Car Issues Tracker
Vehicle complaints, recalls & safety data — sourced from NHTSA

2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Complaints, Recalls, and Known Problems

Owners have filed 401 safety complaints about the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee with U.S. regulators. Here's what the federal data shows, system by system.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · Retrieved September 7, 2026 · Counts change as new reports are filed

401
Complaints
12
Recalls
5★
Overall crash rating

Complaints for this vehicle report 20 crashes, 8 fires, 13 injuries. No deaths have been reported.

Key findings
  1. Electrical leads the complaint list, cited in 114 of 401 complaints, followed by Steering.
  2. Stalling is a recurring theme. 31 of the 401 reports describe the engine stalling — many while driving.

What owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA name the vehicle system involved. For the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, here is how reports break down by system.

Complaints by vehicle system
System mentions in 401 complaints · a complaint can cite more than one system
Electrical
114
Steering
102
Engine & cooling
61
Power train / transmission
57
Other / unspecified
56
Driver assistance
54
Visibility & lighting
50
Fuel & propulsion
39

"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"

Owner complaint filed August 2026 · Power Train,Electrical System · NHTSA ODI 11759412

"I had stopped at a red light and the auto start/stop turned off the car. It would not restart. The fault caused it to stay in Park and could not get out of Park to move vehicle. This not only caused a road hazard but made me and others unsafe. The cause was a enclosed fuse box that made batteries go bad. I feel Jeep should be responsible for this."

Owner complaint filed June 2026 · Electrical System · NHTSA ODI 11744034

When complaints were filed

Complaint filings for the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee over time:

Complaints filed per year — 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Year the complaint was filed, not the incident year
3
50
106
78
78
54
32
20212223242526
2026 is a partial year (through September 7, 2026).

How the 2021 compares with other model years

Across the Jeep Grand Cherokee model years we track, the 2014 has the most complaints on file (2,374); the 2021 ranks 7 of 7.

Total complaints by model year — Jeep Grand Cherokee
All complaints on file per model year, as of September 7, 2026
1,638
1,638
802
2,374
1,355
853
2021
401
Older model years have had more time on the road to accumulate complaints — compare adjacent years, not endpoints.

Recall history: 12 recalls

12 recalls apply to some or all 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit.

Sep 202121V-729
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. A radio software error may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Oct 202121V-797
Exterior Lighting:Headlights

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles not equipped with automatic high beams. When the master lighting switch is set to the auto position, the high beam headlights will not activate unless the master lighting switch is first changed to the 'on" position. As …

Nov 202121V-873
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module:Software

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Jeep Wagoneer, and Grand Wagoneer vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) may have incorrect software which can disable the driver, passenger, and knee air bags without warning.

Dec 202121V-950
Exterior Lighting:Lighting Control Module:Software

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles equipped with smart lighting modules (SLM). An incomplete SLM software update may cause one or both headlights to become inoperable. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle S…

Mar 202222V-180
Child Seat:Vehicle Tether Anchor

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. These vehicles may have been built with a missing weld from the seat back frame to the child seat tether anchorage. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand…

Apr 202222V-284
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee WK, 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may stick open, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.

Jul 202222V-544
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. The tail light side marker assemblies may be damaged and not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108…

May 202323V-352
Steering:Column

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. An incorrectly assembled steering column intermediate shaft may disconnect from the u-joint, and result in a loss of steering control.

Jun 202323V-413
Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. The rear coil springs may have been incorrectly installed and detach from the vehicle while driving.

Aug 202323V-577
Back Over Prevention:Display Function

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and 2022-2024 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer vehicles. The Central Vision Park Assist module (CVPAM) software may prevent the rearview image from displaying when the vehicle is placed in rev…

Feb 202424V-132
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L and 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The upper control arm ball joint and steering knuckle may separate and cause the wheel to fall outward, resulting in a loss of vehicle control.

Jun 202424V-436
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Dodge Durango, 2021-2023 Chrysler Pacifica, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, Chrysler Voyager, 2022-2023 Jeep Compass, Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and Ram Promaster vehicles. The radio software may prevent the rearv…

Does your car have an open recall?

Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit. Look up your 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA site to see open recalls for your specific vehicle. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov →

Crash-test ratings

NHTSA crash ratings measure how the car protects occupants in a crash — a separate question from the reliability complaints above. A vehicle can be both crashworthy and trouble-prone.

★★★★★
Overall
★★★★☆
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★☆
Rollover

Frequently asked questions

How many complaints does the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?

As of September 7, 2026, owners have filed 401 complaints about the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee with NHTSA. The most-reported system is electrical.

How many recalls does the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 12 NHTSA recalls on file. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.

Is the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee safe in a crash?

NHTSA gives the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee an overall crash rating of 5 out of 5 stars. Crash ratings measure occupant protection in a collision; they do not measure reliability, which is what the complaint data above reflects.

Methodology & source

All figures come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public APIs: the Office of Defects Investigation complaint database, the recalls database, and NCAP safety ratings, retrieved September 7, 2026.

Complaints are self-reported by consumers and are not verified by NHTSA or by this site. A single complaint may cite multiple vehicle systems, so system mentions can sum to more than the complaint total. Complaint volume is influenced by fleet size, media attention, and recall notices, and is not by itself a measure of defect rates.

This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Nothing here is repair, purchase, or legal advice. For your specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and consult a qualified technician.