2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems & reliability
403 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, alongside 12 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Sep 21, 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 components.
12 complaints report injuries (13 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles were involved in 84 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 → | 114 | 28% |
| Steering → | 102 | 25% |
| Engine → | 60 | 15% |
| Power Train → | 58 | 14% |
| Unknown / Other | 55 | 14% |
| Exterior Lighting → | 42 | 10% |
| Fuel/propulsion System → | 38 | 9% |
| Suspension → | 30 | 7% |
| Lane Departure → | 29 | 7% |
| Service Brakes → | 28 | 7% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 26 reported components →Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Among the 57 complaints that included a usable odometer reading, the median reported incident mileage was 21,000 miles (middle 50% between 8,100 and 42,000 miles).
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle jumped. The contact stated that while driving 8–9 MPH, the vehicle jerked, and there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the vehicle. In addition, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was made…”
Air Bags · filed Sep 8, 2026
“The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and attempting to use the key fob to open the hatch, the hatch failed to open. The contact opened the hatch manually, and a bolt became loose, and the hatch struck the contact on the back. The contact’s back was sore from…”
Structure · filed Sep 4, 2026
“Final drive control module, transfercase control module went out. Causing “Service 4WD” message Check-engine/MIL light 4WD system becoming unavailable Trouble codes related to the drivetrain control module Intermittent 4WD problems Speed issues”
Electrical System · filed Aug 25, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
1,320 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The 10 most recent:
Qudra Lift Reman Compressor Excessive Repairs on Quadra Lift Reman Compressors Part Numbers: 68041137AF / R8572790AA / 68087233AA / 52124932AE / 52124934AE / 68064343AC Purpose The Star Parts Catalog has been updated to…
9100897Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 10, 2026
Passive Entry O/S Dr Handle Prior to replacing an inoperative passive entry door handle, perform Star Online S2623000040.
9100905 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 10, 2026
Evaporator - air conditioning
114538 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 10, 2026
Evaporator - air conditioning
114537 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 10, 2026
Passive Entry O/S Dr Handle Prior to replacing an inoperative passive entry door handle, perform Star Online S2623000040.
9100902 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 8, 2026
Qudra Lift Reman Compressor Excessive Repairs on Quadra Lift Reman Compressors Part Numbers: 68041137AF / R8572790AA / 68087233AA / 52124932AE / 52124934AE / 68064343AC Purpose The Star Parts Catalog has been updated to…
9100897 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 3, 2026
Rotary Shifter Lights Blinking, Shifter Not Moving, Not Going Into Gear.
S2623000001 REV.A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 26, 2026
Steering Dragging While Recreational Flat Towing Behind RV.
S2523000032 REV.B · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 14, 2026
SHAFT - AXLE HALF
113528 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 16, 2026
SHAFT - AXLE HALF
113529 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 16, 2026
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 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 12 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 2021 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.
- · Among complaints with usable mileage, the median reported incident mileage was 21,000 miles. This does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop a problem.