Jeep Grand Cherokee: What to Look For Before You Buy

The Grand Cherokee spans two distinct generations in this year range: the well-known WK2 (2011-2021) and the redesigned WL (2022+). The WK2 at this point has enough high-mileage data to assess confidently, and the news is mixed: the 3.6L Pentastar V6 and 5.7L HEMI are proven engines, but the air suspension (optional on Summit and above) and the 8-speed ZF transmission have been the source of ongoing owner complaints that have proven expensive to resolve. The air suspension issue alone is a condition checkpoint worth examining in every WK2 listing photo.

What to Look For in Photos

Paint and Body

The Grand Cherokee's paint quality has been a consistent criticism, particularly on 2017-2019 WK2 models. Stone chips on the hood and A-pillar cladding appear earlier and deeper than on Japanese competitors. On Trailhawk variants, undercarriage scraping is expected, but look at the lower front and rear bumper fascias for contact damage from approach and departure angle exceedances. The Grand Cherokee L (2021+, 3-row) has a longer wheelbase that makes it more susceptible to center undercarriage contact on steep terrain.

Tires

Standard V6 trims run 265/50R20. The HEMI trims use 265/45R20. The Trailhawk runs 265/60R18 all-terrain tires. The Summit Reserve 4xe PHEV uses 265/45R20 on its 20-inch wheels. Air suspension-equipped models change ride height automatically, and tires on air suspension Cherokees may show unusual wear if the system failed in one position and wasn't repaired promptly.

Interior

The Grand Cherokee interior quality varies widely by trim. The Laredo's hard plastic surfaces show wear quickly. The Summit's leather and real wood trim holds up well visually but check for stitching separation at the seat bolsters and dashboard seam lifting at the A-pillar transition. The panoramic sunroof on 2017-2021 models has a known noise issue at highway speeds that requires dealer adjustment.

What Dr. Vin Checks on a Grand Cherokee

Dr.Vin assesses the Grand Cherokee's ride height consistency in photos to flag potential air suspension sag, evaluates paint chip density on the hood and front panels, and checks bumper contact damage on Trailhawk models. Interior trim gap consistency at the dashboard and A-pillar is evaluated for the known separation issue on older trims.

How It Compares

The Grand Cherokee competes with the Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Tahoe in different ways: the Explorer is car-based like the Cherokee, while the Tahoe is body-on-frame and larger. For three-row needs, the Grand Cherokee L or the Explorer are more direct comparisons. The Grand Cherokee commands a premium for its interior quality and brand identity, but the Tahoe's body-on-frame construction and simpler powertrains have a stronger long-term reliability record at 150,000+ miles.