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2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
36% of relevant owner complaints on the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 59% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 69 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 31%).
Does the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee have transmission problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 152 of 418 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (36%), and the largest group is filed under power train (70). For comparison, the 2020 scores 42% and the 2022 scores 35%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other Jeep Grand Cherokee years
Of the 14 Jeep Grand Cherokee years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 7th-best on engine and transmission share (36%). The worst is the 2017 (58%), the best the 2018 (27%). By volume, the 2021 drew 487 complaints (152 drivetrain), against 239 for the 2020 and 444 for the 2022.
Jeep Grand Cherokee years to avoid and best years →
2010 Grand Cherokee problems · 2011 Grand Cherokee problems · 2012 Grand Cherokee problems · 2013 Grand Cherokee problems · 2014 Grand Cherokee problems · 2015 Grand Cherokee problems · 2016 Grand Cherokee problems · 2017 Grand Cherokee problems · 2018 Grand Cherokee problems · 2019 Grand Cherokee problems · 2020 Grand Cherokee problems · 2021 · 2022 Grand Cherokee problems · 2023 Grand Cherokee problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 152 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 16 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee WK, 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may stick open, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the EGR valve assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this…
15 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Does the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee have transmission problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 152 of 418 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (36%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee is electrical system: 141 of 487 complaints (29%) name it, followed by steering (119) and power train (70). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 36% of the relevant total.
Is the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 36% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 59% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Jeep Grand Cherokee years we score, it ranks 7th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 16 in total: 22V284000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (egr valve)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Jeep Grand Cherokee years are better?
Among the Jeep Grand Cherokee years we track, the 2018 (27%), the 2013 (30%) and the 2023 (31%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (36%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/jeep-grand-cherokee
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 4 body styles NHTSA files separately.