2021 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2021 Ford Explorer | 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 407 | 399 |
| Recall campaigns | 26 | 12 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 289 | 1,312 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 13 | 20 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 8 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–27 | 17–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 42,000 mi | 19,146 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Jeep Grand Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 112 | 56 |
| Electrical System | 40 | 113 |
| Steering | 5 | 102 |
| Engine | 44 | 60 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 16 | 37 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 42 |
| Service Brakes | 19 | 28 |
| Suspension | 15 | 30 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 31 | 30 |
| Loss of power | 15 | 20 |
| Vibration / shaking | 13 | 9 |
| Hesitation / surging | 12 | 7 |
| Check engine light | 10 | 20 |
| Clunking / rattling | 9 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 11 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 9 |
2021 Ford Explorer
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Jeep Grand Cherokee years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.