Midsize and three-row SUVs · 12 model years, 2014 to 2026
Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Ford Explorer: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Explorer looks better on 5 and the Grand Cherokee on 1, with 1 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2014 to 2026 | Grand Cherokee | Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 6.7% | 2.2% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 4.5% | 2.3% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 45,000 | 55,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 5.4 | 7.5 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 12 | 9 |
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 Grand Cherokee owners complain about most is electrical; for the Explorer it is structure. Complaints citing electrical make up 24% of all Grand Cherokee complaints, against 7.4% on the Explorer. The Explorer leans the other way on structure: 23% of its complaints, against 2.5% for the Grand Cherokee.
Jeep Grand CherokeeFord Explorer
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 Grand Cherokee is seat belt problems (15% of its complaints). On the Explorer it is windshield problems (9.3% of its complaints), against 1.1% on the Grand Cherokee.
| Problem | Grand Cherokee | Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 12% 820most in 2018 · 36k mi | 6.5% 701most in 2015 · 59k mi |
| Seat belt or seat problems | 15% 1,017most in 2014 · 70k mi | 2.8% 301most in 2016 · 50k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 12% 793most in 2014 · 42k mi | 4.8% 514most in 2016 · 44k mi |
| Windshield cracks or distorts | 1.1% 7340k mi | 9.3% 1,001most in 2017 · 77k mi |
| Power steering cuts out or goes heavy | 2.6% 170most in 2021 · 32k mi | 7.5% 802most in 2014 · 70k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 7.1% 472most in 2019 · 39k mi | 2.3% 244most in 2020 · 23k mi |
| Airbag warning light or recall | 6.2% 409most in 2014 · 60k mi | 2.7% 291most in 2016 · 60k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 5.5% 365most in 2014 · 73k mi | 2.4% 260most in 2016 · 79k 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
Grand Cherokee owners report problems earlier. Half the Grand Cherokee complaints that give a mileage come before 45,000 miles; for the Explorer the halfway point is 55,000. 53% of Grand Cherokee reports and 44% of Explorer 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.
Jeep Grand CherokeeFord Explorer
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 3,228 for the Grand Cherokee and 5,719 for the Explorer.
Worst and best years
The 2014 Grand Cherokee draws 2.3 times the complaints of a typical Grand Cherokee year for its age. The 2016 Explorer draws 2.7 times the complaints of a typical Explorer year for its age.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand CherokeeFord Explorer
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 Explorer draws more recalls: 7.5 campaigns per model year against 5.4 for the Grand Cherokee. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
65 recall campaigns and 12 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (8), equipment (6) and backup camera (6).
- 22V-406 (fuel system, diesel) covers 7 model years
- 23V-411 (engine and engine cooling) covers 7 model years
Investigations
- RQ25005: Recall 23v-413 post remedy failures (open, led to a recall)
- EA23001: High pressure fuel pump failure (open, led to a recall)
- DP22005: Pedestrian alert sounds (closed, led to a recall)
Ford Explorer
90 recall campaigns and 9 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: backup camera (13), transmission and drivetrain (12) and engine and engine cooling (10).
- 25V-685 (equipment) covers 7 model years
- 24V-031 (structure) covers 6 model years
Investigations
- DP25001: Underbody shields detachment (closed)
- EA23002: Loss of motive power (closed, led to a recall)
- RQ23002: Rear axle bolt failure (closed, led to a recall)
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: 6.7%, against 2.2% for the Explorer. Fire reports: 98 for the Grand Cherokee and 57 for the Explorer. Complaints on file report 1 death in the Grand Cherokee and 2 in the Explorer for these model years.
Jeep Grand CherokeeFord Explorer
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 Jeep Grand Cherokee or the Ford Explorer more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Explorer looks better on 5 and the Grand Cherokee on 1, with 1 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Grand Cherokee has 6,633 complaints and the Explorer 10,720 for the 12 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 Grand Cherokee or the Explorer?
The Grand Cherokee has 65 recall campaigns and the Explorer 90 across the 12 model years from 2014 to 2026 that both have on file. The Explorer draws more recalls: 7.5 campaigns per model year against 5.4 for the Grand Cherokee.
What are the most common problems on the Grand Cherokee and the Explorer?
The most reported problem on the Grand Cherokee is seat belt problems (15% of its complaints). On the Explorer it is windshield problems (9.3% of its complaints), against 1.1% on the Grand Cherokee.
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