Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On 10/21/21 myself and my child (rear passenger in booster safety seat) were in a solo vehicle accident that resulted in our vehicle hitting an embankment before rolling 3x landing on the wheels again in the right position on the same side of vehicle we originally had impact. We were less than 1 mile from our home, headed to school, there was no unsafe conditions, and I don't have any memory of the morning or accident due to severe injury and brain injury, but there's no reason or logical reason for me to be driving in the manner or at the speeds that I was. I passed a car in front of me on a very rural road right as we came upon the almost figure 8 curves on a road I drive everyday. …
I scheduled a recall appointment for my Jeep Grand Cherokee. The dealer confirmed that the appointment was scheduled and that the necessary recall part had been ordered. However, when I arrived, my vehicle was parked and no work was started. I was not given an estimated repair time, and after waiting for 3 hours, no progress had been made. This recall is mandatory, and the dealer failed to complete it. I am reporting this as a safety issue and request that the matter be investigated.
Driving normally on the highway came to an exit slowed down my passenger air bag went off and 10-15 seconds later the driver one. I was able to be aware the driver might go off so I pushed my seat back and immediately after it went off. White smoke from the airbags engulfed the cabin I stepped out on the side of the highway and waited for the white smoke to dissipate
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the seat belt and the air bag warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 15V673000 (air bags) but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the seat belt and air bag warning lights remained illuminated after the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds through a parking lot, she swerved from hitting a dog and crashed into the concert bottom portion of a light post. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to both shoulders, neck and back as well as the front passenger sustained injuries to her neck and both shoulders which both needed medical attention. No police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
My son was involved in an unexplained car accident on 9/26/15 in our 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The crash resulted in extensive physical and fire damage to the vehicle and the loss of my son's life. It was a beautiful sunny day and the cause remains unknown. Shortly after I received notice that his vehicle was involved in recall r60 for unintended air bag deployment which could result in a crash. My son was a new driver and anything could have happened. I have contacted Chrysler who informs me since the vehicle was totalled and disposed of prior to the recall they can not help me and I must contact the subrogation department to try to get my insurance company's money back. This is not my concern though I have notified my insurance company. I'm angry that this May be the reason my son is no longer with me and all I get is a so sorry, the car is gone, we can't help you. Well so is my son. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH going across a four lane intersection, another vehicle crashed into the passenger side of the contact vehicle causing the vehicle to tilt to the driver side. Neither of the frontal air bags deployed, only the side air bag on the passenger side deployed suring the impact. The police and fire department were at the scene. The contact was transported by ambulance to the hospital. The nature of the injuries were general bruising to the head, arms and legs. The contact was treated and released. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact also stated that the vehicle was repaired under a manufacturers air bag recall a month prior to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,000. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, another vehicle swerved into her lane and crashed into her vehicle. The vehicle rolled over several times before coming to a complete stop. The air bag warning light was illuminated prior to the crash. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V673000 (air bags) which was scheduled to be performed the week of the crash. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The driver sustained a concussion. No medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed by the insurance company. The vehicle was destroyed. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 238,000. The VIN was missing a character.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving at various speeds, whenever the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate. While at a stop sign, the contact attempted to accelerate forward, but the vehicle was unable to move. As a result, another vehicle crashed into the driver side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front hood, driver's door, the front frame and panel, the fuel injector, and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the vehicle was inoperable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving 30 MPH, the contact crashed the vehicle into a pole. Hillstop motors ignored 2 important safety recalls since 8/25/15. Consumer purchased defective vehicle on 03/29/18. The air bags did not deploy and the seat belt failed to restrain. There were no warning indicators illuminated. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The manufacturer and an unknown dealer were notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was totaled and towed to a junk yard. The failure mileage was 43,000. Consumer stated she suffered physical and psychological injuries.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, both frontal air bags deployed inadvertently causing the contact to crash into another vehicle. The contact did sustain injuries that required medical attention due to the accident. There was a police report filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene of the accident back to the contacts home. The vehicle was deemed totaled. The contact did not receive notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V673000 (air bags) until after the accident. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.
Related recalls
Air bags › Side/window
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured March 29, 2003, to July 3, 2003, and 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured May 27, 2003, to May 20, 2004.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag electronic control module and the side impact sensors, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2016.
Air bags › Frontal
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, to March 28, 2003, 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, to May 23 2003, and 2003-2004 Dodge Viper vehicles manufactured November 1, 2001, to June 30, 2004.
Remedy: Chrysler dealers will replace the air bag control module and side impact sensors as required, free of charge. This recall remedy was applied during earlier recall campaigns of these vehicles under safety recalls 12V527…
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, through March 28, 2003, and 2002 through 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, through May 23, 2003.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a supplemental jumper harness to the airbag control module, free of charge. Owners were notified of the recall by interim letter in January 2013.
NHTSA investigations
Jeep inadvertent air bag deployment
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of inadvertent air bag deployments (IABD) occurring after the recall remedy for NHTSA recall 12V-527 had been installed on recalled model year (MY ) 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty and MY 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).The recall was in response to the Office of Defects…
Airbag complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 326 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 25% of the model year's 1,295 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-673 (side/window, Oct 19, 2015); NHTSA recall 15V-046 (frontal, Jan 28, 2015); NHTSA recall 12V-527 (sensor/control module-inactive, Nov 8, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 120,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 47 crashes, 2 fires and 40 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.