Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee more reliable than the Chevrolet Traverse?

No, the Traverse has a slight edge. Both stand as good, but the Traverse has far fewer federal recalls, 19 against 97. The Grand Cherokee does better on shop visits and major-repair odds, so the lead is narrow and depends on the model year.

Which has more recalls, the Grand Cherokee or the Traverse?

The Grand Cherokee has many more. Federal recall records show 97 across nine model years for the Jeep and 19 for the Chevrolet. A VIN check on any used example will show which recalls were open and which were completed.

Which costs less to repair, the Traverse or the Grand Cherokee?

The Traverse costs slightly less, at $656 a year against $666. That is about $50 over five years. The Grand Cherokee visits the shop less often, 0.3 times a year versus 0.4, and has a 13% chance of a major repair against 18% for the Traverse.

What is the common exhaust problem on the Chevrolet Traverse?

The front exhaust pipe bracket cracks at its welds, and the pipe then tears. Owners hear a rattle at startup that grows into a loud roar, and some smell fumes in the cabin. GM special coverage applies to 2019 and 2021 models but not 2020, so 2020 owners paid themselves.

What are the most serious Grand Cherokee complaints?

Electrical and brake reports carry the most crash links. Owners describe sudden acceleration while parking, brakes slow to respond, and the engine shutting off while driving. Steering that cuts out with a power steering message is also reported, and the Traverse has no steering area in its main problems.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Traverse vs Jeep Grand Cherokee: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Chevrolet Traverse

Good

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Good

Slightly ahead on reliability: the Chevrolet Traverse, over the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Recalls decide it, 19 versus 97. Annual repair cost is nearly even, and the Grand Cherokee makes fewer shop visits, so the gap is small and both models stand as good.

How Do the Chevrolet Traverse and Jeep Grand Cherokee Generations Compare?

Overlap defines the Jeep's recent years. The fourth generation (WK2) ran from 2011 through 2022, and the fifth generation (WL) arrived in 2021, so 2021 and 2022 belong to both lists. The Traverse sits in its second generation, which began in 2018 and received a facelift for 2022. A third generation is listed starting in 2024. For the Traverse, the weakest years, 2018 and 2019, fall at the start of the generation. Newer years of either model have had less time to collect complaints, so a thin record is not proof of good reliability.

Verdict

The Chevrolet Traverse is more reliable than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, scoring 70/100 vs 66/100.

A slight edge goes to the Chevrolet Traverse. The deciding fact is recalls: federal records show 19 across nine model years for the Traverse and 97 for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Independent repair-cost data also puts the Traverse a few dollars cheaper per year. The gap is small, though. The Grand Cherokee needs fewer unscheduled shop visits and is less likely to hit you with a major repair. Both stand as good, so neither is a risky buy, and the model year you pick matters about as much as the badge.

Key Differences

1Chevrolet Traverse has 78 fewer total recalls
2Chevrolet Traverse costs $10 less per year to repair
3Jeep Grand Cherokee has 5% lower major repair risk

Category Scoreboard

3Chevrolet Traverse

—

3Jeep Grand Cherokee

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Chevrolet Traverse vs Jeep Grand Cherokee: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Traverse vs Jeep Grand Cherokee at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Traverse	Jeep Grand Cherokee
Reliability Score	70/100	66/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	19	97
Complaints per 10k Sold	7.2	6.8
Annual Repair Cost	$656/yr	$666/yr
Repair Frequency	0.4/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	18%	13%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	6 (1 tied)	2 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Traverse and Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Electrical trouble leads the Grand Cherokee's complaints, with sudden acceleration while parking, engine shutoffs and failed touchscreens. Its transmission reports include harsh shifts and full replacements, and its steering can cut out without warning. Steering is crash-linked there, and it is not among the Traverse's main areas. The Traverse is mostly a drivetrain and exhaust story: AWD shutting off, RPM sticking high, early alternator failure, and cracked front exhaust brackets. Its engine complaints show no crash links, while the Grand Cherokee's engine, with cam and rocker arm wear, has two.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Jeep Grand Cherokee common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Traverse	Jeep Grand Cherokee
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.1Low	2.2Low
POWER TRAIN	2.2Low	0.7Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.9Very Low	0.9Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.7Very Low	0.5Very Low
ENGINE	0.6Very Low	0.4Very Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	0.6Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.2Very Low	—None
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	—None
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
SEATS	—None	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.1Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Chevrolet Traverse or Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Independent repair-cost data puts the Traverse at $656 a year and the Grand Cherokee at $666. Over five years that is about $50 in the Traverse's favor, which is small. The Grand Cherokee makes fewer unscheduled shop visits, 0.3 a year against 0.4. It also has a lower chance that a repair is major, 13% against 18%. Expect similar yearly bills, but a Traverse repair is more likely to be a big one.

How Does Chevrolet Traverse vs Jeep Grand Cherokee Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Traverse vs Jeep Grand Cherokee year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Traverse	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Edge
2026	76/1000R / 6C	70/1002R / 0C	Chevrolet Traverse
2025	75/1000R / 132C	75/1003R / 59C	Tie
2024	73/1000R / 107C	66/10020R / 204C	Chevrolet Traverse
2023	72/1002R / 62C	63/10022R / 363C	Chevrolet Traverse
2022	73/1001R / 76C	62/10014R / 192C	Chevrolet Traverse
2021	71/1003R / 72C	63/10015R / 427C	Chevrolet Traverse
2020	62/1008R / 188C	72/1003R / 207C	Jeep Grand Cherokee
2019	62/1003R / 358C	67/1007R / 336C	Jeep Grand Cherokee
2018	62/1002R / 416C	60/10011R / 804C	Chevrolet Traverse

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse scored 73/100 and the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee scored 72/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Traverse vs the Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Choose the Traverse if you want the lighter recall history and can live with a drivetrain quirk or two. Target the 2019 or 2021 model, since GM special coverage for the exhaust bracket applies to those years. Avoid 2018 and 2019 on the weak-year list, and be wary of 2020, where owners reported paying for the bracket repair themselves. If you drive on ice, test the AWD carefully, because some owners saw it shut off. Choose the Grand Cherokee if you want fewer shop trips and a lower chance that a repair turns major. Look for a 2020, one of its stronger years, and avoid 2018 and 2022. Before you buy, have a shop check the transmission behavior and the steering, and ask for the recall history by VIN, since the model carries a long recall list. Skip it if the steering cutting out or sudden acceleration reports worry you, because those carry the most crash links.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Jeep Grand Cherokee: Common Questions

Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee more reliable than the Chevrolet Traverse?: No, the Traverse has a slight edge. Both stand as good, but the Traverse has far fewer federal recalls, 19 against 97. The Grand Cherokee does better on shop visits and major-repair odds, so the lead is narrow and depends on the model year.
Which has more recalls, the Grand Cherokee or the Traverse?: The Grand Cherokee has many more. Federal recall records show 97 across nine model years for the Jeep and 19 for the Chevrolet. A VIN check on any used example will show which recalls were open and which were completed.
Which costs less to repair, the Traverse or the Grand Cherokee?: The Traverse costs slightly less, at $656 a year against $666. That is about $50 over five years. The Grand Cherokee visits the shop less often, 0.3 times a year versus 0.4, and has a 13% chance of a major repair against 18% for the Traverse.
What is the common exhaust problem on the Chevrolet Traverse?: The front exhaust pipe bracket cracks at its welds, and the pipe then tears. Owners hear a rattle at startup that grows into a loud roar, and some smell fumes in the cabin. GM special coverage applies to 2019 and 2021 models but not 2020, so 2020 owners paid themselves.
What are the most serious Grand Cherokee complaints?: Electrical and brake reports carry the most crash links. Owners describe sudden acceleration while parking, brakes slow to respond, and the engine shutting off while driving. Steering that cuts out with a power steering message is also reported, and the Traverse has no steering area in its main problems.

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More Jeep Grand Cherokee comparisons

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Decided between Chevrolet Traverse and Jeep Grand Cherokee? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Chevrolet Traverse and Jeep Grand Cherokee

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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