2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems
NHTSA has received 2,336 complaints about the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 36% of them involve electrical system. Next are brakes (13%) and engine (13%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 2,336 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 36% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 72 and 145
- Injuries and deaths
- 50 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 65,000 miles 1,467 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 154 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 201 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 293 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 247 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 240 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 151 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 89 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 45 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 31 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 11 |
| 200k+ miles | 5 |
What the data shows
Of the 1,467 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 65,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 70,000 miles (496 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 72 complaints mention a crash; 145 complaints mention a fire; 50 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2012 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 34 model years of the Jeep Grand Cherokee with enough data (1,403 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 10 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
In 2016, my 2012 jeep grand cherokee laredo had about 38k miles when I found out that my vehicles rack and pinion had a "minor leak" that they service center recommended I "keep an eye on." this was something I really needed to save for because it would cost $3000 to repair and I had just purchased the vehicle! Less than a week later I was in an accident because I lost power steering while driving with my family. This forced me to replace the rack and pinion as well as further damage.
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 jeep grand cherokee. While driving approximately 45 MPH on an icy road, the vehicle slid and veered off the road. The vehicle flipped over several times down an embankment and the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and four injuries were reported that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000. The VIN was not available.
I was driving home for lunch and smelled a very sharp scent that burned my throat and eyes. I rolled down the windows thinking it was the car in front of mine. I saw white smoke on the right side of my vehicle and than the passenger visor melted off the ceiling and followed it was a fire at the sight of the visor hole. The fire dripped down onto the passenger seat and I called 911 and pulled over.
Alternator / electrical issues- november 4, 2016 my wife was taking our son to school when she began getting a burning smell from under the hood. After dropping off my son, she pulled over and noticed smoke coming from under the hood. She cut the car off, initially thinking it just overheated. We left the car in the school parking lot overnight hoping it would start up the next day. I tried to start the car, but it wouldn't start and the key got stuck in the ignition.
4x4 activate always in city street. Seat both front vinil broke, fluid water on the roof back when rainin . Sistem hidraulic dont lower the jeep. Dificult to starter.