3 Reasons Why the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Is the Absolute Worst

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is far from the most reliable SUV. Some of its recent models have been plagued with issues. Here’s why the 2011 model year is the worst Jeep Grand Cherokee model ever created.

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is notoriously unreliable

A white Jeep Grand Cherokee drives on the BSR (Buzz, Squeak and Rattle) indoor test track at the Stellantis Detroit Assembly Complex-Mack on June 10, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee | Bill Pugliano via Getty Images

As the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s release date grows nearer, it’s hard not to acknowledge the progress the Grand Cherokee has made over the years. The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a highly anticipated SUV model, but the Grand Cherokee has a dark past. Some of its previous model years were real money pits.

The 2011 model year is the worst Jeep Grand Cherokee of all. It has amassed an incredible 2,000 complaints on CarComplaints.com. These complaints range from major electrical issues to engine problems as well as fuel system problems, suspension problems, and the list goes on.

The 2011 model year is the worst Jeep Grand Cherokee ever made because it has proven itself to be unreliable on too many occasions to count. It has been recalled five times in the past. It has also been considered problematic by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is even hard to start

A black Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV is parked off-road.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee | Jeep

Let’s say that you can somehow see past the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s unreliability. It may be a decent SUV to own…when it starts. CarComplaints.com has over 200 complaints registered regarding issues getting the engine to start. It’s hard to make a case for an SUV that won’t even turn over.

The 2011 model year has its strengths like any other vehicle. This model year has a decent interior and predictably thrives off-road. Unfortunately, none of its characteristics can redeem it from being the worst Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The main reason why the 2011 model is the worst Jeep Grand Cherokee

A red Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV is parked outside an apartment house on the street.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee | Jeep
Related

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Redesign Is Long Overdue

The real reason why the 2011 model year is the worst Jeep Grand Cherokee is that there are so many other options to choose from. The 2012 model year received 197 on CarComplaints.com. That’s over 1,800 fewer complaints than the 2011 model.

The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee has half as many electrical problems and engine problems reported as the 2011 model year. The 2011 model was supposed to be a positive change and improvement from the third generation. Instead, it badly hurt the nameplate’s overall reputation.

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is the worst because it put the nameplate on a downward trajectory. Today, since Dodge has killed off the Dodge Durango, the Grand Cherokee has a unique opportunity. The Jeep Grand Cherokee can gain new importance in the automotive industry and prove itself a reliable and entertaining full-size SUV.

Will the next-generation 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee rise to the occasion or fail miserably as its distant ancestor has? Only time will tell, but the new Grand Cherokee has a lot of work to do if it wants to fill the Dodge Durango’s shoes.