2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Part of Generation 2 (WJ) — 1999–2004.

20032005
Complaints
1,572
Crashes
149
Fires
33
Injuries
106
Fatalities
3
Recalls
3

Worst 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1317 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:114,694 mi
Crash-related:40
Fires:2
#2124 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:99,442 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:9
#3106 complaints

Seat-Related Issues

Avg mileage:122,008 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Airbags
317
complaints
Crashes
40
Fires
2
Avg Miles
114,694
Electrical Faults
124
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
9
Avg Miles
99,442
Seat-Related Issues
106
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
122,008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
87
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
20,593
Steering Defects
57
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
93,533
Unintended Acceleration
56
complaints
Crashes
26
Fires
Avg Miles
69,953
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
56
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
53,073
Visibility
49
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
100,554
Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler
39
complaints
Crashes
Fires
11
Avg Miles
44,810
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Fan/Motor
38
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
52,435
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
38
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
111,994
Engine Problems
35
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
128,397
Hydraulic Brakes
33
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
36,636
Engine & Cooling
25
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
64,296
Headlight/Taillight Failures
25
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
102,486
Automatic Transmission
24
complaints
Crashes
14
Fires
Avg Miles
56,071
Fuel System
23
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
197,380
Seat Belt Issues
22
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
91,828
Body Structure
20
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
111,797
Transmission / Drivetrain
18
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
99,456
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
42,511
Gasoline Fuel System
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
71,073
Brakes
14
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
116,248
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
15,614
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
16,042
Suspension Failures
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
115,913
Wipers & Visibility
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
101,562
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
12
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
34,805
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Windshield:Electrical Heating Element
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
45,167

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,782,077 vehicles.

15V673000Air Bags:side/window
~284,611 affected

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured March 29, 2003, to July 3, 2003, and 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured May 27, 2003, to May 20, 2004. Due to electrical noise beyond the tolerance of the air bag electronic control module (ECM), a component in the ECM may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

15V046000Air Bags:frontal
~752,644 affected

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, to March 28, 2003, 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, to May 23 2003, and 2003-2004 Dodge Viper vehicles manufactured November 1, 2001, to June 30, 2004. Due to electrical noise beyond the tolerance of the air bag electronic control module (ECM), a component in the ECM may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

12V527000Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive · Airbags
~744,822 affected

Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, through March 28, 2003, and 2002 through 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, through May 23, 2003. A component in the air bag control module may fail causing the front airbags, side curtain airbags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

Other Jeep Grand Cherokee Years

2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 1,572 NHTSA complaints, 149 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 317 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Top reported problems: Airbags (317 complaints, avg 114,694 mi); Electrical Faults (124 complaints, avg 99,442 mi); Seat-Related Issues (106 complaints, avg 122,008 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 89,747 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee include 149 crash-related reports, 33 fire reports, 106 injuries, and 3 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,782,077 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Jeep Grand Cherokee reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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