YearToAvoid

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 90 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 5% of its 1,640 total complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 64,081. Six crashes and one fire are tied to this component, and there are no related recalls on file.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
90
5% of 1,640
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
64,081 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Vehicles reportedly rolled away or shifted into reverse unexpectedly after being placed in park, in some cases striking objects or people.
  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration, including at low speeds while parking or backing up, sometimes leading to crashes.
  • Some drivers report the transmission would not engage in drive or reverse at low speed despite pressing the accelerator, requiring a restart.
  • Reports of violent shaking or shuddering during acceleration or kick-down shifting at highway speeds, described as a loss of power with no warning.
  • One owner reported the four-wheel-drive system unexpectedly engaging low range with a clunk and dashboard warning lights, causing loss of traction control.
  • A transmission overheating incident was reported that led to a vehicle fire after off-road use.

When 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 8, 2010, latest Oct 11, 2025.

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per quarter62010 Q42012 Q42014 Q42016 Q32018 Q12019 Q32021 Q12025 Q4
90 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q4 to 2025 Q4; peak 2018 Q4 (6).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Grand Cherokee model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201022 (19%)
  2. 201190 (5%)
  3. 2012102 (6%)
  4. 201355 (7%)
  5. 2014474 (20%)
  6. 2015351 (26%)
  7. 201678 (25%)
  8. 201788 (24%)
  9. 201875 (9%)
  10. 201945 (12%)
  11. 202039 (16%)
  12. 202158 (14%)
  13. 202236 (14%)
  14. 202338 (10%)
  15. 202428 (12%)
  16. 202511 (15%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems in the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA lists 90 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2011 model year, making up 5% of the 1,640 total complaints filed for that year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission?
No. NHTSA's data shows no related recalls listed for this component on the 2011 Grand Cherokee.
At what mileage do transmission issues typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this component is 64,081 miles.
Have transmission-related complaints led to crashes?
Yes, NHTSA records 6 crashes and 1 fire linked to Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2011 Grand Cherokee, with 1 injury reported.
Are transmission complaints worse in other Grand Cherokee years?
Complaint share for this component peaked in 2015 at 26% and 2014 at 20%, both higher than the 5% seen in 2011, according to NHTSA data.

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.