Last updated: 2026-03-04
Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Toyota Grand Highlander: Reliability Compared
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Toyota Grand Highlander
Choosing between the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Toyota Grand Highlander? 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 Toyota Grand Highlander currently leads with an average score of 75/100 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 Toyota Grand Highlander Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Toyota Grand Highlander is more reliable than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, scoring 75/100 vs 66/100.
The Toyota Grand Highlander outshines the Jeep Grand Cherokee in terms of reliability, boasting a higher average reliability score of 85/100 compared to the Grand Cherokee's 67/100. Although the Grand Highlander has a slightly higher owner complaint rate of 8.2 per 10,000 sold, its recall history is significantly better, with only 10 recalls across three years versus the Grand Cherokee's 97 recalls over nine years. Furthermore, the Grand Cherokee's estimated annual repair cost of $666 suggests potential ongoing expenses that remain undisclosed for the Grand Highlander. Overall, the Grand Highlander's reliability metrics and recall performance make it the more dependable choice.
Key Differences
- 1Toyota Grand Highlander has 87 fewer total recalls
- 2Toyota Grand Highlander scores 9 points higher in reliability
- 3Jeep Grand Cherokee has 1.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Toyota Grand Highlander: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Jeep Grand Cherokee | Toyota Grand Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 66/100 | 75/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 3 |
| Total Recalls | 97 | 10 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 6.8 | 8.2 |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 0 | 2 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota Grand Highlander?
The Jeep Grand Cherokee shows a significant number of complaints concentrated in the electrical system, with 846 issues, including 15 crash-linked incidents, suggesting a potential reliability concern in this area. Additionally, the Grand Cherokee has a notably high number of crash-linked complaints related to air bags, with 37 out of 63 complaints involving crashes. In contrast, the Toyota Grand Highlander has a much lower overall complaint count, with only 204 issues, and its most problematic category, "unknown or other," comprises just 42 complaints. While the Grand Highlander does have a small number of crash-linked air bag issues, it does not exhibit the same level of severity in any specific area compared to the Grand Cherokee's electrical and air bag concerns.
| Component | Jeep Grand Cherokee | Toyota Grand Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2.2Low | 0.6Very Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.9Very Low | 1.7Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.7Very Low | 1.4Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.2Very Low | 1.1Low |
| STEERING | 0.6Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.6Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.4Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | 0.2Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.5Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.1Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —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: Jeep Grand Cherokee or Toyota Grand Highlander?
How Does Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Toyota Grand Highlander Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Jeep Grand Cherokee | Toyota Grand Highlander | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 75/1003R / 59C | 80/1003R / 33C | Toyota Grand Highlander |
| 2024 | 66/10020R / 204C | 69/1007R / 171C | Toyota Grand Highlander |
| 2026(predicted) | 68/100(predicted) | 75/100(predicted) | Toyota Grand Highlander |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee scored 75/100 and the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander scored 80/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Jeep Grand Cherokee vs the Toyota Grand Highlander?
Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Toyota Grand Highlander: Common Questions
- Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee more reliable than the Toyota Grand Highlander?
- Based on our data, the Toyota Grand Highlander is more reliable with an average score of 75/100 compared to 66/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Jeep Grand Cherokee or the Toyota Grand Highlander?
- The Jeep Grand Cherokee has more recalls (97) compared to the Toyota Grand Highlander (10). 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 Toyota Grand Highlander?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has a lower complaint rate at 6.8 per 10,000 sold versus 8.2 for the Toyota Grand Highlander. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee or Toyota Grand Highlander safer?
- Both the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota Grand Highlander 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.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Jeep Grand Cherokee comparisons
More Toyota Grand Highlander comparisons
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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