YearToAvoid

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Visibility & Wipers Problems

NHTSA lists 29 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2% of its 1,642 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 68,000. One fire and one injury are recorded, but no related recalls are tied to this component.

Visibility & Wipers complaints
29
2% of 1,642
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
68,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report

  • Sun visor wiring behind the headliner overheats and can catch fire, in one case forcing owners to rip out the visor, headliner, and wiring to stop it.
  • Windshields develop spontaneous cracks starting near the bottom center or rearview mirror area without any impact, sometimes within months of purchase.
  • Oversized side mirrors block the driver's view during tight turns and parking maneuvers, making it hard to see lane lines.
  • Automatic wiper blades activate on their own when no rain or moisture is present.
  • Leather dashboard trim separates and shrinks, partially blocking defroster vents and raising airbag deployment concerns.
  • Windshield wiper motor fails at the same time as other electrical systems, including failure to shift out of park.

When 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee visibility and wiper complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 8, 2013, latest Aug 23, 2023.

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee visibility & wipers complaints: complaints filed per month2Jan 2013Nov 2014Dec 2015Aug 2016Aug 2017Feb 2019Nov 2020
29 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2013 to Aug 2023; peak Jan 2016 (2).

Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Visibility & Wipers complaints by Grand Cherokee model year

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

  1. 20103 (3%)
  2. 201132 (2%)
  3. 201229 (2%)
  4. 201315 (2%)
  5. 201444 (2%)
  6. 201513 (1%)
  7. 20164 (1%)
  8. 20175 (1%)
  9. 201815 (2%)
  10. 20195 (1%)
  11. 20205 (2%)
  12. 20218 (2%)
  13. 20225 (2%)
  14. 20238 (2%)
  15. 20243 (1%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many visibility and wiper complaints does the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
NHTSA lists 29 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2012 model year, which is 2% of its 1,642 total complaints.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee's visibility or wiper system?
No related recalls are listed for this component in NHTSA data, though owners mention separate recalls for sun visor wiring and brake booster corrosion in their complaints.
At what mileage do visibility and wiper problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure for Visibility & Wipers complaints on the 2012 Grand Cherokee is 68,000 miles.
Were there any fires or injuries linked to this problem area?
NHTSA records one fire and one injury among the 29 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2012 Grand Cherokee, tied to a sun visor wiring incident.
How does the 2012 Grand Cherokee compare to other years for this issue?
The 2012 model's 29 complaints and 2% share are similar to 2011 (32 complaints, 2%) and 2013 (15 complaints, 2%), while 2014 had the most at 44 complaints.

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.