IllustrationDRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 70MPH, VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH SWITCHED OFF CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND CONTROL OF STEERING. *TR
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Cherokee years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee are substantially higher than the model-year median of 726.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Grand Cherokee years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1890–25K
16025–50K
29250–75K
27175–100K
324100–150K
127150K+
1,363 reports with mileage · 688 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 927 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 405 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 253 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
82 crash reports24 fire reports50 injury reports
Steering complaints
64 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH. THE SPECIFICS OF THE CRASH WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED M…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH. THE SPECIFICS OF THE CRASH WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V438000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.
MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A TURN WHEN SHE LOST POWER STEERING, LOST BRAKING POWER, ETC. SHE HAD TO APPLY HARD BRAKES TO PREVENT GOING INTO THE OPPOSING LANE. WHILE SHE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HER PASSENGER TOLD HER TO TRY RESTARTING THE CAR. SHE DID, AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE. *TR
MY CAR WAS RECALLED BY CHRYSLER UNDER P41/NHTSA 14V-438. THAT WAS IN JULY AND I JUST CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY STILL DON'T HAVE THE PART. HOW MUCH LONGER DO I HAVE TO WAIT? *TR
THIS VEHICLE HAS QUIT RUNNING SEVERAL TIMES SINCE WE HAVE OWNED IT WHILE DRIVINGTHE ENGINE WILL JUST QUIT. WE CAN MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER IN NEUTRAL AND IT WILL START BACK UP, BUT THIS IS STILL DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN MY WIFE IS DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED TO HER 3 TIMES NOW AND HAPPENED TO ME 2 TIMES IN ABOUT LAST 5 YEARS. *TR
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY STOPPED IN TRAFFIC BUT DRIVING SLOWLY AS TRAFFIC MOVED WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE THE STEERING WHEEL THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL FELT REALLY STIFF SO WHEN THAT HAPPENED I JUST PUT THE TRUCK ON PARK AND TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON AND AFTER DOING THAT IT DROVE NORMALLY. *TR
I AM 6'4" TALL. THE SEAT IN THE LIMITED EDITION 5.7 L HAS INSUFFICIENT TRAVEL IN THE VERTICAL DIRECTION. MY HEAD RESTS AGAINST THE CEILING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS UNLESS I SLOUCH A LOT OR PUT THE SEAT BACK WAY BACK AT WHICH POINT I CAN NO LONGER GRIP THE STEERING WHEEL WELL. *TR
WHILE DEPARTING PHILADELPHIA AIRPORT , ENTERING RAMP TO ACCESS INTERSTATE 95, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, ENGINE, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. HEAD LIGHTS WERE STILL FUNCTIONING. WE PHYSICALLY PUSHED THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY, SO OTHER DRIVERS AND MUNICIPAL BUS DRIVERS WOULD STOP SCREAMING AT US. THE VEHICLE WOUL…
Read full complaint
WHILE DEPARTING PHILADELPHIA AIRPORT , ENTERING RAMP TO ACCESS INTERSTATE 95, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, ENGINE, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. HEAD LIGHTS WERE STILL FUNCTIONING. WE PHYSICALLY PUSHED THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY, SO OTHER DRIVERS AND MUNICIPAL BUS DRIVERS WOULD STOP SCREAMING AT US. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER CALLING THE POLICE AND A TOW TRUCK, ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER , THE VEHICLE STARTED. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO OUR HOME 100 MILES AWAY IN NEW JERSEY. THE VEHICLE WOULD START AND REMAIN RUNNING FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, THEN WOULD SHUT DOWN AGAIN, SAME ISSUES. SEVERAL SENSOR CODES CAME UP ON A READOUT BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE. AT THIS POINT IT IS FUNCTIONING, BUT WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. ANY HELP OR RECALL INFO ON THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
DRIVING 16 MILES PER HOUR ENTERING IN TO A LEFT TURN WHEN ENGINE SHUT DOWN, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, NO POWER STEERING AND NO BRAKES. *TR
I SAW THE NEWS THIS MORNING THAT CHRYSLER JEEP HAS ADMITTED TO A DEFECT WHERE THE JEEP CHEROKEES (2005) TURNS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THE AIRBAG. MY JEEP HAS TURNED OFF/STALLED SOON AFTER I HAVE STARTED DRIVING IT ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. IT SORT OF STALLS WITH NO POWER GOING TO THE ENGINE AND THEN A FEW SE…
Read full complaint
I SAW THE NEWS THIS MORNING THAT CHRYSLER JEEP HAS ADMITTED TO A DEFECT WHERE THE JEEP CHEROKEES (2005) TURNS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THE AIRBAG. MY JEEP HAS TURNED OFF/STALLED SOON AFTER I HAVE STARTED DRIVING IT ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. IT SORT OF STALLS WITH NO POWER GOING TO THE ENGINE AND THEN A FEW SECONDS LATER KICKS IN AND MOVES. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER I PULL OUT OF A PARKING SPACE OR PULL AWAY FROM THE CURB TO START DRIVING IN A LANE OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM A COUPLE TIMES AND BEEN TOLD THERE IS NO PROBLEM. AS A SEPARATE OR RELATED ISSUE, DURING ONE OF MY FIRST SERVICES AT A JEEP DEALERSHIP WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP WARNING LIGHTS TURNED ON -- I WENT BACK TO HAVE THE ISSUE ADDRESSED AND WAS FINALLY TOLD ON THE FOURTH VISIT THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY SOFTWARE UPGRADE AND NOT TO WORRY UNLESS A LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED ON (I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO PURSUE THE ISSUE AND I GOT NO WHERE WITH THE DEALERSHIP). MORE RECENTLY IT HAS BEEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT THAT GOES ON AND OFF (IF IS NOW OFF). FINALLY, I WENT TO THE CHRYSLER WEBSITE THIS MORNING AND ENTERED MY VIN AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL OR NOTICES. I HOPE THAT THE NHTSA REQUIRES CHRYSLER TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND/OR IT IS ADDRESSED THROUGH A CLASS ACTION. *TR
Official recalls
314V438000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Jul 21, 2014
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, drivers should adjust their seat to allow clearance between the driver's knee and the ignition key, and remove all items from their key ring, leaving only the vehicle key. Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to July 5, 2007, and 2006-2007 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, to July 5, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Chrysler sent interim notifications to owners in September 2014. The recall began on October 9, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P41.
13V175000 · Electrical System; Power Train:transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive)
May 7, 2013
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.
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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System
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.
Consequence: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.
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.
Power Train:transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive)
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.
Consequence: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.
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.
05V396000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Sep 14, 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.7L ENGINES AND NAG1 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR CONDENSATE WATER MAY ENTER THE TRANSMISSION AT THE FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL. THIS CAN RESULT IN SHUDDER DURING TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IT CAN LEAD TO INCREASED TRANSMISSION OPERATING TEMPERATURES, BOILING OF THE WATER, AND A SUBSEQUENT PURGING OF TRANSMISSION FLUID INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION FOR LEAKAGE AT THE FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL. IF NO LEAK IS DETECTED, A NEW FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL AND WATER DEFLECTOR SHIELD WILL BE INSTALLED, AND PROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE FILL TUBE VERIFIED. IF THE PRESENCE OF A LEAK IS DETECTED, THE VEHICLE WILL BE EVALUATED FOR SHUDDER DURING TORQUE CONVERTER ENGAGEMENT. IF NO SHUDDER IS DETECTED, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE TRIPLE FLUSHED, AND NEW FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL AND WATER DEFLECTOR WILL BE INSTALLED AND PROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE FILL TUBE VERIFIED. IF SHUDDER IS DETECTED, THE TORQUE CONVERTER WILL BE REPLACED, A NEW FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL AND WATER DEFLECTOR WILL BE INSTALLED, AND PROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE FILL TUBE VERIFIED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE14017 · Air Bag Non-deployment
Opened Jun 16, 2014 · Closed Dec 23, 2014
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:ignition; Electrical System:ignition:module; Electrical System:ignition:switch
Chrysler is conducting a safety recall of approximately 643,618 model year 2006-2007 Jeep Commander and model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles to address the problem of ignition turning off while driving (see NHTSA recall 14V-438 for more information).According to Chrysler, these vehicles may experience an unintended change in ignition switch position while driving, which may result in loss of engine power, power steering, and braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash and disabling one or more of the vehicle's safety features including the frontal air bags.Most of the reported incidents occurred as a result of driver interaction with the ignition key.Based on the recall action taken by Chrysler, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed.Additionalinformation on this closing resume, and the investigation are in the PE14-017 public file available online at SaferCar.gov.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10101116 10103300 10106060 10112589 10116788 10126986 10128093 10130780 10145501 10146213 10153018 10155291 10156396 10158165 10162933 10166746 10178559 10183305 10186545 10189530 10192237 10193106 10194092 10199552 10199986 10221500 10222283 10227253 10231011 10328609 10358324 10392364 10577532 10585326 10585976 10599142 10604990 10605091 10605209 10606494 10606610 10607043 10607614 10607785 10608196 10615565 10615671 10615761 10616124 10633266 10633313 10633724 10639371 10640010 10644827 10652526 10653000 10653382 10654009 10654139 10654809 10655095 10659448 10662220 10662703
Additional source detail variants (3)
Electrical System:ignition
Chrysler is conducting a safety recall of approximately 643,618 model year 2006-2007 Jeep Commander and model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles to address the problem of ignition turning off while driving (see NHTSA recall 14V-438 for more information).According to Chrysler, these vehicles may experience an unintended change in ignition switch position while driving, which may result in loss of engine power, power steering, and braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash and disabling one or more of the vehicle's safety features including the frontal air bags.Most of the reported incidents occurred as a result of driver interaction with the ignition key.Based on the recall action taken by Chrysler, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed.Additionalinformation on this closing resume, and the investigation are in the PE14-017 public file available online at SaferCar.gov.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10101116 10103300 10106060 10112589 10116788 10126986 10128093 10130780 10145501 10146213 10153018 10155291 10156396 10158165 10162933 10166746 10178559 10183305 10186545 10189530 10192237 10193106 10194092 10199552 10199986 10221500 10222283 10227253 10231011 10328609 10358324 10392364 10577532 10585326 10585976 10599142 10604990 10605091 10605209 10606494 10606610 10607043 10607614 10607785 10608196 10615565 10615671 10615761 10616124 10633266 10633313 10633724 10639371 10640010 10644827 10652526 10653000 10653382 10654009 10654139 10654809 10655095 10659448 10662220 10662703
Electrical System:ignition:module
Chrysler is conducting a safety recall of approximately 643,618 model year 2006-2007 Jeep Commander and model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles to address the problem of ignition turning off while driving (see NHTSA recall 14V-438 for more information).According to Chrysler, these vehicles may experience an unintended change in ignition switch position while driving, which may result in loss of engine power, power steering, and braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash and disabling one or more of the vehicle's safety features including the frontal air bags.Most of the reported incidents occurred as a result of driver interaction with the ignition key.Based on the recall action taken by Chrysler, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed.Additionalinformation on this closing resume, and the investigation are in the PE14-017 public file available online at SaferCar.gov.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10101116 10103300 10106060 10112589 10116788 10126986 10128093 10130780 10145501 10146213 10153018 10155291 10156396 10158165 10162933 10166746 10178559 10183305 10186545 10189530 10192237 10193106 10194092 10199552 10199986 10221500 10222283 10227253 10231011 10328609 10358324 10392364 10577532 10585326 10585976 10599142 10604990 10605091 10605209 10606494 10606610 10607043 10607614 10607785 10608196 10615565 10615671 10615761 10616124 10633266 10633313 10633724 10639371 10640010 10644827 10652526 10653000 10653382 10654009 10654139 10654809 10655095 10659448 10662220 10662703
Electrical System:ignition:switch
Chrysler is conducting a safety recall of approximately 643,618 model year 2006-2007 Jeep Commander and model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles to address the problem of ignition turning off while driving (see NHTSA recall 14V-438 for more information).According to Chrysler, these vehicles may experience an unintended change in ignition switch position while driving, which may result in loss of engine power, power steering, and braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash and disabling one or more of the vehicle's safety features including the frontal air bags.Most of the reported incidents occurred as a result of driver interaction with the ignition key.Based on the recall action taken by Chrysler, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed.Additionalinformation on this closing resume, and the investigation are in the PE14-017 public file available online at SaferCar.gov.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10101116 10103300 10106060 10112589 10116788 10126986 10128093 10130780 10145501 10146213 10153018 10155291 10156396 10158165 10162933 10166746 10178559 10183305 10186545 10189530 10192237 10193106 10194092 10199552 10199986 10221500 10222283 10227253 10231011 10328609 10358324 10392364 10577532 10585326 10585976 10599142 10604990 10605091 10605209 10606494 10606610 10607043 10607614 10607785 10608196 10615565 10615671 10615761 10616124 10633266 10633313 10633724 10639371 10640010 10644827 10652526 10653000 10653382 10654009 10654139 10654809 10655095 10659448 10662220 10662703