2005 Jeep GRAND CHEROKEE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2,051 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
78,172 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 1,362 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 879 of 2,051 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 693 | 33.8% |
| Engine operation | 268 | 13.1% |
| Braking behavior | 224 | 10.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 186 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 106 | 5.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 0.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 879 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 221 |
| Power Train | 163 |
| Structure:Body | 136 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 135 |
| Engine | 134 |
| Unknown Or Other | 134 |
| Air Bags | 85 |
Electrical System: 879; Structure:Body:Door: 221; Power Train: 163; Structure:Body: 136; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 135; Engine: 134; Unknown Or Other: 134; Air Bags: 85
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 189 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 160 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 292 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 271 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 324 |
| 150,000 and above | 126 |
Under 25,000: 189; 25,000 to 49,999: 160; 50,000 to 74,999: 292; 75,000 to 99,999: 271; 100,000 to 149,999: 324; 150,000 and above: 126
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (324). 689 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 81 |
| 2006 | 87 |
| 2007 | 53 |
| 2008 | 55 |
| 2009 | 31 |
| 2010 | 107 |
| 2011 | 193 |
| 2012 | 102 |
| 2013 | 112 |
| 2014 | 231 |
| 2015 | 675 |
| 2016 | 118 |
| 2017 | 59 |
| 2018 | 43 |
| 2019 | 37 |
| 2020 | 25 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2004: 5; 2005: 81; 2006: 87; 2007: 53; 2008: 55; 2009: 31; 2010: 107; 2011: 193; 2012: 102; 2013: 112; 2014: 231; 2015: 675; 2016: 118; 2017: 59; 2018: 43; 2019: 37; 2020: 25; 2021: 12; 2022: 10; 2023: 8; 2024: 3; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 693 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 268 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 224 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 10135048 · 2005-09-01 (September 1, 2005)
WITH ONLY 10,500 MILES ON OUR LEASED 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED- THE VEHICLE HAS SPENT THE LAST 27 DAYS IN A SERVICE REPAIR CENTER. THE ISSUES BEGAN WITH A ROUGH TRANSMISSION, CAR STICKING IN 3RD GEAR - "LIMP MODE" (REQUIRED CAR TO PULL OVER, PARK & RESTART TO DISABLE LIMP MODE), AC GETTING HOT ON ACCELERATION WITH STRONG CHEMICAL SMELL, GREASY OIL LEAK ON INSIDE OF CABIN OUT OF HOOD RELEASE OPENING, EXCESSIVE ROAD NOISE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON, AND EASY ENTRY/EXIT SEAT NOT FUNCTIONING. ACCORDING TO MY TEN PAGE INVOICE, THE SERVIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 85 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135048 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137924 · 2005-09-27 (September 27, 2005)
TRANSMISSION: I HAVE A 05 JEEP CHEROKEE THAT HAS CONTINUOUSLY HAD A TRANSMISSION SHUDDER PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS, FEELS SLUGGISH, JERKING THE VEHICLE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. IT HAPPENS WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, BUT IT IS EXCESSIVE WHILE AT THE 40 MPH & 1500 RPM RANGE. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DID A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND TOLD ME TO PICK IT UP. THE SECOND TIME, THEY ORDERED, THEN LATER REPLACED THE DRIVE LINE. THE THIRD TIME TO DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THEY REPROGRAMMED…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,923 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111029 · 2005-02-07 (February 7, 2005)
THE VEHICLE STALLED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10111029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112589 · 2005-03-06 (March 6, 2005)
I HAVE A 2005 GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO UNDER 3000 MILES. MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON LESS THAN 10 TIMES ,AND MY CAR HAS STALLED WHEN COME TO STOP LIGHT OR COMPLETE STOP ABOUT 5 TIMES. I HAVE MADE 5 TRIPS TO THE DEALER AND THE FIRST FEW TIMES THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEN THEY DETERMINED IT WAS RELATED TO THE REMOTE START WHICH THEY HAD INSTALLED. I GOT IT BACK AND THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED AND IT STALLED OUT WHEN I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY THAT VERY DAY. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN EXACTLY 1 WEEK LATER. ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON NOW.…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112589 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102420 · 2004-12-09 (December 9, 2004)
LET ME START BY SAYING THAT I DO NOT OWN THIS VEHICLE BUY WAS FOLLOWING ONE LAST EVENING. IT WAS DARK, I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON RT 55 NEAR FRONT ROYAL, VA. A NEW (04 / 05) JEEP CHEROKEE STYLE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE PLAINLY VISABLE BUT I COMMENTED TO MYSELF THAT THE DRIVER SHOULD USE TURN SIGNALS WHEN MAKING THIS MANUVER, ESPECIALLY ON THE WELL TRAVELED ROAD. AS I GOT CLOSER TO THE STOPPED VEHICLE, TO MY SURPRISE, THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ON AND WORKING....PROBLEM IS ...FROM 100 FEET BEHIND, THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10102420 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106060 · 2005-01-10 (January 10, 2005)
BOUGHT A 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE IN LATE OCTOBER. HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INSTANCES ON ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING, INCLUDING ON A BUSY EXPRESSWAY. NEITHER CHRYSLER NOR THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM (THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS IN CONTACT WITH CHRYSLER TECHICAL SUPPORT WHEN TRYING TO REPAIR). THEY TRIED A COUPLE OF REPAIRS SUGGESTED BY CHRYSLER THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. FINALLY REALIZED I WAS GENTLY BUMPING THE IGNITIION KEY OR ATTACHED KEYS WHEN GOING FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO THE BRAKE AND THE SWITCH WAS MOVING…
Owner-reported narrative. 87 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106060 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121734 · 2005-05-20 (May 20, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY STREETWITH MY 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR, I HAD TO STOP @ A RED LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I PROCEEDED TO GO BUT COULDN'T AND REALIZED THAT THE CAR HAD SHUT OFF. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR IN A HURRY DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC BUT WAS UNABLE TO. FINALLY I FIND THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND PUT THEM ON TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT MY VEHICLE WAS STALLED. I HAD TO TAKE THE KEY COMPLETELEY OUT AND PUT IT BACK IN TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. I COULD'VE HAD AN ACCIDENT. TOOK THE CAR IN AND LEFT IT THERE FOR 3 DAYS AND THE DEALERSHIP STA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10121734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125613 · 2005-06-17 (June 17, 2005)
TRANSMISSION TORQURE CONVERTER FAILED CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION
Owner-reported narrative. 5,860 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125613 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117529 · 2005-05-31 (May 31, 2005)
THE ENGINE WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. THE HEADLIGHTS, POWER WINDOWS, AND THE POWER LOCKS CONTINUED TO WORK. THE STEERING LOCKED. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118137 · 2005-04-19 (April 19, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 AT ABOUT 0630 HOURS EAST BOUND TOWARDS EXIT 53 IN BRANFORD, CT WHEN AND WITHOUT ANY NOISE OR WARNING IT BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE 2005, JEEP GRAND, CHEROKEE. THIS VEHICLE HAD AT THE TIME OF THE CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF STEERING FLUID, 520 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. DEALER, BRANHAVEN MOTORS , BRANFORD, CT HAS INDICATED THAT THE BELT, HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING UNIT,AND HOOD INSULATION MAT WILL BE REPLACED. POWER STEERING FLUID WAS SPRAYED OVER THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NO FIRE ONLY AN ACRID ODOR. QUESTION? WHA…
Owner-reported narrative. 520 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118137 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161792 · 2006-07-07 (July 7, 2006)
AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK OF MY 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 5.7 LITER HEMI I ACCELERATED ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND THE CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND ALL THE INFORMATION LIGHTS CAME ON AND BEGAN TO FLICKER ON AND OFF AS WELL AS THE HEADLIGHTS. VEHICLE THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIVE NORMALLY WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON BUT NOT PULSATING. DEALER NEXT DAY COULD NOT LOOK AT IT AS I DID NOT HAVE AN APPOINTMENT. AFTER SEVERAL STOPS AND TURNING ENGINE OFF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OUT. SEVERAL DAYS LATE THE INFORMATION GAUGE LIGHTS FLASHED AND RECEIVED A CODE ME…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,943 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175609 · 2006-12-08 (December 8, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THROUGH AN INTERSECTION ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DIAGNOSED A FUEL PUMP AND FUEL INJECTION PUMP FAILURE, BOTH WERE REPLACED. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE PRESENTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. INTERMITTENTLY, THE TRANSMISSION MADE NOISE WHEN SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD BEE…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175609 at NHTSA ↗