2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
1,638 NHTSA owner complaints · 11 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Reviewed by the MotorJury data desk · 2 sources · Last updated 2026-08-20
1,638 NHTSA owner complaints · 11 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Complaints per year on the road: 117.0
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Problem was Oil Filter housing made of plastic. It was cracked and no warning light that oil had leaked out. Car SUDDENLY DECELERATED as I was merging into traffic on freeway causing vehicles coming up behind to brake rapidly including a semi truck which had been 200 yards back. I rolled onto shoulder with warning lights activated. Pure luck it was not a major accident. Had it fixed at local mechanic in area and…
Alternator overheated and vehicle stalled. Smoke was seen coming out from alternator. Incidentbandbvehicke details are consistent with FCA Recall T36. Looking to include vehicle in recall.
Check Engine light came on & Auto shop says when they checked under dash, computer says “Emissions” problem. They have to do a “smoke test” to see where there is a leak!!!
What the community is saying right now.
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 14V154000 | Service Brakes | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured from Jan… |
| 14V391000 | Electrical System:Wiring | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured January … |
| 14V104000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Tract | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured October … |
| 14V634000 | Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/R | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Durango; and 2012-2014 … |
| 17V435000 | Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/R | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Dodge Durango, and 2012-2014 … |
| 19V813000 | Electrical System | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with a 3.6, 5.7, or 6.4 liter e… |
| 17V572000 | Service Brakes | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles had brake booste… |
| 17E061000 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasolin | Accessible Technologies, Inc. (ATI) is recalling certain ProCharger Superchargers, model numbers AB037A-100, AB037A-100P, and A037A-100B, so… |
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (834 complaints in our indexed sample).
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 5/100, computed from 1,638 NHTSA complaints and 11 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
Yes — NHTSA lists 11 recall campaign(s) for the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 9 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 01/04/2014. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorComplaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-08-20.