Is the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee a bad year?
370 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Cherokee years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee are in line with other Grand Cherokee years. Brakes stands out for this year: see below.
5th quietest of 20 Grand Cherokee years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2019 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 60,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 115 (31%) | 40k–76k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 69 (19%) | 13k–78k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 84 (23%) | 7k–32k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 47 (13%) | 4k–40k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 19 (5%) | 3k–38k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 15 (4%) | 2k–28k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 8 (2%) | 4k–35k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 14 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 12 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 11 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 11 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 11 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 10 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 9 (2%) | too few with a 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 60,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 370 complaints: 17 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 6 report an injury · 25 say the car was towed.
56 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I was driving on the interstate when all service light came on and steering wheel locked up and the car began to power down.
While driving down a road, at 30MPH, it all of a sudden stalled out. Power steering stopped working, engine was dead, it said on dash to "Shift into park".
I was driving my car and the car shut down and steering wheel locked in place. A flashing message came on to restart my car.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 60,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee: 7
A malfunction in the antilock-brake system (ABS) module may incorrectly illuminate the brake lights and disable the ABS and electronic stability control (ESC). In addition, the vehicle operator may be able to start and shift out of Park without the brake pedal being applied. A vehicle that can be started and shifted out of Park without applying the brake pedal can result in a vehicle rollaway. Disabled ABS and ESC systems can reduce vehicle handling and control in certain driving situations.
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 malfunction in the antilock-brake system (ABS) module may illuminate the brake lights, and allow the vehicle to start and shift out of Park without the brake pedal being applied. A vehicle that starts and shifts out of Park without applying the brake pedal can result in vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash without prior warning and/or injury to others outside of the vehicle.
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.
A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
The front differential may have been assembled with pinion gears that are insufficiently hardened, which can lead to the gear teeth wearing down. A sudden loss of power while driving or loss of the transmission PARK function can 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: 282
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The Customer May Complain About a Popping Noise, Grinding Noise, or an Intermittent No Reverse or Forward Transmission Engagement
Power Liftgate Inoperative
Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp…
The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
High pressure fuel pump failure
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Neighbouring years
2018 Grand Cherokee: 854 complaints, keep it · 2020 Grand Cherokee: 241 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 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee a bad year?
370 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Cherokee years. At 60,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (115), engine (69), electrical system (84), transmission and drivetrain (47), air bags (19).
How many recalls does the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 24V-838), Engine (NHTSA 23V-411), Brakes (NHTSA 22V-426), Fuel system (NHTSA 22V-406) 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.