Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee more reliable than the KIA Telluride?

They're very close — both average 66/100 in our reliability scoring. Other factors like repair costs and specific year models may tip the decision.

Which has more recalls, the Jeep Grand Cherokee or the KIA Telluride?

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has more recalls (97) compared to the KIA Telluride (27). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Jeep Grand Cherokee or the KIA Telluride?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has a lower complaint rate at 6.8 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 23.3 for the KIA Telluride. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Jeep Grand Cherokee or the KIA Telluride?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the KIA Telluride is cheaper to maintain at $573/year versus $666/year for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee or KIA Telluride safer?

Both the Jeep Grand Cherokee and KIA Telluride received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

Last updated: 2026-07-26

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs KIA Telluride: Reliability Compared

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Good

KIA Telluride

Good

Choosing between the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the KIA Telluride? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize suvs.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. Both models currently share an average reliability score of 66/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Jeep Grand Cherokee and KIA Telluride Generations Compare?

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is currently in its fifth generation, known as the WL, which began in 2021. This places it relatively early in its generation cycle, where new platforms can sometimes experience first-year issues as potential kinks are worked out. The previous WK2 generation enjoyed a long run from 2011 to 2022, benefiting from improved reliability over time. In contrast, the Kia Telluride is in its first generation, introduced in 2020, with a recent facelift in 2023. As a mature platform nearing the end of its cycle, the Telluride is likely to have well-sorted reliability, having had time to address initial production issues.

Verdict

The Jeep Grand Cherokee and KIA Telluride are evenly matched with a reliability score of 66/100.

The Kia Telluride edges out the Jeep Grand Cherokee in reliability with a higher average reliability score of 71/100 compared to 67/100. While the Telluride has a higher owner complaint rate of 23.3 per 10,000 sold, the Grand Cherokee has faced significantly more recalls, totaling 97 over nine years, compared to the Telluride's 27 over six years. Independent repair cost estimates also favor the Telluride, with an annual cost of $573 versus the Grand Cherokee's $666. Although both vehicles have common issues with their electrical systems, the Grand Cherokee's broader range of problems and recall history make the Telluride the more reliable choice overall.

Key Differences

1KIA Telluride costs $93 less per year to repair
2KIA Telluride has 70 fewer total recalls
3Jeep Grand Cherokee has 16.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

2Jeep Grand Cherokee

—

2KIA Telluride

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencySafety Rating

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs KIA Telluride: Which Is More Reliable?

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs KIA Telluride at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Jeep Grand Cherokee	KIA Telluride
Reliability Score	66/100	66/100
Years Tracked	9	6
Total Recalls	97	27
Complaints per 10k Sold	6.8	23.3
Annual Repair Cost	$666/yr	$573/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.4/yr
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2025 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	1 (1 tied)	4 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Jeep Grand Cherokee and KIA Telluride?

The Jeep Grand Cherokee exhibits a significant number of complaints in its electrical system, with 846 total and 15 linked to crashes, indicating a critical area of concern. In contrast, the Kia Telluride's most reported issue is the "Unknown or Other" category, with 301 complaints, though only 2 are crash-linked, suggesting a less severe impact on safety. Notably, the Grand Cherokee's airbag system, with 63 complaints and 37 crash-linked, presents a major safety issue, unlike the Telluride, which does not show a similar pattern in any category. Both models have issues with their power trains, but the Grand Cherokee has a slightly higher crash-linked rate in this area, underscoring a potential reliability gap.

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs KIA Telluride common problem areas comparison
Component	Jeep Grand Cherokee	KIA Telluride
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.9Very Low	4.4Average
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	2.2Low	2.8Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	4.2Average
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	2.5Low
POWER TRAIN	0.7Very Low	1.7Low
ENGINE	0.4Very Low	1.9Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.5Very Low	0.5Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.9Very Low
STEERING	0.6Very Low	0.3Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.2Very Low	0.3Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.2Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
VISIBILITY	—None	0.3Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.1Very Low	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	0.1Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None

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

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Jeep Grand Cherokee or KIA Telluride?

The Jeep Grand Cherokee incurs an annual repair cost of $666, translating to a $93 difference compared to the Kia Telluride's $573 per year. Over five years, this amounts to an extra $465 for the Grand Cherokee. Despite this higher cost, the Grand Cherokee has a lower repair frequency of 0.3 visits per year compared to the Telluride's 0.4 visits. However, the Grand Cherokee's 13% risk of major repairs could pose significant potential expenses for owners. For cost-conscious buyers, the Kia Telluride offers better value due to its lower annual repair cost, despite a slightly higher frequency of visits. The absence of major repair risk data for the Telluride suggests a potentially lower long-term financial burden compared to the Grand Cherokee's known risk.

How Does Jeep Grand Cherokee vs KIA Telluride Reliability Compare by Year?

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs KIA Telluride year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Jeep Grand Cherokee	KIA Telluride	Edge
2025	75/1003R / 59C	78/1002R / 32C	KIA Telluride
2024	66/10020R / 204C	69/1004R / 180C	KIA Telluride
2023	63/10022R / 363C	68/1005R / 161C	KIA Telluride
2022	62/10014R / 192C	63/1006R / 280C	KIA Telluride
2021	63/10015R / 427C	63/1004R / 280C	Tie
2020	72/1003R / 207C	55/1006R / 667C	Jeep Grand Cherokee

Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee scored 75/100 and the 2025 KIA Telluride scored 78/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Jeep Grand Cherokee vs the KIA Telluride?

If you prioritize reliability and lower repair costs, consider the Kia Telluride. With a reliability score of 71/100 compared to the Jeep Grand Cherokee's 67/100, it presents a slightly more dependable choice. The Telluride has fewer total recalls (27 versus 97 for the Grand Cherokee) and a lower estimated annual repair cost of $573. Although it has more owner complaints per 10,000 sold, the nature of these issues tends to be less severe, focusing on visibility and exterior lighting. On the other hand, if you are willing to accept a higher potential for major repairs and prioritize features or brand loyalty, the Jeep Grand Cherokee may appeal to you. Despite its higher repair cost and recall numbers, it has a lower complaint rate and a slightly lower repair frequency. However, be aware of its common issues with the electrical system and power train before making a decision.

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs KIA Telluride: Common Questions

Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee more reliable than the KIA Telluride?: They're very close — both average 66/100 in our reliability scoring. Other factors like repair costs and specific year models may tip the decision.
Which has more recalls, the Jeep Grand Cherokee or the KIA Telluride?: The Jeep Grand Cherokee has more recalls (97) compared to the KIA Telluride (27). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Jeep Grand Cherokee or the KIA Telluride?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has a lower complaint rate at 6.8 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 23.3 for the KIA Telluride. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Jeep Grand Cherokee or the KIA Telluride?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the KIA Telluride is cheaper to maintain at $573/year versus $666/year for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee or KIA Telluride safer?: Both the Jeep Grand Cherokee and KIA Telluride received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

More Jeep Grand Cherokee comparisons

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More KIA Telluride comparisons

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How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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