2021 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
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 L |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 407 | 73 |
| Recall campaigns | 26 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 289 | 207 |
| Investigations | 2 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 13 | 3 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–27 | 17–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 42,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Jeep Grand Cherokee L |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 112 | 12 |
| Electrical System | 40 | 25 |
| Engine | 44 | 8 |
| Back Over Prevention | 36 | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 19 | 17 |
| Visibility/wiper | 23 | 1 |
| Structure | 23 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 19 | 4 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 31 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 15 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 13 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 12 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 10 | 5 |
| Clunking / rattling | 9 | 0 |
2021 Ford Explorer
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Jeep Grand Cherokee L 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.