Is the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee a bad year?
1,644 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Cherokee years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee are in line with other Grand Cherokee years. Electrical system, brakes and fuel system stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2012 Grand Cherokee owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 71,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 837 (51%) | 45k–97k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 289 (18%) | 30k–77k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 248 (15%) | 45k–106k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Engine | 301 (18%) | 40k–100k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 102 (6%) | 41k–99k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 100 (6%) | 40k–81k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Air bags | 43 (3%) | 52k–116k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 35 (2%) | 20k–108k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 34 (2%) | 35k–74k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 32 (2%) | 36k–106k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Visibility and wipers | 32 (2%) | 30k–80k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 26 (2%) | 41k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 22 (1%) | 48k–96k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seats | 12 (1%) | 59k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 71,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,644 complaints: 46 mention a crash · 105 mention a fire · 24 report an injury · 97 say the car was towed.
25 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
2012 Jeep grand cherokee. In regards to fuel pump relay safety recall NHTSA recall #19V-813 & manufacturer recall #V62.
When I press the push start and the brake, the engine will stall and not turn over. It has happened multiple times in the 4 years I've had it.
While driving on a rainy day, my car shut of-at the time I was doing approx 50 mph. I had to pull over to the side and restart the car.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 71,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee: 11
The fuel pump relay inside the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM-7) may fail, causing the vehicle to stall without warning. A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
The supercharger mounting bracket may contact and damage the ABS line, possibly resulting in a brake fluid leak. A brake fluid leak may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The affected vehicles had brake booster shields installed under a previous campaign to prevent water from entering the brake booster and limiting braking ability. If the brake booster shield was not installed properly, the vehicle's braking ability may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
The affected vehicles have electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) and are equipped with a 5.7L or a 3.6L engine and a 160, 180 or 220 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail. If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
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. The vanity lamp wiring may short, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.
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. A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail. If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the wiring for the vanity lamp in the sun visor may short circuit, after a service repair is performed. If the vanity lamp wiring shorts, there is an increased risk of fire.
The subject vehicles have a brake booster with a center shell that may corrode and allow water to get inside. The water inside could freeze and limit the braking ability of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Under certain braking events, the Ready Alert Braking System (RAB) may result in the driver experiencing a hard brake pedal feel. If the driver experiences a hard brake pedal, the driver may not push the pedal as intended, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
These engines may experience connecting rod bearing failure due to debris inside the engine block. Connecting rod failure may lead to engine seizure which may increase the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Jeep: 119
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA)
Ts may include abnormal engine noise, rough idle, lack of power, misfire
No Start Intermittently, Vehicle Requires Multiple Keyless Push To Start Attempts To Start Vehicle, Intermittent Key Not Detected Message
NHTSA defect investigations: 7
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Post 14V-391 Headliner Fires
Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
Headliner Fires
Neighbouring years
2011 Grand Cherokee: 1,639 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2013 Grand Cherokee: 804 complaints, keep it.
Every Jeep Grand Cherokee year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Grand Cherokee years side by side
Other Jeep models: Jeep Cherokee · Jeep Commander · Jeep Compass · Jeep Gladiator · Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe · Jeep Grand Cherokee L · Jeep Grand Wagoneer · Jeep Laredo · Jeep Liberty · Jeep Patriot · Jeep Renegade · Jeep Wagoneer · Jeep Wrangler · Jeep Wrangler 4xe · Jeep Wrangler Sahara. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee a bad year?
1,644 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Cherokee years. At 71,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (837), brakes (289), fuel system (248), engine (301), transmission and drivetrain (102).
How many recalls does the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
11 recall campaigns list this model year: Electrical system (NHTSA 19V-813), Engine (NHTSA 17E061000), Brakes (NHTSA 17V-572), Electrical system (NHTSA 17V-435) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.