general problems of the 2020 Jeep Cherokee - part 1

Warning light svc 4wd and dashboard message 4wd system unavailable service required. Jeep dealer found diagnostic code c14a7. Dealer checked power transfer unit (ptu) operation and ptu fails to acuate. Needs to be replaced and part ordered. Time for repair could not be determined. I was told at least two months, possibly longer. In researching this issue I found there is a safety recall for ptu on 2020 Jeep Cherokees, but my VIN is not included in the recall. Nhtsa campaign number 26v290000. I am concerned continuing to drive my vehicle and hopefully not experience a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway. Also concerned about further damage to car, I. E. Transmission, if I continue to drive. Dealer told me if vehicle leaks fluids, hear grinding noises, and/or it feels like gears slipping to bring vehicle back in.

Fwd service light is on and my Jeep keeps jerking and at times acts like it doesn’t want to go.

The power transfer unit (ptu) failed on my 2020 Jeep Cherokee. Started hearing grinding and roaring noises coming from the front wheels and was having trouble stopping. There is a recall already going for the same make and model but for other specific VIN numbers, mine not included. The problem was inspected and confirmed by the dealer previously bought from the original warning light was ‘svc 4wd’ and came on 7/29/2026 and within a couple minutes the noice and issue started. When I called the Jeep recall and warranty specialists they said they wouldn’t do anything until “the car is in an accident or myself, my one year old daughter or someone else is seriously injured or dies before they open an investigation”.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 mph, the steering wheel suddenly turned to the right and the vehicle became difficult to steer. There was an abnormal roaring sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact waited until the vehicle decelerated before stopping the vehicle. The contact waited for a while before being able to continue driving and coasting into a parking space. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle with ptu failure. The vehicle was not repaired because parts were on backorder for 2 months. The dealer suggested that the contact not drive the vehicle until the vehicle was repaired to avoid further damage. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 26v290000 (power train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 111,299.

My 2020 Jeep Cherokee car made a sound and seemed to lose some power a warning came on serv 4wd took to mechanic was told ptu is causing error I put my VIN in and it says no recalls I have contacted Jeep corporate who said they do not have a fix for this at this time and would email me. My husband has the same year make, and model and also has this error. I did call Jeep corporate and spoke to a mia who said she had no information on the issue and gave me a case #.

On July 21st while making a left turn the ptu of the Jeep failed. Vehicle was towed to a dealership and is now waiting for repairs.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v290000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. 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 issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. There was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with powertrain unit failure. The contact was informed that the powertrain unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,173.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the message "service 4wd" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving at 65 mph on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with ptu failure. The contact was informed that the ptu needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 26v290000 (power train); and declined to pay for the repair fee. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered partial assistance in covering the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v290000 (power train). The contact called several local dealers. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Sometimes when I am driving and stop, the automatic engine does not turn back on. This has caused my car to stop and need to be restarted in the middle of the road and the amount of times this happens has been increasing.

Power transfer unit failure diagnosed by safford Dodge, Jeep dealership in fredericksburg, va. My VIN is not showing up as part of the recall. My car is still awaiting repair.

I own a 2020 Jeep Cherokee with approximately 87,000 miles. Approximately one month ago, my "service 4wd" light illuminated on the dashboard, and I heard a severe grinding noise coming from the drivetrain. A mechanic scanned the vehicle's computer and pulled active diagnostic fault code c14a7-97 (ptu motor component or system operation obstructed or blocked). The mechanic cleared the code to test the system, but the c14a7-97 code immediately returned, proving a hard mechanical or electrical failure exists. This vehicle is experiencing the onset of a power transfer unit (ptu) failure. The timing of this active malfunction perfectly coincides with the release of NHTSA recall 26v290 (fca campaign 40d), which was issued just last month for 2020 Cherokees experiencing the identical ptu defect. However, my specific VIN is currently excluded from the recall list. According to the recall documentation, this component defect poses an immediate safety hazard, including a sudden loss of drive power while moving and a park roll-away risk. Because my vehicle has the exact same active fault code (c14a7-97) as the recalled vehicles, the manufacturer must expand this safety campaign to include my VIN before a full failure and a serious accident occurs.

Ptu failure. Open recall with no fix. Jeep fixed at dealer. Plenty of time has passed since recall was opened. The only fix is to replace the non serviceable ptu. Jeep needs to stop stalling and fix the problem. I want my money back.

I started getting a warning light in my Jeep (svc 4wd). The dealer diagnosed it as an internal failure of the ptu motor, which needs replaced. I learned that the ptu motor is a recall item for Jeeps long before mine was. Manufactured, extending long past my manufacture date. For some reason, my VIN is not included, even though my ptu is failed and presents the symptoms that logically should include it. My discussion with the repair person went so far as to suggest I always use the parking brake, just in case, to prevent spontaneous roll-away. I also learned there are many other Jeep owners facing the same problem, causing at least a month's delay in obtaining a replacement ptu to fix this problem. I believe and respectfully request that this issue should be considered a part of the original recall, to include all Jeeps within the stated time frame. This submission is in reference to 2019–2023 Jeep Cherokee (NHTSA recall 26v-290 / fca recall 40d). Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Service four-wheel-drive light came on. Took vehicle to the Jeep dealer for inspection and paid $220. 94 diagnostic fee. Jeep dealer stated that the power transfer unit had an internal failure code c1487–97. Dealership quoted a repair cost of $2836. 75. Dealership stated the part was on backorder and would not be available for weeks or months or longer. Although there are three recalls specifically associated with this issue for this specific model… the VIN number to this vehicle is not included for some reason. It seems evident that if the part failed it obviously suffers the same issue as the others that are included in the recall.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the warning message "service four wheel drive" and "four wheel drive unavailable" had displayed. Also, while operating the vehicle the parking brake had malfunctioned. The cause of the fialure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified and informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA campaign number: 26v290000(power train ). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 82,000.

Service 4 wheel drive light came on. Car loses acceleration randomly. Weird winding noise. Higher than normal rpm. See there is recall for this but states mine not included. Had mechanic look at it and was told it’s the ptu. Normal issue with these. Unfortunately over 10000 on back order. Hhmmm.

4wd has issues with the transfer case and cars up to 2019 had issues. I cant get parts and it is not safe to drive.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 75 mph, the vehicle began to lose propulsion upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The contact also stated that an abnormal, clunking sound began to emti from the without warning. The contact pulled the vehicle over and attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle lost all forward propulsion. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer where they also experienced the same failure. The dealer managed to get the vehicle to move while in reverse(r); however, the vehicle failed to accelerate forward. The dealer had diagnosed the vehicle with a defective ptu(power transfer unit) and it was later discovered that a recall had been placed on the vehicle for NHTSA campaign number: 26v290000(power train). Although a recall was placed on the vehicle; the part for the repair was unavailable. 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 and the contact was informed that the repair would not be covered under warranty. The contact was given an estimate to have a new ptu placed inside the vehicle; however, that would only be a temporary fix. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

Error : service 4wd , I have had it to 2 mechanic shops and said ptu is causing error, parts r not available. There are recalls for this problem, but I put in my VIN in and it says no recalls. Please seen NHTSA recall no 26v290 or manufacturer number 40d.

Service 4wd indicator.

I was driving and my power steering suddenly went out by its self. It was a very dangerous and traumatic experience. I had to get a good grip on the steering wheel to keep from hitting a parked car or something! I read that it was once a recall for this part but when I took it to the dealer they said it wasn’t. I need some type of help. My car isn’t safe for me or my son.

At about 50,000 started noticing a shift in transmission noise, and a new “burnt smell”. There was a delay in shifting to a lower gear. Took to a shop 2x different times for them to say it was “normal”. Srv 4x4 light came on after 2nd time in shop. Went in again for light diagnostics, to find that ptu actuator is faulty and is a known issue in this vehicle. Repair $5000. 00 with a back order on the part of over 900 people! Jeep fix and own your mistake!.

I was driving on the highway on my way to work around 7:45 am. As I was driving my car lost all power and I heard a grinding sound. As the grinding sound was happening, I had no control over my car. I managed to move to the side lane and put my hazards on. I then had to wait for a tow truck. Ultimately, the brakes, the transfer case, and the rear differental needs replaced.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the 4wd warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with ptu failure; however, the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under NHTSA campaign number: 26v290000 (power train); because the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

The systems that failed included the shifter, which causes the car to lock so that it cannot shift out of park . This is most likely due to a shifter assembly and/or sensor malfunction. Several months prior to this event occurring (I. E. , the car would not start, despite a new battery and consistent scheduled maintenance), this operator of the vehicle complained to the dealership that the car started to feel tremulous, along with the gas gauge reading 30-40 miles below the expected fill on a full tank. The dealership "checked the sensors" and determined nothing was wrong. The driver has been noticing shaking and continued problems with this vehicle shifting in and out of lower gears (1st through 3rd in an automatic v6 engine). The culmination is now this car will not start, and states both 'service shifter' and 'brake sensor service' lights illuminate upon attempting to start the engine. From reading, it is likely to have a transmission range sensor failure, a faulty shifter module, or wiring corrosion. Also, stellantis (software manufacturer for these sensors) has admitted fault of these sensors in the past, and had extended warranties for some, but not all vehicles. Unable to operate a nonfunctioning vehicle now stuck with towing to a dealership I've not had good results with since the purchase of this vehicle.

I received a warning light svc and, had the car looked at a Jeep dealership in late Feb early March, the ptu case needs to be replaced. There seems to be a recall for this on Jeep Cherokees but my car isn't listed and my car has had a failure.

I’ve got the dreaded service 4wd light coming on which means my 4wd system is not working. It’s also known as the c14a7-97 dtc. I bought a 4wd vehicle to have 4wd not front wheel drive. I drive approx 130 miles a day in rain, snow, ice, mud, etc so I need a vehicle that I know will get me to my destinations. I ask dealers about my problem and they are like OH another ptu issue. There’s many Jeeps with the same problem. That makes a person feel better. Parts are back ordered but also my 2020 doesn’t fall into recall even though it’s the same issue as the prior Jeep Cherokee years. Apparently this is a very well common problem but they refuse to fix them. Shouldn’t have to be worrying about these kinds of problems when the vehicle don’t even have 50k mileage yet. I’ve read on many different forums to report about this issue to you. Thanks.

The power transfer unit stopped working and we got a message on the dashboard about the four-wheel-drive not working. We had to replace the ptu.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while changing lines and attempting to depress the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond with a grinding sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact pulled over into a parking lot and attempted to shift to park, and the vehicle started to reverse unintendedly. The contact stated that after returning to the residence, the vehicle was parked and the parking brake was activated to keep the vehicle from moving unintendedly. The “service 4wd” warning light was illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ptu needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure had occurred twice. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number:25v011000 (power train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to another dealer to seek assistance with repairing the vehicle. The failure mileage was 68,000.

Was driving my vehicle and the service light came on that said (svc 4x4) when I took the vehicle in the fury dealership to get a diagnostic check, I was told that my ptu system need to be replaced and it would cost $4500. 00 to repair, upon doing some research it seems that Jeep Cherokee has had many problems with this particular parts failure. Upon going back and forth with the service manager about the repair cost I was told they would do the repair, but I would have to pay about $1000. 00 for the repair which is insane because this is something that Jeep should be required to fix due to the many complaints and repairs for this vehicle. I was told that the part was on back order and could take months to get, this was in February 2026 and its now April 22, 2026. I have not received any updates as to when the part will come in in the meantime I'm driving a vehicle that can potentially kill me.

No accident or incident cause issues with the power train. Seems like a recurring problem that this specific model of Jeep has been facing.

Warning light came on that said "service 4wd system" at approximately 86,969 miles on a 2020 Jeep Cherokee trailhawk. Took to dealer and was advised that ptu (power transfer unit) must be replaced at a cost of $3,945. 19. Was also advised that dtcm "transfer case control module must be replaced at a cost of $776. 95. Total cost to resolve "service 4wd system" problem as quoted is $4,722. 14. It has been noted that older versions of this same vehicle model have been recalled by the manufacturer for this same problem. I would like to know why this particular model year has not been included that recall as it appears that the earlier noted manufacturing defect was not corrected for the 2020 model year.

Issue #1: fuel pump failure, had to completely replace the fuel pump at approx. 60,000 miles. Approx. $1,300 repair. Issue #2: rear differential failure due to faulty/poor construction of materials, per the repair shop. Failed at approx. 63,000 miles. There was no external damage to the differential, it was caused by poor construction/defects of the materials used to build the car. Approx. $4,500 repair. Both issues are known issues with Jeeps of this model year, to the extent that I have not been able to find replacement parts due to them being in such high demand.