How safe is the Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Drivers of the 2017–2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee died at a rate of 14 per million registered vehicle years, 63% lower than the average of 38 for all vehicles. That makes it safer than most vehicles for its driver: it ranks 32nd of 127 vehicles, safer than 75% of them, whether they're small cars, SUVs, pickups or minivans.
The newer 2023 IIHS study had too little data on this model to rank it, so this page uses the earlier study of 2017–2020 models, ranked among 127 vehicles from that study.
Where the Jeep Grand Cherokee sits among all 127 vehicles
Jeep Grand Cherokee (bar is the 95% range)Every other ranked vehicleDashed line: average of 38
The rate is based on plenty of data, so this ranking is reliable.
2WD vs. 4WD
IIHS rates each drivetrain separately. The score above combines them, weighting the version with more data more heavily.
| Version | Deaths* | 95% range |
|---|---|---|
| Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD | 40 | 18–62 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD | 12 | 6–17 |
Vehicles ranked near the Jeep Grand Cherokee
These are the vehicles just above and below it on the all-class ranking. Notice they aren't all the same type: the ranking compares every vehicle against every other one. Ranks use each rate after adjusting for how much data is behind it, so a rate of 0 from a few vehicles can rank below a slightly higher rate from many. Why.
| Rank | Vehicle | Deaths* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | GMC Yukon XL 1500 4WDSUV · Very large | 11 | 78 |
| 30 | Toyota Tundra Double Cab short bed 4WDPickup · Large | 12 | 77 |
| 31 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedanLuxury car · Midsize | 13 | 76 |
| 32 | Jeep Grand CherokeeSUV · Midsize | 14 | 75 |
| 33 | Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedanLuxury car · Large | 14 | 75 |
| 34 | Ford Ranger Crew Cab 4WDPickup · Small | 14 | 73 |
| 35 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Extended Cab 4WDPickup · Large | 14 | 73 |
How it compares with other SUVs
Among the 37 SUVs ranked, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is 11th. The safest SUVs are below. See all SUVs.
| SUVs rank | Vehicle | Deaths* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota C-HRSUV · Small | 2 | 99 |
| 2 | Nissan MuranoSUV · Midsize | 6 | 90 |
| 3 | Subaru AscentSUV · Midsize | 6 | 90 |
| 4 | Ford EdgeSUV · Midsize | 8 | 85 |
| 5 | Chevrolet TraverseSUV · Midsize | 9 | 83 |
| 11 | Jeep Grand CherokeeSUV · Midsize | 14 | 75 |
Common questions
Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee a safe vehicle?
By real-world driver deaths, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is safer than most vehicles for its driver. Its driver death rate of 14 per million registered vehicle years is 63% lower than the average, and it ranks 32nd of 127 vehicles across all classes.
How does the Jeep Grand Cherokee compare with other SUVs?
It ranks 11th of 37 SUVs. The safest is the Toyota C-HR, with a rate of 2.
Is the 2WD or 4WD Jeep Grand Cherokee safer?
The 4WD version had the lower driver death rate (2WD: 40, 4WD: 12). Their ranges don't overlap, so the difference is likely real.
Why is this different from the Jeep Grand Cherokee's crash-test rating?
Crash-test stars only compare vehicles of similar size and weight, so a 5-star small car and a 5-star SUV aren't equally safe. This ranking uses real-world driver death rates, which can be compared across every class.
* Driver deaths per million registered vehicle years. A registered vehicle year is one vehicle registered for one year.