Midsize and three-row SUVs · 8 model years, 2014 to 2026
Dodge Durango vs Jeep Grand Cherokee: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Durango looks better on 4 and the Grand Cherokee on 1, with 2 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2014 to 2026 | Durango | Grand Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 4.8% | 6.9% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.0% | 1.6% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 53,000 | 48,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 3.6 | 6.4 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 8 | 10 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Durango owners complain about most is exterior lighting; for the Grand Cherokee it is electrical. Complaints citing exterior lighting make up 35% of all Durango complaints, against 2.8% on the Grand Cherokee. The Grand Cherokee leans the other way on transmission and drivetrain: 19% of its complaints, against 7.3% for the Durango.
Dodge DurangoJeep Grand Cherokee
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Durango is tail light failure (20% of its complaints). On the Grand Cherokee it is seat belt problems (17% of its complaints), against 16% on the Durango.
| Problem | Durango | Grand Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belt or seat problems | 16% 362most in 2014 · 70k mi | 17% 991most in 2014 · 70k mi |
| Tail lights or brake lights fail | 20% 436most in 2014 · 51k mi | 0.1% 6 |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 6.4% 141most in 2018 · 45k mi | 12% 665most in 2018 · 37k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 5.1% 11350k mi | 11% 635most in 2014 · 45k mi |
| Airbag warning light or recall | 6.9% 154most in 2014 · 58k mi | 6.5% 369most in 2014 · 64k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 4.3% 96most in 2019 · 45k mi | 7.3% 414most in 2019 · 39k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 2.7% 5980k mi | 5.6% 319most in 2014 · 75k mi |
| Battery dies or the car will not start | 2.4% 5352k mi | 3.5% 199most in 2014 · 48k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Problems show up at about the same mileage on both. Half the Durango complaints that give a mileage come before 53,000 miles, and half the Grand Cherokee complaints before 48,000. 45% of Durango reports and 51% of Grand Cherokee reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Dodge DurangoJeep Grand Cherokee
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 1,256 for the Durango and 3,011 for the Grand Cherokee.
Worst and best years
The 2014 Durango draws 3.3 times the complaints of a typical Durango year for its age. The 2014 Grand Cherokee draws 2.3 times the complaints of a typical Grand Cherokee year for its age.
Dodge Durango
Dodge DurangoJeep Grand Cherokee
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Grand Cherokee draws more recalls: 6.4 campaigns per model year against 3.6 for the Durango. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Dodge Durango
29 recall campaigns and 8 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (6), service brakes, hydraulic (4) and transmission and drivetrain (3).
- 18V-332 (electrical) covers 5 model years
- 15V-461 (equipment) covers 2 model years
Investigations
- EA21002: Desiccated air bag inflator rupture (open)
- PE19011: Seat belt retraction (closed)
- PE19014: Active head rest inadvertent deployment (closed)
Jeep Grand Cherokee
51 recall campaigns and 10 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (8), engine and engine cooling (5) and equipment (4).
- 20V-699 (engine and engine cooling) covers 6 model years
- 22V-406 (fuel system, diesel) covers 6 model years
Investigations
- EA23001: High pressure fuel pump failure (open, led to a recall)
- EA21002: Desiccated air bag inflator rupture (open)
- PE19011: Seat belt retraction (closed)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Grand Cherokee complaints report a crash: 6.9%, against 4.8% for the Durango. Fire reports: 22 for the Durango and 89 for the Grand Cherokee.
Dodge DurangoJeep Grand Cherokee
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Dodge Durango or the Jeep Grand Cherokee more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Durango looks better on 4 and the Grand Cherokee on 1, with 2 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Durango has 2,218 complaints and the Grand Cherokee 5,675 for the 8 model years from 2014 to 2026 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Durango or the Grand Cherokee?
The Durango has 29 recall campaigns and the Grand Cherokee 51 across the 8 model years from 2014 to 2026 that both have on file. The Grand Cherokee draws more recalls: 6.4 campaigns per model year against 3.6 for the Durango.
What are the most common problems on the Durango and the Grand Cherokee?
The most reported problem on the Durango is tail light failure (20% of its complaints). On the Grand Cherokee it is seat belt problems (17% of its complaints), against 16% on the Durango.
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