Is the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee a bad year?
2,388 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 476, 12× a quiet Grand Cherokee year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 8k–66k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2014 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 28,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 485 (20%) | 8k–70k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 476 (20%) | 8k–66k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 261 (11%) | 7k–51k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Seat beltsSTANDS OUT | 188 (8%) | 25k–83k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 181 (8%) | 22k–96k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| SeatsSTANDS OUT | 341 (14%) | 57k–98k miles · ahead | — |
| Engine | 444 (19%) | 19k–92k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 212 (9%) | 20k–87k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 105 (4%) | 5k–52k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 81 (3%) | 10k–79k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Body structure | 65 (3%) | 14k–58k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 54 (2%) | 7k–70k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 52 (2%) | 13k–70k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 51 (2%) | 0k–41k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
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 28,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 2,388 complaints: 152 mention a crash · 40 mention a fire · 117 report an injury · 82 say the car was towed.
60 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I moved my Jeep on the driveway, and believe I placed it in park with the engine on while going back in the house.
While driving up a grade at 50 MPH, vehicle began to shake/shudder/vibrate. I had to tramp the accelerator to engage the transmission to work through the situation.
The vehicle stalls while you are driving it, transmission light comes on. It says place in park to restart but sometimes takes forever and then it sputters.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 28,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee: 19
The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall. An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
A high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation. Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may crack and allow pre-heated vaporized coolant to enter the EGR system. This mixture may combust inside the intake manifold. Combustion in the intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall. An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged… If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased 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.
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.
The affected vehicles, equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a monostable gear selector, may not adequately warn the driver when driver's door is opened and the vehicle is not in PARK, allowing them to exit the vehicle while the vehicle is still in gear. Drivers thinking that their vehicle's transmission is in the PARK position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged.
The affected vehicles are equipped with radios that have software vulnerabilities that can allow third-party access to certain networked vehicle control systems. Exploitation of the software vulnerability may result in unauthorized remote modification and control of certain vehicle systems, increasing the risk of a crash.
Due to a fault within the Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module, the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags may be disabled. The malfunction indicator light MIL should illuminate to initially warn drivers of a failure. If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates use of the passive restraint system.
Due to an issue with the software for the Steering Column Control Module (SCCM), the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) may be disabled. If the ESC is disabled during certain driving situations, the driver may not be able to adequately control the vehicle, increasing 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.
When the adaptive cruise control is engaged and the driver presses the accelerator pedal to increase the vehicle's speed more than the cruise control system would on its own, the vehicle may continue to accelerate briefly after the accelerator pedal is released. The unintended continued acceleration may increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Due to a disruption of computer communications and loose alternator ground wires, the affected vehicles may experience random illumination of multiple instrument cluster warning lights, loss of cluster illumination and loss of anti-lock brake system (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC) function. A loss of ABS and ESC function reduces the driver's ability to control the vehicle. Drivers would not be warned of brake system failures or any other failures which would be illuminated on the dashboard display.
In the affected vehicles, when switching between daytime running lights and parking lights, electrical spikes may cause the parking lamps to turn off. Without parking lamps, the vehicle may not be as visible to other vehicles, increasing 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: 285
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission
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
NHTSA defect investigations: 10
High pressure fuel pump failure
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Seat Belt Retraction
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Vehicle rollaway, engine on
Neighbouring years
2013 Grand Cherokee: 804 complaints, keep it · 2015 Grand Cherokee: 1,371 complaints, consider selling.
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 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee a bad year?
2,388 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 476, 12× a quiet Grand Cherokee year. At 28,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 8k–66k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (485), transmission and drivetrain (476), brakes (261), seat belts (188), fuel system (181). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 8k–66k miles.
How many recalls does the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
19 recall campaigns list this model year: Engine (NHTSA 23V-411), Fuel system (NHTSA 22V-406), Exhaust (NHTSA 20V-699), Engine (NHTSA 20V-475) 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.