2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
80/100
#4 most-complained of 16 Grand Cherokee years
NHTSA lists 1,640 complaints, 6 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 80 for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, ranking it 4th worst out of 16 model years. Electrical System issues dominate at 49% of complaints, including 51 fires, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other Grand Cherokee years.
- Complaints
- 1,640
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes / fires
- 53 / 61
- Injuries / deaths
- 47 / 2
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 18
- 16 city / 22 hwy
Top 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System796 (49%)
- Engine387 (24%)
- Brakes347 (21%)
- Fuel System283 (17%)
- Other141 (9%)
- Transmission & Powertrain90 (5%)
- Steering86 (5%)
- Airbags60 (4%)
- Structure & Body59 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires44 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners describe the sun visor wiring melting and smoking, sometimes with a burning smell, near the sun visor bracket.
- Some report the fuel pump relay inside the TIPM failing, causing the engine to stall or the vehicle to lose power while driving.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in moderate-speed collisions, including one crash at approximately 35 mph.
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration at different speeds, in one case leading to a minor accident while backing out of a parking space.
- Some report engine compartment fires starting near the driver's side front, in one case after all exterior lights activated unexpectedly.
- A steering failure was reported as a sudden loud popping sound followed by loss of control and a wall impact in a parking garage.
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 1,640 complaints and a Complaint Index of 80, ranking it 4th worst among 16 model years of the Grand Cherokee, so it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other years.
- What is the biggest problem area for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
- Electrical System complaints make up 49% of all reports (796 complaints), including 51 fires, at a median mileage of 62,250 miles.
- Does the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 6 recalls covering the Electrical System and Brakes, including a fuel pump relay wiring issue and a brake booster water shield fix. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2011 model compare to other Grand Cherokee years?
- The 2011 model (Complaint Index 80) ranks worse than the 2010 (0), 2016 (7), and 2017 (13) model years, but better than the 2014 model year, which has the highest index at 100.
- Are there engine fire reports for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
- Yes, NHTSA records include Engine complaints with fires reported, one describing flames starting under the driver's side front around 43,000 miles.