YearToAvoid

2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

80/100

#5 most-complained of 21 Grand Cherokee years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 2,051 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 80 out of 100 — #5 highest of 21 Grand Cherokee model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is electrical system (946 complaints, 46% of the total). Complaints report 82 crashes, 24 fires, and 74 injuries.

Complaints
2,051
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
82 / 24
Injuries / deaths
74 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
14 city / 18.5 hwy

Top 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System946 (46%)
  2. Structure & Body486 (24%)
  3. Engine286 (14%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain253 (12%)
  5. Other154 (8%)
  6. Brakes120 (6%)
  7. Airbags95 (5%)
  8. Steering64 (3%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires43 (2%)
  10. Fuel System34 (2%)
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee complaints: complaints filed per quarter2482004 Q42007 Q22009 Q42012 Q22014 Q42017 Q22019 Q42022 Q3
2532 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2004 Q4 to 2026 Q1; peak 2015 Q1 (248).

2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V438000Jul 21, 2014Electrical System649,353 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition:switch

    This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, drivers should adjust their seat to allow clearance between the driver's knee and the ignition key, and remove all items from their key ring, leaving only the vehicle key. Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to July 5, 2007, and 2006-2007 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, to July 5, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.

    Risk: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Chrysler sent interim notifications to owners in September 2014. The recall began on October 9, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P41.

  2. NHTSA 13V175000May 7, 2013Electrical System295,345 vehicles

    Electrical system

    Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer case electrical failure may result in an unintentional shifting of the transfer case into the neutral position.

    Risk: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the final drive controller which governs the transfer case, with new software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N23.

  3. NHTSA 05V396000Sep 14, 2005Transmission & Powertrain101,925 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.7l engines and nag1 automatic transmissions, the air conditioner evaporator condensate water may enter the transmission at the fill tube grommet seal. This can result in shudder during torque converter clutch engagement.

    Risk: It can lead to increased transmission operating temperatures, boiling of the water, and a subsequent purging of transmission fluid into the engine compartment potentially resulting in an underhood fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the transmission for leakage at the fill tube grommet seal. If no leak is detected, a new fill tube grommet seal and water deflector shield will be installed, and proper alignment of the fill tube verified. If the presence of a leak is detected, the vehicle will be evaluated for shudder during torque converter engagement. If no shudder is detected, the transmission will be triple flushed, and new fill tube grommet seal and water deflector will be installed and proper alignment of the fill tube verified. If shudder is detected, the torque converter will be replaced, a new fill tube grommet seal and water deflector will be installed, and proper alignment of the fill tube verified. The recall began on october 31, 2005. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
18.5 MPG
Combined
15 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,300
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Grand Cherokee years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid802,051315
2006Caution651,280415
2007Caution601,108515

All Jeep Grand Cherokee years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee ranks #5 of 21 among Grand Cherokee model years (Complaint Index 80/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 2,051 complaints and 3 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (946 complaints), structure & body (486 complaints), and engine (286 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 78,343 miles.
Does the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee, most recently reported 2014, covering electrical system and transmission & powertrain.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
EPA rates the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee at 15 MPG combined (14 city / 18.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,300. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.