2019 Ford Explorer vs 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Two midsize SUVs, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2019 Ford
Explorer
3/10
A rear-drive-based Explorer with real ambition, sunk by rushed engineering and the worst quality-control year Ford had in a decade.
VS
2019 Jeep
Grand Cherokee
6/10
Buy the 3.6L Pentastar Limited or Overland, skip the diesel and the base electronics gremlins, and it'll be a genuinely nice place to sit for 150k miles.
Milo scores the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee higher — 6/10 against 3/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Ford Explorer |
Jeep Grand Cherokee |
| Known failure points | 6 | 8 |
| NHTSA complaints | 290 | 358 |
| Safety recalls | 6 | 7 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 32 | 58 |
| Cheap to own | 30 | 52 |
| Fun factor | 68 | 61 |
| Holds value | 38 | 55 |
| Enthusiast cred | 40 | 48 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2019 Ford Explorer
10-speed automatic transmission harsh/rough shifting, sometimes requiring reflash or full replacement
$0–$6,0000k–15k mi
2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee
ZF8 8-speed transmission harsh shifting/shudder from worn valve body or degraded fluid
$400–$4,00060k–100k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2019 Ford Explorer
A 2019 Explorer ST with the 3.0L twin-turbo V6, or a base 2.3L EcoBoost Limited built after mid-2019 (later production runs had more of the early recalls and software fixes already baked in) — verify all 6 recalls are completed with paperwork, not just inspected.
✅ 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee
A 2019 Grand Cherokee Limited or Overland with the 3.6L Pentastar V6, non-air suspension (standard steel springs), and full service records showing the diesel/brake recalls aren't relevant — or if you want performance, a well-documented SRT with the 6.4L HEMI and Brembo brakes.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
Run my free report →
First report free · then $10
Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.