2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems, Recalls & Reliability

1,754 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 47/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 90,000 miles.

1,754Complaints
47/100Trouble index
6Recalls
83,000Typical trouble mileage

Below average

Where 2006 sits among all Grand Cherokee years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Electrical 823 complaints (47%) · typically ~90,000 miles
“The car shut off lost all power control panel went out while driving at 45 miles per hour i quickly wiggled the key(ignition switch ) and the car began to run again”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Grand Cherokee
Engine 179 complaints (10%) · typically ~75,000 miles
“My brakes lock on me when driving or stopping my engine shakes and raddled when stopped at a light or parked”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Grand Cherokee
Transmission & drivetrain 173 complaints (10%) · typically ~85,000 miles
“My 2006 jeep grand cherokee limited pops out of gear while driving it is very dangerous because you never know when it is going to happen.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Grand Cherokee
Body & structure 120 complaints (7%) · typically ~70,000 miles
“The door handle has broken on the driver side of my jeep making it difficult to open the door.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Grand Cherokee
Other 115 complaints (7%) · typically ~106,200 miles
“Interior door latch mechanisms are breaking making it impossible to open doors from inside.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Grand Cherokee
Brakes & stability 69 complaints (4%) · typically ~78,000 miles
“I was driving my 2006 grand cherokee the other night in the rain and i started going down a hill and i hit a little bump and my brakes like locked up in the front and i went to turn into a drive way after it did that and i had no power steering and my battery light came on and this has happened to…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Grand Cherokee

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 1,171 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 83,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 56,000 and 115,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (6)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14V438000 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…

Fix: 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.…

POWER TRAIN 13V175000 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…

Fix: 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…

SUSPENSION 09E039000 2009

ROCK KRAWLER IS RECALLING 44 PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLE LISTED ABOVE. THESE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS WERE PRODUCED WITH GRADE 2 CARRIAGE BOLTS INSTEAD OF THE PROPER GRADE 5 CARRIAGE BOLTS. THE IMPROPER…

Fix: ROCK KRAWLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE A FREE REMEDY. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15. 2008. ALL THE AFFECTED UNTITS HAVE BEEN REMEDIED. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ROCK KRAWLER AT…

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E012000 2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…

Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 07V434000 2007

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMED INTO THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE MAY ALLOW A MOMENTARY DELAY IN BRAKING WHEN COASTING UP A HILL DURING CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WITH NEW SOFTWARE THAT PREVENTS THIS CONDITION FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT…

AIR BAGS 06V295000 2006

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE INFLATOR CONNECTOR FOR THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG INFLATOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN THE WEEK OF AUGUST 2, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Federal defect investigations

Air Bag Non-deployment PE14017 opened 2014, closed 2014

Led to recall campaign 14V438000.

Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit AQ10001 opened 2010, closed 2015

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2005peak 631 in 20152026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?

The 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee drew 1,754 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 47/100, scored against the model's worst year (2014).

What are the most common 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems?

The top reported problems for the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee are electrical (823 complaints), engine (179), and transmission & drivetrain (173).

At what mileage do 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems show up?

Owners most often report 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems around 83,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 56,000 and 115,000 miles.

Does the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee have recalls?

6 recall campaigns apply to the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.