Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Jeep Cherokee - part 1

The vehicle experienced a sudden engine failure while driving. Prior to failure, a flashing check engine light appeared along with severe engine misfire, sputtering, and loss of power. The vehicle became unsafe to operate and required towing. The vehicle had recently undergone recall service (ptu recall 01c) at an authorized dealership. Shortly after that service, the engine failure occurred. It is unknown if the recall repair contributed to the failure, but the timing is notable. The vehicle has been regularly maintained according to manufacturer recommendations. A dealership has inspected the vehicle and indicated that the engine requires replacement due to internal failure. The failure has been identified as involving piston #2, with coolant intrusion into the cylinder. This condition is consistent with loss of compression and internal engine damage. Numerous other owners of similar vehicles have reported nearly identical failures, frequently involving piston #2, suggesting a potential pattern or common defect affecting that specific cylinder. The sudden loss of power while driving created a safety risk, particularly if this had occurred at higher speeds or in heavy traffic. This issue appears similar to other reported problems involving 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with the 2. 0l turbo engine, including misfire conditions and potential loss of compression leading to engine failure.

See all problems of the 2019 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

I was driving on the highway going approximately 75mph, everything was 100% normal. All of a sudden, and at once, my steering wheel started to shake, the car lost power/acceleration and speed quickly dropped. The engine was making loud noises. We pulled over, called my mechanic I've had for 35yrs. We were able to get the car to the garage driving very slowly, it wouldn't go above maybe 30mph. My mechanic initially did a diagnostic test which indicated issues with coils??after further investigation he, and 2 of his fellow mechanics determined it was a much more serious issue that has resulted in a total malfunction of the motor. I bought my car in 2021 with 46,740 miles on it, it currently has 84,756 miles. I still owe $4349. 63, 1yr left on my loan. My mechanic said he is aware of a number of recalls on Jeeps . I looked up my VIN bought found nothing. Similar issues, but nothing with that VIN.

My Jeep has been cutting off while driving for the past several months. I've taken it to be serviced several times and everything, from the alternator, engine, fuel pump, battery, etc. Are all fine. But the vehicle will cut of while driving or while idling at the traffic light. This is a major safety hazard. Not only for myself and the occupants of the vehicle but other drivers on the road as well. This could cause serious injury of even death. I have found dozens of reports of the same issues online, and none have identified an issue or recall but this has to be a manufacturer defect. No one should have to drive a car that checks out as "safe" but it an accident waiting to happen, either on the freeway or main roads.

See all problems of the 2017 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

I purchased this 2021 Jeep Cherokee, and it has developed a life-threatening defect where it performs an uncommanded braking while driving at speed. Without any warning the car slams on the brakes creating an immediate risk of a rear end collision. Diagnostic scans show multiple critical failures: po128 (the initial warning of a computer communication issues). Dealership (echo park) refuses to fix with the proper oem part and denies my warranty, (I called it in on day 15 on my warranty, 01/28/26) I let them know the fans were loud, rpms fluctuating, tailpipe full of black soot and making a loud sputtering, this is burning up my fuel fast. My appt was on 02/10/26 they said there was nothing wrong with it. A couple weeks go by and then the check engine light turned on (after my warranty) I took it back on 03/19/26, they visually verified the code, said I had to pay out of pocket to fix it with an aftermarket part not the oem part. They set up an appt for 03/25/26. Uo128 (lost communication with brake control module) and c008e-00(ecu internal performance). These codes are directly linked to the NHTSA safety investigation pe22- 009. When I took the vehicle to allways [xxx] on March 23, 2026, the service department refused to perform a safety inspection without an upfront payment, despite the vehicle having exposed wiring in the steering column and part of an active federal safety probe. As a small business owner (maid to sparkle) grandmother who transports a [xxx] daily, I am now stranded with a vehicle that is unsafe to drive due to a documented a manufacturer defect. While at the dealership I was simultaneously on the phone with Jeep customer care. Despite the vehicle being under federal safety investigation for the exact ghost breaking I am experiencing both the dealer and corporate representative denied assistance and refused a safety inspection without an upfront fee this shows a coordinated refusal to address a documented safety defect. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia),.

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My car suddenly started making a loud noise while driving and one day , I was driving to work and my car started to lose power it won’t accelerate even thoe I was trying to accelerate my car was slowing the speed down and I had to return to my house with emergency lights because my car won’t accelerate . The next day I took my car to a collision center and they changed some of the old car parts . I’m trying to submit a reimbursement for this recall but the website won’t let me submit the form along with the invoice I attached to the reimbursement request .

Oil filter housing 3. 2 motor. Plastic housing leaking with oil smell while driving. Could cause fire in engine bay.

See all problems of the 2020 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

1. The power transfer unit (ptu) and transfer case have failed. The vehicle was initially suspected to have a wheel bearing issue due to a howling noise during the test drive. However, after purchase, the noise worsened significantly. An independent repair shop diagnosed the vehicle and confirmed that the transfer case and bearings are defective and unsafe. The vehicle is currently at the dealership and is available for inspection upon request. 2. I was informed by a certified mechanic that the vehicle is unsafe to drive and poses a significant risk of crash due to transfer case failure. Failure of the transfer case and ptu can result in sudden loss of power, drivetrain lockup, or loss of vehicle control while driving. This placed my safety, my child’s safety, and others on the road at serious risk. I was specifically instructed not to drive the vehicle due to the hazard. 3. Yes. The problem was confirmed by both an independent repair shop and the selling dealership. The dealership acknowledged there is an active recall related to the ptu/transfer case and ordered a replacement transfer case. However, they stated the part is on national backorder with no current estimated availability due to the recall. 4. The vehicle has been inspected and diagnosed by an independent repair facility and is currently at the dealership where it was purchased for further inspection and recall-related repair. The dealership has acknowledged the recall and the need for transfer case replacement. 5. Yes. The primary symptom was a loud howling or whining noise coming from the drivetrain area, which began before purchase and was reported to the dealer during the test drive. The dealer initially stated it was a wheel bearing issue. After purchase, the noise progressively worsened over several weeks, leading to the diagnosis of transfer case failure. No warning lights appeared, but the audible noise was severe and consistent.

See all problems of the 2018 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while in a drive-thru line, the front driver's side window started smoking. The contact disconnected the wiring to the door. The vehicle was taken to o'reilly, where it was diagnosed with an internal door electrical failure. The contact personally replaced the power window motor. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing hard shifts while driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was previously taken to o'reilly’s, where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to the alternator and low battery voltage. The alternator was taken to two technicians for testing, and the contact was informed that the alternator was in good condition. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the abs warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was recently taken to o'reilly’s and autozone for diagnostic testing and the contact was provided fault codes for evap system leak detected, 1,2,3 active grille shutter (ags), throttle pedal position sensor switch a circuit high, system voltage below and above threshold, denied torque request signal, ecu configuration mismatch, ecu vehicle option mismatch, output speed sensor, input speed sensor/correlation, fan 1 control circuit, throttle pedal position sensor switches d and b circuit low, and dtc u0402-00 for tcm immediate repair. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

See all problems of the 2015 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

Tacoma Dodge Chrysler Jeep ram at address: 4101 s tacoma way, tacoma wa 98409 the service provider (andrew) has said his boss is telling him to have the vehicle moved and putting the responsibility on us at our own expense. We opened a case us customer care recall department case #[xxx] is pressuring us to move our 2017 Jeep at our own expense. It is inoperable and will not drive due to a safety recall that has been open for over 1 year without a remedy. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Well the engine definitely failed to provide power for me to drive my vehicle. And as I am doing more and more research on what the ptu does, which is what there is a recall on. It appears the ptu not working correctly on my vehicle affected the engine, and the ability for car to properly utilize oil, thus affecting the operation of the cylinders 1 and 4 on my vehicle. I am being told I need a new engine however, I believe the ptu problem directly affected my engine because everything that happens with the failure of the ptu is similar things that happen with the failure of my engine, thus the two really are related. And if the ptu "talks to" the engine for proper consumption and usage of oil then, my current engine replacement needs to be covered under the recall of the ptu and any other possible engine problems with other Jeep Cherokee engine recalls. I would like someone to contact me and have a discussion with me and/or an attorney as I am considering now hiring one because of the safety risk of continued problems especially putting in another engine and having the ptu affect the engine again. Also mechanics are saying there is no way that this engine failed unless there was something else wrong upon installation of the engine or something else affected the operation of the engine, as in the ptu.

I was driving down the interstate in the mountainous region of montana. While coming down the hill, I lost all power in my vehicle. My car continued to slow down, unable to accelerate. I had multiple warnings/things flash across my screen that identified that I no longer had access to them. After about 30 minute or more of driving slower and slower, able to initially go 30 mph, then it continued to decrease. I was maybe to go 10 mph up a hill to try to get to the next town. I inched my way to the dealership to drop my car off. I know there is a recall on my vehicle for something related to power however in the past year, every time I take it to dealer, they say there is nothing available to fix it. I now have no vehicle and I could have easily been hit from behind during the time where I continued to lose power in the vehicle. It was a terrifying feeling to know I could be stranded on a mountain road with no cell service, etc. If there is something wrong with a vehicle because of manufacture errors, then they need to do something ASAP or provide me a new car immediately for my safety and well being. If the whole 2019 model of Jeep is an issue, then provide me a new vehicle. This is not the first issue I had with this car. Early on after purchasing it, my dash lights would all disappear while driving down the road. No speedometer, nothing. The area where the radio and other communication is at, got so hot that one could not even touch it. They did eventually replace whatever caused that problem but that was a safety issue as well. Last year I was in a car accident because I stepped on the gas to go, and there was nothing and then all of a sudden it took off and by then the car in front of me stopped. This is when I realized there is a significant problem with the power of the car. The dealer said it was probably related to the recall but don't have a way to address it.

Unknown: not had problems since I got it. 66000 miles on it and now it’s losing electrical power at random. I’ll be driving normally, but my dash will go black, all lights go out and the engine will go into neutral. When I let off the throttle and coast, it will come back to life and go back to normal.

See all problems of the 2016 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

Transmission was replaced at 20k miles it has still continue to stall while driving causing hard shift and stalling in the middle of the road almost causing accidents.

I'm pretty sure it's the ptu . I was driving up a hilly road and my Jeep had no power all of a sudden. Then the service 4wheel drive light came on in the cluster,/ dash. Then when I stopped the tires would not quit spinning. But I could tell only one at a time was rolling. But it would switch to a different tire . Each time it switched it would almost catapult me of to the side or towards the middle of the road. . I finally just shut the engine off . Because it seemed as though it had a mind of its own . . . Thank god the plow truck came up this road I was on . Because I was afraid to start it again due to the fact I did not want to go off in a trench . I had no traction when the wheels kept kicking in and out of 4 wheel drive . That to me is a big safety concern. I took it to a mechanic shop the following day and he put a scan tool on it and it came back, ptu . And he told me that this year model has a recall for the same problem .

The car has been suddenly lurching backward and forward in traffic/ while driving, moving forward and backwards unexpectantly and not accelerating at an expected rate, causing other vehicles almost to hit me about 4 times within 1 week starting last week around 12/8/25, because my vehicle is not moving at the expected rate during yielding, changing lanes, etc. I took it to the shop and reported this issue, and they informed me that this vehicle has serious oil leaks and multiple parts that have failed involving the oil filter housing, engine valve cover, engine intake manifold gasket, etc. I have attached a list of parts that have failed in this vehicle from the repair shop for your records and can make available the parts upon request. My repair shop has told me that they have had to repair multiple other cars of this make and model for the same reason/ failed parts across multiple years up to until about 2021, but that the company repaired it on more current models, which clearly indicates that this is a known issue for prior models. This company has an obligation to protect its customers and conduct a full recall on prior models to correct this issue, in order to prevent serious injury or death of the public! I trust you will investigate this matter thoroughly.

While driving my 2019 Jeep Cherokee, the engine randomly shuts off without warning. This has happened multiple times at different speeds. The vehicle suddenly loses all power, and I have to coast to the side of the road. There are no warning lights, messages, or diagnostic codes before or after the stall. The specific component causing the failure is unknown, but it seems related to the electrical/engine/powertrain system. This failure puts my safety at serious risk because the engine dies unexpectedly in traffic, which could easily cause a rear-end collision or loss of control. I had a diagnostic scan done at autozone and no trouble codes were found. There were no symptoms or warning lamps prior to each incident ,the engine simply shuts off while the vehicle is in motion. This is a recurring safety hazard.

The contact owned a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sweet/alcohol smell in the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent while in the process of performing a stress test drive. There was a popping sound from the ignition, and it stopped on the interstate. Upon opening the hood, he noticed smoke and flames, and the vehicle fully ignited and caught fire. The fire department was on the scene to extinguish the fire and determined that the cable installation or hose installation failure of equipment/leak resulted in an electrical fire. There was no reported crash, air bag deployment, or police report filed. The local dealer was contacted, who referred to the manufacturer and the NHTSA hotline. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle stalled. The transmission message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and there were metal particles in the transmission fluid. The vehicle was not repaired. The mechanic called an unknown local dealer and confirmed that parts were on backorder. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

When I attempted to turn left onto the highway from a complete stop on an incline, I pressed the accelerator and the car made a loud grinding noise. The vehicle would not move forward or reverse. The parking brake engaged on its own and would not disengage. After exiting the vehicle, I found a loose bearing behind the car. The vehicle had to be towed to a mechanic. I was informed by the mechanic that the failure was caused by the ptu (power transfer unit), and the repair cost me $2,600. I was later told that the initial failure had also stripped another component, which required an additional $100 repair. I was not given the specific name or details of that additional part.

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that on three occasions after refueling the vehicle and driving approximately two feet, the vehicle unexpectedly shutoff. The message to “shift to park” was displayed. The contact activated the hazard lights. The accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was eventually restarted. The contact associated the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000 (power train). The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

November 20 I took my car to seattle Jeep to comply with a NHTSA recall (u90). Few days latter when they finish the repair they created a new problem with the transmission. Now I have a rough or abrupt transmission shifting like being rear ended. The dealer told the manufacturer need to fix it because of some flaws in the software calibration or it’s internal components. Seattle Jeep it won’t take responsibility for.

See all problems of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

4wd overheating. Owned this Jeep for 8 years and had it in multiple (5x plus) times for service 4wd code. 2 different dealerships cannot fix the issue. Now they are telling me just drive it and not worry about it or trade it in. It smells hot and something burning. I have the life time max care warranty on it. The codes I get are the 4wd is unavailable overheated and service 4wd. They have replaced multiple parts and still not working. I will be just sitting idle and it comes on.

The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under emissions recall u90; however, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds or while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle violently downshifted. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that a software update was needed. The vehicle was not repaired and was left at the local dealer. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

My 2019 Jeep Cherokee service light for 4wd came on. After having the car into a Jeep dealership for diagnostic/service I was told it was the ptu and no replace/fix is available. There is a recall for this year, make, model for this exact problem ( ptu ) however , my VIN# is not included under this recall. They need to widen the recall to all affected by this problem. Clearly , my car has a ptu issue confirmed by the dealership, is the same year, make and model as the recalled cars with exact same problem.

The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked abnormally with an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with a misfire in cylinder #5. The fuel injectors were cleaned, and the spark plugs and filters were replaced. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the contact became aware that there were oil stains on the ground, and the abnormal odor was still coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the plastic oil filter housing seal had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.

In November 2024, while driving, my Jeep began to lose power. Accelerator was not working and pulled over. It turned on but would unexpectedly turn off whenever I would drive it. It was in the shop 4 months. Last week, Nov 2025, while at a stop light it completely stopped working. When I tried to accelerate it wasn’t working. Break pedal was hard and I could not turn it back on. Dash lights were on and tank had gas. Had to get it towed. Was told engine was in good shape. Still looking at starter issues.

I purchased this 2014 Jeep Cherokee from taverna collection in Feb 2025 and received it in March 2025. The selling dealer was required to inspect the vehicle before delivery and did not report any transmission or valve-body issues. On June 25, 2025, the vehicle received a multipoint inspection at auto angel in santa fe. No transmission failure, shifting issues, or valve-body concerns were found. The Jeep was not showing symptoms related to recall u90 at that time. After this, I attempted to have recall u90 (pcm/tcm reprogramming) performed. Lithia Chrysler in santa fe confirmed the recall by email and scheduled an appointment, but after towing the vehicle to them they refused to perform the recall and repeatedly stated “there is no recall,” forcing me to tow the vehicle home and then again two days later to a dealership in albuquerque. At the albuquerque dealership, I gave clear instructions not to perform any paid repairs—including a transmission valve-body replacement—until the u90 reflash was completed and confirmed. I never received confirmation. The dealership later claimed they followed protocol but refused to release the witech session report or timestamps showing when the recall work occurred. They told me I could only see documentation after paying $2,600. I contacted fca/stellantis. The case manager said her supervisor stated the dealer “followed protocol,” but fca admitted this was based solely on the dealership’s word. Fca could not confirm whether they reviewed the witech diagnostic session or any recall repair records. Under 49 u. S. C. §30120(I) and 49 cfr part 576, manufacturers and dealers must retain detailed recall records, including diagnostic data and timestamps, to verify proper recall completion. Fca’s inability or refusal to verify the recall using these required records raises concerns that recall u90 may not have been performed correctly or in the proper sequence. I request NHTSA review this matter.

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 61 mph and accelerating, the vehicle stalled twice. The contact stated that the cabin was filled with smoke. The contact was able to pull over and open the hood and noticed the smoke near the engine. After 4 minutes, the smoke dissipated. The vehicle would be towed later. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.

On 11/1/25 we were driving our Jeep and it malfunctioned while at a stop light. We heard a loud "clunk" and the car would barely go and if we tried to put in park, it would continue to roll. We were on top of a hill so thankfully we didnt roll back or into traffic. We could not drive the car and had to have it towed since it was not safe to drive. Our Jeep is at an authorized Jeep dealer since 11/3/25 and we were told the issue was a power transfer unit that would be covered on the recall but the part was on backorder until 12/2. Jeep would only cover $50/day for a car rental, so we had to rely on borrowing cars from others. Once 12/2 came, we reached out to the dealership and they said the part ship date was moved to 12/18! this is not a timely manner. We have made at least 3 calls to Jeep over the past week, and they keep telling us since 12/10/25 that they will let us know in 2 days. . . 2 days pass and they transfer our case. Another two days pass and still no call from them so I called them back and they have yet to call me. We had our Jeep in the week of 11/17 or 11/24 for inspection and it passed. We noticed some lagging when we were going up hills in the 1-2 rpm range but mechanic did not notice it. Between the inspection and when it finally broke down, no lights came on and there were no warning messages. Not until the car broke down on 11/1.

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph and making a turn, the vehicle stalled. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the ptu was the cause of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000 (power train). The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were on backorder. The contact called another local dealer, colonial south Chrysler ram Jeep and Dodge (42 state rd, dartmouth, MA 02747), but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.

I was getting off the highway and my car stopped on me. I put my emergency lights on. I put the car on park and tried turning it on. The brake was hard to push down. I gave it a few minutes to rest and I tried 2 more times. The second time it turned on but imediately turned back off. I let it rest a minute or so and it finally turned on. I was scared for my life because there all on coming traffic coming off the interstate. I did call the police for help but as soon as I got it started I called back for them not to come. I also got a warning saying engine warming. 6:30 am 10-30-25.

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal clanking sound coming from the front of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and unintendedly came to a complete stop. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

My 2019 Jeep lost all power. Shortly after that my service 4wd light came on. I understand that this is a recent recall for the ptu but, my VIN number is not showing this recall. How do I get my jepp added to this recall for the service 4wd indicator?.

My Jeep is disabled due to a drivetrain failure covered under Jeep’s xj1 warranty extension. The required part is on extended backorder (weeks) and Jeep is unable to provide a remedy or transportation while the vehicle is inoperable. This results in a safety hazard and unreasonable delay of repair. Power transfer unit (ptu) failure under warranty extension xj1. Vehicle is disabled and cannot be safely driven. Jeep is unable to provide the part required for repair, resulting in an unreasonable delay of remedy.

Their was no incident.