Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
12–20 mpgcombined; city 11–18, highway 14–23; 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's VIN data lists these trims for the 2008 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.
Owners have filed 734 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 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
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical system
473
9
4
1
Engine
107
1
1
2
Power train
77
6
0
2
Air bags
40
6
0
3
Engine and engine cooling
39
0
0
0
Unknown or other
35
0
0
1
Vehicle speed control
27
6
1
1
Steering
24
1
1
0
Visibility
21
0
0
0
Service brakes
20
3
1
1
Tires
19
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
17
0
0
0
18 more parts
Fuel/propulsion system
16
0
0
0
Structure
13
2
0
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
10
0
0
0
Suspension
9
1
0
1
Equipment
8
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
7
0
0
0
Wheels
5
0
0
0
Fuel system, other
3
0
0
0
Seat belts
3
0
0
0
Seats
3
0
1
0
Fuel system, gasoline
2
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
2
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
2
0
0
0
Fuel system, diesel
1
0
0
0
Interior lighting
1
0
1
0
Parking brake
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, electric
1
0
0
0
Traction control system
1
0
0
0
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.
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2008 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.
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008 Chrysler 300 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2007, to May 12, 2008, Dodge Magnum vehicles manufactured May 23, 2007, to May 12, 2008, Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured May 24, 2007, to May 12, 2008, Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured April 3, 2007, to May 12, 2008, and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured March 21, 2007, to May 12, 2008. In the affected vehicles, the ignition key (FOBIK) may not return to the "ON" position after being rotated to the "START" position, instead sticking between the two positions. Potentially, while the vehicle is being driven, the ignition may inadvertently move through the "RUN" position to the "ACCESSORY" or "OFF" ignition position, turning off the engine.
Risk: If the ignition stays between "START" and "ON" positions it could cause loss of certain electrical functions. 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 and key FOBs, free of charge. The recall began August 19, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P57.
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.
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 1,338 MY 2008 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND COMMANDER VEHICLES. THE FRONT CONTROL MODULE MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING OR NOT TO START AND/OR CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. ENGINE STALLING OR INOPERATIVE WIPERS COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MODULE AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS IN A CERTAIN LOT MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED FROM GRAY IRON INSTEAD OF DUCTILE IRON AS DESIGNED AND COULD FRACTURE WITHOUT WARNING.
Risk: THIS WOULD INCREASE THE VEHICLE'S STOPPING DISTANCE AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS TO SEE IF THEY FALL INTO THIS LOT AND, IF SO, WILL REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 62 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2008 Grand Cherokee, the latest on Aug 15, 2025. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (21), equipment (17), engine and engine cooling (14), power train (11), structure (6).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
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 2008 Grand Cherokee.
See used 2008 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:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Grand Cherokee Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Diesel
18 / 23 / 20
Grand Cherokee 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Diesel
17 / 22 / 19
Grand Cherokee Rear-Wheel Drive
3.7 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
15 / 20 / 17
Grand Cherokee 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
3.7 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
15 / 19 / 17
Grand Cherokee Rear-Wheel Drive
5.7 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
13 / 19 / 15
Grand Cherokee 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
5.7 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
13 / 18 / 15
Grand Cherokee 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
4.7 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Regular Gasoline or E85
14 / 19 / 15
Grand Cherokee Rear-Wheel Drive
4.7 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Regular Gasoline or E85
14 / 19 / 15
Grand Cherokee 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
6.1 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Premium Gasoline
11 / 14 / 12
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
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