2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
On the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, the failure owners report most often is other electrical problem, with 15 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 80,000 miles. Overall it scores 62 out of 100, high risk for a 2021.
High risk for a 2021 — 216th riskiest of the 231 2021 vehicles we can rate. 128 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Owners have reported 41 named failure modes on the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and the three most-reported carry 31% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other electrical problem leads with 15 reports and about 0.3 per 1,000 vehicles.
Infotainment screen failure follows with 13 reports, median 20,000 miles.
Other powertrain problem follows with 12 reports.
By system, the reports fall mostly into adas (20), electrical (19) and transmission (15).
At what mileage it happens
15 of the reports on the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 80,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 27% by 50,000 miles, 67% by 100,000 miles and 80% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 70,000 and 80,000 miles, which alone holds 20% of the dated reports.
13% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 41. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 3 mention a crash and 1 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 3.58, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, infotainment screen failure at $400–$2,600, other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500 and other driver assistance problem at $250–$1,800. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
22% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 15 | 2 | — | 136k | — | 0.3 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 13 | 2 | — | 18k | — | 0.3 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 12 | 1 | — | 120k | — | 0.3 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Lane keep or steering assist fault | adas | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,600 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 5 | 1 | — | 78k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 4 | 2 | — | 41k | — | 0.1 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 3 | 1 | — | 70k | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 3 | 1 | — | 125k | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 152k | — | 0.0 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| Overheating | cooling | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| CVT failure | transmission | 2 | 1 | — | 89k | — | 0.0 | $3,000–$8,500 | Critical |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 93k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Parasitic battery drain | electrical | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Backup camera failure | infotainment | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Paint peeling or clear coat failure | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $600–$6,000 | Low |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| DPF, EGR or DEF system failure | emissions | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $800–$5,000 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other seat belt problem | airbag | 1 | 1 | — | 60k | — | 0.0 | $200–$900 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L draws about 2.7 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 80th percentile of complaint rates among 2021 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 46,911 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2021 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
Recalls on the 2021 model year
NHTSA has issued 4 recall campaigns covering the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, affecting an estimated 63,081 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover suspension:rear:springs:coil springs, back over prevention:display function and air bags:side/window. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
328,381 vehicles 2026-09-01- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Jeep Grand Cherokee 4XE vehicles. The rear coil springs may be incorrectly installed and detach from the vehicle while driving.
- Consequence
- Rear coil springs that detach from the vehicle while driving increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the rear coil spring lower isolators, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed September 29, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 89D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 9, 2026. This recall replaces NHTSA recall numbers 26V051 and 23V413. Vehicles already repaired…
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
80,620 vehicles 2026-01-29- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L and 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The rear coil springs may be incorrectly installed and detach from the vehicle while driving.
- Consequence
- Rear coil springs that detach from the vehicle while driving increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and repair the rear coil spring assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 12, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in March 2026. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 20D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 30, 2026. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 23V413. Vehicles already…
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
133 vehicles 2025-02-13- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. The center stack upper display (DCSD) contains a transistor that may overheat and prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Consequence
- A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers replaced the DCSD, free of charge. All affected vehicles have been repaired. Owner notification letters were mailed February 27, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 11C.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
14 vehicles 2024-11-27- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. An improperly secured connector for the front seat side air bags (SAB) may prevent the air bags from deploying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
- Consequence
- An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers secured the connector, free of charge. All affected vehicles have been remedied. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2024. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is B3B.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2021 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2021 compares with the other years
High risk for a 2021 — 216th riskiest of the 231 2021 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Across the 6 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2026 comes out best at 62 and 2024 worst at 75, with 2021 itself at 62.
No other year of this model scores meaningfully better than 2021, so if this generation is what you want, the year is not the lever.
Within the 2021–2026 generation specifically, 2026 is the strongest year at 62 and 2024 the weakest at 75.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2021-2026 generation, 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee L scores best at 62 and 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L worst at 75.
What this page cannot tell you
128 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 128 reports, 15 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 12% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L?
The most-reported failures are other electrical problem (15 reports, median 135,000 miles), infotainment screen failure (13 reports, median 20,000 miles) and other powertrain problem (12 reports). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
Is the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L reliable?
It scores 62 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 216th riskiest of the 231 2021 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2021 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is best?
Within the 2021–2026 generation, 2026 scores best at 62 out of 100 and 2024 worst at 75. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed