Grand Cherokee (WJ)
NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings
Engine Reliability Ratings
5.9-V8-Gas
5.9L 8-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
Jeep Grand Cherokee Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
4.0-V6-Gas
4.0L 6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
4.7-V8-Gas
4.7L 8-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
Show 16 additional engine variants with limited data
5.7-V8-Gas
5.7L 8-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
Magnum
3.7L 6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
3.6-V6-Gas
3.6L 6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
3.0-V6-Gas
3.0L 6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
5.2-V8-Gas
5.2L 8-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
3.8-V6-Gas
3.8L 6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
2.0-I4-Gas
2.0L 4-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
SRT HEMI SMPI
6.1L 8-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
2.7-V6-Gas
2.7L 6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
DOHC 16V Turbo
2.4L 4-cyl TurboView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
L37
4.6L 8-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
4.7-V8-FlexFuel
4.7L 8-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
3.5-V6-Gas
3.5L 6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
2.7T-I4-Diesel
2.7L 4-cyl TurboView details
Complaint Breakdown
2.4-I4-Gas
2.4L 4-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
3.9-V6-Gas
3.9L 6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
Battery & Propulsion Reliability
Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2000-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
That's near the typical rate for PHEVs in this dataset (median 5.6 per year). Within the normal range for the category.
Battery & propulsion recalls (1)
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE PLASTIC BLADES OF THE ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN COOLING FAN MAY SEPARATE AND PENETRATE THE SHROUD.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE HOOD IS OPEN, A PERSON IN THE VICINITY OF THE ENGINE COULD BE STRUCK BY THE BLADE AND INJURED.
Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. Rates are absolute counts, not normalized per-VIN โ high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints than low-volume ones. Self-reported death and injury counts are capped per complaint to limit form abuse.
Vehicle-Level Issues
These issues affect the Jeep Grand Cherokee regardless of engine variant.
Recalls (27)
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. Due to electrical noise beyond the tolerance of the air bag electronic control module (ECM), a component in the ECM may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
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. Due to electrical noise beyond the tolerance of the air bag electronic control module (ECM), a component in the ECM may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
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. A component in the air bag control module may fail causing the front airbags, side curtain airbags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 103,409 MY 2001-2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES WITH HEATED SEATS AND WITH CHRYSLER RECALL NO. 06V-197 COMPLETED (03-04 MY) OR SEAT HEATER ELEMENTS SERVICE REPLACEMENT (01-02 MY). THE FRONT SEAT ELECTRIC HEATER ELEMENTS COULD OVERHEAT.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE PLASTIC BLADES OF THE ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN COOLING FAN MAY SEPARATE AND PENETRATE THE SHROUD.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HEATED SEATS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ELECTRIC HEATER ELEMENT COULD OVERHEAT.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET AIRTEX ELECTRIC FUEL PUMPS INSTALLED FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN 1997-2004 JEEP WRANGLER; 1997-2001 JEEP CHEROKEE; 1997-2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE; AND 2000-2003 DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLES. THE PLASTIC ELECTRICAL GROMMET CONNECTORS AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUELS AND MAY DEGRADE CAUSING A POTENTIAL LEAK PATH FOR FUEL.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L ENGINES, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WIRING INSULATION MAY CRACK AND EXPOSE THE WIRE.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A RECENT SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING ERROR, THE TIRE, WHEEL, AND INFLATION PRESSURE INFORMATION WAS INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE POWER STEERING GEAR MAY CONTAIN AN IMPROPERLY FORMED SPACER CLIP, WHICH COULD DISLODGE WITHIN THE STEERING GEAR.
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A FUEL TANK BRUSH GUARD FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THE ONBOARD REFUELING VAPOR RECOVERY (ORVR) CONTROL VALVE CAN BECOME DETACHED DURING A CRASH, ALLOWING FUEL LEAKAGE.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS WAS IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.0L ENGINE ONLY, THE DESIGN OF THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLDS COULD ALLOW DEBRIS TO ACCUMULATE AT THE #3 CYLINDER LOCATION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE ONBOARD VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM VENT HOSE MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED. THIS COULD ALLOW WATER TO ENTER THE CANISTER WHICH CAN CAUSE FUEL TO SPILL OUT OF THE FILLER TUBE WHEN REFUELING THE TANK.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED FOR A SOFTWARE ERROR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MICROPROCESSOR. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE CLUSTER, WITH THE MAJORITY OF ITS GAUGES, ILLUMINATION, AND WARNING LAMPS, COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE FUEL INLET CHECK VALVE COULD STICK IN THE PARTIALLY OPEN POSITION. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FUEL TO SPILL OUT OF THE FILLER TUBE DURING REFUELING.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. AN INTERNAL NUT IN THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY COULD LOOSEN AND CAUSE THE STEERING GEAR TO LOCK UP.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH FUEL TANKS WITH SUSPECT VENT TUBE WELDS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." SOME OF THE OWNER'S MANUALS FOR THESE VEHICLES ARE MISSING INSTRUCTIONS THAT PROVIDE A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE, INCLUDING DIAGRAMS, FOR PROPERLY ATTACHING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM'S TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER ANCHORAGE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE TURNING LOOP (ATL) TOP MOUNTING BOLT WAS INADEQUATELY MANUFACTURED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. SOME STEERING GEAR UNITS WERE ASSEMBLED WITH INTERNAL END-OF-TRAVEL-STOPS THAT MISSED THE HEAT TREAT PROCESS, RESULTING IN SOFT INTERNAL TRAVEL STOPS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR ASSEMBLY CONTAINS AN INCORRECT INFLATOR CHARGE AMOUNT.
All Generations
Alternatives in Midsize SUV
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2000-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems?
The 2000-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee has accumulated 6,085 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Safety Systems, Brakes, Interior. As with any used vehicle, an inspection before buying and a vehicle history report are recommended.
Which Jeep Grand Cherokee engine is most reliable?
The 2000-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee was offered with 20 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 5.9L 8-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.
Is the 2000-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee a good used car?
The 2000-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee can be a sound used car depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 6,085 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2000-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
The 2000-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 6,085 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.
What recalls affect the 2000-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
There are 27 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2000-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN โ check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.
What should I check before buying a used Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Before buying a used Jeep Grand Cherokee, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Safety Systems, Brakes, Interior, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.
What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Grand Cherokee?
The 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee received an overall N/A-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: N/A stars. Side crash: N/A stars. Rollover: 2 stars. Electronic Stability Control: No. Forward Collision Warning: No. Lane Departure Warning: No. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 6,085 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-05-23.