2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Showing the 2006 Grand Cherokee SRT-8. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
12–17 mpgcombined; city 11–15, highway 14–21; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$19,110–$33,540U.S. average; Ohio $17,070–$31,600 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedlowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
4over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
1,280filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2006 Grand Cherokee. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 1,280 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Grand Cherokee. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical system75315310
Power train173301
Engine124431
Structure1195013
Unknown or other73011
Exterior lighting64100
Air bags6020020
Service brakes56403
Engine and engine cooling53211
Vehicle speed control52602
Seat belts41201
Steering37803
17 more parts
Electronic stability control (ESC)31102
Latches/locks/linkages25000
Tires13001
Service brakes, hydraulic12200
Fuel/propulsion system11201
Suspension9101
Visibility8000
Fuel system, gasoline6000
Seats5101
Interior lighting4000
Wheels4000
Equipment3010
Service brakes, electric3102
Traction control system3000
Child seat2000
Visibility/wiper2000
Parking brake1101

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 20061,280
  2. 20071,108
  3. 2008734
  4. 2009138
  5. 2010118
  6. 20111,641
  7. 20121,644
  8. 2013804
  9. 20142,381
  10. 20151,366
  11. 2016311
  12. 2017364
  13. 2018855
  14. 2019370
  15. 2020240
  16. 2021500
  17. 2022488
  18. 2023589
  19. 2024313
  20. 2025117
  21. 202650

Every Grand Cherokee year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2006 Grand Cherokee over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Electrical system: ignition

NHTSA campaign 14V438000 · reported Jul 21, 2014 · 649,353 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Risk: 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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Electrical system; Power train: transfer case (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

NHTSA campaign 13V175000 · reported May 7, 2013 · 295,345 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Risk: 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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

NHTSA campaign 07V434000 · reported Sep 14, 2007 · 296,550 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: 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 1-800-853-1403.

NHTSA's record and documents

Air bags: frontal

NHTSA campaign 06V295000 · reported Aug 8, 2006 · 15,021 vehicles potentially affected

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

Risk: THE AIR BAG MAY NOT INFLATE PROPERLY WHICH CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY IN CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 86 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2006 Grand Cherokee, the latest on Aug 15, 2025. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: electrical system (24), power train (23), engine and engine cooling (14), equipment (12), structure (7).

NHTSA defect investigations

Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.

InvestigationPartOpenedStatus
Preliminary evaluation PE14017
Air Bag Non-deployment
Electrical systemJun 16, 2014Closed Dec 23, 2014
NHTSA's summary names recall 14V438000
NHTSA's record and documents
Audit query AQ10001
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit · covers 10 makes
Unknown or otherNov 18, 2010Closed Dec 28, 2015
NHTSA's record and documents

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2006 Grand Cherokee.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Used ones for sale

See used 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokees for sale on: Autotrader · CarMax

These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.

Specs

EPA class: sport utility vehicle. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Grand Cherokee
Rear-Wheel Drive
3.7 L, 6 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline15 / 21 / 17
Grand Cherokee
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
3.7 L, 6 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline15 / 19 / 17
Grand Cherokee
Rear-Wheel Drive
4.7 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline14 / 18 / 15
Grand Cherokee
Rear-Wheel Drive
5.7 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline13 / 19 / 15
Grand Cherokee
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
4.7 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline14 / 19 / 15
Grand Cherokee
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
5.7 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline13 / 18 / 15
Grand Cherokee
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
6.1 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spdPremium Gasoline11 / 14 / 12

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data