2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 326 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 25% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 120,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “takata air bags” (7% of reports).
- 326air bags complaints
- 120,000median miles at failure
- 47mention a crash
- 33mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Takata air bags: mentioned in 24 of 326 complaints (7%)
- Occupant restraint control: mentioned in 17 of 326 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 80 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 326 complaints, 47 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 33 an injury.
Jeep Grand Cherokee air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Grand Cherokee | 5 | 7% | 14,538 |
| 2024 Grand Cherokee | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2023 Grand Cherokee | 11 | 3% | 5,900 |
| 2022 Grand Cherokee | 9 | 3% | 29,600 |
| 2021 Grand Cherokee | 20 | 5% | 34,957 |
| 2020 Grand Cherokee | 17 | 7% | 34,000 |
| 2019 Grand Cherokee | 19 | 5% | 16,600 |
| 2018 Grand Cherokee | 24 | 3% | 14,777 |
| 2017 Grand Cherokee | 15 | 4% | 34,945 |
| 2016 Grand Cherokee | 12 | 4% | 12,040 |
| 2015 Grand Cherokee | 104 | 8% | 70,000 |
| 2014 Grand Cherokee | 210 | 9% | 51,978 |
| 2013 Grand Cherokee | 33 | 4% | 61,816 |
| 2012 Grand Cherokee | 43 | 3% | 73,173 |
| 2011 Grand Cherokee | 60 | 4% | 56,500 |
| 2010 Grand Cherokee | 11 | 9% | 42,250 |
| 2009 Grand Cherokee | 11 | 8% | 117,000 |
| 2008 Grand Cherokee | 40 | 5% | 109,852 |
| 2007 Grand Cherokee | 29 | 3% | 68,000 |
| 2006 Grand Cherokee | 60 | 5% | 103,218 |
| 2005 Grand Cherokee | 95 | 5% | 88,500 |
| 2004 Grand Cherokee | 326 | 25% | 120,000 |
| 2003 Grand Cherokee | 256 | 34% | 112,000 |
| 2002 Grand Cherokee | 486 | 33% | 124,750 |
| 2001 Grand Cherokee | 26 | 3% | 65,200 |
| 2000 Grand Cherokee | 59 | 4% | 103,000 |
| 1999 Grand Cherokee | 83 | 5% | 116,516 |
| 1998 Grand Cherokee | 36 | 4% | 98,245 |
| 1997 Grand Cherokee | 36 | 4% | 135,298 |
| 1996 Grand Cherokee | 34 | 4% | 130,000 |
| 1995 Grand Cherokee | 30 | 4% | 109,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Air bags:side/window
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured March 29, 2003, to July 3, 2003, and 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured May 27, 2003, to May 20, 2004. Due to electrical noise beyond the tolerance of the air bag electronic control module (ECM), a component in the ECM may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
Risk: Inadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag electronic control module and the side impact sensors, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R60.
Air bags:frontal
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, to March 28, 2003, 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, to May 23 2003, and 2003-2004 Dodge Viper vehicles manufactured November 1, 2001, to June 30, 2004. Due to electrical noise beyond the tolerance of the air bag electronic control module (ECM), a component in the ECM may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
Risk: Inadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Chrysler dealers will replace the air bag control module and side impact sensors as required, free of charge. This recall remedy was applied during earlier recall campaigns of these vehicles under safety recalls 12V527 and 13V040. All owners that have not had the recall repair performed under safety recalls 12V527 or 13V040 are strongly encouraged to have it performed and not wait for the final remedy to be deployed to the field. The recall began on December 29, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R06.
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Problem: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, through March 28, 2003, and 2002 through 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, through May 23, 2003. A component in the air bag control module may fail causing the front airbags, side curtain airbags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
Risk: Inadvertent deployment of the airbags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a supplemental jumper harness to the airbag control module, free of charge. Owners were notified of the recall by interim letter in January 2013. The remedy for affected Liberty vehicles is expected to be available in April 2013. The remedy for affected Grand Cherokee vehicles is expected to be available later in the year. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Driving normally on the highway came to an exit slowed down my passenger air bag went off and 10-15 seconds later the driver one. I was able to be aware the driver might go off so I pushed my seat back and immediately after it went off. White smoke from the airbags engulfed the cabin I stepped out…
I scheduled a recall appointment for my Jeep Grand Cherokee. The dealer confirmed that the appointment was scheduled and that the necessary recall part had been ordered. However, when I arrived, my vehicle was parked and no work was started. I was not given an estimated repair time, and after…
On 10/21/21 myself and my child (rear passenger in booster safety seat) were in a solo vehicle accident that resulted in our vehicle hitting an embankment before rolling 3x landing on the wheels again in the right position on the same side of vehicle we originally had impact. We were less than 1…

Frequently asked questions
Do all 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 326 owner complaints about air bags for the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee (25% of the 1,295 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee air bags?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do air bags problems start?
The median reported mileage is 120,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The most frequent phrase is “takata air bags”, in 24 of 326 complaints, followed by “occupant restraint control” (17).
Other 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems
See all 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems or air bags problems across all Grand Cherokee years.