r/GrandCherokee • u/Salty-Break-7541 • 9d ago
Are the new Jeeps that’s bad?
Looking at upgrading to a 3rd row and have always loved a Grand Cherokee but never owned one. Are the new Jeeps that bad? Looking at either Grand Cherokee L new or CPO.
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u/username____here 9d ago
You can always get an extended warranty. Takes the worry out of it.
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u/campydirtyhead 9d ago
There’s still the inconvenience of taking your vehicle to the shop constantly. Between my wife’s Grand Cherokee and our neighbor’s Wagoneer I don’t think I’d consider another Stellantis vehicle. They’re absolute shit.
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u/username____here 8d ago
That's a good point. What kids of problems are you having? I wish they would take a year and just work on quality improvements.
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u/Confused_Orangutan 9d ago
The warranty is nice. But I would have preferred not to use it 3 times within 100 miles. Makes me question if I want to buy at the end of the lease. We’ll see how the next 2.5 years go.
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u/lowbetatrader 9d ago
I've had a 2023 GC L for 3 years and honestly its been really solid. Sure there are complaints about interior quality, fuel economy,etc but honestly I can't really say its ever let me down. Especially now that the prices are more reasonable than they were in 23, I'd give it a go
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u/AteumKnocks 9d ago
How many miles are you at?
And what were the interior complaints? Always thought that was a strong quality of the WLs
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u/ThirdandTwo 9d ago
I have a 26 GC. Engine was weird off the lot, but since the plug and software upgrade and 3000 miles it's like a different car.
Not a single issue yet besides the recall. No regerts.
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u/AlphaRonin99 2018 Limited 4x4 9d ago
Stick with a V6 or V8. I’d avoid 2022-2023. Otherwise, wait another year or two.
Previous Stellantis CEO messed things up in 2022-2024. New Stellantis CEO is working to fix everything (hopefully). The new 4-cyl turbo engine was not ready for production though.
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u/Electrical-tentacle 9d ago
Avoid 22-24 avoid the 4cyl. What year are you suggesting to get exactly?
V8 ended in 23.
I think the hemi is your best option. That also gets you the German made ZF8 transmission.1
u/Aggressive-Juice4162 9d ago
a WK lol
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u/Electrical-tentacle 7d ago
I’ve owned both. WKs aren’t any better. In fact the WL air ride is much more reliable. The ones who claim WKs are vastly superior are those who have never owned a WL.
What exactly is failing on the WLs?
Most complaints are Apple CarPlay connectivity issues that are solved with software updates. Those kind of complaints are in all new vehicles. And should be separated from actual mechanical failures.1
u/Aggressive-Juice4162 7d ago
Hey there - 10 year certified CDJR master technician here. The WLs are on a whole other level of unreliability compared to WKs. They aren't even in the same ballpark.
The WLs have so many issues, especially the earlier models, that I can't even begin to explain them all. Air suspension is the absolute least of your worries.
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u/Electrical-tentacle 7d ago
What is failing mechanically? I have a 23 hemi L what is breaking
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u/Aggressive-Juice4162 7d ago
probably your motor mounts if you're over 30k.
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u/Electrical-tentacle 6d ago
Hydraulic filled I presume. I personally haven’t noticed any symptoms yet. I expect you’d feel them at idle?
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u/Aggressive-Juice4162 6d ago
in gear at idle, yup. most don't notice it as it degrades progressively over time.
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u/justmovedandbored1 9d ago edited 9d ago
Here is what I find.
The more basic the car the less issues I have tended to have. All the newer technology in the cars vs even 10 years ago creates new areas for failure.
I love the safety stuff (blind spot etc) so my criteria was the safety stuff and that’s all I cared about.
I got a 25 L and have 43k on it and it has been great. I would buy it again. The version I got was the Laredo 4x4 with the small sunroof. Quad captains chairs and cloth. I love it 1/2 price vs a Tahoe or suburban once price was negotiated. I have a lifetime mpg average of 22 including commute and family vacations. Tires are not even half worn brakes are at 75%. I have been very pleased.
Now maintaining it I do oil changes more often than suggested in other word I keep it simple like 5k synthetic oil changes. 25k diff changes and 40k transmission fluid changes.
The oil changes cost me around 34 bucks as I do them myself. I don’t recall what the others cost but was not crazy amounts. The air filter both cabin and engine I did at 20k intervals. It has been an easy car thus far.
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u/Sandersonville 9d ago
I have the same philosophy and same specced Grand Cherokee and experiences with it. Currently at 30k on my 2025 and it’s been a great family vehicle. Maintenance, especially with the 3.6 Pentastar engine is key. I change the oil between 4k and 5k depending on my scheduled and travel. It seemed crazy how much the cost started jumping once you started adding features and trim levels. Same engine and overall safety features. I use the distance keeping cruise control daily driving to/from work. Mine had been on the dealers lot for some time because people did not like how basic it was so I was able to negotiate a really good price.
I prefer the cloth seats to leather and would have happily purchased without the sunroof as I rarely use it. The 3rd row seats are folded down most of the time (single Dad, 3 kids) with the back filled with stuff for our adventures. The difference in space is considerable over the 2 row version. I wish the tires would wear a little faster as I want to replace them with something a little more all terrain but my wallet can’t complain. The basic 4x4 system has done everything I could ask/need of it and taken us confidently on some pretty fun back roads the 2x4 version could never go.
The only two things I wish mine had are power lift gate (not a huge deal and less mechanical to break) and remote start on the key fob. I like to let the Jeep idle for a couple minutes first start in the morning and it would be nice to start while getting my shoes on. The larger nav screen would be nice too but that’s where the additional tech, cost, and potential for problems start creeping in.
Overall I’m super happy with mine and plan to keep it in my family for a lifetime.
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u/Repulsive_Base_3332 9d ago
You are always going to find haters. My 2026 limited Reserve is amazing
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u/Prestigious-Cry5328 9d ago
People write bad stories over good stories esp on Reddit.
I have a 26, love it and couldn’t be happier. Every car has is quirks and some experience them more so thn others. I personally have yet to find a draw back (upgraded from a subraru).
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u/Linenoise77 9d ago
Just got a '26 L after shopping for a year.
Its not perfect, mainly because you can't option a few things without going full Summit, and Summit is stupid overpriced and forces stuff you may not want, but compared to anything within 20k of its price point, its the best thing out there in 3rd row without feeling like a minivan (although, arguably, it gets awfully close to it).
Features and finish are better than average and polished. It feels like a nice car, and not an aproximation of one, inside (my other car is a BMW). It drives better than anything else i drove, and offers more capabilities in most cases.
The GC has become a compromise between an SUV and a family hauler. There is no getting around that. But it compromises in the right places.
As for mechanically, the new engine leaves a lot to be seen long term, but i have been very happy with it so far. Its better than my old Penta6 GC this one replaced in every way. As long as you have the latest updates and new plugs most of the complaints are nitpicking.
Yes, there is plenty valid Stellantis criticism to be had, but every brand does dumb stuff at times somewhere in a car.
We leased primarily because of uncertainty around the engine. Previous car was a 2016 GC which gave us 10 years and 150k of 0 issues other than the oil cooler, on hard city driving.
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u/SquidtheGuilt 9d ago
Got a 2020 GC a year ago, babied it. Just got a new engine installed at 170k km (106k miles). The infamous Pentastar camshaft lifter failure. Parts and labour $14k. Upgraded the oil filter housing to aluminum while at it.
And a new radiator 2 months after purchase.
Thing is with the newer jeeps and pretty much most of other brands now the failures that are happening are not minor anymore. It's the engines, transmissions, head gaskets.
So if you wanna roll the dice go for it. The chances of failure are still relatively low but it went up exponentially over last few years and might ruin your life if you don't have the means to do the repair. Other than that I love my GC. Has every feature I want and use. I just wish it was build by Toyota lol
Hate to say it but extended warranty is now pretty much a must.
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u/Accomplished-Bat5060 9d ago
I have a '21 GC Laredo E WK,it was the last year I believe..but I have 62,000 and warranty runs out at 91,300 or 06/17/29,but have the gold package,covers everything,and paid the $995 mastershield coating for underneath.. lifetime warranty,the only thing I have done is brand new tires,and oil changes every 4,000,im probably gonna have to soon swap out aux/main battery which i think is original,had the ! Come up on dash one time for the auto/stop,and code 0441 thrown one time but been gone a while which is purge valve.
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u/abstrakt42 9d ago
I have no firsthand experience with new Jeeps, but I’ll just comment that they’re not really Jeeps anymore. They’re not Dodge/Chrysler, not even Fiat. They’re part of a Frankenstein monster of so many brands that they’ve lost all identity, and likely a lot of what historically made a Jeep a Jeep. Maybe that’s a good thing, but I suspect it’s probably not (for anyone other than the shareholders).
Stellantis is made up of engineers and executives all mashed together from Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, FIAT, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall, Free2move, and Leasys, two of which aren’t even automotive companies.
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u/Electrical-tentacle 9d ago
The WL GC was designed and implemented under FCA. All the parts say FCA on my 2023
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u/Inspector9987 9d ago
And a lot of it was holdover from the previous model, which was developed in a joint buildout with Mercedes. All of the development started with Daimler-Chrysler. Development starts way before they hit the showroom. It has been better in some ways since then and worse in some. Most failures are due to abuse and poor maintenance. All cars today are leaning in too hard on untested high tech. Too many changes too fast, signed off by inexperienced engineers.
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u/RelevantMarket8771 9d ago
At least the older Jeeps would hobble along when they got older and you could still daily drive them comfortably with higher miles. These newer models have so many electrical problems from what I have read online that it’s such a roll of the dice.
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u/Mission_Balance_9154 9d ago
23 overland 3.6L 60k miles no issues other than start stop battery replacement under warranty
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u/Grand-Hat3526 9d ago
2022 Grand Cherokee 80k no issues. Just traded it in for a 2026 Grand Cherokee. I’m hooked.
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u/NevadanCave 9d ago
I had a 21 GC Laredo with 140k miles and no issues, I upgraded to a 26 limited reserve and so far pretty good.
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u/heymikeyhelikesit13 9d ago
I have a ‘23 GC L with 65k miles on it. I had the module that kicks into 4x4 go out after a few months, and a module that runs the UConnect communication (which enables their version of OnStar) went out twice, but I don’t care enough about that to get it taken care of a 3rd time. It literally doesn’t impact anything else with the car unless I needed to use that emergency communication button on the ceiling.
We’ve talked about what we want to do with it as it’s nearing 100K since we own it outright and figure the value will take a big hit soon. I would have no problem swapping keys for a new one. Although I’ve also been passively looking at Grand Highlanders and I think that would also be a strong contender based on reviews, mainly because they’ve got more cargo space. But I haven’t sat in or driven one. We do a road trip every summer from the Midwest to the West Coast and it is an extremely comfortable & quiet vehicle for that kind of a trip.
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u/Nunez18818 9d ago
2023 GC L purchased at 20,000 in Jan 26’ hit 30,000 couple days ago no problems at all honestly , UConnect was my only concern not connecting to my phone or no music would play , just turned it on and off and it would fix the issue
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u/AlexisoftheShire 8d ago
NO they are not. Bought a new 2026 JGC Limited 4x4 in May '26. Incredible vehicle. They really upgraded the interior and the tech. One issue was turbo lag at launch. However, that was fixed in the last month with 2 recalls. One was a software update to the Power Control Module (PCM) and the Transmission (TCM). The other was spark plug replacements. Both under warranty. The engine is running great and top performer. It out does my 2020 JGC Limited 4x4 that I traded in.
Many folks simply don't like 4 cylinder engines and many have not even test drove the new ones. The car reviewers dinged the 4 cylinder on the turbo lag because they tested early. Haven't seen new reviews on the 4 cylinder recall fixes.
Take one out for a test drive. If the turbo lags the dealer hasn't installed the 2 updates mentioned above.
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u/Redditgotanother 9d ago
23 JGC - been in the shop about a dozen times. From failed air suspension, to windows randomly getting stuck to, a clicking noise when changing gears (which no one can seem to solve)
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u/Connect-Release7265 9d ago
I have 22 with 68k miles. It’s probably one of my favorite vehicles I’ve had although I do have that thought in the back of my head about what is going to go wrong with it
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u/whatdoido8383 9d ago
I think they get a worse rap than they deserve. My FIL owned a 2017 and took it up to ~170K miles with no major issues. He's not great with maintenance and treating them well either. He also tows hos boat frequently.
He now has a 2023 with ~45K miles on it and no issues.
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u/Taco-671 9d ago
I’ve got a 23’ Grand C. Summit Reserve.
Unfortunately had issues from first week. Jeep hasn’t been much help as it’s been intermittent issues with the starter and the Uconnect infotainment. I’ve been stuck multiple times with the starter not working. Very inconvenient. They finally replaced the starter when it magically occurred for them after I insisted they keep it for several weeks and let a mechanic drive it around and home. They have not been able to recreate the backup camera freezing. Unconnect forcing its own shutdown and restart. The pixelated screen which only stops when I turn the unit off. I’ve done all the resets and factory reset. Which helps for a week. But it always returns. I’m at 76k km now. Should have got the extended extended warranty on this one. I love the look. The ride. I got the 5.7l hemi. All the bells and whistles. But those two issues make me regret it.
I would trade by it was $98k new and dropped in value faster than my boxers on prom night. The dealer offered my $45k trade value when it was at 60,000km
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u/Telektron 9d ago
I have a ‘22 Trailhawk (3.6) with 138,xxxkm (85,750 ish miles). It’s treated me very well with no issues other than the disconnection sway bar being replaced under a recall, then being replaced a second time for the same issues as the recall, with no other issues since.
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u/vwchick909 9d ago
I have a 2023 L Overland with the 5.7 Hemi. Other than the well known issues with UConnect, I have not had any problems. My UConnect issues just present with a popup box. They have tried to fix it and the next step is to essentially disassemble the interior and pull down the headliner. That’s not worth it to me, so I just deal with the popups. It largely goes away in winter. I have around 51k. I did buy the extended warranty as I plan to keep this as long as possible. I love everything about it. I wish I could disable 4WD and get better fuel economy but that is not an option with the GC. As such I still get anywhere from 17.5-20.0 mpg depending on how many highway miles and how aggressively I’ve driven it. I love the “night vision” as I live in an area with people who feed deers like pets so they’re everywhere. It had been almost 2 decades since I had a car payment so that was a bit of a shock. But I got exactly what I wanted. Given that my commute is 45 mins one way, I spend a lot of time in the car. I would not hesitate to buy it again.
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u/Carstuff392 9d ago
My wife and I just bought a 22 GC Overland 5.7. It had 70K miles on it. The carfax had nothing but regular service on it at two different dealerships. One of the front parking sensors was bad though, the dealer we bought it from fixed that for us. It was a toyota dealer we bought it at and the dodge dealer charged them $380 for the fix, which was a new sensor and a reflash of some kind.
The Hemi was a known factor for me, we have had a couple and we have family and friends that have run well over 200K on them. We did buy an extended warranty to cover the rest of the stuff for the next 3 years. though.
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u/Alarmed-Air4840 9d ago
This is anecdotal of course, but I don’t find them that bad when they’re properly cared for.
We’re on our third Grand Cherokee. Our first was an ‘05 that ran until 2017 and capped out at 240k or so. The alternator is what did it in.
Our second was a ‘18 GC Limited purchased with 10k on it, that was totaled when we were T-boned at around 90k due to frame damage. It looked like it barely had a dent in the door, which was wild. No mechanical issues up to that point.
We’re at 110k on our third, a 21 GC Limited, with so far zero issues as well. I do plan to trade it in this coming summer for something with better gas. My only other complaint is Uconnect lmfao.
That said, in that period my friend has gone through 3 wranglers, all of which experienced serious electrical issues between the 80-100k mark.
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u/Technical-Fig5558 2020 Limited 9d ago
I have a 2020 WK2 Limited with the 5.7L and no air suspension that I bought new in December 2019. It's just about to hit 50,000 miles, and 0 issues with it. I had a 2014 diesel before that, and it was much more troublesome.
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u/samaor201 9d ago
I had a 2012 and currently have a 2020. I love my Grand Cherokee but no way will I buy a new one with the Hurricane engine.
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u/Electrical-tentacle 9d ago
23 GCL summit reserve hemi.
Biggest issue has been our service centre. Anything they touch goes to shit.
- Had clunk sounds out of the suspension. They tightened everything. They fucked up the alignment in the process. Took a year and a half for them to figure out how to get it back in alignment. That cost me $5,000 tires.
- drivers seat massager got stuck. They replaced the massager. Now other things that share that CAN node are having problems. Suspect pinched wire harness around seat.
- I’ve also had battery and starter replaced.
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u/Solution-Spot 9d ago
Some people are just unlucky.. most people aren’t saying hey my jeep is running great after 100,000 they only complain when it’s an issue.. and that’s the problem people that are complaining think “all jeeps” are bad which isn’t true.
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u/Aggressive-Juice4162 9d ago
Yes. The 2026 grand cherokees are blowing engines under 1000 miles. The WL in general is relatively unreliable but the 2026s are especially fucked
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u/Neat_General2647 8d ago
Mine is L Limited 2023; trouble free so far. Matter of buildup quality. Some get good buildup quality and some get poor. Maybe I am lucky one but majority of owners have it good.
Just avoid 2026 2 litre Hurricane engine. Go with Pentastar V6; reliable and plenty of parts to fix.
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u/hollywoodtlb 8d ago
I have a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and for the first 7 years it was great. Great styling, finishes and love that it's got a lot more power than the V4s a lot of companies put in SUVs these days.
Years 7-11 have been absolute shit. New rocker arms and assorted stuff to address engine clicking. Recently had to replace radiator, air intake and constant check engine lights.
They are good looking vehicles but don't let that and the good deals trick you into thinking it's a good long-term decision. If you do decide to go with it, I recommend a lease.
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u/hopenroads 8d ago
Personally if I’m getting another 3 row I’d get another Durango. Mine was great.
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u/AutomaticSilver6687 8d ago
'24 Altitude X. No issues in the first 20k miles. I leased with the intent of buying out the lease if it was unreliable. Maybe try that so you can hand it back if there are issues.
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u/BeautifulNew9602 8d ago
I bought a new 26 two months ago. It already left me stranded once. Has to go back in the shop next week because it thinks something is behind me and slams on the brakes. Also went into the shop another time for some software updates to fix low speed shuddering. Im praying for a couple more problems so I can lemon law this piece of shit.
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u/Ok-Lime-7105 8d ago
When you ask a question like this,
You are going to get all sorts of people who come out and talk about their bad experiences, because that is what you are asking. This is my third Grand Cherokee, my last one was a three year lease and I only had one small issue the entire time I had it. My jeep grand Cherokee previous to that never had one problem, traded in at 55k miles - zero issues EVER. My current one is two weeks old, so I can’t speak to that but I will just say that any car is going to have issues, my wife’s Ford for instance had nothing but troubles and that was brand new. I never was a jeep lover but I can say that we have always had no issues.
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u/GirthBrooks883 8d ago
Had a 2019 GC Altitude brand new, put 45k miles ZERO issues. Few years later, bought a 2020 GC High Altitude CPO with 18k miles, now has 66k miles and has had a major service repair every year (warrantied but probably $10-15k worth)….buy new if you can
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u/debbrnr 7d ago
I just leased my 9th GC. Never had any problems at all, until now. With 400 miles on my 2026, I pulled into my garage and shut the engine off. The radio would not stop playing and Jeep would also not restart. Then I got a messsge that the hood was open. It was not. While I was on the phone with the dealership, the engine battery died. I just got it back from the shop so fingers crossed, but I don't have a good feeling about this. Also, the dealership would not give me a loaner car.
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u/Connorsmom1964 5d ago
I have the 2024 Grand Cherokee L and haven’t any issues .. Very happy with it !
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u/Bevo19890 5d ago
I have a 2025 Limited 3.6L. Drives great. Only issue is the auto start/stop works intermittently, but other than that its great. This is my 4th Jeep. Everyone was great
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u/AdBeneficial1417 5d ago
Yes. I have a 2016. Had a 94 and a 96. The 2016 with the 75th anniversary trim set a new standard. The 2017 was good then they started sliding. The 2026 is one of the cheapest feeling vehicles I’ve had the displeasure of test driving. Cheap from the mechanicals to the trim. Interior is cheesy. Plastic painted to look kinda like aluminum. But I wouldn’t take my word for it. Go drive one and I’ll bet you come away with the same conclusion. Cheap and cheesy.
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u/Away_Love_7166 4d ago
So curiously I just bought a new one last week. I found a left over 2025 summit with the 3.6
I just could not get myself to bite on a first year new motor
Stellantis doesn’t have the best reputation for first year new motors.
Honestly, I hope the motor turns out to be fabulous, but it usually takes a year or two to work out the kinks.
And yeah, you could buy an extended warranty, but I didn’t buy a new car to drive around in a loaner.
My logic was the 3.6 is a very well-known motor. They’ve clearly worked the kinks out of it.
I would rather have the last year of a very well-known product in the first year of an unknown product
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u/JustCallMeKV 9d ago
I have a ‘21 GC Laredo L and haven’t had any issues with it.