general problems of the 2017 Jeep Cherokee - part 2

My active-drive 1 ptu failed at 112k miles. This failure happened going down the highway at 65mph. It occurred via a loud clunk and mechanical grinding noise, followed by a “service 4-wd” light. In my case, the failure was not catastrophic and did not cause safety concerns. However, this part runs the risk of seizing all four wheels or losing power to the wheels when failing, which could have caused a significantly dangerous situation such as a collision with nearby vehicles or even a pile-up, had the wheels seized. I did not have the part serviced or inspected by the dealer, as in order to do so would have required a substantial fee. It can be reproduced and I would be open to doing so should the manufacturer come to their senses. Unfortunately, despite the lack of recall, this part is known for failure by the manufacturer and a similar component on other models, the ad-2 ptu, was recalled by the manufacturer for the same failure and safety concerns that this part has.

Service 4wd drive light is on due to rear ptu failure or issue. Signaled by code: c14a7-97 has been confirmed by Jeep dealership upon inspection. Had inspected by 2 private auto shops confirming same issue. Light came on after driving a few minutes to now being on when car is starting. According to mechanics, this indicates ptu failure of some sort. Ptu has not been fully inspected only some outside electrical testing confirming that was the root of the issue.

While driving the 2017 Jeep Cherokee the 4wd warning light came on. I believe this error references a faulty power train unit (ptu?). This issue may cause the transmission-differential to disengage and potentially cause the vehicle to crash or cause injury to driver or others. My local mechanic stated there is a recall for this issue and said it needed to be repaired by the dealer.

The service 4wd light comes on intermittently and the vehicle goes from 4wd to no wheel drive. Local dealership and independent shops indicate this is an internal error in the ptu and it must be replaced. Research indicates there were ~26,000 recalled vehicles for my year, make and model due to this very issue. However, all have confirmed my VIN was not part of the recall.

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to make a turn, there was a loud grinding sound coming from the vehicle. No warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the drivetrain control module and power transfer unit had failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic also informed the contact that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000 (power train); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The mechanic referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000 (power train); however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that three dealers were contacted; however, the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive, and the vehicle had been parked since the recall notification was received in February 2025. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact had not experienced a failure.

The contact owns 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the message “service shifter” was displayed. Additionally, while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated to start, but the vehicle started after the third attempt. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the gear shifter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,849.

Rear diff. Tries to lock up while driving in auto mode and should not on dry pavement. Grinding noise until you slow down enough to engage with a bang. This is a known problem with Jeep, the internet has several complaints about this problem, our Jeep only has 75k miles on it and others reported with only 40k. I've been told rear diff. Needs to be replaced at 4k$.

An alert came up on our Jeep Cherokee that 4wd needed to be serviced. Approximately three days later, we took the car to our local Jeep dealership and they let us know that we needed to replace the ptu for the vehicle. If this isn't replaced, the car loses awd and could potentially become inoperable. While there has been a recall for very similar models of Jeeps in the same year as ours specifically regarding the ptu, ours does not qualify for the current recall. We don't understand why there is a recall for some Jeeps but not others within the same year and model for the exact same issue.

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while his son was reversing out of a driveway, the vehicle shuddered and lost power with the check engine warning light illuminated, and the "service 4wd" message was displayed on instrument panel. The vehicle entered limp mode and failed to accelerate above 20 mph. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic which showed a defect with the ptu. The contact was notified of the failure and upon investigation it was discovered that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000(power train). The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where the contact was informed that parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact was then informed by the dealer that the vehicle could be repaired out of pocket; however, the contact denied the offer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.

Our vehicle started displaying a service 4x4 error and we no longer had the ability to shift into all wheel/four wheel drive. Looking up the VIN, it is not part of the NHTSA campaign 25vo11 (I think that's correct). In trying to understand the problem, I found many outside of the current recall are having issues with the ptu. This is what a local Jeep dealership told me the problem was. I also have seen several state the actuator was the issue and not the ptu itself. I would like to file this as a complaint and hope that the recall is expanded to cover other Cherokee models outside of the current recall. Thank you for your time.

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. While the contact’s daughter was driving and approaching a stop light, the vehicle continued to drive forward while the brake pedal was depressed. Later, while driving the vehicle experienced reduced power with the check engine warning light and the etc warning light illuminated. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who determined that the ptu was faulty and needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 171,000.

The "service 4wd" light came on in my 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The nearest dealership is 56 miles away. I took the vehicle to my mechanic, who is only 7 miles away. On the way to the mechanic, the "service shifter" warning light came on and all the lights on my shifter lit up. Once at the mechanic, my vehicle became stuck in 4wd low and cannot be shifted out of 4wd low. My mechanic was able to confirm that the power transfer unit had failed. When my mechanic contacted the dealership to order a replacement part, he was laughed at and told that the part was on nationwide backorder with no date available as to when the part would be in stock. This is unacceptable because now I am without a vehicle. I cannot afford to rent a vehicle until this part is available. When is the manufacturer going to be held accountable for the faulty ptu unit?.

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 75 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The check engine and an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle then decelerated to 64 mph, and the transmission sputtered. The vehicle was taken to o’reilly’s auto parts and was diagnosed and dtc: p0303 (misfire in cylinder #3); was retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 128,941.

While driving, the transmission failed to operate safely. We had the car towed to a Jeep dealership for repairs. They diagnosed the problem and told us that the transmission had to be replaced. After about a month, they then notified us that they had to re-install the software in order to complete the repair. Then, a couple of weeks later, notified us that now, they had to replace the ptu in order to complete the repair. During that timeframe, I did some research and found that a recall had been issued on that ptu, for that particular Jeep model. However, I was not notified of the recall. (number o1c). After talking with a representative of the parent company's "claims" department, they stated that my specific VIN number was not found on their file, in connection with the recall. I communicated the sequence of repairs needed to complete the "fix" for my car, and told the employee that it was my contention that the failed ptu, logically and reasonably was the cause of the transmission failure. I was told to "wait and see" if they could find out why my VIN # was not listed. Subsequently, I've filed requests for reimbursement to multiple entities connected to Jeep, and have been told that my claim had been denied. In my opinion, a major transmission failure is, in fact a serious satety concern, especially when you have no power to control your speed while driving. I am still researching other options to appeal my case.

The svc 4wd light came on, it coded to the ptu. There is a recall on 2017 Jeeps but being told mine is not affected which I don't believe is correct.

Transfer case failure. Transfer case cracked and created hole no warning or indication.

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the "service 4wd" warning light would appear on the instrument panel. The contact also stated that the vehicle would slightly hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the code reader showed an error code with the vehicle's power transfer unit. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000 (power train). The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline to file a complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

The ptu failed and needs a new transfer case, per the dealership in blue ridge, GA. According to them, there is no repair; however, I have inquired about acquiring a refund / replacement vehicle. I am in touch with my lender regarding this matter.

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000 (power train). The VIN was included; however, the contact had not yet received the recall notification. The contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could be repaired out-of-pocket with a possible reimbursement. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

Back in July of 2025, my vehicle abruptly stopped and lost all power on the thruway. Vehicle was towed immediately to local dealership (emerling Jeep in springville NY ), where it then sat for almost 9 months awaiting a safety recall related to the ptu, as was confirmed by dealership. Fast forward to this year, early April 2026, I finally received vehicle back, and was informed a new ptu /software program update had been performed on my 2017 Jeep Cherokee. Upon driving my car off dealership lot, I noticed my inspection sticker had expired, and my vehicle wasn't operating at a normal pace. A constant thud, transmission delay was evident almost immediately. Attempting to finally try and get my vehicle back to its normal condition, I drove to a nearby mechanic to try and get car inspected. Not even 30min after receiving vehicle back, it started to lose power again. I was luckily able to get to mechanic, and after close inspection of vehicle, he informed me that my car wasn't safe to drive. The rear differential was now in jeopardy. Mechanic said the constant strain from bad ptu likely damaged my rear differential, and that it needed to get replaced. When I informed emerling of what transpired, they denied my recommendation to drop car back off too them. Haven't responded to several emails asking them to take car back. In my opinion, emerlings lack of care and the need to remove me as quick as possible caused more emotional distress, and I could have gotten into accident on thruway due to their negligence. The reason emerling never preformed inspection, in my opinion, was because they already knew it wouldn't pass, yet still allowed me to leave their lot. That's complete negligence on they're part, and I'm not seeking any type of tangible request. I merely want the dealership to be held accountable so someone else doesnt go thru what I went thru. Vehicle is now at another dealership awaiting diagnosis, that will then be forwarded to Jeep/mopar.

Service shifter light came on dash, all gears on shifter , red lights came on. I was driving at 55 mph and could tell the car wasn’t accelerating and was slowing down . That’s when I noticed the service shifter light on dash. I was in a lot of traffic and couldn’t safely pull over , I was almost rear ended by the car behind me. I coasted to the side of the road and turned car off and back on . The light went off . This was yesterday , today I start the car and it starts rough ( which it usually doesn’t ) and the service shifter light is back on. This is a very serious , dangerous and possibly deadly issue . I was so scared when it happened as I had no control of speed of the vehicle . I see many , many reports on this issue for several years and it shows past repairs have not corrected the issue. A recall should be issued ASAP before someone gets hurt or dies from this very common problem . Customers should not have to pay to repair and issue that has been reported thousands of times for many years . Please give direction on how to get this properly and fully fixed . I am afraid to drive the vehicle for fear of a traffic accident .

Ptu issue u able to shift from or to park the shift entire panel lights up red.

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the message "service 4wd" was displayed, and the 4wd and awd systems became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the power transfer unit had failed and needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The contact was placed on a waiting list. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000 (power train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 112,475.

I was driving and my service 4wd light came on. Took vehicle to dealership I bought it from and they done a test on it. It came back saying ptu , power transfer unit went out on it. This is what engages the 4 wd in it. I told them I seen Jeep had recalls on 2017 Jeep Cherokee like mine and they told me my VIN number wasn't on list. I called Chrysler Jeep and was told the same story that my VIN wasn't on list . I did receive a case number of [xxx]. I then contacted the ohio attorney general’s office in columbus ohio and they contacted Chrysler Jeep and got no where with them as well and was told my vehicle VIN number isnt on recall list. I was given a case number there [xxx] and then was told to contact you. The dealership ordered the part for my Jeep but they said its not available right now and they dont know when it will come in. Its gonna cost me $3989. 24 + tax to repair it if or when the part comes in. If theres problems getting the part to fix my vehicle, wouldnt it appear that Chrysler knows the parts are going bad in the vehicles including all VIN numbers instead of just a certain VIN number ??? information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I purchased a used 2017 Jeep Cherokee trailhawk in March 2025 for $13,000. Four days later, the transfer case failed while driving, leaving me stranded in traffic and requiring a tow. The dealership replaced the transfer case using a used part, but did not disclose that to me at the time. Roughly four months later, the vehicle failed again, this time grinding gears and failing to shift properly out of park or into drive. It began rolling forward while supposedly in park, and now requires the emergency brake to be engaged at all times to prevent it from moving. This makes the vehicle unsafe to operate or park and creates a serious safety hazard for myself and others. There were no dashboard alerts or warning lights before either failure. The most recent symptoms appeared suddenly in July 2025 and have persisted. The initial failure was confirmed by the dealership, but I have not had the second failure diagnosed due to lack of trust in the dealership's work. The issues are plainly visible and reproducible. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer or insurance representatives. I have filed complaints with the new york attorney general, dmv, and bbb. I later discovered that an open NHTSA safety recall on the powertrain was issued before the date of sale, but the dealership had me sign a document stating there were no recalls and failed to disclose this recall entirely. I am working with a lawyer and seeking resolution through consumer protection laws and formal complaints.

Lost power on thruway in 2017 Jeep Cherokee, light came on reading"service electronic stability control ", followed by check engine light. Car is not drivable, been sitting at dealership for almost 3weeks now, currently no remedy for safety recall, and no timeline. I have no vehicle at moment, work fulltime, and am still making payments. Was told I can't have loaner car, both by dealership, and mopar, and am left in disbelief. Vehicle was already inspected by Jeep dealership, said their certain its related to recall. My life is upside down currently, am hopeless.

I drive a 2017 Jeep Cherokee and have experienced repeated instances of power loss while driving. The vehicle will suddenly jerk, hesitate, or feel like its struggling to maintain momentum, especially at lower speeds or when turning. On one occasion, it felt like the transmission slipped and I briefly lost acceleration, which was very alarming and could have caused a crash if I been merging or crossing traffic. I've also had the "service 4wd" warning light appear intermittently. I took the vehicle to both a Jeep dealership and an independent shop for diagnostics, but neither was able to find an active trouble code. However, the symptoms have continued and are getting worse. After reading about the recent recall (NHTSA campaign 25v011) involving the power transfer unit (ptu) in 2017-2019 Jeep Cherokees, I believe this may be an issue I am experiencing. At this time, Jeep has not released a fix, and I'm concerned that the vehicle is unsafe to drive until the ptu can be inspected and repaired. This seems to be a known and widespread issue that puts drivers at risk, and I'm hoping this report helps move the investigation forward.

I have had several different warning lights come on. 1. 4wd system unavailable service required 2. 4wd overheated temporarily unavailable 3. Stop/start not ready engine temperature too low received several codes showing faulty equipment. C140b-4b transfer case motor overheating-drawing excessive amperage 11-13 amps. Rear differential has faulty pump excessive end play at l/side axle Jeep will need a rr differential and transfer case assy I have taken vehicle to two different mechanics checking out the problems and potential repairs. It has taken a period of time to get to this point as I had the car looked at and the service light came on very intermittently and I did not drive the car much as I was unemployed during the summer. Since going back to work and using the car daily, my commute is only 1. 3 miles, the light has started coming on more bringing me back to have vehicle diagnosed. At one point during this period of time, I also had to replace the oil cooler making me change the oil just after an oil change. Also, had to change the antifreeze. There are several recalls for similar problems, and I believe this is a Jeep issue which should be repaired by a Jeep dealer. I have serviced this vehicle and followed Jeep guidelines for Jeep service throughout vehicles life span. Jeep has so many different recalls and seem to minimize the outcome of affected vehicles. I am requesting Jeep service for these problems that should not occur with a properly served vehicle. Thank you.

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000(power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was inspected and the contact was informed that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle remained at the dealer. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

At 38,700 miles, the ptu started to fail. 4wd service unavailable message displayed permanently as well as svc 4wd light. Sometimes while driving there is a loud buzzing sound. June 2025 dealership found code c14a7-97 and states replacement is needed. Due to low mileage, should be considered for the warranty recall.

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 mph and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the loss of power was most frequent while ascending a hill. The rpm level was low while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000 (power train); and related the failure to the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the “service 4 wheel drive” warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the power transfer unit (ptu) was damaged and needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the power transfer unit. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign numbers: 25v011000 (power train) and 25e003000 (power train); however, the VIN was not included in the recalls. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. While the contact’s daughter was pulling into the driveway there was gray colored smoke coming from underneath the body of the vehicle. The driver switched gear and the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there were metal shavings between the transfer shaft and transfer case. The contact stated that the ptu had failed. The mechanic referred the contact to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Our 2017 Jeep Cherokee with 59,976 miles was diagnosed to need a new "ptu" unit in the transmission. This repair is required to avoid a potential dangerous situation where the four wheel drive unit may "lock up" as a result of a sudden loss of power. The repair is over $7,000 and is on a national back order. We have been waiting without the car for over three months due to delays in obtaining the part through the Chrysler dealer. It is an unreasonable repair charge for so few miles and completely unacceptable to be without the car for over three months. This suggests that many other car owners are having an issue. Our VIN is not part of a national recall for some reason, but there is reference that a ptu recall has occurred for other Jeep Cherokees. We request that our VIN be included in the recall.