2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 138 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electrical system (28% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2013
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 138 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“When the airbag light comes on and is visible on the dashboard, this action shorts out the ac, heat, as well as the defroster. This airbag light is a constantly lit up and will not go out. I have been told that there is a problem with the clock spring on this vehicle. This has been an on going problem for several years now. So this tells me that when the airbag light comes on, the airbag does not work. This would become a hazard in a head on collision, which would cause the airbag not to deploy.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2025
“The contact owns a 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to put the key into ignition; however, the key was inoperative. The contact stated that the key was intermittently was stuck in the ignition. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle remained at the residence. The contact researched and was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V567000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2024
“The contact owns a 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the driver's side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the air bag was faulty and needed to be replaced. The local dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the air bag part had been discontinued and was no longer available. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 130,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2023
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“Passenger mirror did not pass state safety inspection because it became cloudy from the automatic defroster mechanism. Vehicle inspector informed us this was the case, mirror has not been otherwise damaged in an accident, we will pay $500 to replace it. Component is available for inspection. Has been cloudy for several years, this is the first time it failed state inspection.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2022
“My vehicle has stopped 3 times this year without warning. Twice while I was driving and once while my daughter was driving. There is a click sound and the radio and everything on in the vehicle goes. The vehicle begins to slow down. Luckly when this happened there were no cars around so each time we are able to stop the vehicle wait a second and start the vehicle without an issue. This is a very dangerous issue and this needs to be fixed ASAP.”Owner report · Steering · Oct 2021
“Clock spring shorts out the electrical system. It causes the AC and heat not to work and no blower motor. This could cause others problems as well”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2021
“Tl* the contact owns a 2009 jeep grand cherokee. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 mph, the accelerator pedal seized. While the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was shifted into neutral to slow the vehicle. In addition, after the failure, the check engine warning light illuminated continuously. The contact informed a local mechanic of the failure. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2020
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 jeep grand cherokee. The contact stated that the air bags warning light was constantly illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 13v176000 (air bags) as a possible cause for the failure. Neither the manufacturer nor a dealer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2020
“I was driving the other day and all the sudden I hit a bump and the key fob falls out of the ignition cutting the engine completely off. So I was coasting with no engine or power. Luckily I put it in to neutral and it started back up. This could have been very dangerous. Also my key will not release when I am trying to turn the car off so I have to leave it on sometimes and it has killed my battery. Most of the time it will release after a clicking noise I can turn it to the off position and it will release. It has cost me two batteries and a new key”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2019
“The car will not start with ignition fob. This happens unpredictably. It has been doing this for a long time. We thought it was the battery but now, with a new battery it still often will not start. If we wait for some unknown period of time it eventually cranks and starts. We never know when and if we can leave or visa versa for returning home. When ever this happens the vehicle is stationary in legal parking place. However, it has cut off will driving.”Owner report · Electrical System · Oct 2019
When filing, owners marked a crash in 4 of these complaints and injuries in 1 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
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.
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.
ROCK KRAWLER IS RECALLING 44 PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLE LISTED ABOVE. THESE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS WERE PRODUCED WITH GRADE 2 CARRIAGE BOLTS INSTEAD OF THE PROPER GRADE 5 CARRIAGE BOLTS. THE IMPROPER GRADE 2 CARRIAGE BOLTS COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF CLAMPING FORCE FOR THE BOTTOM STRUT FORK.
Remedy: ROCK KRAWLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE A FREE REMEDY. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15. 2008. ALL THE AFFECTED UNTITS HAVE BEEN REMEDIED. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ROCK KRAWLER AT 1-518-270-9822.
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 4,314 MY 2009 DODGE JOURNEY, JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE, COMMANDER AND WRANGLER VEHICLES. WIRING MAY BE REVERSED ON THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE DRIVER AIRBAG SQUIB CONNECTOR. THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG SQUIB WIRES AND REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2009 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Grand Cherokee by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
NHTSA has 138 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The most complained-about area is electrical system (28% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 60,000 miles or less.
Does the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning electrical system. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.