Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee more reliable than the Subaru Outback?

Based on our data, the Subaru Outback is more reliable with an average score of 71/100 compared to 66/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Jeep Grand Cherokee or the Subaru Outback?

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has more recalls (97) compared to the Subaru Outback (22). 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 Subaru Outback?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has a lower complaint rate at 6.8 per 10,000 sold versus 26.1 for the Subaru Outback. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Jeep Grand Cherokee or the Subaru Outback?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Subaru Outback is cheaper to maintain at $607/year versus $666/year for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Last updated: 2026-03-04

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Subaru Outback: Reliability Compared

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Good

More Reliable

Subaru Outback

Good

Choosing between the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Subaru Outback? 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. The Subaru Outback currently leads with an average score of 71/100 compared to 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 Subaru Outback Generations Compare?

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is currently in its fifth generation (WL), which began in 2021. Being early in its generation cycle, it may experience some first-year issues typical of newer platforms. In contrast, the Subaru Outback is in its sixth generation (BT), introduced in 2020, with a refresh in 2023. This places the Outback in a more mature stage of its cycle, potentially offering more refined reliability. Significant facelifts, like the 2023 refresh for the Outback, often address early issues, enhancing reliability. Buyers should consider these factors, as mature platforms generally tend to be better sorted than newer ones.

Verdict

The Subaru Outback is more reliable than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, scoring 71/100 vs 66/100.

The Subaru Outback demonstrates a higher reliability score of 74/100 compared to the Jeep Grand Cherokee's 67/100, indicating a slight edge in overall dependability. While the Outback has a higher complaint rate at 26.1 per 10,000 units sold versus the Grand Cherokee's 6.8, it benefits from a significantly lower total recall count of 22 compared to the Grand Cherokee's 97. Additionally, the Outback has a lower estimated annual repair cost at $607, compared to the Grand Cherokee's $666. Overall, the Outback's better reliability score and fewer recalls make it a more reliable choice despite its higher complaint rate.

Key Differences

1Subaru Outback has 75 fewer total recalls
2Subaru Outback costs $59 less per year to repair
3Jeep Grand Cherokee has 19.3 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

2Jeep Grand Cherokee

—

4Subaru Outback

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair Risk

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Subaru Outback: Which Is More Reliable?

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Subaru Outback at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Subaru Outback
Reliability Score	66/100	71/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	97	22
Complaints per 10k Sold	6.8	26.1
Annual Repair Cost	$666/yr	$607/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.4/yr
Major Repair Risk	13%	12%
Year Wins	2	6

What Are the Common Problems With the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Subaru Outback?

The Jeep Grand Cherokee and Subaru Outback exhibit distinct problem profiles, with both models showing significant issues in different areas. The Jeep Grand Cherokee has a notable concentration of complaints in the electrical system (846 complaints, 15 crash-linked) and service brakes (180 complaints, 18 crash-linked), highlighting potential safety concerns. In contrast, the Subaru Outback's visibility/wiper category leads with 1142 complaints, though only 1 is crash-linked, suggesting a widespread but less severe issue. While both vehicles have a similar number of airbag-related complaints, the crash-linked incidents are more pronounced in the Jeep Grand Cherokee (37) compared to the Subaru Outback (15), indicating a higher potential safety risk for this component in the Grand Cherokee.

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Subaru Outback common problem areas comparison
Component	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Subaru Outback
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	2.2Low	7.2Above Avg
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	8.3Above Avg
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.9Very Low	3.4Average
POWER TRAIN	0.7Very Low	0.7Very Low
STEERING	0.6Very Low	0.7Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.5Very Low	0.3Very Low
ENGINE	0.4Very Low	0.4Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.5Very Low
VISIBILITY	—None	0.7Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	0.3Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.2Very Low	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.1Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.1Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	—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 Subaru Outback?

The independent repair cost data reveals that the Subaru Outback has a slightly lower annual repair cost at $607 compared to the Jeep Grand Cherokee's $666, resulting in a $59 savings per year, or $295 over five years. Despite the Outback having a higher repair frequency of 0.4 visits per year versus the Grand Cherokee's 0.3, the risk of encountering a major repair is marginally lower at 12% compared to the Grand Cherokee's 13%. For cost-conscious buyers, the Subaru Outback offers a better value with its lower overall repair costs and reduced risk of significant repairs, despite needing more frequent minor maintenance.

How Does Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Subaru Outback Reliability Compare by Year?

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Subaru Outback year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Subaru Outback	Edge
2025	75/1003R / 59C	82/1000R / 43C	Subaru Outback
2024	66/10020R / 204C	82/1000R / 69C	Subaru Outback
2023	63/10022R / 363C	77/1002R / 83C	Subaru Outback
2022	62/10014R / 192C	67/1004R / 435C	Subaru Outback
2021	63/10015R / 427C	69/1004R / 283C	Subaru Outback
2020	72/1003R / 207C	60/1006R / 884C	Jeep Grand Cherokee
2019	67/1007R / 336C	63/1003R / 1017C	Jeep Grand Cherokee
2018	60/10011R / 804C	64/1003R / 779C	Subaru Outback
2026(predicted)	68/100(predicted)	80/100(predicted)	Subaru Outback

Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee scored 75/100 and the 2025 Subaru Outback scored 82/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Jeep Grand Cherokee vs the Subaru Outback?

If you prioritize overall reliability and a lower number of recalls, the Subaru Outback may be the better choice for you. With a reliability score of 74/100 and only 22 total recalls, it offers a more dependable experience. While the Outback has a higher rate of owner complaints at 26.1 per 10,000 sold, its estimated annual repair cost is slightly lower at $607, and it has a marginally lower major repair risk of 12%. On the other hand, if lower owner complaints are more important to you, the Jeep Grand Cherokee might be a better fit. It has fewer complaints at 6.8 per 10,000 sold, though it does come with a higher number of total recalls at 97. The Grand Cherokee's estimated annual repair cost is $666, with a repair frequency of 0.3 times per year and a 13% risk of major repairs. Consider this option if you are less concerned about recalls and more focused on day-to-day satisfaction.

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Subaru Outback: Common Questions

Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee more reliable than the Subaru Outback?: Based on our data, the Subaru Outback is more reliable with an average score of 71/100 compared to 66/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Jeep Grand Cherokee or the Subaru Outback?: The Jeep Grand Cherokee has more recalls (97) compared to the Subaru Outback (22). 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 Subaru Outback?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has a lower complaint rate at 6.8 per 10,000 sold versus 26.1 for the Subaru Outback. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Jeep Grand Cherokee or the Subaru Outback?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Subaru Outback is cheaper to maintain at $607/year versus $666/year for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

More Jeep Grand Cherokee comparisons

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More Subaru Outback 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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