Used car safety, rank #96 of 181
Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD Safety Rating (2017-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2017-20 Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD, a midsize SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2017-20 Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 40 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize SUVs average of 24.9, which is 61% above the class average. That places it #96 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 50.4/100.
What the Jeep Grand Cherokee death rate means
At 40 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD is 61% worse than the midsize SUVs average of 24.9. The 95% confidence interval is 18 to 62, which overlaps the class average, so some of the gap may be chance.
The other-driver death rate of 103 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Jeep Grand Cherokee. It is higher than the Jeep Grand Cherokee's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used SUVs
The safest midsize SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Nissan Pathfinder 2WD at a death rate of 0.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Pathfinder 2WD | 2018-20 | 0 (0 to 22) | 93.2 | 3.5/5 | $16,000 to $26,000 |
| Nissan Murano 2WD | 2018-20 | 4 (0 to 12) | 90.8 | 3.5/5 | $16,000 to $25,000 |
| Chevrolet Traverse 4WD | 2018-20 | 6 (0 to 13) | 88.1 | 3.0/5 | $18,000 to $30,000 |
| Subaru Ascent | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 16) | 88.1 | n/a | $22,000 to $32,000 |
| Ford Edge 4WD | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 15) | 88.1 | 3.5/5 | $17,000 to $28,000 |
| Honda Pilot 2WD | 2019-20 | 7 (0 to 20) | 84.2 | 3.5/5 | $20,000 to $32,000 |
| GMC Acadia 2WD | 2017-20 | 10 (2 to 19) | 81.9 | 3.0/5 | n/a |
| GMC Acadia 4WD | 2017-20 | 11 (3 to 20) | 81.1 | 3.0/5 | n/a |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD (this page) | 2017-20 | 40 (18 to 62) | 50.4 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize SUVs: 24.9 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Jeep Grand Cherokee
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Jeep Grand Cherokee we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | No award | 77.2 (provisional) |
| 2026 | Jeep Grand Cherokee L | No award | 77.2 (provisional) |
| 2026 | Jeep Grand Wagoneer | No award | 72.5 (provisional) |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 50.4 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
3 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering engine and engine cooling, fuel system, diesel, back over prevention.
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Engine and engine cooling
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 3, 2023. Some
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Fuel system, diesel: delivery, fuel pump
Risk: Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the HPFP, and inspect and replace, if necessary, additional fuel system components, free of charge. Interim notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed July 21, 2022.
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Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
Risk: The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD: Common Questions
Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 40 per million registered vehicle years for the 2017-20 Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD, 61% above the class average (24.9 for midsize SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 50.4 out of 100 and rank #96 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD driver death rate?
40 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 18 to 62. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Jeep Grand Cherokee died at a rate of 103 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2017-20 models.
How does the Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD compare with other midsize SUVs?
The midsize SUVs class averages 24.9 driver deaths per million; the Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD sits at 40. Among the 9 midsize SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the Nissan Pathfinder 2WD with a death rate of 0.