UsedScore

2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Solid

Owners filed 124 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee in its first five years on the road, about 145 for every 100,000 sold: 0.9× the rate of a typical Grand Cherokee year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the engine (30% of complaints, median 30,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.9×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Grand Cherokee year
Rank
7th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
124
first five years; 145 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
4
campaigns
3rd generation (WK), 2005–2010 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2008–2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Photo: 2008–2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee · IFCAR, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Engine30% · 37 complaints · median 30,000 miles
  2. Electrical28% · 35 complaints · median 32,000 miles
  3. Powertrain11% · 14 complaints · median 31,000 miles
  4. Visibility12% · 15 complaints · median 40,000 miles
  5. Wheels and tires13% · 16 complaints · median 22,000 miles
  6. Speed control5% · 6 complaints · median 17,000 miles
  7. Brakes4% · 5 complaints
  8. Fuel and propulsion4% · 5 complaints · median 18,000 miles
  9. Body and structure5% · 6 complaints
  10. Lights4% · 5 complaints · median 43,000 miles

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Electrical

Owners describe their Grand Cherokees stalling or losing electrical power without warning, sometimes with loss of power steering, and often finding dealers unable to duplicate or fix the cause. Many mention checking for a related recall and being told their vehicle wasn't included, leaving the stalling unresolved.

Warning signs:
Many describe dash warning lights flickering or illuminating, loss of radio, gauges, wipers, turn signals, and power steering just before or during the stall.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate or diagnose the issue, though some replaced parts such as the wireless control module, front control module, fuel pump, ignition switch, or throttle body without lasting success.
Mileage:
most between 55,000 and 100,000 miles, among 283 complaints that give it

“I lost all of the electric in my jeep. The radio went out, the odometer and temp/compass went blank, and I lost the power steering”

“When the vehicle stalls I have to quickly put the vehicle in neutral and restart the engine. Fortunately the engine restarts immediately”

Engine

Owners describe their Grand Cherokee's engine unexpectedly stalling while driving, sometimes with loss of power steering and electrical functions, at both low and highway speeds. Many say dealers were unable to find a cause or reliably fix the problem despite multiple visits.

Warning signs:
Many report no warning lights or dashboard indication before the stall, though some notice rough idling, shaking, hesitation, or dimming electronics beforehand.
What shops did:
Dealers frequently could not duplicate or diagnose the stalling, though some replaced modules, sensors, ignition components, or performed software updates without lasting success.
Mileage:
most between 35,000 and 85,000 miles, among 132 complaints that give it

“When engine shuts down you lose the power steering and brakes.”

“The moving vehicle inadvertently stalls. The stall has mostly occurred on the highway at speeds of 70-75 MPH”

Powertrain

Owners describe their Grand Cherokees stalling unexpectedly at various speeds, sometimes with loss of power steering and brakes, and dealers frequently unable to find a cause. Many also report transfer case and 4WD problems, including trouble shifting into neutral or 4WD-low, often appearing after a recall-related software reprogram.

Warning signs:
Many report the engine bucking, hesitating, or shaking before stalling, dashboard 'Service 4WD' messages, or the vehicle losing power steering and brakes when it shut off.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate or diagnose the stalling, while many transfer case issues followed a recall reprogramming and required actuator or module replacement, sometimes on long back order.
Mileage:
most between 45,000 and 95,000 miles, among 66 complaints that give it

“It stalled dead in the roadway. I had to pull over after avoiding other vehicles and restart the vehicle.”

“Immediately people started having issues with 4lo no longer working, and "service 4WD" messages showing on the dash”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (4)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 14V567000September 2014292,798 vehicles

    Electrical system: ignition

    Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008 Chrysler 300 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2007, to May 12, 2008, Dodge Magnum vehicles manufactured May 23, 2007, to May 12, 2008, Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured May 24, 2007, to May 12, 2008, Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured April 3, 2007, to May 12, 2008, and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured March 21, 2007, to May 12, 2008. In the affected vehicles, the ignition key (FOBIK) may not return to the "ON" position after being rotated to the "START" position, instead sticking between the two positions. Potentially, while the vehicle is being driven, the ignition may inadvertently move through the "RUN" position to the "ACCESSORY" or "OFF" ignition position, turning off the engine.

    Risk: If the ignition stays between "START" and "ON" positions it could cause loss of certain electrical functions. If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the "OFF" or "ACCESSORY" position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch and key FOBs, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 13V175000May 2013295,345 vehicles

    Electrical system · Power train: transfer case (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

    Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer case electrical failure may result in an unintentional shifting of the transfer case into the neutral position.

    Risk: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.

    Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the final drive controller which governs the transfer case, with new software, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 08V059000February 20081,338 vehicles

    Electrical system · Visibility: windshield wiper/washer

    Chrysler is recalling 1,338 my 2008 jeep grand cherokee and commander vehicles. The front control module may have been incorrectly manufactured.

    Risk: This could cause the engine to stall while driving or not to start and/or cause the windshield wipers to become inoperative. Engine stalling or inoperative wipers could cause a crash without warning.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect the module and replace it if necessary.

  • NHTSA 07V415000September 200728,755 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper

    On certain sport utility vehicles, front brake calipers in a certain lot may have been manufactured from gray iron instead of ductile iron as designed and could fracture without warning.

    Risk: This would increase the vehicle's stopping distance and could cause a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect the front brake calipers to see if they fall into this lot and, if so, will replace them free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Jeep sent NHTSA 62 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2008 Grand Cherokee. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 101232 · October 2024Plate - Planetary
  • 9100226 · September 2023Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability.
  • 9004009 · April 2021Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1.
  • 9004361 · March 2021NAG1 Transmission Before installing the transmission with the engine, check for dowel pins (2) for alignment.
  • 9001784 · February 2021Mechanical rocker arm, intake, 1.7 ratio.
  • 08-049-20 · April 2020Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty…
  • 9004178 · November 2019DAMPER, Transfer Case Reman Transfer Case will arrive equipped with the Transfer Case Damper.
  • 9003483 · July 2017Exterior Mirror The latest version of these exterior mirrors have had their glass removed to be serviced separatly.

All 2008 Grand Cherokee bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
Owners filed 124 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee in its first five years on the road, about 145 for every 100,000 sold: 0.9× the rate of a typical Grand Cherokee year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare Grand Cherokee years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2008 Grand Cherokee problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the engine (30%), the electrical system (28%) and the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (11%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the most recent in September 2014 (electrical system). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Jeep. The 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee on NHTSA.gov · How we rate