Used 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Consumer Reviews
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I love it!
When I was looking for an SUV I was only looking at the Volvo XC90 or the BMW X5. My husband had me try the Jeep and I fell in love. I have every available option, bluetooth, Sirius radio, nav., auto dimming lights, rain sensor wipers and on and on. I have over 60K miles and have yet to have a single problem with this vehicle. I sell real estate so I am in my car all the time and taking clients around. They are always impressed with the interior and are suprised it's a Jeep. We will be selling it soon because I need something bigger with two kids in carseats but I will buy a Dodge/Chrysler product again in a heartbeat.
It's all good but the gas mileage
Great car - a step above the 2003 that we had. The Nav system is far better than one in a 2002 BMW and overall the new Jeep is to be desired. The challenge is in the gas mileage - it's really low, especially compared to our prior 2003 Jeep that was a 6; this is an 8 and it really goes through gas. Otherwise I'm glad we got it. Hmmm, wonder what the new '06 is like?
- Laredo 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,8004 mi away
- Laredo 4dr SUVMSRP: $5,500105 mi away
- Laredo 4dr SUVMSRP: $4,980118 mi away
Great Bang for Buck
I bought a 2005 Laredo 4WD, trading in an old Cherokee. NO comparison - this one is light years ahead. Got a great deal at end of model year. No problems with car in first 4500 miles. Good mileage with V6 ... although it won't win many races. Quadra Trac is very easy to use, but not for off roading, as it is really a highway AWD system. Love this new Jeep, think they got early production bugs out before this one was built in May ... glad I bought American.
This is our 4th Jeep Cherokee - No More!
Purchased 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD new with 22 miles on it. We are repeat buyers but this car is pitiful. Has 16,000 miles on it and repairs so far are driver's seat broken twice, rear window wiper motor replaced, transmission is now being replaced and still waiting 3 weeks for the parts. We were told poor engineering design put a/c drain hose into the transmission fluid! Knew something was wrong from beginning as it never shifted right at low speeds. Very unhappy with this product and will not purchase another Jeep even after owning four and do not recommend it.
Much Better
This is my third Jeep and by far the best. It is much quieter then my previous Jeeps. It also handles much better on the road (I have not had a chance to get it off road yet). I am tall, 6'3" and there is less head room in the '05 compared to my '00. I have a sun roof I would suggest considering not getting one if you are tall. I have 10,000 miles on it already and am averaging 17 miles to the gallon. Seats are a little small and flimsy feeling, same as my previous Jeeps. I have had no mechanical problems to date. The Boston Acoustics sound system is great as well as the one year free satellite radio.
3rd Jeep
This is my 3rd, I wasn't too into the new design at first but it has male thing about it. I traded a G-35 coupe for it. That was 0-60 in 6 seconds, this is 0-60 in 7 seconds; for a 4x4 thats unheard of. This Limited is loaded, and the toys are fabulous, I can't wait for the first real snow storm to put it to the test. I'm sure it will handle it in stride like the other 4x4's I had in the past only with more capability. I noted a couple of minor paint flaws but other then that it has been real tight. It has 4000 miles on it already, and it has been living up to a Jeep. Mileage is what they stated. :-)
A way better Jeep
Comparing this Jeep to our last Grand Cherokee Limited, I would say Jeep hit a homerun. It rides, handles, and performs better than the past model. The driver is rewarded with more interior room and is by far more luxurious.
2005 Grand Cherokee Limited
I have been driving Grand Cherokee Limiteds since 1994 and they have come a long way. They are built better and quieter and handle extremely well. The Limited is luxurious and extremely comfortable yet amazingly responsive. The vehicle is smooth, responsive and extremely comfortable but still gives the driver the feedback and general feel of a sport utility to make the drive fun and non limo like. The off road experience is second to none for those who like to drive off of the asphalt sometimes. Great vehicle for Drivers and their families too! Generally
ugggh!!
I bought my Jeep with 70k on it and and have driven it 5k and my fuel pump needed replaced, a shock was leaking, and my tranny just went out. Each one I had to pay $200 deductible with Chrysler. Thank goodness I bought the extended warranty or id already be out like $4k! If you purchase this vehicle buy the warranty! If I were you though, look elsewhere!
Excellent vehicle after more than 3 year
I traded a 2002 Overland for this 2005 Limited; my wife traded her 2001 Laredo for a 2005 GC Limited as well. Got a great deal and been happy with both of them (hers was a demo and is more fully loaded than mine). Granted, there have been a few minor glitches, but the dealer has been fantastic in getting things fixed correctly the first time. Mostly small stuff (ignition switch, steering angle sensor, various TSB's) and never anything that would leave us stranded.
Hit the Road Jeep and Don't You Come Back
This is the third Jeep my family has owned and it still lives up to expectations ... a piece of junk. Good year tires make the car vibrate at high speeds (why did I buy a HEMI?). Interior is no good for hauling large items including average sized people. Glove box is small as is the cargo area. DVD is not driver friendly at all. In order to reset the DVD for my daughter, I have to stop and get in the back seat. Oh, and gas mileage. I knew it would be "not so great." But come on 15-16 mpg highway? Tires have leaked multiple times, Seat belt light errors and now air bag errors to fix. Good things are few but include heat seaters (they're great), exterior styling, HEMI engine minus the mpg.
Great Vehicle
Let's start with the easy points - You don't buy this car for its gas mileage or to haul 7 passengers around. Instead, you buy this car if you want a vehicle that is safe, has phenomenal 4 wheel drive, and has a great feel to it (drivewise), which are the factors most important to me. Yes, the ceiling is low, the pillars are thick, and I would not buy a grand Cherokee without the backup sensor (which works great), but in essence this is a great vehicle and well worth considering (if you can get past the first hurdles). I've had it for less than year and reliability is yet to be seen, although no problems after 6,000 miles. This vehicle is great for what it is, but it is not for everyone.
3 months later...
I have owned my Jeep for 3 months now and I have over 5000 miles on it. I love my Jeep just as much as I did when I bought it in September. I've noticed that the ride has gotten a little jittery, but nothing unbearable. The performance is pretty good, but the fuel economy has dropped in the winter months to the mid 15 mpg. The lowest I have gotten was 13.8 ... best on HWY is 17. It's a blast in the snow! Legroom a little tight in the rear, especially behind the driver seat.
Happy Owner
We had an Isuzu Axiom and Ford Escape before this and were disappointed in both. The Jeep is trouble-free and costs nothing but gas and an occasional oil change. On the other hand, our MB S430 lives in the repair shop. Go figure.
First Jeep!
Smooth is the operative word when describing this vehicle. The suspension dampens imperfections in the road well, and the rack and pinion steering provides a solid and responsive road feel. The all-wheel drive grabs pavement with gusto and on tight roads this SUV is very nimble with minimal body roll. The Grand Cherokee's seats are firm and supportive, and the two-tone perforated leather looks quite contemporary. Wood trim on the center console and door panels is very upscale.
Love the Hemi 4x4
I bought my Limited 4x4 Hemi new on 10/30/05 and have driven 10,700 miles of highway and offroad (sand, dirt, mud). It has been reliable, with warranty replacement of the amplifier. The check engine light comes on every now and then, but has been repaired by the dealer (reprogram computer). I like the power, clean looks, and simplicity. Previously I drove a Corvette and a Ford Expedition. The Hemi provides Jeep with an SUV that has sports car power. It handles mud, sand, and gravel just fine. The gauges, controls, etc. are easy to use. I'm not extreme -- just like to take it to the beach and mild offroad trails. I also considered the Toyota 4Runner, but wanted the Hemi. No regrets.
J:ust E:mpty E:very P:ocket
I drove this off the lot as happy as can be. I loved every aspect, heated leather, 4 wheel drive, Sunroof, DVD system, etc. I was thrilled during my first year of ownership (I purchased the Jeep with 40K miles). The second year of ownership has been nothing but problems. I have had constant problems with all electrical components (dash lights, A/C, etc). The Jeep turns off unexpectedly... I have had multiple Certified Chrysler dealers look at the problem and nobody has found a fix. The issues aren't constant; they come and go... very annoying. I will not purchase a Jeep again.
i love it
excellent vehicle for the money
Run Away from this vehicle
This is perhaps the worst vehicle I've ever owned. The materials used in the interior of the car are almost laughable. The Hemi does not give any more performance than my older BMW X5 with a 3.0, excluding towing. I currently get 13.5 mpg. I've had it in for repair 4 times for various fault codes. Traction control cuts power for a long period of time even when slowly crossing railroad tracks. I honestly can't think of anything good to say about the car. I'm just glad it's a company vehicle and it will get turned in shortly. Stay away from this vehicle at all costs. I wanted to buy American--but I should have bought an import made in America. Look at the Nissan Armada, BMW X5 as alternates.
Jeep
I have had the truck a year and a half. It's been a very good experience. It drives nice; however on turns I don't feel as if I have total control of the truck. Of course I am going 50-70 on turns but I still don't feel that the reliability on turns is there. In the snow the truck is a machine; I don't even have to plow or shovel -- just go right over it with no problem.
The Best Grand Cherokee ever?
Jeep really knocked one out with this Grand Cherokee. Every aspect of this Jeep is notches above the model it replaces. Most impressive is the trucks ride and handling. Smoother and less body roll. Makes you believe you're driving something alot more expensive.
Too much value for the $ to pass up...
I recently bought the Laredo and have been putting it through the paces. It's a very nice and smooth ride despite the tires (I prefer Michelins to Goodyear). I like the R&P steering too. As a high performance sports car owner I love the electronic shifter. By manually shifting the 3.7 it maximizes its capability and makes it perform near or better than the V8's automatic "OD" shift setting. Speaking of the transmission, the recall work has been done on my new vehicle. The reengineering to correct the AC condensation drip into the transmission looks like a nice fix if anyone was concerned and thinking about ruling out this vehicle for that reason.
"Rocky Mountain Edition"
Having had this vehicle for nearly 4 months. I am overall fairly satisfied with the latest design. Jeep has done a commendable job of eliminating the nauseating sea swell motions of the previous version. While I didn't pay anywhere near retail, I still think a vehicle approaching $40k (MSRP) should come with a more refined interior. The dash is far too plasticky and there are many hard surfaces throughout.
great suv
ride is smooth yet very quick, the 3.7 is very open and ready for any kind of touch. plenty of room is great for a family.5 adults will fit this suv easily.
WISH I BOUGHT A CHEVY
The Jeep Grand Cherokee looks nice, but there are problems with the design of the 2005. I bought mine in June 2005; in October I took it in for service because the air conditioner didn't work. The told me it's not covered under warranty because something from the road hit it and put a hole in it. Now I thought this was an off road SUV. There is a gap under the bumper that's at least 1 foot by 2 foot with no protection at all. The customer care center didn't seem to care that the car was 3 months old and only had 3500 miles on it. Sorry Nature caused your problems. It wasn't nature, it was a bad design and should be covered.
A Jeep Thing
This is my 3rd Jeep: an '85 Cherokee (used),'96 Grand Cherokee (new), and now this one, an '05 Grand Cherokee. I test drove several '03 and '04 GC's (used) and the new model is far better in many ways. I also owned an '04 TrailBlazer, which I promptly traded after 9 months. It was very floaty (like an old Buick). I wish I had not sold my '96 Grand Cherokee for the TB. So far, I am very happy the new GC (19,500 miles). The ride is almost car-like, but still firm. The 3.7 liter is very capable and responsive. I would only consider one of the V8's if gas was cheap or I had to tow heavy loads. I average about 18-20+ mpg, which is not bad for an SUV with AWD. The list of standard features was also pretty good.
Great SUV
Have had Jeep for three weeks and I'm really impressed with how it looks and drives.Sold my old 1998 Jeep that I loved but this one beats the old 1998 hands down.Thanks Chrysler!!!!
unsatisfied
This is my fourth Jjeep and I am not impressed. Vehicle seems to handle poorly on bumpy turns at highway speeds. Also purchased vehicle with 4.7v8 and it seems under powered. Dont rest your elbow on window when auto locks engage you get pinched. A/C not up to par and windows seem to fog up too much.
Not as happy as i should be
This was my first new car and second Jeep. I owned a 97 Wrangler with 132,000 miles on it before I bought this one. I have to say the new Grand Cherokee is in my opinion the best looking midsize suv on the market now. The ride is very smooth in this suv and highway driving is a pleasure. I had a chance to take it offroad once on the beach and was so impressed by it. It seemed to go through the sand even better than my Wrangler. I thought that by having AWD it wouldn't be as good but I was wrong. Now for the bad. The 3.7 v6 seems to run very rough and loud all the time. My steering wheel actually shakes at idle. It runs rougher than my old Jeep. Transmission shifts at the wrong time and gas mileage stinks.
GREAT TRUCK!
My second Jeep in two years. Better then the last one! Just went up to Big Bear California. Did great in the snow and rain, also took it out to Glamis Sand Dunes. Does well in the sand too! Rides great, looks great, new Boston Sound system is better the the old Infinity.
Love that Hemi
I have had my Jeep for a year now and it is still the best Jeep I have ever owned. I love the Hemi and the smart beams, the navigation and the u- connect. It drives as smooth and easy as the first day I got it, It is great on long trips, no achy back and legs. It handles the road wonderful. I don't feel it leaning around curves; very stable. A year and I still love it!
Transmission Issues
Since I have bought the Jeep the check engine light kept coming on, took it to a Jeep dealership and replaced Transmission Control Module. Still having same issues and I took it back to dealership and now it is the shifter module. It doesn't want to switch gears and when I put it in drive or reverse it doesn't want to go. Does anyone know anything about this or has had some of the same issues?
DO NOT BUY THIS CAR!
I purchased this car with under 30k miles, 2 weeks after purchasing this car it was having transmission issues, not shifting properly. I have been taking this vehicle into dealerships for almost 3 years now, paying the deductible every time, always for the same problem. since then the transmission has only gotten worse. Popping itself into neutral while driving, cannot use the brakes, needing to pull over to turn the car off to get it to work properly. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! It does not like to shift out of 3rd gear. I have replaced several parts on this car. Today was at a stop and all the lights on the dash lit up, everything dinging, going on and off for no reason.
Hemi is awesome
I've owned a 1993 Grand Wagoneer (V8) and 2001 GC Laredo (6 cylinder). The 2005 GC limited with the HEMI and QuadraDrive II is awesome. New England just had a major snow storm and this SUV drove through it without any issue. You feel very safe and would even know you were driving on snow. The ride is taut like a European sports sedan.
Sorry, No More Jeeps
Great in snow which is why I needed it in the first place but overall quality is awful. This is not my first Jeep but will certainly be my last (especially since the new models are ugly, expect Liberty). Going on the second set of brake rotors which Jeep will not pay for! Has only 12K miles in 1.5 yrs. Grinding noise over bumps in cold weather which no one can figure why; white tire lettering chipping away; transmission shifts with a huge jolt; performance is good; gas mileage is bad (but not why I bought it anyway). It is fun to drive but I can see vehicle aging very quickly.
Overall great....but...
Great vehicle, but for some reason it overheated at 750 miles (since new) after a brief gas stop on 250 mile trip home. It was flatbedded to the nearest dealership. They found nothing wrong! Strange, since now I wonder if it might happen again. Dealership not helpful in explaining how this could have occurred. Otherwise, my 6 month experience with this Jeep (5.7 L) has been great.
please hold together
The limited is smooth on the road, polite off the road and comfortable inside. NAV, SAT radio and all the toys a must on long rides. Room up front is fine and has OK storage. So far the Limited is enjoyable is drive. There is nothing outstanding except for the HEMI. The kick-in response could be better. It does not respond like the BMW but the cost to power is really fine.
Used 2005 JGC Owner in GA
I love the feel of this Jeep. I owned a 2002 Laredo I purchased new, and it started with problems and a rougher ride. This 2005 was purchased with 34,000 miles. The ride is very smooth. Hopefully the first owner has already gotten the heavy hitting problems taken care of.
Likes Gas Stations
Just about everything I hoped it would be. It is what every sixty-something should drive both on and off road.
Can you say HEMI?
Attracted to the sleek lines, tried the HEMI and there was no looking back. This is definitely the best SUV that I have ever driven. From Rovers to Hummers. There is no comparison to hitting the accelerator of the HEMI and being driven back in the seat! You have to drive it to believe it.
Good but need improvements
Car is an excellent option for the price, but need to improve quality. I've just owned this car since December 2005 and it's been in service department 3 times. The last time, we needed to change something on the 4x4 system and it took 2 months to get that part delivered from Chrysler.
Great Design, Mechanics Questionable
Bought used with 32,000 miles. Transmission began to leak from a bad seal but was covered by warranty. Transmission also does not feel like it shifts properly, with hesitation especially on an incline. Check engine light came on just after warranty went out, unsure of the problem. Fuel mileage is good for an SUV, 22 mpg on long trips 17 in town. Ample room, I am 6'4" and am comfortable, except if the car seat is behind me then it is very cramped. 4wd is great in the snow.
My New SUV
An excellent automobile, and quite a bit better than even the 2004 which I had. It is super quiet, powerful and smooth riding. It is a quality automobile.
Jeep limited
Great car. Love everything about it except the fuel mileage. Haven't been able to take any long trips as yet due to illness in the family. I am anxious to see if the valve cutout system actually makes a difference on steady speeds over a long period of time. Handles like a dream, low center of gravity makes it handle on curves wonderfully. Acceleration is superb.
I Love Jeeps... BUT!
I have had this JGC for 10 months. Within that time I have had to send it in for 2 major repairs. This car has already cost me $1,700 to fix and according to the mechanic, who just replaced my starter, servos and battery, I will be needing a new Water Pump soon. That's another $600 fix. In addition to the mechanical fixes there are several issues that I have let slide, including burnt out LED's in the dash ($150 to repair), window motor broken, AC not getting cold, and door lock getting stuck. This Jeep has been a NIGHTMARE. I've owned 4 jeeps and will probably never buy another one again.
A Must-SEE
This SUV gives everyone an incredibly reliable SUV while still having the comfort and luxury of a car. Honestly, it feels like I'm driving on a cloud, it's like I don't even feel the ground under me.
Seats!
The seats are not comfortable. Water stains the seats, raindrops, sweat, anything. I have had nothing but trouble with this vehicle. It has been in the shop several times for the transmission. I wish I haven't bought this vehicle.
The new 2005 Jeep with Hemi engine
I had a Jeep for years and waited till the 2005 came out with the new body and all new features. I have never driven such a quality vehicle in this price range. With the new suspension and new Hemi 5.7 engine it is a truly wonderful drive. It has the pick up you need and the smoothness for complete comfort.
Nice ride
The ride in the 2005 is 10 times better then the prior years, it floats on the road. I love my Jeep and so does everyone who gets in. The only thing I have to say is that I get horrible gas mileage. Also, there are more and more rattling noises, but other than that, so far so good.
Some good some bad
When I bought this car new, it was absolutely what I wanted - for about 10 miles. I had to turn in the car I bought and get a whole new vehicle because nobody could figure out why there was so much terrible wind noise and why is sputtered going up hills in low gear. The new one had similar transmission problems but a recall fix eliminated 99% of the sputtering. When the AC is really cranked, it can sputter a little at times at low speed when trying accelerate. However, this car has been really a gem other than that. No mechanical issues, good ride, takes off road bumps like a champ, and has been remarkably maneuverable in avoiding accidents. Great family car.