Problems · by component
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee structure problems
43 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee cite structure, 3% of all 1,640 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
43
3% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
Reported by owners
What owners say about the structure
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“My paint on the roof of my Jeep Grand Cherokee started bubbling and visible rust started appearing. After about a month my windshield cracked all the way across starting from where the rust made the paint bubble, this is the only part of the vehicle with any rust. I had USAA send Safelite to come repair my windshield and what I thought was minor rust damage. To my horror the damage from the bad paint/seal was extensive and the windshield can’t be replaced until the body of the Jeep is fixed. The windshield needing replaced is the original from the factory no part of my Jeep has ever been replaced, the only reason it needs to be fixed is because of the faulty paint/seal. I now have no windshield or drivable car. I have reached out and there are quite a few Jeep owners that experienced this same issue in the same exact location. It is now being held on by tape so there isn’t just a huge hole in the car. The day it cracked the vehicle had not left my driveway, but now my car is not in a state to drive anywhere. Also in outside temperatures exceeding 80 the seat belt warning light and air bag light come on, sometimes it stays sometimes it goes away. However when…”
“While driving, an electric fire started in my Jeep due to a vanity lamp short (NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V879000) which is a known issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) recalled certain model year 2011-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured December 3, 2009, to September 1, 2012. "In the affected vehicles, the wiring for the vanity lamp in the sun visor may short circuit, after having been remedied for a prior recall for the vanity lamp wiring." I had this recall completed in November of 2017, which was confirmed by the manufacturer during my phone conversation today. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. My safety and others was at extreme risk as I was driving when this fire occurred above my head and I had to quickly pull over and exit my vehicle in a very busy area. There was also melting material dripping from the visor that nearly reached me in the driver's seat, but thankfully I was able to move out of the way and it melted my driver seat instead (as shown in picture). The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle has not been…”
“SUV ENTERED INTERSECTION ON A CITY STREET.AND WAS STRUCK ON THE RIGHT FRONT PANEL. I BELIEVE THE CAR SPUN TO THE LEFT AND CLIPPED THE REAR END OF THE TRUCK. SUV CAME TO REST WITH FRONT END AGAINST A TREE. I WAS DOING APPROX 25 MPH. THE TRUCK THAT STRUCK ME APPEARED TO BE GOING A BIT FASTER. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED BROKEN BONES IN MY NECK.*DT THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEATHER MATERIAL COVERING DASHBOARD LOOSENED AND OBSTRUCTED THE AIRFLOW COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS CAUSING THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER TO NOT WORK AS DESIGNED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT DEFOGGED AS DESIGNED. THE LOCAL DEALER STATE LINE CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM LOCATED AT 1491 BRAYTON POINT RD, SOMERSET, MA 02725 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. *LN*JB*JB”
“THE LEATHER COVERING ON THE DASHBOARD SHRANK, CRUMPLED AND WRINKLED POPPING THE AIR VENT COVERINGS OUT. THE PROBLEM NOT ONLY RESTRICTS AIR FLOW (DEFROSTING, ETC) IT ALSO MAY PREVENT THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS. IT LOOKS HORRIBLE AND DECREASES THE VALUE OF MY CAR, BUT IT PRESENTS SAFETY ISSUES. THE COMPANY HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND APPROVED MY VEHICLE FOR REPAIR, BUT THEY HAVE ALSO RESTRICTED THE NUMBER OR REPAIR KITS AVAILABLE AND I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR MONTHS AND AM TOLD IT COULD BE MONTHS MORE. THEY WILL NOT GIVE A DATE.THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I NEED IT TO BE FIXED AND THEY HAVE DELIBERATELY RESTRICTED THE NUMBER OF PARTS AVAILABLE TO CUSTOMERS WITH DEFECTIVE AUTOMOBILES. IN ADDITION, MY VEHICLE HAS A FUEL PUMP RELAY RECALL. THIS PART HAS ALSO NOT BEEN AVAILABLE FOR MONTHS AND HAS NO PREDICTED DELIVERY DATE. I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUES, THEN DELIBERATELY SLOW PRODUCTION OF THE PARTS REQUIRED FOR REPAIRS. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND FCA CUSTOMER SERVICE SAY THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. OBVIOUSLY THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AT A HIGHER LEVEL, BUT THERE IS NOT AN OPTION FOR THAT IN THE PHONE TREE. I NEED MY CAR FIXED.”
“AIR RIDE SUSPENSION AIRBAGS HAS TO BE RECHARGED EVERY MONTH SINCE 2019. WHILE PARKED FRONT END BECOMES LOW (DURING 1-MONTH PERIOD) NOT LEAVING APPROPRIATE DISTANCE FROM WHEEL TO TOP OF WHEEL WELL, RESULTING IS A VERY BUMPING RIDE, UNTIL RECHARGED. BRAND NEW OEM LINES AND COMPRESSOR REPLACED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OR LESS, "AIR SUSPENSION NEEDS SERVICE" NOTIFICATION COMES ON. FRONT OF HOOD (WHERE THE CHROME JEEP IS DISPLAYED) EXTERIOR NOW SHOWS PAINT CORROSION.”
Showing 6 of 43 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.