2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (82) · Power Train (42) · Exterior Lighting (34)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Jeep Grand Cherokee model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
66 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (12)
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2024-06-13 · campaign 24V436000 · 1,033,433 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Dodge Durango, 2021-2023 Chrysler Pacifica, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, Chrysler Voyager, 2022-2023 Jeep Compass, Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and Ram Promaster vehicles. The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the radio software or the software will be OTA, "Over-The-Air," free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning July 9, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's numbers for this recall are 66B and 79B.
Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint 2024-02-22 · campaign 24V132000 · 338,238 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L and 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. 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.
Risk: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the upper control arm pinch bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 2, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 10B.
Back Over Prevention:display Function 2023-08-14 · campaign 23V577000 · 162,713 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and 2022-2024 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer vehicles. The Central Vision Park Assist module (CVPAM) software may prevent the rearview image from displaying when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will update the Central Vision Park Assist Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 31, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 56A.
Suspension:rear:springs:coil Springs 2023-06-08 · campaign 23V413000 · 305,282 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. The rear coil springs may have been incorrectly installed and detach from the vehicle while driving.
Risk: Rear coil springs that detach from the vehicle while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and if necessary, repair the rear coil spring assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 29, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 64A. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall 26V051. All vehicles will need to have the new recall remedy performed.
Steering:column 2023-05-18 · campaign 23V352000 · 89,372 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. An incorrectly assembled steering column intermediate shaft may disconnect from the u-joint, and result in a loss of steering control.
Risk: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the intermediate shaft and assembly parts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 58A.
Exterior Lighting:tail Lights 2022-07-28 · campaign 22V544000 · 99,186 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. The tail light side marker assemblies may be damaged and not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamp, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: A tail light side marker that does not illuminate can reduce vehicle visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace both body-mounted tail light assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 8, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z50.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) 2022-04-28 · campaign 22V284000 · 1,308 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee WK, 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may stick open, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the EGR valve assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z31.
Seats:critical Fasteners 2022-03-24 · campaign 22V180000 · 4,586 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. These vehicles may have been built with a missing weld from the seat back frame to the child seat tether anchorage. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Risk: A missing weld may allow the child seat tether to separate from the seat frame during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the second-row seat back frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Z24.
Exterior Lighting:lighting Control Module:software 2021-12-09 · campaign 21V950000 · 36,929 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles equipped with smart lighting modules (SLM). An incomplete SLM software update may cause one or both headlights to become inoperable. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Inoperable headlights can reduce visibility for the driver and oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the SLM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y72.
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module:software 2021-11-10 · campaign 21V873000 · 99,255 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Jeep Wagoneer, and Grand Wagoneer vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) may have incorrect software which can disable the driver, passenger, and knee air bags without warning.
Risk: Disabled air bags can increase the risk of injury to occupants in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the ORC, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 2, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y79.
Exterior Lighting:headlights 2021-10-14 · campaign 21V797000 · 7,082 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles not equipped with automatic high beams. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Difficulty activating the headlight high beams may result in reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y66.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2021-09-21 · campaign 21V729000 · 69,138 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. A radio software error may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: FCA US LLC will update the radio software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 28, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y67.
Service bulletins (1,326)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Power Train 2026-10-20 · 08-383-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
flash: electronic shift module (esm) updates customers must experience a malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illumination and the vehicle must symptom: exhibit/set one or more of the following diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs): ● u114c-00 - lost communication with prndl display. ● p1c86-00 - prndl displa
Structure:body 2026-10-14 · 115210 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
headlamp
Structure:body 2026-10-14 · 115211 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
headlamp
Power Train 2026-09-30 · S2621000004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the customer may complain about a popping noise, grinding noise, or an intermittent no reverse or forward transmission engagement. the tech may find damaged and/or worn transmission output shaft splines (850re transmission only)
Structure:body 2026-09-23 · 114721 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
applique - front door
Electrical System 2026-09-23 · 08-221-26 REV. B · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
r1h radio u41.10 software update - dealer option customers may experience one or more of the following: symptom: ● **speakers may emit a humming, screeching, buzzing, clicking, or bass noise (not related to the amplifier).** ● fcw off light on with no dtcs and can't turn off. ● blank screen and then
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,326 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-26 · Engine“oil filter housing/oil cooler failure causing oil and coolant contamination, serpentine belt failure, and engine overheating my 2021 jeep grand cherokee laredo e, equipped with the 3.6l pentastar v6 engine, has developed a significant oil leak originating from the oil filter housing/oil cooler assembly. a mechanic has identified this assembly as t…”
2026-10-15 · Wheels“suspected right-rear brake caliper failure resulting in sudden vehicle stop vehicle: 2021 jeep grand cherokee overland 4x4 incident date: [xxx] location: honolulu, hawaii approximate mileage: 64,000 miles affected component: right-rear brake caliper assembly on [xxx], while traveling approximately 5 mph, my 2021 jeep grand cherokee experienced a …”
2026-10-12 · Power Train“vehicle: 2021 jeep grand cherokee overland, 3.6l v6 incident date: [xxx] location: [xxx] safety complaint: on [xxx], while driving my 2021 jeep grand cherokee overland on [xxx], the vehicle suddenly lost accelerator response while traveling on the highway. the engine initially remained running, but pressing the accelerator pedal produced no resp…”
2026-10-12 · Fuel/Propulsion System“i was driving 65 mph on a highway in high traffic and the fuel propulsion system failed without any lights or warning. it just stop responding to accerlation. it was extremely dangerous and cdot had to come rescue us. we are lucky we were not hurt or killed. the 2021 jeep grand cherokee is only 5 years old and has 46,000 miles on it. the fuel pum…”
2026-09-30 · Seat Belts“the driver’s seatbelt sensor constantly goes off as not detecting that the seatbelt is buckled, while driving; this causes the alarm to continuously beep and also disables the airbag. aside from the seatbelt issue, there is a standalone airbag issue that has been detected by the car’s health report multiple times. the drive shaft is also defective,…”
2026-09-29 · Structure:interior Panels:dashboard“my 2021 jeep grand cherokee summit with approximately 39,000 miles. the leather dashboard is delaminating and separating from the substrate. my jeep dealer has inspected it and checked my vin. they confirmed that jeep previously provided extended coverage for essentially this type of dashboard delamination on 2011–2014 grand cherokees, but my vin i…”
2026-09-25 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings · 46,116 mi“the contact owns a 2021 jeep grand cherokee. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was large puff of smoke coming from the driver's side of the vehicle while coming to a stop. the contact became aware of a brake fluid leak, causing a complete loss of brake pressure and braking power. the brake fluid was leaking more w…”
2026-09-08 · Power Train · 42,000 mi“the contact owns a 2021 jeep grand cherokee. the contact stated that while driving 5 mph, the vehicle jumped. the contact stated that while driving 8–9 mph, the vehicle jerked, and there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the vehicle. in addition, the air bag warning light was illuminated. the dealer was made aware of the failure. the failure…”
2026-09-04 · Structure:body:hatchback/Liftgate · 82,000 mi“the contact owns a 2021 jeep grand cherokee. the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and attempting to use the key fob to open the hatch, the hatch failed to open. the contact opened the hatch manually, and a bolt became loose, and the hatch struck the contact on the back. the contact’s back was sore from the impact and hurt while movi…”
2026-08-25 · Power Train“final drive control module, transfercase control module went out. causing “service 4wd” message check-engine/mil light 4wd system becoming unavailable trouble codes related to the drivetrain control module intermittent 4wd problems speed issues…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.