2008 Jeep GRAND CHEROKEE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
733 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
74,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 508 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 456 of 733 complaints (62.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 323 | 44.1% |
| Engine operation | 157 | 21.4% |
| Braking behavior | 69 | 9.4% |
| Steering behavior | 62 | 8.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 42 | 5.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 1.6% |
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 | 456 |
| Engine | 107 |
| Power Train | 65 |
| Air Bags | 40 |
| Unknown Or Other | 35 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 32 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 26 |
| Steering | 24 |
Electrical System: 456; Engine: 107; Power Train: 65; Air Bags: 40; Unknown Or Other: 35; Engine And Engine Cooling: 32; Vehicle Speed Control: 26; Steering: 24
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 61 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 84 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 109 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 125 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 101 |
| 150,000 and above | 28 |
Under 25,000: 61; 25,000 to 49,999: 84; 50,000 to 74,999: 109; 75,000 to 99,999: 125; 100,000 to 149,999: 101; 150,000 and above: 28
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (125). 225 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2009 | 19 |
| 2010 | 39 |
| 2011 | 37 |
| 2012 | 21 |
| 2013 | 52 |
| 2014 | 93 |
| 2015 | 289 |
| 2016 | 59 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 25 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2008: 15; 2009: 19; 2010: 39; 2011: 37; 2012: 21; 2013: 52; 2014: 93; 2015: 289; 2016: 59; 2017: 20; 2018: 25; 2019: 19; 2020: 10; 2021: 13; 2022: 6; 2023: 5; 2024: 5; 2025: 3; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 323 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 157 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 69 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 10304326 · 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)
2008 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED MODEL- DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED POWER MIRROR EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING ON 1/30/10 IN RYE BROOK, NY AND TEMPERATURES WERE APPROXIMATELY 15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. AS I WAS DRIVING THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR LITERALLY EXPLODED. THE ROADS WERE CLEAR AND FREE OF DEBRIS AND I SWERVED OFF THE ROAD AS I THOUGHT SOMEONE HAD THROWN A ROCK OR A BALL AT MY WINDOW. I QUICKLY GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND NOTICED A GAPING HOLE THROUGH THE MIRROR BUT NO OTHER DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER PART OF THE VEHICLE. NO SCRATCHES WERE ON THE MIRROR…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10304326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10335460 · 2010-06-09 (June 9, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES DUE TO THE VEHICLE STALLING. SHE WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID …
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10335460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10227793 · 2008-05-14 (May 14, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN MID TURN. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED AS WELL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT NEARLY STRUCK TWO CHILDREN AND A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS NOTED IN NHTSA CAM…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232332 · 2008-06-25 (June 25, 2008)
RE: 2008 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE OVERLAND EDITION PURCHASED IN SEPT OF 07. WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH AND 4 TIMES SINCE I HAVE HAD A LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR "REPAIR AND CORRECTION, BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS HAPPENING. THE DEALER IS NOW AT A LOSS AS TO HOW TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. THEIR SOLUTION SEEMS TO BE THAT I SHOULD PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN I FEEL THE POWER FAILING, SHUT OFF THE CAR AND THEN RESTART IT TO RESET THE COMPUTER. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE ISSUE IS BECAUSE THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,042 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232332 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10252751 · 2008-12-24 (December 24, 2008)
SUDDEN ACCELERATION/ LOSS OF BRAKES. VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE WHILE ENTERING FROM FREEWAY ONRAMP. THE DRIVER TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND VEHICLES ACCELERATOR PEDAL CONTINUED TO MOVE DOWNWARD TO FULL THROTTLE AND WOULD NOT DECELERATE AFTER AN ATTEMPT TO "PUMP" THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO TRY AND GET THE PEDAL TO RELEASE. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS THEN PUT IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN IN" RPM'S". THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY WITH THE AUTOMOBIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220471 · 2008-03-08 (March 8, 2008)
STEERING IS EXTREMELY LOOSE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT INTO DIFFERENT LANES. THE STEERING THEN TIGHTENS BACK UP. THIS HAPPENS UPON START UP OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10218599 · 2008-02-20 (February 20, 2008)
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON 12/31/07. IN TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION GETS STUCK AND DOESN'T CHANGE GEARS. CAR AT BOTH TIMES WAS DRIVEN AT 40 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN ACCELERATED, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED WOULD NOT INCREASE, RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,332 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10255841 · 2009-01-21 (January 21, 2009)
IT WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN. TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,355 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353586 · 2010-09-02 (September 2, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE INSTRUMENT WARNING LIGHTS SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD FIND NO FAILURE CODES. AFTER STALLING THREE TIMES THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AND THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY FOUND NO FAILURES BUT SHE COULD BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RECALL NHTSA 08V059000, FOR THE STALLIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,038 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369071 · 2010-12-03 (December 3, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT CRANK. ONCE THE CONTACT TRIED SEVERAL TIMES, HE WAS ABLE TO START IT. HE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE REAR EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY DID NOT FUNCTION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369071 at NHTSA ↗