YearToAvoid

2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee ranks 14th out of 21 model years with a complaint index of 35 and a Good verdict. It has 238 complaints, 3 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, with electrical system issues topping the list.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
35/100
#14 of 21 Grand Cherokee years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
238
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
3
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
24
reported in complaints
Fires
5
Injuries
13
Top issue
Electrical System
Best nearby year
2017
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
17
14 city / 22 hwy
Injuries / deaths
13 / 0

Top 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems

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

  1. Electrical System74 (31%)
  2. Engine69 (29%)
  3. Other65 (27%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain39 (16%)
  5. Fuel System21 (9%)
  6. Airbags17 (7%)
  7. Collision Avoidance & Cameras17 (7%)
  8. Brakes13 (5%)
  9. Steering13 (5%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (4%)

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

What owners report

  • Some owners describe the vehicle accelerating unexpectedly during low-speed maneuvers like parking or backing up, with brakes failing to stop it.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in front and side-impact collisions, including a head-on crash.
  • Brake pedals were described as unresponsive or locking up one wheel during panic stops, pulling the steering wheel to one side.
  • Owners reported the engine stalling at a stop with a burning smell and smoke, along with a separate report of the vehicle catching fire while parked.
  • One driver reported the accelerator pedal traveled to the floor while turning at low speed, resulting in a rear-end collision.
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee complaints: complaints filed per quarter262019 Q42020 Q42021 Q42022 Q42023 Q42024 Q42025 Q4
238 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q2 (26).

2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V411000Jun 8, 2023Engine80,629 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L Diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.

    Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 3, 2023. Some owner notification letters were mailed October 31, 2023. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated July 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 66A. This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-475.

  2. NHTSA 22V406000Jun 9, 2022Fuel System138,645 vehicles

    Fuel system, diesel:delivery:fuel pump

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2014-2019 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. A high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation.

    Risk: Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the HPFP, and inspect and replace, if necessary, additional fuel system components, free of charge. Interim notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed July 21, 2022. Owner notification letters for were mailed for Jeep Grand Cherokee owners starting January 11, 2024. Owner notification letters for Ram 1500 owners were mailed March 7, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLS's number for this recall is Z46.

  3. NHTSA 20V191000Sep 10, 2020Collision Avoidance & Cameras319,610 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 8.4" or 12" radio displays. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

    Risk: The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W30-W37.

2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
22 MPG
Combined
17 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,350
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.

2020 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
2018Avoid758531021
2019Good30367719
2020Good35238317
2021Caution554031217
2022Caution152601321

All Jeep Grand Cherokee years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 Grand Cherokee has a Good verdict with a complaint index of 35, ranking 14th out of 21 model years. It has fewer reported problems than many other Grand Cherokee years.
What are the most common complaints for the 2020 Grand Cherokee?
Electrical system issues lead with 74 complaints (31% share), followed by engine problems with 69 complaints (29%) and transmission and powertrain issues with 39 complaints (16%).
Does the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2020 Grand Cherokee, covering the engine crankshaft sensor, the diesel fuel system high pressure pump, and a radio display software update. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2020 model compare to the worst Grand Cherokee years?
The 2020 model's complaint index of 35 is far below the worst years, such as 2014 (index 100, Avoid) and 2012 (index 90, Avoid), placing it among the better years for this model.
What is the median mileage when problems occurred in the 2020 Grand Cherokee?
Across all reported issues, the median mileage at failure was 13,100 miles, though transmission complaints showed a lower median of 3,900 miles.

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.