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2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Grand Cherokee years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee are substantially higher than the model-year median of 726.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

1,363 reports with mileage · 688 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 927 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 405 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 253 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

82 crash reports24 fire reports50 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

927 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2020
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

THE JEEP HAS STARTING PROMBLES IT WILL RUN AND START FINE THEN THE NEXT IT DOSE NOT WANT TO START. SO I COULD JUST RUN IN THE STORE AND COME OUT AND IT WON'T START AND I HAVE TO SIT A HOUR OR TWO AND THEN IT STARTS AGINE. IT DOSE THIS AFTER RUNNING TO THREE PLACES IT WILL STALL AGINE ON ME AND WON'T START. I HAVE BRAND NEW START…

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THE JEEP HAS STARTING PROMBLES IT WILL RUN AND START FINE THEN THE NEXT IT DOSE NOT WANT TO START. SO I COULD JUST RUN IN THE STORE AND COME OUT AND IT WON'T START AND I HAVE TO SIT A HOUR OR TWO AND THEN IT STARTS AGINE. IT DOSE THIS AFTER RUNNING TO THREE PLACES IT WILL STALL AGINE ON ME AND WON'T START. I HAVE BRAND NEW STARTER IN IT AND BATTERY. HAD THE ALTERNATOR CHECKED AND ITS FINE AND ALSO THERE WAS RECALL ON INGINTION SWITCH AND THAT GOT REPLACED BUT STILL HAVING PROMBLES WITH IT STARTING.

NHTSA ODI #11320848

138,000 miles · Dec 2, 2019
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SCREEN TURNED BLANK INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE SPECIFICS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ODI #11286475

175,000 miles · Oct 25, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING, WHILE IN PARK, AND JUST AFTER STARTUP, ALL DASHBOARD GAUGES, LIGHTS, AND POWER GOES OUT, HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF, BUT THE ENGINE STILL RUNS. I CANNOT SEE WHAT IS IN FRONT OF ME AT NIGHT, I CANNOT TELL MY SPEED, I CANNOT SEE MY FUEL LEVEL, ETC. THE OUTAGE LASTS FROM 2-30 SECONDS BEFORE EVERY SINGLE WARN…

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AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING, WHILE IN PARK, AND JUST AFTER STARTUP, ALL DASHBOARD GAUGES, LIGHTS, AND POWER GOES OUT, HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF, BUT THE ENGINE STILL RUNS. I CANNOT SEE WHAT IS IN FRONT OF ME AT NIGHT, I CANNOT TELL MY SPEED, I CANNOT SEE MY FUEL LEVEL, ETC. THE OUTAGE LASTS FROM 2-30 SECONDS BEFORE EVERY SINGLE WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE FOR A FEW SECONDS, OR FLICKER ON AND OFF, AND THEN RETURN TO NORMAL. I REPLACED THE IGNITION 2 YEARS AGO FROM A PREVIOUS RECALL NOTICE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN, IT COULD HAPPEN AT NIGHT ON A HEAVILY TRAFFICKED STREET AND I LOSE ALL POWER AND LIGHTS!

NHTSA ODI #11270987

215,904 miles · Oct 20, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

MY CAR JUST STOP ONE DAY I PUT IN NEW STUFF AND IT JUST WON'T CRANK ANYMORE IT'S LIKE IT DON'T WANNA GET GAS THE SYSTEM AND COMPUTER IN CAR DON'T WORK

NHTSA ODI #11269768

100,992 miles · Oct 11, 2019
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET LAST NIGHT, ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIGHT UP AND THEN GO OFF AND MY GAUGES DON'T WORK, MY HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK, NOTHING WORKS IN THE INTERIOR. VEHICLE STILL RUNS, BUT ELECTRICAL STUFF DOESN'T WORK. COULD NOT USE A TURN SIGNAL TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC AND OFF THE ROAD AND IT WAS…

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WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET LAST NIGHT, ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIGHT UP AND THEN GO OFF AND MY GAUGES DON'T WORK, MY HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK, NOTHING WORKS IN THE INTERIOR. VEHICLE STILL RUNS, BUT ELECTRICAL STUFF DOESN'T WORK. COULD NOT USE A TURN SIGNAL TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC AND OFF THE ROAD AND IT WAS DARK. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE AND I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE ANY DISTANCE OR TRIP. I TRY TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND TURN THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS, TURN IT BACK ON AND THINGS GO BACK TO NORMAL EXCEPT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT MAY OR MAY NOT STAY ON FOR A DAY OR SO AND THEN IT WILL GO OFF. SO INTERMITTENT AND HAPPENS SO SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THIS WILL ALSO HAPPEN SOMETIMES WHEN I START THE VEHICLE AFTER IT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A WHILE.

NHTSA ODI #11267839

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE HEADLIGHTS CEASED TO FUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11244527

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2019
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY STARTED. TOOK THE JEEP TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE PART THAT IS NEEDED WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER. PART IS CALLED SKIM MODULE. PART IS VIN SPECIFIC. IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE? I USE THIS VEHICLE FOR WORK AND CANNOT BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR CHRYSLE…

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THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY STARTED. TOOK THE JEEP TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE PART THAT IS NEEDED WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER. PART IS CALLED SKIM MODULE. PART IS VIN SPECIFIC. IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE? I USE THIS VEHICLE FOR WORK AND CANNOT BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR CHRYSLER CANNOT REPAIR MY VEHICLE DUE TO A PART AVAILABILITY AND LENGTH OF TIME. I HAVING PURCHASING CHRYSLER PRODUCTS FOR 30 YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #11234751

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2019
Electrical SystemPower Train

TAKATA RECALL. MY JEEP RANDOMLY AND FREQUENTLY LOSES CONNECTION WITH THE ELECTRONIC SHIFT MODULE, WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT GETS STUCK IN RANDOM GEARS AND IT WILL NOT MOVE FAST (SAFELY) WHEN I ACCELERATE UNLESS THE CAR IS RESTARTED BUT THEN IT'LL HAPPEN AGAIN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I STOP, AND SOMETI…

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TAKATA RECALL. MY JEEP RANDOMLY AND FREQUENTLY LOSES CONNECTION WITH THE ELECTRONIC SHIFT MODULE, WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT GETS STUCK IN RANDOM GEARS AND IT WILL NOT MOVE FAST (SAFELY) WHEN I ACCELERATE UNLESS THE CAR IS RESTARTED BUT THEN IT'LL HAPPEN AGAIN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I STOP, AND SOMETIMES HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 05-10 MODEL YEARS THAT JEEP HAS SWEPT UNDER THE RUG AND IGNORED FOR YEARS. IT HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY CARS TRANSMISSION AND HAS MADE ME FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11232578

127,000 miles · Jul 8, 2019
Electrical SystemPower Train

WHEN DRIVING OR SITTING STATIONARY ALL LIGHTS AND GAUGES GO OUT ON THE DASH BOARD. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL PERFORMED. VEHICLE STILL RANDOMLY HAS THE SAME ISSUE. FM RADIO VERY BAD RECEPTION. NUMEROUS POSTINGS ON INTERNET ABOUT BOTH OF THESE ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #11230046

162,000 miles · Jun 27, 2019
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC 70+ MPH THE IGNITION SHUT DOWN, CAME BACK ON, AND BACK OFF AGAIN.. AFTER I WIGGLED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BEFORE IT CAME BACK ON... CAUSED SWAY BRAKE PROTECT TO FAIL.. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS..

NHTSA ODI #11223076

Official recalls

3

14V438000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Jul 21, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, drivers should adjust their seat to allow clearance between the driver's knee and the ignition key, and remove all items from their key ring, leaving only the vehicle key. Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to July 5, 2007, and 2006-2007 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, to July 5, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Chrysler sent interim notifications to owners in September 2014. The recall began on October 9, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P41.

13V175000 · Electrical System; Power Train:transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive)

May 7, 2013

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer case electrical failure may result in an unintentional shifting of the transfer case into the neutral position.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the final drive controller which governs the transfer case, with new software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N23.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer case electrical failure may result in an unintentional shifting of the transfer case into the neutral position.

Consequence: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the final drive controller which governs the transfer case, with new software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N23.

Power Train:transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive)

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer case electrical failure may result in an unintentional shifting of the transfer case into the neutral position.

Consequence: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the final drive controller which governs the transfer case, with new software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N23.

05V396000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Sep 14, 2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.7L ENGINES AND NAG1 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR CONDENSATE WATER MAY ENTER THE TRANSMISSION AT THE FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL. THIS CAN RESULT IN SHUDDER DURING TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IT CAN LEAD TO INCREASED TRANSMISSION OPERATING TEMPERATURES, BOILING OF THE WATER, AND A SUBSEQUENT PURGING OF TRANSMISSION FLUID INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION FOR LEAKAGE AT THE FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL. IF NO LEAK IS DETECTED, A NEW FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL AND WATER DEFLECTOR SHIELD WILL BE INSTALLED, AND PROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE FILL TUBE VERIFIED. IF THE PRESENCE OF A LEAK IS DETECTED, THE VEHICLE WILL BE EVALUATED FOR SHUDDER DURING TORQUE CONVERTER ENGAGEMENT. IF NO SHUDDER IS DETECTED, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE TRIPLE FLUSHED, AND NEW FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL AND WATER DEFLECTOR WILL BE INSTALLED AND PROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE FILL TUBE VERIFIED. IF SHUDDER IS DETECTED, THE TORQUE CONVERTER WILL BE REPLACED, A NEW FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL AND WATER DEFLECTOR WILL BE INSTALLED, AND PROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE FILL TUBE VERIFIED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE14017 · Air Bag Non-deployment

Opened Jun 16, 2014 · Closed Dec 23, 2014

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:ignition; Electrical System:ignition:module; Electrical System:ignition:switch

Chrysler is conducting a safety recall of approximately 643,618 model year 2006-2007 Jeep Commander and model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles to address the problem of ignition turning off while driving (see NHTSA recall 14V-438 for more information).According to Chrysler, these vehicles may experience an unintended change in ignition switch position while driving, which may result in loss of engine power, power steering, and braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash and disabling one or more of the vehicle's safety features including the frontal air bags.Most of the reported incidents occurred as a result of driver interaction with the ignition key.Based on the recall action taken by Chrysler, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed.Additionalinformation on this closing resume, and the investigation are in the PE14-017 public file available online at SaferCar.gov.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10101116 10103300 10106060 10112589 10116788 10126986 10128093 10130780 10145501 10146213 10153018 10155291 10156396 10158165 10162933 10166746 10178559 10183305 10186545 10189530 10192237 10193106 10194092 10199552 10199986 10221500 10222283 10227253 10231011 10328609 10358324 10392364 10577532 10585326 10585976 10599142 10604990 10605091 10605209 10606494 10606610 10607043 10607614 10607785 10608196 10615565 10615671 10615761 10616124 10633266 10633313 10633724 10639371 10640010 10644827 10652526 10653000 10653382 10654009 10654139 10654809 10655095 10659448 10662220 10662703

Additional source detail variants (3)

Electrical System:ignition

Chrysler is conducting a safety recall of approximately 643,618 model year 2006-2007 Jeep Commander and model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles to address the problem of ignition turning off while driving (see NHTSA recall 14V-438 for more information).According to Chrysler, these vehicles may experience an unintended change in ignition switch position while driving, which may result in loss of engine power, power steering, and braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash and disabling one or more of the vehicle's safety features including the frontal air bags.Most of the reported incidents occurred as a result of driver interaction with the ignition key.Based on the recall action taken by Chrysler, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed.Additionalinformation on this closing resume, and the investigation are in the PE14-017 public file available online at SaferCar.gov.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10101116 10103300 10106060 10112589 10116788 10126986 10128093 10130780 10145501 10146213 10153018 10155291 10156396 10158165 10162933 10166746 10178559 10183305 10186545 10189530 10192237 10193106 10194092 10199552 10199986 10221500 10222283 10227253 10231011 10328609 10358324 10392364 10577532 10585326 10585976 10599142 10604990 10605091 10605209 10606494 10606610 10607043 10607614 10607785 10608196 10615565 10615671 10615761 10616124 10633266 10633313 10633724 10639371 10640010 10644827 10652526 10653000 10653382 10654009 10654139 10654809 10655095 10659448 10662220 10662703

Electrical System:ignition:module

Chrysler is conducting a safety recall of approximately 643,618 model year 2006-2007 Jeep Commander and model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles to address the problem of ignition turning off while driving (see NHTSA recall 14V-438 for more information).According to Chrysler, these vehicles may experience an unintended change in ignition switch position while driving, which may result in loss of engine power, power steering, and braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash and disabling one or more of the vehicle's safety features including the frontal air bags.Most of the reported incidents occurred as a result of driver interaction with the ignition key.Based on the recall action taken by Chrysler, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed.Additionalinformation on this closing resume, and the investigation are in the PE14-017 public file available online at SaferCar.gov.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10101116 10103300 10106060 10112589 10116788 10126986 10128093 10130780 10145501 10146213 10153018 10155291 10156396 10158165 10162933 10166746 10178559 10183305 10186545 10189530 10192237 10193106 10194092 10199552 10199986 10221500 10222283 10227253 10231011 10328609 10358324 10392364 10577532 10585326 10585976 10599142 10604990 10605091 10605209 10606494 10606610 10607043 10607614 10607785 10608196 10615565 10615671 10615761 10616124 10633266 10633313 10633724 10639371 10640010 10644827 10652526 10653000 10653382 10654009 10654139 10654809 10655095 10659448 10662220 10662703

Electrical System:ignition:switch

Chrysler is conducting a safety recall of approximately 643,618 model year 2006-2007 Jeep Commander and model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles to address the problem of ignition turning off while driving (see NHTSA recall 14V-438 for more information).According to Chrysler, these vehicles may experience an unintended change in ignition switch position while driving, which may result in loss of engine power, power steering, and braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash and disabling one or more of the vehicle's safety features including the frontal air bags.Most of the reported incidents occurred as a result of driver interaction with the ignition key.Based on the recall action taken by Chrysler, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed.Additionalinformation on this closing resume, and the investigation are in the PE14-017 public file available online at SaferCar.gov.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10101116 10103300 10106060 10112589 10116788 10126986 10128093 10130780 10145501 10146213 10153018 10155291 10156396 10158165 10162933 10166746 10178559 10183305 10186545 10189530 10192237 10193106 10194092 10199552 10199986 10221500 10222283 10227253 10231011 10328609 10358324 10392364 10577532 10585326 10585976 10599142 10604990 10605091 10605209 10606494 10606610 10607043 10607614 10607785 10608196 10615565 10615671 10615761 10616124 10633266 10633313 10633724 10639371 10640010 10644827 10652526 10653000 10653382 10654009 10654139 10654809 10655095 10659448 10662220 10662703

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