For Jeep fans, the joy of driving takes precedence over many other things. Looking at the reliability history of the Jeep Grand Cherokee shows you that most buyers probably don’t care about a reliability score. The Grand Cherokee sport utility vehicle excels in off-road adventures, weekend beach trips, and pulling friends out of the dirt whenever possible.

2020 is one of the best used Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV years to look for

When looking through the history of the Jeep Grand Cherokee from Consumer Reports, reliability isn’t a strong suit for this SUV. However, the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee changed that trajectory. For the first time ever, the Grand Cherokee received an above-average score for reliability. The owner satisfaction score was also above-average.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has two recalls issued for this year. The first is for the fuel system, and the other is for the rear backup camera. In the crashworthiness tests, the 2020 Grand Cherokee mainly received five-star ratings. The Jeep sport utility vehicle received a five-star score in the overall crash test. The 2020 version is one of the most reliable Jeep Grand Cherokee years to look for.

2015 is another one of the best used Jeep Grand Cherokee years

For the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the scores from Consumer Reports show an average vehicle. The 2015 version also has the second-best scores out of all the other years. Both the owner satisfaction and reliability score were average. However, it is still one of the most reliable Jeep Grand Cherokee years to search for.

Unfortunately, this 2015 Jeep SUV has nine recalls from the NHTSA. These relate to the engine stalling, problems with the electric system, issues with the transmission not staying in park, and more. The Grand Cherokee does have high scores on crash tests from the NHTSA, though. Plus, the Jeep is off-road capable, well-finished inside, and has enough towing capacity for most situations.

Avoid the 2018 year of this Jeep sport utility vehicle, if possible

The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a year worth avoiding. The reliability verdict from Consumer Reports is rock-bottom, and the owner satisfaction is just average. Considering the nine recalls from the NHTSA, it paints a picture of an unreliable sport utility vehicle.

The recalls range from fuel, engine, service brakes, electrical, and power train. Some might cause a loss of power which increases the risk of a crash, while the service brake issue might allow the Jeep SUV to roll away. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave it various scores on its crashworthiness tests. From “good” to “poor” and a “marginal” score or two, the 2018 Grand Cherokee gets mixed reviews across the board.

If you are looking for the best used Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV years, the newer, the better, it seems. Jeep has been on an upward trend for reliability and owner satisfaction in the areas. The Grand Cherokee works if you are just doing off-road stuff and don’t care about the day-to-day. If you need a reliable daily driver, you might want to look at the 2020 Jeeps or newer ones.

This article was updated on 11/5/2022.