2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Common problems & what to know before you buy
Before you message the seller, know the documented failure patterns, repair cost exposure, and risk level for the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
What to watch for on the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee
HEMI MDS Lifter and Camshaft Failure
The Multi-Displacement System deactivates cylinders, and the associated lifters can collapse and wipe the camshaft lobe. A tick or tap at cold start is the warning sign. One of the most expensive failures on the generation.
TIPM Electrical Module Failure
The Totally Integrated Power Module controls fuel pump, lighting, and more, and its internal relays fail, causing no-start conditions, phantom electrical faults, and stalling. Diagnosis is often slow and the module is expensive.
5 more known problems on the 2009 Grand Cherokee
Your guide shows all of them and which apply to the exact car, and what to ask the seller.
2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee price ranges
HEMI cars with documented lifter or camshaft work already done are worth a premium, because that repair is the most likely large bill facing the next owner. The CRD diesel has a devoted following and holds value well when the emissions components have been sorted. SRT8 prices have firmed up as they become collectible.
Recalls on the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Electrical system: wiring
WIRING MAY BE REVERSED ON THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE DRIVER AIRBAG SQUIB CONNECTOR.
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)
A transfer case electrical failure may result in an unintentional shifting of the transfer case into the neutral position.
Suspension
THESE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS WERE PRODUCED WITH GRADE 2 CARRIAGE BOLTS INSTEAD OF THE PROPER GRADE 5 CARRIAGE BOLTS.
Source: NHTSA
What 138 owners reported
Source: NHTSA
2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee at a glance
- Trims
- LaredoLimitedOverlandSRT8
- Engine
- 3.7L 6-Cylinder, 5.7L 8-Cylinder, 4.7L 8-Cylinder, 3.0L 6-Cylinder Turbo Diesel, 6.1L 8-Cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic 5-spd
- Drivetrain
- RWD, 4WD, AWD
- Fuel
- Gasoline, Diesel
- Body style
- SUV
Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK) Buyer's Guide
HEMI Lifters and the CRD Diesel
The WK (2005-2010) moved the Grand Cherokee to an independent front suspension, improving on-road manners at some cost to hardcore off-road articulation, and brought the widest engine range in the model's history. It is the generation where engine choice determines almost everything about the ownership experience.
Engines: The 3.7-liter V6 is adequate but strained and the least desirable. The 4.7-liter V8 carries over its head concerns. The 5.7-liter HEMI is the enthusiast pick and genuinely quick, but its Multi-Displacement System is associated with camshaft and lifter failure. The 6.1-liter SRT8 is a proper performance SUV. The 3.0-liter CRD diesel from 2007-2008 uses the Mercedes OM642 and returns excellent economy, with the caveat that emissions components are expensive.
What to look for: On any HEMI, listen carefully at cold start for a tick or tap from the top end, which is the classic warning of MDS lifter and cam wear. Check exhaust manifold bolts, which shear and produce a distinctive tick. On the CRD, ask about EGR cooler and swirl motor history. Across all engines, the TIPM electrical module is a known failure point that produces baffling faults.
Reality check: The WK is cheap now, and a good HEMI example is a lot of vehicle for the money. Budget for suspension bushings and an electrical gremlin or two.
About the WK
The WK Grand Cherokee, built from 2005 to 2010, moved to an independent front suspension, improving on-road manners at some cost to hardcore off-road articulation, and offered the widest engine range in the model's history. Buyers could choose a 3.7-liter V6, a 4.7-liter V8, the 5.7-liter HEMI, the 6.1-liter SRT8, or the Mercedes-derived 3.0-liter CRD diesel offered in 2007 and 2008. The Trailhawk name had not yet appeared, but Quadra-Drive II with its electronic limited-slip differentials made a properly equipped WK very capable.
Engine choice again defines the ownership experience. The 3.7 is underpowered and unloved but least likely to produce a large bill. The 4.7 carries its valve seat concerns forward. The 5.7 HEMI is quick and desirable but its Multi-Displacement System is associated with collapsed lifters and wiped camshaft lobes, announced by a tick at cold start. The CRD diesel is economical and durable at its core, though EGR coolers, swirl motors, and oil coolers are all expensive when they fail. Across the range, the TIPM electrical module produces baffling faults and no-start conditions, exhaust manifold bolts shear on the V8s, and front suspension bushings wear. Prices are low enough that a good HEMI example represents a lot of vehicle for the money.
Other Jeep Grand Cherokee years
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Frequently asked questions
How do I check for HEMI lifter failure before buying?
Start the engine cold and listen at the top end for a tick or tap that is loudest in the first minute. Then have someone listen while it idles warm. A sheared exhaust manifold bolt makes a similar noise, so it is worth having a mechanic distinguish between the two before assuming the worst.
Is the CRD diesel worth seeking out?
If you cover long distances, yes. The Mercedes-sourced OM642 is a durable engine and the economy is far better than any petrol option. Go in knowing that EGR coolers, swirl motors, and the oil cooler are all expensive when they fail, and buy one with that work documented.
Which WK engine is the safest buy?
There is no risk-free choice. The 3.7 is the least likely to produce a large bill but is underpowered and unloved. A HEMI with documented lifter work, or a CRD with sorted emissions components, are both better vehicles that have already had their expensive failure addressed.
Squeezed is a buyer guide based on public data and industry patterns, not a mechanical inspection. Always get a professional pre-purchase inspection before you buy.