Which years should I avoid on the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Explorer?

Avoid the 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2018 Grand Cherokee, and the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020 Explorer, based on NHTSA complaint and recall data for each model.

Which model has more complaints overall?

The Grand Cherokee has 16,742 total complaints across 21 model years and the Explorer has 16,668; these totals are not adjusted for sales volume.

Does either model have a year with no Good or Best verdict?

The Explorer has no year rated Good or Best because of recall campaigns capping several years to Caution or Avoid, while the Grand Cherokee does have Good years (2008, 2009, 2019, 2020) and Best years (2010, 2017).

How do recall counts compare?

NHTSA lists 87 recall campaigns for the Grand Cherokee across the years covered and 96 for the Explorer.

Which model gets better fuel economy?

The Explorer averages 19.1 mpg combined across its years versus 18.1 mpg combined for the Grand Cherokee, according to EPA data.

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Ford Explorer: Which Years to Avoid

Jeep Grand Cherokee owners should avoid 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2018; Ford Explorer owners should avoid 2013–2017 and 2020. The Grand Cherokee logs 16,742 total complaints across 87 recall campaigns versus the Explorer's 16,668 complaints and 96 recalls; Explorer has no year earning Good or Best.

Head to head

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Model years: 2005–2025 (21)
NHTSA complaints: 16,742
Per model year: 797
Recall campaigns: 87
Years to avoid: 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018
Best years: 2010, 2017
Top problem area: Electrical System
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 18.1
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.7 ★

Ford Explorer

Model years: 2005–2025 (21)
NHTSA complaints: 16,668
Per model year: 794
Recall campaigns: 96
Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020
Best years: —
Top problem area: Structure & Body
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 19.1
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.9 ★

Year by year

Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.

Year	Grand Cherokee				Explorer
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2005	Avoid	2,051	3	15	Good	497	0	15
2006	Caution	1,280	4	15	Good	630	1	15
2007	Caution	1,108	5	15	Good	208	1	15.5
2008	Good	733	4	15	Good	148	1	15.5
2009	Good	138	2	15	Good	33	0	16
2010	Best	118	5	16	Good	115	1	16
2011	Avoid	1,640	6	18	Caution	1,197	6	19.5
2012	Avoid	1,642	10	16	Caution	827	5	20
2013	Caution	802	9	16	Avoid	2,234	11	19.5
2014	Avoid	2,375	18	19	Avoid	1,678	6	19.5
2015	Avoid	1,359	9	19	Avoid	1,791	8	19.5
2016	Caution	310	8	21	Avoid	2,451	14	20
2017	Best	364	5	19	Avoid	1,691	13	20
2018	Avoid	853	10	21	Caution	731	7	20
2019	Good	367	7	19	Good	296	6	20
2020	Good	238	3	17	Avoid	1,218	33	23.5
2021	Caution	403	12	17	Caution	426	26	23
2022	Caution	260	13	21	Caution	267	24	22
2023	Caution	386	21	22	Caution	109	15	21
2024	Caution	241	16	22	Caution	21	10	20.5
2025	Caution	74	4	22	Caution	100	20	21

Complaint Index by year

Frequently asked questions

Which years should I avoid on the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Explorer?: Avoid the 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2018 Grand Cherokee, and the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020 Explorer, based on NHTSA complaint and recall data for each model.
Which model has more complaints overall?: The Grand Cherokee has 16,742 total complaints across 21 model years and the Explorer has 16,668; these totals are not adjusted for sales volume.
Does either model have a year with no Good or Best verdict?: The Explorer has no year rated Good or Best because of recall campaigns capping several years to Caution or Avoid, while the Grand Cherokee does have Good years (2008, 2009, 2019, 2020) and Best years (2010, 2017).
How do recall counts compare?: NHTSA lists 87 recall campaigns for the Grand Cherokee across the years covered and 96 for the Explorer.
Which model gets better fuel economy?: The Explorer averages 19.1 mpg combined across its years versus 18.1 mpg combined for the Grand Cherokee, according to EPA data.