Jeep Grand Cherokee 1999–2004
2nd generation (WJ)
NHTSA data through 13 August 20269,535 complaints, 5,053 with mileageMethod
- Reports with mileage
- 5,053
- Median of reported failures
- 75,000 mi
- Most-reported system
- Hydraulic brake circuit (19.0%)
- Recalls
- 3
Before-you-buy checklist ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 42,000 and 115,000 miles.
Figure 1 · Jeep Grand Cherokee 1999–2004 · 5,053 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 248 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 137 complaints (2.7%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 14,591
- 25%
- 42,000
- Median
- 75,000
- 75%
- 115,000
- 90%
- 157,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 143 | 2.8% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 158 | 3.1% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 212 | 4.2% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 139 | 2.8% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 116 | 2.3% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 136 | 2.7% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 128 | 2.5% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 138 | 2.7% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 186 | 3.7% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 154 | 3.0% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 248 | 4.9% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 213 | 4.2% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 218 | 4.3% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 154 | 3.0% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 170 | 3.4% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 179 | 3.5% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 192 | 3.8% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 154 | 3.0% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 173 | 3.4% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 133 | 2.6% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 212 | 4.2% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 104 | 2.1% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 116 | 2.3% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 88 | 1.7% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 143 | 2.8% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 81 | 1.6% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 111 | 2.2% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 89 | 1.8% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 88 | 1.7% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 57 | 1.1% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 83 | 1.6% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 56 | 1.1% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 79 | 1.6% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 44 | 0.9% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 45 | 0.9% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 32 | 0.6% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 48 | 0.9% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 38 | 0.8% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 34 | 0.7% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 24 | 0.5% |
| 200,000+ | 137 | 2.7% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 9,535 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999–2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 5,053 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 42,000 and 115,000 miles. The median is 75,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the hydraulic brake circuit (19.0% of complaints, typically around 20,000 miles), visibility equipment (13.5% of complaints, typically around 68,000 miles), the airbag system (13.0% of complaints, typically around 120,000 miles).
3 recall campaigns cover this generation.
If you arrived asking “is it reliable?” — this page answers the version of that question the data can support: which problems owners reported, and at what mileage.
How many miles does a 1999–2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee last?
Half of the failure reports on the 1999–2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee were filed by 75,000 miles and 90% by 157,000 miles — figures drawn from 5,053 NHTSA complaints that record an odometer reading, so they time reported failures, not the cars whose owners never filed one.
137 reports (2.7%) came in past 200,000 miles — each one proof a Grand Cherokee reached that mileage, not that it died there.
Before you buy a 1999–2004 Grand Cherokee: the 3-minute check
Generated from 5,053 mileage-tagged complaints, 3 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 3 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine (4.7l v8) on 1999–2004 cars. Head gasket failure and cracked cylinder heads following overheating; the 4.7L PowerTech has narrow coolant passages and is intolerant of low coolant. Sludge accumulation with extended oil-change intervals damages the…
- Check body electrical on 1999–2004 cars. Window regulator and door-lock actuator failures; HVAC blend-door actuator failures causing stuck-temperature complaints.
- Check transmission on 1999–2004 cars. 45RFE/545RFE solenoid pack and torque-converter complaints producing harsh or delayed engagement.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 42,000 and 115,000 miles, with a median of 75,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the hydraulic brake circuit and visibility equipment are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The hydraulic brake circuit in particular shows a median failure mileage of 20,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
What fails, and when
Figure 2 · Jeep Grand Cherokee 1999–2004
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Hydraulic brake circuit1,812 reports20,00012,000–44,000Hydraulic brake circuit: 1,812 reports, median 20,000 miles, middle half 12,000 to 44,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline897 reports57,00026,000–89,000Transmission and driveline: 897 reports, median 57,000 miles, middle half 26,000 to 89,000 miles.
- Visibility equipment1,288 reports68,00050,000–90,000Visibility equipment: 1,288 reports, median 68,000 miles, middle half 50,000 to 90,000 miles.
- Engine and its cooling system619 reports78,00052,000–100,000Engine and its cooling system: 619 reports, median 78,000 miles, middle half 52,000 to 100,000 miles.
- Electrical system546 reports97,00055,000–136,000Electrical system: 546 reports, median 97,000 miles, middle half 55,000 to 136,000 miles.
- Seats712 reports100,00073,000–133,000Seats: 712 reports, median 100,000 miles, middle half 73,000 to 133,000 miles.
- Airbag system1,243 reports120,00083,000–155,000Airbag system: 1,243 reports, median 120,000 miles, middle half 83,000 to 155,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 1,812 | 19.0% | 20,000 | 12,000–44,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 1,288 | 13.5% | 68,000 | 50,000–90,000 |
| Airbag system | 1,243 | 13.0% | 120,000 | 83,000–155,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 897 | 9.4% | 57,000 | 26,000–89,000 |
| Seats | 712 | 7.5% | 100,000 | 73,000–133,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 619 | 6.5% | 78,000 | 52,000–100,000 |
| Electrical system | 546 | 5.7% | 97,000 | 55,000–136,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 295 | 3.1% | 60,000 | 34,000–113,000 |
| Steering | 287 | 3.0% | 76,000 | 43,000–129,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 209 | 2.2% | 88,000 | 56,000–127,000 |
Where your car sits
Failure reports by the odometer reading they were filed at. Pick the anchor nearest your car — or type the exact mileage: your marker lands on this curve and on the timing chart above.
Figure 3 · Jeep Grand Cherokee 1999–2004 · 5,053 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 39% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 60% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 76% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it below
The staircase tops out at 97%: the remaining 2.7% of reports (137) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
At 60,000 miles
39% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Hydraulic brake circuit — median 20,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Visibility equipment — middle half 50,000–90,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 26,000–89,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system — middle half 52,000–100,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 55,000–136,000 mi
Mostly reported later
- Airbag system — middle half 83,000–155,000 mi
- Seats — middle half 73,000–133,000 mi
At 90,000 miles
60% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Hydraulic brake circuit — median 20,000 mi
- Visibility equipment — median 68,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 57,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Airbag system — middle half 83,000–155,000 mi
- Seats — middle half 73,000–133,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system — middle half 52,000–100,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 55,000–136,000 mi
At 120,000 miles
76% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Hydraulic brake circuit — median 20,000 mi
- Visibility equipment — median 68,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 57,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system — median 78,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Airbag system — middle half 83,000–155,000 mi
- Seats — middle half 73,000–133,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 55,000–136,000 mi
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 75,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 19.0% of complaints (1,812 reports, 717 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 20,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,000 and 44,000 miles.
Visibility equipment accounts for 13.5% of complaints (1,288 reports, 961 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 90,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 13.0% of complaints (1,243 reports, 457 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 120,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 83,000 and 155,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 9.4% of complaints (897 reports, 239 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 57,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 26,000 and 89,000 miles.
Seats account for 7.5% of complaints (712 reports, 566 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 100,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 73,000 and 133,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 6.5% of complaints (619 reports, 392 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 78,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,000 and 100,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 1999 model year drew the most — 2,319 complaints — while 2003 drew the fewest at 890. The median year sits at 1,671.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 3 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (3). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 9,535 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 691 (7.2%)
- Fires
- 139
- Injury reports
- 439
- Fatality reports
- 15
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Documented problems
Engine (4.7l V8) 1999–2004
Head gasket failure and cracked cylinder heads following overheating; the 4.7L PowerTech has narrow coolant passages and is intolerant of low coolant. Sludge accumulation with extended oil-change intervals damages the rocker/valvetrain.
Body Electrical 1999–2004
Window regulator and door-lock actuator failures; HVAC blend-door actuator failures causing stuck-temperature complaints.
Transmission 1999–2004
45RFE/545RFE solenoid pack and torque-converter complaints producing harsh or delayed engagement.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 2,319 | 693 |
| 2000 | 1,855 | 948 |
| 2001 | 1,128 | 685 |
| 2002 | 1,771 | 1,123 |
| 2003 | 890 | 574 |
| 2004 | 1,572 | 1,030 |
Recalls (3) — is your car included?
May 2016 · 2004 · Air BagsInadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
The defect. Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured March 29, 2003, to July 3, 2003, and 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured May 27, 2003, to May 20, 2004. Due to electrical noise beyond the tolerance of the air bag electronic control module (ECM), a component in the ECM may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
What can happen. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
The free fix. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag electronic control module and the side impact sensors, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R60.
Dec 2015 · 2002–2004 · Air BagsInadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
The defect. Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, to March 28, 2003, 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, to May 23 2003, and 2003-2004 Dodge Viper vehicles manufactured November 1, 2001, to June 30, 2004. Due to electrical noise beyond the tolerance of the air bag electronic control module (ECM), a component in the ECM may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
What can happen. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
The free fix. Chrysler dealers will replace the air bag control module and side impact sensors as required, free of charge. This recall remedy was applied during earlier recall campaigns of these vehicles under safety recalls 12V527 and 13V040. All owners that have not had the recall repair performed under safety recalls 12V527 or 13V040 are strongly encouraged to have it performed and not wait for the final remedy to be deployed to the field. The recall began on December 29, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R06.
Sep 2013 · 2002–2004 · Air BagsInadvertent deployment of the airbags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
The defect. Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, through March 28, 2003, and 2002 through 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, through May 23, 2003. A component in the air bag control module may fail causing the front airbags, side curtain airbags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
What can happen. Inadvertent deployment of the airbags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
The free fix. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a supplemental jumper harness to the airbag control module, free of charge. Owners were notified of the recall by interim letter in January 2013. The remedy for affected Liberty vehicles is expected to be available in April 2013. The remedy for affected Grand Cherokee vehicles is expected to be available later in the year. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.
What owners reported
I know you don't care and will do nothing to remedy this safety defect, but just so i can say that i told you. The brake rotors for the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee laredo are no good and warp within 3 to 6,000 miles. The operators as well as other drivers are put in danger when the vehicle goes out of control as the…
1999 · 3,000 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
My 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee limited w/42,000 miles. Yes . Not a typo . 42,000, Orignal owner & "scared to death" to drive this SUV. I have alot of the already problems, that have been reported. Had to pay many, w/my own cash. This SUV schould have came in 1 color "lemon yellow". It is an accident watng to happen. The…
1999 · 4,000 miles · Engine and its cooling system
Built from 5,053 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-18 · open data · reproduce this page