2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Air Bag Control Module Software Recall (21V873)
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) · 99,255 vehicles · Reported November 10, 2021
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling 99,255 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee; 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer; 2022 Jeep Wagoneer vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) may have incorrect software which can disable the driver, passenger, and knee air bags without warning. Disabled air bags can increase the risk of injury to occupants in a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V873 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V873000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Y79 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 10, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| Vehicles | 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee; 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer; 2022 Jeep Wagoneer |
| Units affected | 99,255 |
| Component | Air Bags > Air Bag / Restraint Control Module > Software |
| Safety risk | Disabled air bags can increase the risk of injury to occupants in a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee in recall 21V873?
The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) may have incorrect software which can disable the driver, passenger, and knee air bags without warning.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Jeep Wagoneer, and Grand Wagoneer vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) may have incorrect software which can disable the driver, passenger, and knee air bags without warning.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Grand Cherokee with recall 21V873?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Disabled air bags can increase the risk of injury to occupants in a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Disabled air bags can increase the risk of injury to occupants in a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Grand Cherokee shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the software, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V873?
Recall 21V873 covers 99,255 vehicles: 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee; 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer; 2022 Jeep Wagoneer.
NHTSA lists 99,255 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Jeep | Grand Cherokee |
| 2022 | Jeep | Grand Wagoneer |
| 2022 | Jeep | Wagoneer |
What is the fix for the Grand Cherokee air bag control module software recall?
Yes. Dealers will reprogram the ORC, free of charge.
Dealers will reprogram the ORC, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 2, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y79.
When was recall 21V873 announced?
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) reported recall 21V873 to NHTSA on November 10, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as December 2, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 10, 2021 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V873000. |
| December 2, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 59 months ago. If your Grand Cherokee was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Grand Cherokee is part of recall 21V873?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V873 is open on your Grand Cherokee, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Grand Cherokee vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Grand Cherokee owners do about recall 21V873?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V873000 applies to your Grand Cherokee.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Jeep dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any software symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Grand Cherokee owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 672 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 26 of them about the air bags.
Since recall 21V873 was reported on November 10, 2021, owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 2 of them (8%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the air bags and were received on or after November 10, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related air bags issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 672 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 26 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee: 405 complaints in total, 19 about the air bags
- 2022 Jeep Wagoneer: 207 complaints in total, 4 about the air bags
- 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer: 60 complaints in total, 3 about the air bags
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The leather of the dash that covers the airbag area has become unglued completely and is wrinkled all across the dash, and I am concerned the safety crash features will not work correctly now with premature failure of the adhesives that hold such a large area on the dash.
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11676028, filed July 24, 2025
Was pulling into a parking spot on the 2nd level of parking garage and the Jeep accelerated and hit the cement wall at front of garage space. It accelerated on its own.
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee owner, WA, NHTSA complaint 11676946, filed July 29, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the messages "No Seat Belt", "Service Air Bags", "Service Seat Belts" and "Auto Park Disabled" were displayed. The contact stated that the failure had occurred with the driver and the front passenger's side seat occupant wearing their seat belts.
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee owner, NM, NHTSA complaint 11689665, filed September 25, 2025
Can recall 21V873 make my Grand Cherokee a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this software recall means their Grand Cherokee qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Grand Cherokee been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V873
Did the recall 21V873 fix work?
Since recall 21V873 was reported on November 10, 2021, owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 2 of them (8%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed December 2, 2021.
Is the 21V873000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Grand Cherokee is part of recall 21V873000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
What if my air bag light stays on after the recall repair?
Go back to the dealer. A warning light that returns means the system may not deploy correctly, and the visit is another repair attempt for a safety defect.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V873000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Jeep. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.