YearToAvoid

2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#13 most-complained of 21 Grand Cherokee years

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

The 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 733 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 40 out of 100 — #13 highest of 21 Grand Cherokee model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is electrical system (479 complaints, 65% of the total). Complaints report 23 crashes, 5 fires, and 10 injuries.

Complaints
733
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
23 / 5
Injuries / deaths
10 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
14 city / 19 hwy

Top 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems

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

  1. Electrical System479 (65%)
  2. Engine166 (23%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain77 (11%)
  4. Other43 (6%)
  5. Airbags40 (5%)
  6. Brakes32 (4%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires31 (4%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers27 (4%)
  9. Steering24 (3%)
  10. Fuel System21 (3%)
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee complaints: complaints filed per quarter1312008 Q12010 Q22012 Q32014 Q42017 Q12019 Q22021 Q32024 Q3
960 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q1 to 2026 Q1; peak 2015 Q3 (131).

2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V567000Sep 17, 2014Electrical System292,798 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition

    Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008 Chrysler 300 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2007, to May 12, 2008, Dodge Magnum vehicles manufactured May 23, 2007, to May 12, 2008, Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured May 24, 2007, to May 12, 2008, Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured April 3, 2007, to May 12, 2008, and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured March 21, 2007, to May 12, 2008. In the affected vehicles, the ignition key (FOBIK) may not return to the "ON" position after being rotated to the "START" position, instead sticking between the two positions. Potentially, while the vehicle is being driven, the ignition may inadvertently move through the "RUN" position to the "ACCESSORY" or "OFF" ignition position, turning off the engine.

    Risk: If the ignition stays between "START" and "ON" positions it could cause loss of certain electrical functions. 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 and key FOBs, free of charge. The recall began August 19, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P57.

  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 08V059000Feb 6, 2008Electrical System1,338 vehicles

    Electrical system

    Chrysler is recalling 1,338 my 2008 jeep grand cherokee and commander vehicles. The front control module may have been incorrectly manufactured.

    Risk: This could cause the engine to stall while driving or not to start and/or cause the windshield wipers to become inoperative. Engine stalling or inoperative wipers could cause a crash without warning.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the module and replace it if necessary. The recall began on february 18, 2008. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

See all 4 recalls for the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee →

2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
19 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.

2008 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
2006Caution651,280415
2007Caution601,108515
2008Good40733415
2009Good5138215
2010Best0118516

All Jeep Grand Cherokee years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee ranks #13 of 21 among Grand Cherokee model years (Complaint Index 40/100, verdict: Good). It has 733 complaints and 4 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (479 complaints), engine (166 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (77 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 75,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee, most recently reported 2014, covering electrical system and brakes.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
EPA rates the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee at 15 MPG combined (14 city / 19 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.