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Don’t be fooled by two American SUVs. Just because a vehicle is popular doesn’t mean it’s reliable or affordable to maintain. The Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee could cost more to care for than expected. 

Two American SUVs with high maintenance costs 

Two American SUVs are extremely popular despite having higher maintenance costs. Mechanics warn that the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee could have frequent, expensive problems to fix. 

According to mechanics, the Jeep Grand Cherokee could end up costing you more than expected over time. Reliability issues can ruin long road trips and camping adventures. 

It has a few reliability problems that lead to expensive repairs. It’s also subject to a relatively high fatality rate across registered vehicles. 

According to J.D.Power, it has a reliability rating of 77 out of 100, which is average. Scores between 70 and 80 are average while scores between 81 and 100 are best. It’s also an Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick. 

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has a 0.0293% fatality chance. It’s ranked as a safer SUV than popular rivals like the Kia Telluride and Toyota 4Runner. 

The 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee parked near a mountainous view
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee | Jeep

Next up, we have the Ford Explorer. Mechanics warned that the Explorer has problems with the transmission and engine. You may want to avoid it if you need a dependable, running vehicle. 

According to J.D.Power, the Ford Explorer has a reliability rating of 82 out of 100, so it’s in the above-average category. However, the 2020 model has a score of 60, which is pretty concerning. 

Perhaps mechanics are warning you against these two American SUVs models based on problems that previous model years have faced. Both the Grand Cherokee and the Explorer have been working to improve quality and reliability. 

Anyways, the 2023 Explorer has six reports of engine problems from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 

The 2020 Explorer has about 96 complaints about engine trouble. Plus, this model has 20 recalls. So, these SUVs have been making significant improvements, at least.

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Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.