YearToAvoid

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a complaint index of 85, ranking 4th worst out of 21 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict. Electrical System complaints dominate at 49% of all reports, tied to six recall campaigns, mostly involving the TIPM and fuel pump relay.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
85/100
#4 of 21 Grand Cherokee years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
1,640
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
6
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
53
reported in complaints
Fires
61
Injuries
47
Top issue
Electrical System
Best nearby year
2010
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
18
16 city / 22 hwy
Injuries / deaths
47 / 2

Top 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System796 (49%)
  2. Engine387 (24%)
  3. Brakes347 (21%)
  4. Fuel System283 (17%)
  5. Other141 (9%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain90 (5%)
  7. Steering86 (5%)
  8. Airbags60 (4%)
  9. Structure & Body59 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires44 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Sun visor wiring smokes or overheats near the driver's seat, sometimes producing a burning smell.
  • The TIPM (fuse module) fails or a fuse inside it explodes, causing the vehicle to lose power while driving.
  • Vehicles catch fire near the front driver's side, in one case after warning lights and a blinker indicator activated.
  • Airbags fail to deploy in moderate-to-high-speed collisions, including one impact around 40 mph.
  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration at different speeds, in one case causing a low-speed parking lot collision.
  • Steering suddenly locks up or the vehicle jolts to one side, sometimes with a loud popping sound.
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee complaints: complaints filed per quarter1972010 Q32012 Q32014 Q32016 Q32018 Q32020 Q32022 Q32024 Q3
1,640 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2014 Q4 (197).

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V813000Nov 14, 2019Electrical System528,594 vehicles

    Electrical system

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with a 3.6, 5.7, or 6.4 liter engine and previously recalled under NHTSA Recall 14V530 or 15V115. The fuel pump relay inside the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM-7) may fail, causing the vehicle to stall without warning.

    Risk: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) will replace the affected fuel pump relay and related wire harness. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed beginning December 19, 2019. Vehicles that experience a fuel pump failure will receive an interim repair. Owners will receive a second notice when the final remedy becomes available. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V62.

  2. NHTSA 17V572000Sep 18, 2017Brakes646,394 vehicles

    Service brakes

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles had brake booster shields installed under a previous campaign to prevent water from entering the brake booster and limiting braking ability. This recall is to verify that the brake booster shield installation was performed properly.

    Risk: If the brake booster shield was not installed properly, the vehicle's braking ability may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake booster shield, correcting the installation as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November10, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T59.

  3. NHTSA 15V879000Dec 28, 2015Electrical System389,252 vehicles

    Interior lighting

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured December 3, 2009, to September 1, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the wiring for the vanity lamp in the sun visor may short circuit, after having been remedied for a prior recall for the vanity lamp wiring. This recall is also addressing certain vehicles that have not been remedied under that prior recall.

    Risk: The vanity lamp wiring may short, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealer will install clearance for sun visor wiring, protection from sharp edges, and replace the sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R71.

See all 6 recalls for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee →

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
22 MPG
Combined
18 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,600
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.

2011 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
2009Good5138215
2010Best0118516
2011Avoid851,640618
2012Avoid901,6421016
2013Caution50802916

All Jeep Grand Cherokee years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 model ranks 4th worst among 21 model years with a complaint index of 85 and an Avoid verdict. Electrical System problems make up 49% of complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The Electrical System is the top problem area, with 796 complaints (49% of the total), 51 fires, and a median failure mileage of 62,250 miles.
Does the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee have recalls?
NHTSA lists six recall campaigns for the 2011 model year, most involving the Electrical System (TIPM wiring, sun visor wiring, fuel pump relay) and two involving the brake booster shield.
How does the 2011 Grand Cherokee compare to other years?
It ranks worse than most other years, with a complaint index of 85 versus 0 for the 2010 model (rated Best) and 100 for the 2014 model, the worst year in the lineup.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
EPA rates the 2011 Grand Cherokee at 18 mpg combined (16 city / 22 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,600.

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.