UsedScore

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Avoid

Owners filed 818 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee in its first five years on the road, about 699 for every 100,000 sold: 4.8× the rate of a typical Grand Cherokee year. That's more than twice a typical year, across more than one problem area.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the electrical system (50% of complaints, median 49,000 miles).

Complaint index
4.8×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Grand Cherokee year
Rank
13th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
818
first five years; 699 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
6
campaigns
4th generation (WK2), 2011–2021 (first year of the generation; redesign years often run worse) · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2011–2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Photo: 2011–2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee · IFCAR, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Electrical50% · 410 complaints · median 49,000 miles
  2. Brakes31% · 256 complaints · median 51,000 miles
  3. Engine17% · 142 complaints · median 48,000 miles
  4. Fuel and propulsion17% · 138 complaints · median 53,000 miles
  5. Air bags2% · 17 complaints · median 42,000 miles
  6. Body and structure2% · 20 complaints · median 36,000 miles
  7. Powertrain4% · 34 complaints · median 38,000 miles
  8. Steering4% · 31 complaints · median 42,000 miles
  9. Visibility2% · 18 complaints · median 36,000 miles
  10. Speed control2% · 19 complaints · median 25,000 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

Brakes

Owners report their brakes suddenly losing power or becoming very hard to press, often preceded by a hissing sound from the dashboard. Many say the booster part needed for repair, including recall repairs, was backordered for weeks, leaving them driving with reduced braking ability.

Warning signs:
Many report a hissing or air-leak noise from under the dash near the pedal, along with a stiff or sunken brake pedal before or during the loss of stopping power.
What shops did:
Dealers commonly diagnosed a failed brake booster and sometimes the master cylinder, but many owners say replacement parts were on backorder for weeks or months, leaving repairs incomplete.
Mileage:
most between 45,000 and 90,000 miles, among 190 complaints that give it

“When I pressed the brake pedal, it was very stiff, and I could not stop my vehicle as quickly as I could before.”

“Vehicle first exhibited a hissing noise whenever the car was first started and brakes applied for the first 5 minutes of running.”

Electrical

Owners of this Jeep Grand Cherokee widely describe a power module that fails and leaves the vehicle unable to start or prone to stalling, sometimes with little warning. Many say the part was on long backorder, leaving them without a working vehicle for weeks.

Warning signs:
Many owners report extended cranking, hard starts, engine misses or hesitation, warning lights, and battery drain before the vehicle stalled or failed to start.
What shops did:
Dealers often diagnosed a failed TIPM and replaced it or performed software updates, though many owners describe long waits due to nationwide part backorders and some report the problem recurring after repair.
Mileage:
most between 45,000 and 95,000 miles, among 560 complaints that give it

“The engine would crank but fail to start”

“It cranks and cranks but doesn't start, this last for 10 secs approx then shuts off”

Engine

Owners of this Jeep report frequent stalling and no-start problems, often linked to a failing electronic power module. Repairs can mean long waits for a back-ordered part, and some shops never find a fix.

Warning signs:
Owners report extended cranking, dashboard warning lights, rough idle, hesitation, or sudden loss of power while driving.
What shops did:
Dealers frequently diagnosed a faulty TIPM or related module and replaced it, though the part was often on back order, and some shops could not duplicate or resolve the problem.
Mileage:
most between 45,000 and 100,000 miles, among 301 complaints that give it

“While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled”

“Upon starting, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart after waiting a few hours”

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

Recalls (6)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 19V813000November 2019528,594 vehicles

    Electrical system

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with a 3.6, 5.7, or 6.4 liter engine and previously recalled under NHTSA Recall 14V530 or 15V115. The fuel pump relay inside the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM-7) may fail, causing the vehicle to stall without warning.

    Risk: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) will replace the affected fuel pump relay and related wire harness.

  • NHTSA 17V572000September 2017646,394 vehicles

    Service brakes · Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles had brake booster shields installed under a previous campaign to prevent water from entering the brake booster and limiting braking ability. This recall is to verify that the brake booster shield installation was performed properly.

    Risk: If the brake booster shield was not installed properly, the vehicle's braking ability may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake booster shield, correcting the installation as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 15V879000December 2015389,252 vehicles

    Interior lighting · Electrical system: wiring

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured December 3, 2009, to September 1, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the wiring for the vanity lamp in the sun visor may short circuit, after having been remedied for a prior recall for the vanity lamp wiring. This recall is also addressing certain vehicles that have not been remedied under that prior recall.

    Risk: The vanity lamp wiring may short, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

    Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealer will install clearance for sun visor wiring, protection from sharp edges, and replace the sun visor, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 14V530000September 2014189,206 vehicles

    Electrical system

    Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured January 5, 2010, to July 20, 2011, and equipped with either a 3.6L or 5.7L engine. In the affected vehicles, the fuel pump relay inside the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM-7) may fail, causing the vehicle to stall without warning.

    Risk: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump relay with one external to the TIPM, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 14V391000July 2014653,562 vehicles

    Electrical system: wiring

    Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured January 5, 2010, through December 11, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the wiring for the vanity lamp in the sun visor may short circuit, after a service repair is performed.

    Risk: If the vanity lamp wiring shorts, there is an increased risk of fire.

    Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair any damaged wiring, and install a new sun visor that properly routes the wire, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 14V154000April 2014646,498 vehicles

    Service brakes · Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum

    Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured from January 5, 2010, through September 8, 2013. The subject vehicles have a brake booster with a center shell that may corrode and allow water to get inside.

    Risk: The water inside could freeze and limit the braking ability of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will add a water diverter shield to the booster after the booster has been tested to confirm it can hold an acceptable amount of vacuum pressure.

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 197 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2011 Grand Cherokee. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 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.
  • 9003357a · February 2023ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA).
  • 9003357A · February 2023ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA).
  • 9003357 · February 2023ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA).
  • S2209000004 · April 2022If a Mopar oil filter is not available, use a filter that meets or exceeds USCAR36 specification and is compatible with semi and full synthetic oils.
  • S1709000010 RevB · March 2022Customer complaints may include abnormal engine noise, rough idle, lack of power, misfire.
  • S1709000010RevB · March 2022Customer complaints may include abnormal engine noise, rough idle, lack of power, misfire.
  • S1117000002RevA · June 2021Air Suspension System Diagnosis

All 2011 Grand Cherokee bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
Owners filed 818 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee in its first five years on the road, about 699 for every 100,000 sold: 4.8× the rate of a typical Grand Cherokee year. That's more than twice a typical year, across more than one problem area. 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 2011 Grand Cherokee problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the electrical system (50%), the brakes (31%) and the engine (17%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the most recent in November 2019 (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 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee on NHTSA.gov · How we rate