IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE HEADLIGHTS CEASED TO FUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Cherokee years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee are substantially higher than the model-year median of 726.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Grand Cherokee years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1890–25K
16025–50K
29250–75K
27175–100K
324100–150K
127150K+
1,363 reports with mileage · 688 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 927 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 405 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 253 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
82 crash reports24 fire reports50 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
60 reportsWHILE DRIVING ALL THE INSTRUMENT / GAGE LIGHTS CAME ON THEN WENT OFF SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER WENT TO ZERO STAYED FOR A FEW SECONDS , LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THEN RESUMED OPERATING. NOT SURE IF DIRECTION LIGHTING WAS RESPONDING ON EXTERIOR OF VEHIC…
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WHILE DRIVING ALL THE INSTRUMENT / GAGE LIGHTS CAME ON THEN WENT OFF SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER WENT TO ZERO STAYED FOR A FEW SECONDS , LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THEN RESUMED OPERATING. NOT SURE IF DIRECTION LIGHTING WAS RESPONDING ON EXTERIOR OF VEHICLE AT THE TIME. OR HEAD LIGHTS, AS IT WAS DAYTIME. I HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING PEOPLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS IT'S GENERALLY A VERY BUSY ROAD TRAVELED. MERIDIAN RD PUYALLUP WA.
A LOT OF OWNERS OF THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DIM HEAD LIGHTS AND TROUBLE STARTING THE CAR . THE CAR SIMPLY WON'T START YOU HAVE TO CRANK IT ABOUT 20 TIMES . THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE ROAD
I STOP THE TRANSMISSION START LIKE SLIDE AND THEN 3 TO FOUR MINUTES A LOT OF SMOKE ON MY HOOD I STOP OPEN THE HOOD IT WAS OIL EVERYWARE I WAS SCARE I THINK MY CHAROKEE GOT FLAMES SO RUN TO A HOUSE
2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. SEEMS TO BE THERE'S ELECTRICAL ISSUE ALL THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON TURN OFF HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO COME TO A STOP IT STALLED OUT IT HAPPENED WHEN I STARTED UP THE CAR AND I TURNED IT OFF AND TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TWO DIFFERENT TIMES PRETTY MUCH THE SAME PROBLEM FIRST T…
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2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. SEEMS TO BE THERE'S ELECTRICAL ISSUE ALL THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON TURN OFF HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO COME TO A STOP IT STALLED OUT IT HAPPENED WHEN I STARTED UP THE CAR AND I TURNED IT OFF AND TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TWO DIFFERENT TIMES PRETTY MUCH THE SAME PROBLEM FIRST TIME IT HAS 68 CODES READING OFF OF IT SO THEY REPLACE MY BATTERY THE SECOND TIME THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND GO OFF AND COME ON AND THEN IT WOULDN'T EVEN GO IT WAS UNDRIVEABLE AT THAT POINT SO WE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEN A MONTH LATER IT'S STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAME TO A STOP LIGHT PLIED THE BRAKES AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE GAUGES WERE GOING CRAZY. THE IDOL WAS MOVING UP AND DOWN THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF AND IT'S ALL THE LIGHTS NOT JUST AIR BAG OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT IT WAS ALL THE LIGHTS. I READ ON THE INTERNET OTHER PEOPLE BEEN HAVING THE SAME ISSUE IT'S SCARY WHEN SOMEBODY IS EXPLAINING THE SAME THING THAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR CAR. IT IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME WHAT THIS PHANTOM PROBLEM IS AND IT'S HIGHLY DANGEROUS. I ALSO BOUGHT THIS JEEP USED AND DON'T KNOW IT THIS WAS HAPPENING BEFOREHAND. *HAVE A VIDEO BUT THIS SITE WON'T UPLOAD IT.
THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS AND ALL INTERIOR ELECTRONICS INCLUDING LIGHTS, GAUGES, RADIO, ETC. SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENS ON INITIAL STARTUP AT HOME AND IN CITY PARKING LOTS, ALSO ACTED WHILE THE ENGINE HAS BEEN RUNNING IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON REPEATEDLY UNTIL LIGHTS AND ELECTRONICS BEGIN FUNCTIONING AGAIN.
ISSUE 1 - ALL THE INTERNAL DOOR HANDLED HAVE BROKEN. THIS LIMITS PASSENGER EGRESS IN THE EVEN OF AN ACCIDENT. ISSUE 2 - THIS PAST WEEKEND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE CAR FLICKERED AND BRIEFLY TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS INCLUDES THE HEADLIGHTS, PARKING LIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS, AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS. IT APPE…
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ISSUE 1 - ALL THE INTERNAL DOOR HANDLED HAVE BROKEN. THIS LIMITS PASSENGER EGRESS IN THE EVEN OF AN ACCIDENT. ISSUE 2 - THIS PAST WEEKEND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE CAR FLICKERED AND BRIEFLY TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS INCLUDES THE HEADLIGHTS, PARKING LIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS, AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS. IT APPEARS THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHT SWITCH MECHANISM IN THE MULTI FUNCTION TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY. THIS PRESENT A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE RURAL ROAD. *TR
WHEN STARTING IGNITION, WIPERS ACTIVATE. WHILE DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASH INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN STARTING IGNITION AND WHILE DRIVING, AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER SHUTS DOWN, CUTS OUT INTERMITTENTLY AND BLOWER, WHEN OPERATIVE, ONLY WORKS ON HIGH. SOMETIMES SWITCHING TO OFF AND RESTARTING OR HITTING A BUMP ACTIVATES B…
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WHEN STARTING IGNITION, WIPERS ACTIVATE. WHILE DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASH INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN STARTING IGNITION AND WHILE DRIVING, AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER SHUTS DOWN, CUTS OUT INTERMITTENTLY AND BLOWER, WHEN OPERATIVE, ONLY WORKS ON HIGH. SOMETIMES SWITCHING TO OFF AND RESTARTING OR HITTING A BUMP ACTIVATES BLOWER. AT ONE TIME OPENING AND CLOSING THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT ACTIVATED BLOWER BUT NOT ANY LONGER. PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY.
WHILE DRIVING, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FLICKER ON AND OFF, THE HEATER/COOLER BLOWER SHUTS DOWN, CUTS OUT. THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER QUIT WORKING AS WELL.
EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF SPERATICALLY. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, STOPPED AND EVEN WHEN PARKED. I HAVE TO FLICK THE LIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF TO TRY TO GET LIGHTS TO STAY ON. THIS IS SCARY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND I'M SURE IT IRRITATES THE HECK OUT OF ANYONE WHO SEE'S MY LIGHTS FLICKERING. …
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EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF SPERATICALLY. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, STOPPED AND EVEN WHEN PARKED. I HAVE TO FLICK THE LIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF TO TRY TO GET LIGHTS TO STAY ON. THIS IS SCARY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND I'M SURE IT IRRITATES THE HECK OUT OF ANYONE WHO SEE'S MY LIGHTS FLICKERING.
Official recalls
314V438000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Jul 21, 2014
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, drivers should adjust their seat to allow clearance between the driver's knee and the ignition key, and remove all items from their key ring, leaving only the vehicle key. Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to July 5, 2007, and 2006-2007 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, to July 5, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Chrysler sent interim notifications to owners in September 2014. The recall began on October 9, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P41.
13V175000 · Electrical System; Power Train:transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive)
May 7, 2013
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer case electrical failure may result in an unintentional shifting of the transfer case into the neutral position.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the final drive controller which governs the transfer case, with new software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N23.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer case electrical failure may result in an unintentional shifting of the transfer case into the neutral position.
Consequence: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the final drive controller which governs the transfer case, with new software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N23.
Power Train:transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive)
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer case electrical failure may result in an unintentional shifting of the transfer case into the neutral position.
Consequence: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the final drive controller which governs the transfer case, with new software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N23.
05V396000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Sep 14, 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.7L ENGINES AND NAG1 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR CONDENSATE WATER MAY ENTER THE TRANSMISSION AT THE FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL. THIS CAN RESULT IN SHUDDER DURING TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IT CAN LEAD TO INCREASED TRANSMISSION OPERATING TEMPERATURES, BOILING OF THE WATER, AND A SUBSEQUENT PURGING OF TRANSMISSION FLUID INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION FOR LEAKAGE AT THE FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL. IF NO LEAK IS DETECTED, A NEW FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL AND WATER DEFLECTOR SHIELD WILL BE INSTALLED, AND PROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE FILL TUBE VERIFIED. IF THE PRESENCE OF A LEAK IS DETECTED, THE VEHICLE WILL BE EVALUATED FOR SHUDDER DURING TORQUE CONVERTER ENGAGEMENT. IF NO SHUDDER IS DETECTED, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE TRIPLE FLUSHED, AND NEW FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL AND WATER DEFLECTOR WILL BE INSTALLED AND PROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE FILL TUBE VERIFIED. IF SHUDDER IS DETECTED, THE TORQUE CONVERTER WILL BE REPLACED, A NEW FILL TUBE GROMMET SEAL AND WATER DEFLECTOR WILL BE INSTALLED, AND PROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE FILL TUBE VERIFIED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE14017 · Air Bag Non-deployment
Opened Jun 16, 2014 · Closed Dec 23, 2014
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:ignition; Electrical System:ignition:module; Electrical System:ignition:switch
Chrysler is conducting a safety recall of approximately 643,618 model year 2006-2007 Jeep Commander and model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles to address the problem of ignition turning off while driving (see NHTSA recall 14V-438 for more information).According to Chrysler, these vehicles may experience an unintended change in ignition switch position while driving, which may result in loss of engine power, power steering, and braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash and disabling one or more of the vehicle's safety features including the frontal air bags.Most of the reported incidents occurred as a result of driver interaction with the ignition key.Based on the recall action taken by Chrysler, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed.Additionalinformation on this closing resume, and the investigation are in the PE14-017 public file available online at SaferCar.gov.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10101116 10103300 10106060 10112589 10116788 10126986 10128093 10130780 10145501 10146213 10153018 10155291 10156396 10158165 10162933 10166746 10178559 10183305 10186545 10189530 10192237 10193106 10194092 10199552 10199986 10221500 10222283 10227253 10231011 10328609 10358324 10392364 10577532 10585326 10585976 10599142 10604990 10605091 10605209 10606494 10606610 10607043 10607614 10607785 10608196 10615565 10615671 10615761 10616124 10633266 10633313 10633724 10639371 10640010 10644827 10652526 10653000 10653382 10654009 10654139 10654809 10655095 10659448 10662220 10662703
Additional source detail variants (3)
Electrical System:ignition
Chrysler is conducting a safety recall of approximately 643,618 model year 2006-2007 Jeep Commander and model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles to address the problem of ignition turning off while driving (see NHTSA recall 14V-438 for more information).According to Chrysler, these vehicles may experience an unintended change in ignition switch position while driving, which may result in loss of engine power, power steering, and braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash and disabling one or more of the vehicle's safety features including the frontal air bags.Most of the reported incidents occurred as a result of driver interaction with the ignition key.Based on the recall action taken by Chrysler, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed.Additionalinformation on this closing resume, and the investigation are in the PE14-017 public file available online at SaferCar.gov.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10101116 10103300 10106060 10112589 10116788 10126986 10128093 10130780 10145501 10146213 10153018 10155291 10156396 10158165 10162933 10166746 10178559 10183305 10186545 10189530 10192237 10193106 10194092 10199552 10199986 10221500 10222283 10227253 10231011 10328609 10358324 10392364 10577532 10585326 10585976 10599142 10604990 10605091 10605209 10606494 10606610 10607043 10607614 10607785 10608196 10615565 10615671 10615761 10616124 10633266 10633313 10633724 10639371 10640010 10644827 10652526 10653000 10653382 10654009 10654139 10654809 10655095 10659448 10662220 10662703
Electrical System:ignition:module
Chrysler is conducting a safety recall of approximately 643,618 model year 2006-2007 Jeep Commander and model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles to address the problem of ignition turning off while driving (see NHTSA recall 14V-438 for more information).According to Chrysler, these vehicles may experience an unintended change in ignition switch position while driving, which may result in loss of engine power, power steering, and braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash and disabling one or more of the vehicle's safety features including the frontal air bags.Most of the reported incidents occurred as a result of driver interaction with the ignition key.Based on the recall action taken by Chrysler, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed.Additionalinformation on this closing resume, and the investigation are in the PE14-017 public file available online at SaferCar.gov.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10101116 10103300 10106060 10112589 10116788 10126986 10128093 10130780 10145501 10146213 10153018 10155291 10156396 10158165 10162933 10166746 10178559 10183305 10186545 10189530 10192237 10193106 10194092 10199552 10199986 10221500 10222283 10227253 10231011 10328609 10358324 10392364 10577532 10585326 10585976 10599142 10604990 10605091 10605209 10606494 10606610 10607043 10607614 10607785 10608196 10615565 10615671 10615761 10616124 10633266 10633313 10633724 10639371 10640010 10644827 10652526 10653000 10653382 10654009 10654139 10654809 10655095 10659448 10662220 10662703
Electrical System:ignition:switch
Chrysler is conducting a safety recall of approximately 643,618 model year 2006-2007 Jeep Commander and model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles to address the problem of ignition turning off while driving (see NHTSA recall 14V-438 for more information).According to Chrysler, these vehicles may experience an unintended change in ignition switch position while driving, which may result in loss of engine power, power steering, and braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash and disabling one or more of the vehicle's safety features including the frontal air bags.Most of the reported incidents occurred as a result of driver interaction with the ignition key.Based on the recall action taken by Chrysler, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed.Additionalinformation on this closing resume, and the investigation are in the PE14-017 public file available online at SaferCar.gov.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10101116 10103300 10106060 10112589 10116788 10126986 10128093 10130780 10145501 10146213 10153018 10155291 10156396 10158165 10162933 10166746 10178559 10183305 10186545 10189530 10192237 10193106 10194092 10199552 10199986 10221500 10222283 10227253 10231011 10328609 10358324 10392364 10577532 10585326 10585976 10599142 10604990 10605091 10605209 10606494 10606610 10607043 10607614 10607785 10608196 10615565 10615671 10615761 10616124 10633266 10633313 10633724 10639371 10640010 10644827 10652526 10653000 10653382 10654009 10654139 10654809 10655095 10659448 10662220 10662703