Is the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee?

The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 25% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?

14 recalls on file for this model year.

2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee

◆ Worse than typical

2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints: 1,295
Recalls: 14
Investigations: 4
Top problem: Air bags

Complaints per year

2004: 1,295 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1989	5
1990	5
1991	6
1992	3
1993	562
1994	609
1995	723
1996	893
1997	991
1998	1,028
1999	1,638
2000	1,447
2001	883
2002	1,476
2003	762
2004	1,295
2005	2,051
2006	1,280
2007	1,108
2008	734
2009	138
2010	118
2011	1,639
2012	1,644
2013	804
2014	2,378
2015	1,362
2016	310
2017	364
2018	854
2019	368
2020	240
2021	403
2022	261
2023	389
2024	243
2025	75
2026	22

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

25% · 329 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and side/window.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Show complaint excerpts

Had a car accident few days ago and the air bags did not deployed at either side. Also, the steering column is stack in lower level, the mechanic said it is broken inside, needed to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-19

Also filed under Steering

I had a collision with a deer and my airbags did not deploy! My brakes did not work, and my steering was dysfunctional!

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-12-26

Also filed under Service brakes

The driver was driving around a curve. An oncoming vehicle crossed the center line. The driver of the Jeep moved over to avoid a head on collision and the Jeep went over and embankment and hit front end and flipped five times.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-11-20

Visibility

16% · 213 reports

Most commonly citing defroster/defogger/hvac system and power window devices and controls.

CRASHINJURY

Service brakes

14% · 184 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Show complaint excerpts

The break tail lamp shots out and had to replace the unit twice this year and the was wiring shots to the break light and it cost me $1500 for the break light wiring shot and the tail light assemble.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-12-15

Car was bought at affordable auto. The parking break had to be used in order for car to stay parked. We got home the windows on passenger side did not go down.

NHTSA ODI report, 2024-06-19

Also filed under Power train

Seats

12% · 149 reports

Most commonly citing seat heater/cooler and power adjust.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Electrical system

11% · 145 reports

Most commonly citing wiring and interior/under dash.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Safety timeline

14 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

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2003-03-12Steering03V079000 On certain sport utility vehicles, the power steering gear may contain an improperly formed spacer clip, which could dislodge within the steering gear.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the steering gear assemblies. Owner notification began on March 12, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…

Check if this car was fixed →
▮
2004Complaint volume 1,295 complaints filed for this model year.
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2004-03-01Equipment04V048000 On certain sport utility vehicles, due to a recent software programming error, the tire, wheel, and inflation pressure information was inadvertently omitted from the vehicle certification label.

Remedy: Owners will be provided with a corrected tire certification label. Owner notification began on March 1, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2004-03-29Electrical system04V112000 On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 4.0L engines, the crankshaft position sensor wiring insulation may crack and expose the wire.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the crankshaft position sensor. Owner notification began on March 29, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2005-01-25Fuel system, gasoline06E011000 Certain aftermarket airtex electric fuel pumps installed for use as replacement equipment for certain 1997-2004 Jeep wrangler; 1997-2001 Jeep cherokee; 1997-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee; and 2000-2003…

Remedy: Airtex will notify its customers and will replace the affected fuel pumps free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2006. Owners may contact airtex customer service department at…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2006-03-20Service brakes, hydraulic06E022000 Certain aftermarket brake hydraulic master cylinders sold as replacement brake cylinders for certain Ford, daimlerchrysler, and Jeep passenger vehicles. These brake cylinders were sold under the…

Remedy: Affinia (Brake parts, inc.) will replace the subject brake hydraulic master cylinders free of charge. The recall began on March 20, 2006. Owners can contact affina group customer service at…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2006-05-09Exterior lighting06E023000 Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps are not equipped with amber side reflectors which fail to…

Remedy: Anzo will notify owners and replace the headlamps free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2006. Owners may contact anzo USA at 909-468-3688.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2006-07-24Seats06V197000 On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with heated seats, the front passenger seat electric heater element could overheat.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the heated seat elements. The recall began on July 24, 2006. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

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2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

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I
2009-11-06Defect petitionClosed 2010-08-23 Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires
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2009-11-23Seats09V117000 Chrysler is recalling 103,409 my 2001-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles with heated seats and with Chrysler recall No. 06V-197 completed (03-04 my) or seat heater elements service replacement (01-02…

Remedy: Dealers will replace the front seat heater elements free of charge. The recall began on November 23, 2009. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

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2010-08-23Preliminary evaluationClosed 2012-06-14 Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
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2012-06-12Engineering analysisClosed 2014-11-14 Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
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2013-09-13Air bags12V527000 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…

Remedy: 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.

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I
2014-05-29Recall queryClosed 2015-11-13 Jeep inadvertent air bag deployment
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2015-12-29Air bags15V046000 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...

Remedy: 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.

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2016-05-05Air bags15V673000 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.

Remedy: 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.

Check if this car was fixed →
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Date not on fileExterior lighting06E064000 Certain tradesonic combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles.

Remedy: Tradesonic will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during July 2006. Owners may contact tradesonic at 626-934-8884.

Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

Air bags: 329 reports on file for this year.
Visibility: 213 reports on file for this year.
Service brakes: 184 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

Recall 06E064000 · Exterior lighting
Recall 03V079000 · Steering
Recall 04V048000 · Equipment
Recall 04V112000 · Electrical system
Recall 06E011000 · Fuel system, gasoline
Recall 06E022000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Recall 06E023000 · Exterior lighting
Recall 06V197000 · Seats
Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Recall 09V117000 · Seats
Recall 12V527000 · Air bags
Recall 15V046000 · Air bags
Recall 15V673000 · Air bags

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?: Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee?: The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 25% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?: 14 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.