The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 14 NHTSA recalls and 2,349 owner complaints. The 2020 has 2 recalls and 208 complaints. Same nameplate, wildly different ownership experiences. Picking the right year is the difference between a capable daily driver and a five-figure headache.

Why the Grand Cherokee

It tows 7,200 lbs. It has available air suspension and a genuine four-wheel-drive system with low range. It seats five with actual cargo space. For a used SUV that can handle a boat ramp on Saturday and a freeway commute on Monday, the Grand Cherokee makes the short list. About 43,800 are listed for sale on dealer lots right now, so inventory isn't an issue.

Generations at a Glance

Two platforms matter for used buyers today:

WK2 (2011 to 2021) is the fourth generation. It got a significant refresh in 2014 with a new electrical architecture and the ZF 8-speed automatic. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 is the volume engine. The 5.7L Hemi V8 is optional. A 3.0L EcoDiesel was offered from 2014 to 2019. The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT (6.4L) and Trackhawk (supercharged 6.2L, 707 hp) sit at the top. This generation ran for a decade, so the later years benefit from steady refinement.

WL (2021 to present) is the fifth generation. The three-row Grand Cherokee L launched first in 2021. The two-row WL arrived for 2022. It rides on an all-new platform with independent rear suspension, a redesigned interior with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, and available 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain. The Hemi V8 was phased out after 2025. Ride quality improved significantly over the WK2, but the new platform brought new problems.

Known Issues by Year

2014: The One to Skip

The 2014 was the first year of the WK2 refresh. New electrical system, new 8-speed transmission, new problems. NHTSA logged 2,349 complaints and 14 recalls. The highlights:

Alternator failures causing fire risk. Three separate recall campaigns for this component alone.
Transmission shifting into neutral at highway speed. The ZF 845RE (V6 version) had valve body issues in 2014 and early 2015 production. A TSB (21-004-15) addressed shift quality with a TCM reflash, but some units needed full valve body replacement.
TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) failures causing no-start conditions, fuel pump relay issues, and random electrical behavior. This triggered a class-action lawsuit.
Accelerator pedal recall for unintended continued acceleration.

Average repair costs for transmission work on these run $4,000 to $6,000 according to owner reports. The 2014 is a hard pass regardless of price.

2015: Better, Still Cautious

Complaints dropped to 1,321 with 5 recalls. The 845RE valve body issues lingered in early production. Specific recalls include a rear lower control arm fracture (could change ride height and reduce stability), cracked brake calipers, and the same TIPM-related transmission park position issue from 2014. If you're looking at a 2015, confirm the transmission TCM was reflashed per the TSB, and check the production date. Later 2015 builds are meaningfully better.

2017 to 2019: The Sweet Spot Begins

By 2017, the WK2 platform had settled. Complaint counts: 353 (2017), 809 (2018), 337 (2019).

The 2018 spike is driven by a brake system recall allowing the vehicle to start and shift out of park without the brake pedal applied, a fuel line separation recall, and the EGR valve combustion risk that affected 2017 to 2019 models. These are all addressable via recall completion.

The 3.6L Pentastar V6 has one persistent issue across all years: the plastic oil filter housing. It sits under the intake manifold, warps from engine heat, and leaks oil into the engine valley. You won't smell it right away because the oil pools internally before running down the sides of the block. Repair runs $1,000 to $1,700 because the intake manifold has to come off. Dorman makes an aluminum replacement housing that solves the problem permanently. This affects every 3.6L Grand Cherokee, not just these years, so budget for it if you're buying a V6.

A valve train tick on cold startup is also documented in 2014 to 2020 Pentastar engines. A class-action lawsuit covers this defect. Ask the seller to cold-start the engine and listen for rhythmic ticking in the first 30 seconds.

2020: The WK2 Peak

Two recalls. 208 complaints. The lowest of any recent model year. The platform was fully mature. If you want the classic Grand Cherokee shape with the fewest headaches, 2020 is the target. The two recalls cover a diesel fuel pump issue (EcoDiesel only) and an engine stall concern. Both have straightforward fixes.

2021: New Platform, New Problems

The Grand Cherokee L (three-row) launched on the WL platform. NHTSA logged 12 recalls and 380 complaints for this first year. Issues include:

Rear coil springs detaching while driving. This is a safety recall affecting 2021 to 2023 models.
Steering column failures causing loss of steering control.
Rearview camera failures across multiple recall campaigns.
Airbag control module software disabling airbags.
Headlight control module failures leaving headlights inoperable.

First-year-of-a-new-platform risk is real here.

2022 to 2023: Teething Continues

The two-row WL arrived for 2022 with 6 recalls and 318 complaints. The 2023 has 13 recalls (the most of any Grand Cherokee model year) and 329 complaints. Recurring themes across both years:

Front upper ball joint separation causing loss of vehicle control.
Side/window airbag non-deployment risk.
Rearview camera display failures (multiple campaigns).
Electrical/propulsion system causing loss of drive power.
Rear coil spring detachment (same issue from 2021).

The 2023 also adds seat belt buckle securement issues, HVAC blower motor failures, and steering column problems. The Uconnect infotainment system in these years has drawn complaints for freezing, error messages, and complete failures that can affect climate control and safety features.

2024: Improving but Not There Yet

Ten recalls, 169 complaints. New issues include front airbag deployment concerns, steering linkage spindle problems, radiator assembly failures, and head restraints that don't lock. The complaint count is trending down, but the recall volume says the platform is still being debugged.

What to Inspect Before Buying

For Any 3.6L Pentastar V6 (Most Common Engine)

Cold start the engine. Listen for a rhythmic tick in the first 30 seconds. This is the valve train defect covered by a class-action lawsuit.
Check for oil leaks in the engine valley. Use a flashlight and look around the oil filter cap area from above. Oil pooling here means the plastic oil filter housing is cracked or warped. This is a when-not-if failure on these engines.
Ask about the oil filter housing. If it's already been replaced with the Dorman aluminum unit, that's a plus. If it's still original, factor $1,000 to $1,700 into your budget.

For Any ZF 8-Speed (845RE with V6)

Test drive when the transmission is cold. The 845RE's shift quality issues are worst on cold starts. Pay attention to the 1-2 and 2-3 upshifts. Harsh or delayed shifts could mean valve body wear.
Check service records for TCM reflash. TSB 21-004-15 significantly improved shift quality. A Grand Cherokee that's had this update will shift noticeably better than one that hasn't.

For EcoDiesel Models (2014 to 2019)

Verify the EGR cooler recall was completed. Uncompleted units have a fire risk from combustion in the intake manifold.
Check DEF system operation. DEF pump and injector failures are common and not covered by the emissions warranty past 36,000 miles. A DEF warning light at purchase is a red flag. Budget $1,500 or more for DEF system repairs.

For WL Models (2022+)

Inspect the front upper ball joints for play. This is a known failure point with a safety recall on 2022 and 2023 models.
Bounce the rear suspension and listen for clunking. Rear coil spring detachment is a recall issue on 2021 to 2023 models.
Test the infotainment system thoroughly. Cycle through every menu, test Bluetooth, test the backup camera. Uconnect failures are a pattern on the WL platform.

For All Years

Run the VIN through a recall lookup. With recall counts this high, there's a decent chance your specific vehicle has outstanding work.

Running Costs

The 3.6L V6 returns about 21 mpg combined across most years, costing roughly $2,100/year in fuel according to EPA estimates. The 5.7L Hemi drops to 17 mpg combined ($3,100/year). The EcoDiesel hits 25 mpg combined ($2,250/year) but offsets some of that savings with higher maintenance costs, especially DEF system repairs.

The WL's V6 improved slightly to 22 mpg combined ($2,000/year). The 4xe plug-in hybrid rates 56 MPGe on a full charge, but real-world numbers depend heavily on your commute length and charging habits.

Insurance typically slots the Grand Cherokee in a moderate tier for midsize SUVs. The SRT and Trackhawk trims carry significantly higher premiums.

Budget for the Pentastar oil filter housing replacement if buying a V6 (it's a matter of when, not if). Quadra-Lift air suspension, if equipped, can cost $1,500+ per air spring if it fails. Standard coil spring models are cheaper to maintain long-term.

Which Years to Target (and Which to Skip)

Target the 2020. It's the final year of the fully mature WK2 platform. Lowest complaint count of any recent model year (208). Two minor recalls, both fixable. You get a proven powertrain and a decade's worth of engineering refinement. Average asking prices put it in a sweet spot between depreciated-enough and still-modern.

The 2017 and 2019 are solid alternatives if the 2020 is out of budget. Both have sub-400 complaint counts and manageable recall lists. The 2019 is slightly better on the transmission front, as the 845RE had years of software updates by then.

Skip the 2014. Fourteen recalls. Over 2,300 complaints. First-year transmission problems. Alternator fires. TIPM failures. No discount is steep enough.

Be cautious with 2021 to 2023. The WL platform has genuine improvements in ride quality and technology, but 12 to 13 recalls per year and unresolved coil spring, steering, and airbag issues mean you're buying into an active debugging cycle. If you want the WL, a late-production 2024 or a 2025 is a safer bet once recalls thin out.

The 2015 is a maybe. Significantly better than 2014, but early builds still carry transmission risk. Only buy a late-production 2015 with documented service history.

Bottom Line

Run every VIN through a recall check. Budget for the Pentastar oil filter housing if buying a V6 (it will leak eventually). The 2020 is the sweet spot: mature platform, low complaints, reasonable prices. If you're shopping earlier years, the 2017 and 2019 are your best bets. Avoid the 2014 entirely, and approach the 2021 to 2023 WL models with caution until the platform's recall volume stabilizes.

Data sourced from NHTSA recalls database and 43,800+ active dealer listings tracked by CarScout. See the full Jeep Grand Cherokee market data for year-by-year pricing.

Used Jeep Grand Cherokee: What to Know Before You Buy