2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPG
The 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee gets 11–16 mpg in the city and 14–21 on the highway (12–18 combined), across the 9 versions the EPA rated.
The most efficient pairs the 3.7-liter 6-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, at 18 mpg combined. The thirstiest version uses the 6.1-liter 8-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive and is rated 12 mpg combined. That is 2 mpg lower than the best gasoline 2008 version (20 mpg).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Cherokee 2WD | 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 21 | 18 | Regular · 494 g CO₂/mi |
| Grand Cherokee 4WD | 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | Regular · 523 g CO₂/mi |
| Grand Cherokee 2WD | 5.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | Regular · 555 g CO₂/mi |
| Grand Cherokee 2WD | 4.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 15 | Regular · 592 g CO₂/mi |
| Grand Cherokee 4WD | 5.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 19 | 15 | Regular · 592 g CO₂/mi |
| Grand Cherokee 4WD | 4.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 15 | Regular · 592 g CO₂/mi |
| Grand Cherokee 2WD | 4.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 15 | Gasoline or E85 · 592 g CO₂/mi |
| Grand Cherokee 4WD | 4.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 15 | Gasoline or E85 · 592 g CO₂/mi |
| Grand Cherokee SRT8 AWD | 6.1 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 11 | 14 | 12 | Premium · 741 g CO₂/mi |
2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee costs about $3,630 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (18 mpg combined), or roughly 24 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (15 mpg combined) comes to about $4,360 a year, $730 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee specs
2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee buyers could choose between 4 engines, according to EPA records: 4.7 L 8-cyl, 3.7 L 6-cyl, 5.7 L 8-cyl and 6.1 L 8-cyl. It came with an automatic transmission, in all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive versions. The EPA classes it as a sport utility vehicle.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7 L | 8 | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 4 |
| 3.7 L | 6 | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 5.7 L | 8 | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 6.1 L | 8 | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 1 |
2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems
Owners have filed 138 complaints about the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee with NHTSA, the U.S. vehicle-safety agency, as of October 2026.
Electrical system is the most-reported area (25% of component mentions), followed by power train (12%) and engine (11%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 7.6 complaints a year: fewer than the 2008 (38 a year) and more than the 2010 (6.9 a year).
That ranks 16th of 17 Jeep Grand Cherokee model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 138, 4 mention a crash and 1 an injury, and none report a fire.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 48 | 25% |
| Power train | 23 | 12% |
| Engine | 22 | 11% |
| Air bags | 12 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 12 | 6% |
| Steering | 11 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 10 | 5% |
| Wheels | 10 | 5% |
| Structure | 9 | 5% |
| Tires | 9 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 2% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 3 | 2% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 2 | 1% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 2 | 1% |
| Suspension | 2 | 1% |
| Equipment | 1 | <1% |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 1 | <1% |
| Seat belts | 1 | <1% |
| Seats | 1 | <1% |
| Visibility | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
My car is driving okay but it’s having some electrical issues and it shuts down.
TRANSMISSION WILL DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT IT IS TO COAST TO A STOP, PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK THEN SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART. ONLY THEN WILL CAR BECOME DRIVABLE AGAIN. …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEIZED. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. …
2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee, plus 1 recall of replacement equipment made for it.
The most recent, campaign 13V175000 from May 2013, concerns electrical system and power train.
Electrical system accounts for 2 of the 3 campaigns, more than any other area.
09V118000 · April 9, 2009 · Air bags, Electrical system
Problem: WIRING MAY BE REVERSED ON THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE DRIVER AIRBAG SQUIB CONNECTOR. THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG MAY NOT PROPERLY INFLATE AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT AN OCCUPANT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG SQUIB WIRES AND REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Grand Cherokee years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V175000 | May 7, 2013 | Electrical system, Power train | 2008–2010 |
| 09E039000 | June 19, 2009 | Suspension (equipment) | 2008–2009 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 1 version of the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee, without an overall score.
These ratings use NHTSA's pre-2011 test method, so they can't be compared with stars for 2011 and later models.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-door with side air bags | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Jeep Grand Cherokees can be compared fairly. Among other 2009 models in the EPA's sport utility vehicle class, the 2009 Ford Explorer (17 mpg), 2009 Honda Pilot (19 mpg) and 2009 Jeep Wrangler (17 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 20 | 734 | 38 | 5 |
| 2009 | 18 | 138 | 7.6 | 3 |
| 2010 | 18 | 118 | 6.9 | 5 |
| 2011 | 18 | 1,641 | 102 | 6 |
| 2012 | 19 | 1,644 | 109 | 11 |
Every Jeep Grand Cherokee model year compared →
Similar 2009 models
FAQ
Is the 2009 Grand Cherokee a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 7.6 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (16th most of 17 model years), 2 recall campaigns and up to 18 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2009 Grand Cherokee problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are electrical system (48), power train (23) and engine (22). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2009 Grand Cherokee have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 1 replacement-equipment recall. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Grand Cherokee get?
The EPA rates the versions at 12–18 mpg combined (11–16 city, 14–21 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2009 Grand Cherokee per year?
About $3,630 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $4,360 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).