2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

22Engine complaints

15.9%Of all 138 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM46 · 33.3%

POWER TRAIN23 · 16.7%

ENGINE22 · 15.9%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL12 · 8.7%

AIR BAGS11 · 8%

Share of the 138 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee overview page.

What owners report

“VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO LOWER2ND GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ACCORDING TO OWNERS MANUAL THIS IS CALLED LIMP MODE AND NEEDS TO BE STOPPED PLACED…”NHTSA complaint 11055942 — filed 12/21/2017

“WHILE DRIVING, THE IGNITION SWITCH GOES INTO ACCESSORY AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF..JEEP HAS NO POWER STEERING OR POWER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THIS SCARED…”NHTSA complaint 10873157 — filed 06/08/2016

“UPPER RADIATOR HOSE ELBOW FAILED ALLOWING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF ALL COOLANT FLUID. THE BARB ON THE END OF THE PLASTIC ELBOW BROKE OFF ALLOWING THE…”NHTSA complaint 10789603 — filed 11/10/2015

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee have engine problems?

Engine is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee: 22 of 138 complaints on file (15.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee have in total?

138 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 4 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, 1 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.