2004 Jeep GRAND CHEROKEE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,294 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
62,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 845 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 317 of 1,294 complaints (24.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 234 | 18.1% |
| Steering behavior | 103 | 8.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 71 | 5.5% |
| Engine operation | 55 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 40 | 3.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 35 | 2.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 317 |
| Electrical System | 124 |
| Seats | 106 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 87 |
| Steering | 57 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 56 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 56 |
| Visibility | 49 |
Air Bags: 317; Electrical System: 124; Seats: 106; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 87; Steering: 57; Vehicle Speed Control: 56; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 56; Visibility: 49
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 188 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 146 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 160 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 107 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 158 |
| 150,000 and above | 86 |
Under 25,000: 188; 25,000 to 49,999: 146; 50,000 to 74,999: 160; 75,000 to 99,999: 107; 100,000 to 149,999: 158; 150,000 and above: 86
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (188). 449 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 67 |
| 2005 | 93 |
| 2006 | 117 |
| 2007 | 116 |
| 2008 | 104 |
| 2009 | 71 |
| 2010 | 77 |
| 2011 | 53 |
| 2012 | 32 |
| 2013 | 74 |
| 2014 | 77 |
| 2015 | 114 |
| 2016 | 171 |
| 2017 | 44 |
| 2018 | 28 |
| 2019 | 26 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2003: 6; 2004: 67; 2005: 93; 2006: 117; 2007: 116; 2008: 104; 2009: 71; 2010: 77; 2011: 53; 2012: 32; 2013: 74; 2014: 77; 2015: 114; 2016: 171; 2017: 44; 2018: 28; 2019: 26; 2020: 9; 2021: 4; 2022: 5; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 234 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 103 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 71 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10024739 · 2003-07-10 (July 10, 2003)
INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SIX TIMES AND COULD NO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 80 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042013 · 2003-10-22 (October 22, 2003)
CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, SHIFTED GEAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, HITTING ANOTHER CAR BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. *AK THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO AMOUNT OF PRESSURE WOULD STOP THE BRAKES. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042013 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054286 · 2004-01-16 (January 16, 2004)
THE ABILITY FOR STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, MOST NOTABLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IS VERY DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO HAVE A GAP OF SLOPPY SPACE IN THE STEERING. AFTER DRIVING MULTIPLE NEW 2004 GRAND CHEROKEES I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THE DEGREE OF GAP OR SLOPPINESS VARIES BY VEHICLE. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078326 · 2004-06-16 (June 16, 2004)
STEERING NOISE AND POPPING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10078326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045265 · 2003-11-02 (November 2, 2003)
MY 2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HAS A COUPLE POWER OUTLETS; THEY LOOK ALMOST LIKE CIGARETTE LIGHTER RECEPTACLES. THE OUTLETS ARE MARKED "20A" INDICATING A 20 AMP CURRENT CAPABILITY. THE JEEP BOOK ALSO INDICATES THESE POWER OUTLETS ARE ABLE TO CARRY 20 AMPS, AND THE JEEP SHOP MANUAL CALLS THESE 20 AMP CIRCUITS. WHEN I DISASSEMBLED SOME TRIM TO INSTALL A 2-METER HAM RADIO, I SAW 2 VERY SMALL WIRES CONNECTED TO THE REAR POWER OUTLET. THE JEEP SHOP MANUAL SAYS THESE ARE 16 GAUGE WIRES. HERE IS THE PROBLEM: 16 GAUGE WIRES WILL NOT COME NEAR THE ABI…
Owner-reported narrative. 950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104808 · 2004-12-30 (December 30, 2004)
WE PURCHASED A 2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE THE END OF JUNE 2004. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MILES AT PURCHASE. THREE DAYS AFTER PURCHASE THE CAR CUT OFF ON MY HUSBAND AND WAS DIFFICULT TO START. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THEY COULD NOT LOOK AT THE CAR BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. WHILE ON VACATION 1 1/2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE OUR CAR SHUT OFF WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO A JEEP DEALERSHIP IN MARYLAND. THAT DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR. NO INCIDENTS OCCURRED F…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060427 · 2004-03-04 (March 4, 2004)
PURCHASED A 2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED EDITION ON 12/24/03. STALLS WHILE AT A STOP. STALLED ON 12/24/03, 1/14/04, 2/4/04, 2/29/04. DEALERSHIP TAKING IT IN FOR REPAIR FOR THE 4TH TIME ON 3/8/04. CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. ON 2/29/04 STALLED WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I FEEL IT WILL LIKELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH IT IS BRAND NEW AND QUALIFIES FOR THE LEMON LAW.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 380 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066152 · 2004-04-14 (April 14, 2004)
MY 2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SPECIAL EDITION STALLS AT STOP LIGHTS. IT HAS HAPPENED BETWEEN 5-10 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN AUGUST. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066152 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139737 · 2005-10-14 (October 14, 2005)
THIS IS A LITTLE OUTOF YOUR NORMAL SCHOPE; HOWEVER, I THINK THE POTENTIAL IS CLEAR. OUR 2004 JEEP WAS REARENDED AND THE FUEL TANK WAS INVOLVED. THE PLASTIC TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. OUR INSURER, STATE FARM REFUSED TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW TANK, INSTEAD INSISTING ON USING A USED TANK FROM WRECKED JEEP. THE TANK RECIEVED NO TESTING OTHER THAN A VISUAL FROM THE JUNK YARD. THE QUALITY OF THE ATTACHMENT POINTS ON THE TANK RECIEVED NO CLOSE INSPECTION OTHER THAN VISUAL
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10139737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157144 · 2006-05-09 (May 9, 2006)
AT 17,000 MILES MY 2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO FREEDOM V-8 4.7 HO ENGINE DEVELOPED A ROUGH IDLE. THE DEALER CLEANED OUT THE FUEL INJECTOR AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. 2ND TIME THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE #2 PISTON POPPED IN AND OUT SO THE MECHANICS AGREED SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND RECOMMENDED A NEW ENGINE; BUT THE MANAGER WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. THEY AGREE THE VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH AND NOTICE THE VEHICLES ON THE LOT RUN SMOOTH. THEY SUGGESTED I CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS WHICH COST ME OVER $200.00 AND TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157144 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056792 · 2004-02-08 (February 8, 2004)
I LEASED A BRAND NEW 2004 JEPP GRAND CHEROKEE AND WE DROVE IT OFF THE SHOW ROOM FLOOR. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROX 6,000 MILES ON IT, AS A MANAGER DROVE IT FIRST. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 2 MONTHS AND IN THE PAST 4 WEEKS IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE INCORRECTLY SHIFTS, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THEN A BURNING SMELL APEARS, AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING. EACH TIME IT IS TAKEN IN FOR THE SAME THING, THEY SAY THE HAVE FOUND AND REPAIRED ANOTHER PART. THE LAST TIME AFTER IT WAS FIXED BEFOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,660 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056792 at NHTSA ↗