YearToAvoid

2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

5/100

#20 most-complained of 21 Grand Cherokee years

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

The 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 138 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 5 out of 100 — #20 highest of 21 Grand Cherokee model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is electrical system (50 complaints, 36% of the total). Complaints report 4 crashes and 1 injury.

Complaints
138
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
4 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
14 city / 19 hwy

Top 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems

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

  1. Electrical System50 (36%)
  2. Engine35 (25%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain23 (17%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires17 (12%)
  5. Other12 (9%)
  6. Airbags11 (8%)
  7. Steering11 (8%)
  8. Structure & Body10 (7%)
  9. Fuel System8 (6%)
  10. Brakes5 (4%)
2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee complaints: complaints filed per quarter182009 Q32011 Q42013 Q32015 Q12016 Q32018 Q22020 Q12023 Q3
184 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q3 to 2025 Q4; peak 2013 Q3 (18).

2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 09V118000Apr 9, 2009Airbags4,314 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    Chrysler is recalling 4,314 my 2009 dodge journey, jeep grand cherokee, commander and wrangler vehicles. Wiring may be reversed on the steering column control module driver airbag squib connector. The driver's airbag may not deploy as intended.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, the driver's airbag may not properly inflate and may not be able to properly protect an occupant, increasing the risk of injuries.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driver's airbag squib wires and replace the steering column control module free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2009. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

2009 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.

2009 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
2007Caution601,108515
2008Good40733415
2009Best5138215
2010Best0118516
2011Avoid901,640618

All Jeep Grand Cherokee years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee ranks #20 of 21 among Grand Cherokee model years (Complaint Index 5/100, verdict: Best). It has 138 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (50 complaints), engine (35 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (23 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 60,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee, most recently reported 2013, covering electrical system and airbags.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
EPA rates the 2009 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.