35 | 2% |
| Exterior Lighting → | 34 | 2% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 66,450 miles (middle 50% between 42,000 and 95,000 miles), based on 995 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Problem was Oil Filter housing made of plastic. It was cracked and no warning light that oil had leaked out. Car SUDDENLY DECELERATED as I was merging into traffic on freeway causing vehicles coming up behind to brake rapidly including a semi truck which had been 200 yards back. I rolled onto shoulder with warning…”
Engine · filed Jul 31, 2026
“I was caught driving in a hailstorm when hail impacted and broke the panoramic sunroof of my vehicle. I understand that hail can break automotive glass and that the sunroof is constructed from safety glass. My concern is not that the glass broke, but how it shattered. When the sunroof failed, it fragmented into…”
Unknown OR Other · filed Jun 23, 2026
“The engine power cuts of randomly while driving with no warning at all. When it happens the steering locks up veering the vehicle to the left so you have no control and at the same time the power brakes lock up and you are unable to stop the vehicle. Everything else works when this happens lights, radio, heater, air…”
Service Brakes · filed Jun 16, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Engineering Analysis EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · open
- Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Preliminary Evaluation PE19014 · opened Sep 9, 2019 · closed Feb 25, 2026
- Post 14V-391 Headliner Fires
Recall Query RQ15003 · opened May 1, 2015 · closed Jul 6, 2016 · led to recall 15V879000
- Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
Defect Petition DP14004 · opened Sep 25, 2014 · closed Jul 24, 2015
- Headliner Fires
Engineering Analysis EA14001 · opened Jan 10, 2014 · closed Aug 12, 2014 · led to recall 14V391000
- Headliner Fires
Preliminary Evaluation PE13027 · opened Aug 19, 2013 · closed Jan 14, 2014
- Power steering hose failure
Preliminary Evaluation PE12020 · opened Jul 19, 2012 · closed Dec 7, 2012
Technical service bulletins
256 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The 10 most recent:
Verify Reman part number availability. Order the "R" part number for all orders: Warranty, Mopar, customer pay and service contract. Order "68" part number for New unsold units only.
9100645 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 15, 2025
Tube - fuel injector supply & gasket - none
105038 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 15, 2025
Tube - fuel injector supply & gasket - none
105039 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 14, 2025
RAIL - FUEL
102812 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 13, 2025
FUEL PUMP/LEVEL UNIT MODULE For vehicles with Saddle Fuel Tanks, need to determine if there are any DTCs in wiTECH. Follow Service Diagnostics published prior to making any changes. Review any existing SOL or TSBs…
9100494 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 30, 2025
HEADREST Incoming Vehicles with Deployed Active Head Rest (AHR) should have a through enquiry. If there is no Broken Pieces or Electrical failure, Direction to follow the RESET Procedure in service Library to RESET the…
9100448 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 4, 2024
Plate - Planetary
101232 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 30, 2024
LIFTER, Hydraulic Roller Deactivating Please do not replace MDS lifters because the disconnecting pin is not lined up, this is normal and not a defect.
9100229 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 20, 2023
LIFTER, Hydraulic Roller Deactivating Please do not replace MDS lifters because the disconnecting pin is not lined up, this is normal and not a defect.
9100229 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 20, 2023
Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability. There is an error with the wiring diagrams in Service…
9100226 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 15, 2023
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 66,450 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.