Is the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee a bad year?
413 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Cherokee years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee are in line with other Grand Cherokee years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 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 13,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 115 (28%) | 1k–35k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 63 (15%) | 4k–30k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 61 (15%) | 4k–48k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 102 (25%) | too few with a mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 42 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 41 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 32 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 30 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 29 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 25 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 20 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 17 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 8 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 7 (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 13,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 413 complaints: 20 mention a crash · 8 mention a fire · 12 report an injury · 33 say the car was towed.
51 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.
Recalls for the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee: 12
The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying. A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
The Central Vision Park Assist module (CVPAM) software may prevent the rearview image from displaying when the vehicle is placed in reverse. A rearview image that does not display while in reverse decreases the driver's visibility of the rear view, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
The rear coil springs may have been incorrectly installed and detach from the vehicle while driving. Rear coil springs that detach from the vehicle while driving increases the risk of a crash.
An incorrectly assembled steering column intermediate shaft may disconnect from the u-joint, and result in a loss of steering control. A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
The tail light side marker assemblies may be damaged and not illuminate. A tail light side marker that does not illuminate can reduce vehicle visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may stick open, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power. An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
These vehicles may have been built with a missing weld from the seat back frame to the child seat tether anchorage. A missing weld may allow the child seat tether to separate from the seat frame during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
An incomplete SLM software update may cause one or both headlights to become inoperable. Inoperable headlights can reduce visibility for the driver and oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) may have incorrect software which can disable the driver, passenger, and knee air bags without warning. Disabled air bags can increase the risk of injury to occupants in a crash.
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. Difficulty activating the headlight high beams may result in reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
A radio software error may prevent the rearview image from displaying. A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, 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: 707
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Electronic Shift Module (ESM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp…
The Customer May Complain About a Popping Noise, Grinding Noise, or an Intermittent No Reverse or Forward Transmission Engagement
Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp…
Power Liftgate Inoperative
Neighbouring years
2020 Grand Cherokee: 241 complaints, keep it · 2022 Grand Cherokee: 268 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 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee a bad year?
413 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Cherokee years. At 13,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (115), engine (63), transmission and drivetrain (61), steering (102), exterior lighting (42).
How many recalls does the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
12 recall campaigns list this model year: Backup camera (NHTSA 24V-436), Suspension (NHTSA 24V-132), Backup camera (NHTSA 23V-577), Suspension (NHTSA 23V-413) 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.