Most common 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems
Share of the 1,642 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Jeep Grand Cherokee complaints by model year
Best Grand Cherokee years: 2016, 2020, 2017. Years to avoid: 2014, 2012, 2011, 2024, 2023. Compare all years →
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls (6)
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 engine and previously recalled under NHTSA Recall 14V530 or 15V115.
Remedy: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) will replace the affected fuel pump relay and related wire harness. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed beginning December 19, 2019.
Service brakes
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles had brake booster shields installed under a previous campaign to prevent water from entering the brake booster and limiting braking ability.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake booster shield, correcting the installation as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November10, 2017.
Interior lighting
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured December 3, 2009, to September 1, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the wiring for the vanity lamp in the sun visor may short circuit, after having been remedied for a prior recall for the vanity lamp…
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealer will install clearance for sun visor wiring, protection from sharp edges, and replace the sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016.
Electrical system
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured January 5, 2010, to July 20, 2011, and equipped with either a 3.6L or 5.7L engine.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump relay with one external to the TIPM, free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2014.
Electrical system › Wiring
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured January 5, 2010, through December 11, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the wiring for the vanity lamp in the sun visor may short circuit, after a service repair is performed.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair any damaged wiring, and install a new sun visor that properly routes the wire, free of charge.
Service brakes
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured from January 5, 2010, through September 8, 2013. The subject vehicles have a brake booster with a center shell that may corrode and allow water to get inside.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will add a water diverter shield to the booster after the booster has been tested to confirm it can hold an acceptable amount of vacuum pressure.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 6 possible defects involving the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee:
Post 14V-391 Headliner Fires
In response to this investigation, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is conducting a recall to address headliner fires that occur post 14V-391.On December 22, 2015 FCA notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of safety recall 15V-879 to remedy potential headliner fires occurring in 389,252 model year (MY) 2011-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured from December 3, 2009 to September…
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early…
Headliner Fires
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has identified 5 reports of vehicle headliners catching fire at the front of the vehicle near the sun visors on Jeep Grand Cherokees.Customers reported a range of fire conditions ranging from minor overheating to an open flame at the headliner and/or sun visor material while driving the vehicle.
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Headliner Fires
On July 1st, 2014 Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it would conduct a safety recall to remedy a wiring-related fire hazard on the headliner of approximately 661,888 model year (MY) 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured between January 5, 2010 and December 11, 2013 (see NHTSA Safety Recall 14V-391), with notifications to begin in…
Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
In a letter dated August 21, 2014, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged failures associated with the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) installed in Chrysler SUV?s, trucks, and vans beginning in the 2007 model year.
What 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners say
Electrical system all 780 →
The contact owns a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 30 MPH she observed that the check battery light had illuminated. The contact stated that his wife had smelled a burning smell and returned to the residence. The contact stated that he started the vehicle and was checking the battery using a volt meter and he noted that it was only showing 12.1 volts. The contact turned the vehicle off and was returning tools to his workshop when he noted a burning smell. The contact opened the hood and observed a stream of white smoke emitted from the alternator and suddenly the alternator had burst into flames. The contact stated that he extinguished the flame using a garden hose and disconnected the battery terminals due to a clicking sound he heard coming from the alternator. …
The contact owned a 2011 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH around a bend in the roadway, the vehicle inadvertently lost all motive power. As a result, the contact lost control of the vehicle, leaving the road and coming to a complete stop after colliding with a barrier wall. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was filed, and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V813000 (Electrical System), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Engine & cooling all 359 →
The contact owns a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle occasionally stalled while at a complete stop. The contact stated that the vehicle was able to restart after several attempts, approximately 15 minutes. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the failure could not be duplicated; however, the contact was informed that the vehicle could be experiencing a fuel pump relay failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V813000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 158,660.
The contact owns a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that on multiple occasions the vehicle would not start while pressing the START/STOP button. The contact indicated that the failure was corrected while tapping the TIPM and then pressing the START button. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure and no issues were found. The contact indicated that on several occasions the vehicle stalled without warning. On one occasion the vehicle lost motive power while entering an intersection. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 104,941.
Brakes all 332 →
The contact owns a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle lunged forward. The contact stated that the RPM light and an unknown warning light were illuminated when the crash occurred. The contact stated that when the vehicle lunged forward, the front bumper of the vehicle crashed into the rear bumper of the other vehicle. The contact's vehicle came to a stop once the impact was made and damage was sustained to the front bumper and the rear bumper of the other vehicle. The vehicle was driven to a dealer where the vehicle's front bumper was repaired. The dealer was unable to determine the failure. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The contact stated that the failure recurred while in the driveway. …
The contact owns a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle shut off inadvertently. The contact was able to pull over to an open lane, where the vehicle stopped. The vehicle failed to restart. The contact's husband charged the battery with a portable charger, and the vehicle restarted. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact's husband replaced both the battery and the alternator; however, the failure recurred a week later. The battery warning light was illuminated. The contact's husband replaced the alternator; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contacted stated that the check engine warning light and the brake warning light were illuminated. …
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD | 14 / 19 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee a good car?
Based on 1,642 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Grand Cherokee rates use caution: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Grand Cherokee at the same age. It is one of the Grand Cherokee years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The electrical system — 780 complaints, 48% of all complaints for this model year, most often about alternator/generator/regulator. Next are the engine & cooling (359) and brakes (332).
How many recalls does the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the most recent from November 14, 2019 (electrical system). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2020 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014, 2012, 2011, 2024 and 2023. See the full Jeep Grand Cherokee years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 64,000 miles; 32% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.