Fault File
All models / All cars / Family & large SUVs / Jeep Grand Cherokee

Jeep Grand Cherokee

All generations and engines together · 7,054 MOT tests in the 2025 data · typical mileage at age 7: 66k

First-time failure at age 7
15.0%
Across 705 tests. The average across all tracked models is 19.5%.
Rank at age 7
57 of 239
1 = lowest failure rate among the models tracked.
Typical mileage at age 7
66k miles
Check the mileage view below; low-mileage models can look better by age than they are.

Generation

Split by first-registration year. Cars registered in a changeover year can belong to either generation.

How this model wears

Jeep Grand CherokeeClass average, all tracked models

Known issues

Measured

Computed from DVSA MOT results, all of Great Britain, 2025. Nothing here is opinion.

What testers flag

Share of tests where each item was recorded. The dark tick is the class average across all tracked models; bars are scaled within each group.

Faults with the car itself

The rows that judge the model rather than its keeper. 3,115 tests in this band.

Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
Fail
2.6%class 0.4%
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
Advisory
2.3%class 0.9%
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
Minor
1.7%class 0.6%
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
Advisory
1.6%class 2.3%
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
Fail
1.4%class 0.3%
Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
Advisory
1.4%class 2.0%
A direction indicator lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning
Minor
1.4%class 0.0%
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
Fail
1.1%class 0.4%
A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded
Advisory
1.0%class 0.4%
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
Fail
0.9%class 0.8%

Wear, upkeep and luck

Tyres, pads and stone chips say more about how the car was driven and maintained than about how it was built.

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Advisory
26.2%class 22.9%
Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured
Advisory
19.0%class 10.1%
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
Advisory
9.3%class 8.7%
A tyre seriously damaged
Advisory
6.0%class 12.7%
Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
Advisory
3.3%class 3.4%
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Fail
2.5%class 2.2%
Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
Advisory
2.3%class 2.2%
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
Minor
2.3%class 2.0%

Unconfirmed issues

Reported

Owner folklore from forums and the motoring press. Most of it never shows up in an MOT, which is why this section exists at all.

TIPM/fuel pump relay causing stalling or no-start

Confirmed pattern

On WK2 models (mainly 2011-2013), the Totally Integrated Power Module can cook the internal fuel pump relay, causing sudden stalling at speed, hard or no-start, or a fuel pump that runs on after the engine is off and drains the battery. Chrysler recalled it in the US and the official fix was to bolt on an external relay, but owners report the external relay itself failing again a year or two later. Treat any car that has had "TIPM" or "fuel pump relay" work done as still at risk rather than fixed for good.

Mainly 2011-13 cars · sources: Honest John (battery drain/no explanation reports), Jeep/Mopar owner forums

Quadra-Lift air suspension failure

Partly in the MOT data

Cars with the optional Quadra-Lift air suspension can develop a sagging or lopsided ride height from a leaking air spring/strut or a dying compressor, sometimes appearing as a warning light and the car refusing to raise off-road height. It is one of the most-discussed expensive faults on owner forums, with air struts or a compressor rebuild running into four figures. The measured MOT data for this model already flags suspension as the standout fault category, and the air system is the part of that story that never shows as a clean pass/fail line, it just gradually gets worse until a strut fails outright.

Reported from around 60k miles onward · sources: Jeep Enthusiast Forums (jeepforum.com), r/GrandCherokee owner reports

ZF 8-speed automatic shudder and limp mode

Emerging

From the 2014 facelift most Grand Cherokees (petrol and diesel) use a ZF 8-speed automatic, and owners report a shudder or flare on light throttle around 40-70 km/h, harsh engagement into Drive, and occasional limp mode. Causes reported include torque converter clutch wear contaminating the valve body and a transmission control module that benefits from a software update. Repairs range from a fluid and filter service at the cheap end to a reconditioned gearbox running into several thousand pounds at the worst end; Jeep never called it a recall, it has mostly been handled as goodwill or dealer software updates.

Reported from 40-80k miles · sources: Jeep owner forums, transmission specialist write-ups

3.0 CRD diesel injection pump failure

Diesel only

On the 3.0-litre CRD diesel, a failing high-pressure injector pump can send metal debris through the fuel rail and injectors, sometimes destroying the lot in one go. Owners describe hard starting and rising rail pressure as early warning signs before a full failure; once it lets go, a full pump and injector set replacement has been quoted at five figures. It only affects diesel cars and does not touch the petrol V6/V8 range.

Reported at various mileages, some under warranty · sources: Honest John, diesel/VM Motori owner discussions

Uconnect touchscreen glitches and freezes

Emerging

The Uconnect infotainment screen (8.4-inch on post-2013 facelift cars) is reported to freeze mid-call, lose the reversing camera image, misbehave with heated seat/wheel memory settings, and occasionally need a full soft reset to bring back. It is an annoyance rather than a safety failure in most reports, and a reset (holding the temperature buttons and horn together) reportedly clears most temporary freezes, but recurring failures have needed a replacement head unit, which has been on back order at times.

Reported across post-2013 facelift cars · sources: Honest John, Jeep/Uconnect owner forums

Viewing one? Ask this

Built from the two sections above.

With the engine running, check if the fuel pump keeps running after you switch the ignition off. A pump that won't stop is the classic TIPM relay symptom, don't assume the recall fix has held.
Cycle the ride height (if fitted with Quadra-Lift) through normal, off-road and park settings. Slow to respond, uneven side-to-side height, or a fault light means the air suspension is on its way out.
Drive it gently from a stop and hold a steady 40-70 km/h on part throttle. A shudder, flare, or clunky change into Drive points at the ZF 8-speed gearbox issue.
On diesel cars, check cold start behaviour and listen for rough running as revs settle. Hard starting or rough idle can be an early sign of injector pump wear.
Make a call on the Uconnect screen and check the reversing camera and heated seat memory. Freezing, a skewed camera image, or memory settings not working shows the infotainment fault.
Read the full MOT history, not just the pass/fail. Repeated suspension advisories that never get fixed line up with the wider pattern of expensive suspension wear on this model.
Ask for evidence of the TIPM/fuel pump relay recall work and any transmission software updates. No paperwork means you can't tell if the known fixes have been done.

Others in its class

Same segment (Family & large SUVs), best MOT record first. Compare before you shortlist.