Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Jeep Cherokee - part 1

Engine caught fire while parked.

See all problems of the 2020 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

On September 23, 2026, my wife was driving our 2020 Jeep Cherokee trailhawk on I-65 south at mile marker 105. 1 when the vehicle lost drive power and could no longer be driven. She became stranded on the side of the highway, and I had to pick her up. The vehicle also rolled while the gear selector was in park. We had it towed to tom o’brien Jeep dealership in greenwood. Our vehicle is included in open safety recall 40d, NHTSA campaign 26v-290, involving the power transfer unit (ptu). The loss of drive power and rolling in park match the failure symptoms described in that recall. The specific mechanical cause still needs to be confirmed by the dealership. The mopar recall lookup shows the recall is incomplete, the remedy is under development, and repair parts are not available. The vehicle is currently at the dealership. I am reporting an actual highway loss-of-propulsion incident and the vehicle rolling while in park. I am concerned about the risk of a crash or injury and the lack of an available recall remedy. Please document this incident under the existing recall and review the manufacturer’s response to vehicles that have already experienced these failures.

My Jeep Cherokee trailhawk 2022 got completely and unexpectedly stalled while driving on a highway without any type of warning. Many warning signs flashed at the same time: etc (electronic throttle control), service park brake, check engine, battery, and a few more. The battery is one year old - had to replace it at 20k for a similar reason. The incident could have been so much worse had a car been driving behind me. Service dealership is currently inspecting the car.

See all problems of the 2022 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

My 2021 Jeep Cherokee trailhawk has been effectively unusable since April 19, 2026 due to the ptu issue associated with fca recall 40d/NHTSA recall 26v-290. I previously filed a complaint regarding this vehicle. It has now been 5 months with no repair remedy available. Due to being told by the certified dealer, mopar, Jeep/stellantis (who closed my claim because they claim the vehicle is safe to drive despite of having an outstanding safety recall) I thought I would attempt to drive the vehicle again. On September 15, 2026, the vehicle lost all motive power while I was traveling approximately 65 mph on the highway on my daily commute. I had to coast the vehicle to the shoulder. This is the exact type of safety hazard described in the recall. Fca/stellantis has not provided a repair solution, rental vehicle, reimbursement, or other meaningful transportation assistance. I continue to incur the expense of owning and paying for a vehicle that I cannot safely operate. I am requesting that NHTSA review the length of time this recall has remained without an available remedy and the lack of assistance being provided to owners whose vehicles have already experienced the recall failure. I would also this complaint associated with my previous complaint and recall 26v-290/40d.

See all problems of the 2021 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

On September 14, 2025, while driving on the highway, the vehicle began shaking violently, the check engine light illuminated and began flashing, and the vehicle progressively lost power and became undriveable. The vehicle had to be towed. No warning lights appeared prior to the incident. This failure follows a documented history of power transfer unit (ptu) issues. In may 2024 at approximately 88,000 miles, diagnostic codes including c14a7-97 (ptu motor - component/system blocked) were retrieved at an independent service center. The 4-wheel drive system was found to be stuck engaged. The transfer case actuator motor was replaced in December 2024 at approximately 93,000 miles by the same shop at my expense. The vehicle is a single-speed ptu configuration and was excluded from equipment safety recall 02c (two speed ptu failure), despite experiencing substantially similar symptoms: loss of drive power, vibration, and drivetrain malfunction. The ptu and transfer case are available for inspection. The failure has been confirmed by an independent service center. Prior to the highway failure, the vehicle exhibited difficulty accelerating, particularly at highway speeds, and an audible whirring sound from the drivetrain. It also jerked forward when shifting into park. Safety was put at risk due to sudden loss of motive power at highway speed.

See all problems of the 2019 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

I was driving home from work, the digital display (center)!showed my speed at 82m/h and revving the engine, the actual speedometer showed the actual speed I was doing of 32m/h…(right side of display). Computer reading lights and license plate light not working, yet they are. Took to repair shop and they could only reset, but it returned almost immediately. Gear shift malfunction. The lights on the gear shift and the alert in the display saying gear shift malfunction… all within 2 days… car has @97 000 miles….

See all problems of the 2016 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

Vehicle is a 2021 Jeep Cherokee latitude lux equipped with a 1-speed power transfer unit (ptu) / active drive I system. The vehicle experienced an abrupt failure of the awd system, triggering an immediate "service 4wd" warning light on the dashboard. Dealership diagnostics confirmed trouble code c14a7-97 (power transfer unit rear axle motor circuit - component internal failure), requiring a complete ptu replacement estimated at $2,200. This vehicle is currently excluded from safety recall 40d (NHTSA campaign 26v290000) solely because it utilizes a 1-speed ptu rather than a 2-speed ptu. However, code c14a7-97 confirms that the 1-speed units are suffering from the exact same internal mechanical and electrical component failures described in the active recall. The vehicle has been forced into permanent front-wheel-drive mode, causing a noticeable drop in handling and acceleration performance. This mechanical failure presents a sudden loss of drive power and a severe vehicle rollaway risk if the electronic parking brake is not manually cycled. Nhtsa should investigate and expand recall 40d to include 1-speed ptu Jeep Cherokees, as they share the same defective internal components and safety hazards.

I am filing this safety complaint regarding my 2019 Jeep Cherokee latitude plus 2. 4l awd. This vehicle is experiencing severe, life-threatening safety hazards involving sudden engine stalling and a complete loss of motive power while in motion. Despite my vehicle exhibiting the exact failure symptoms of multiple major fca/stellantis safety recalls for this model year, my specific VIN is currently showing as excluded from the recall database, leaving me with a highly dangerous vehicle and no dealership remedy. The vehicle is suffering from two distinct, interrelated defects that have recently caused terrifying incidents in heavy traffic. First, while driving, the dashboard suddenly illuminated both the "svc 4wd" (service 4wd) and the "auto start-stop" warning lights simultaneously. Immediately following these warnings, the vehicle lost forward power and unexpectedly rolled forward while I was fully stopped at a red light, failing to hold its position. This mirrors the exact mechanical behavior of the known Jeep ptu spline-wear defects that cause sudden rollaways and a loss of drive power. Second, the vehicle completely stalled out and shut down while I was driving on a highway exit ramp. The engine lost all power without warning, forcing me to coast through traffic, shift into park, and completely cycle the ignition to restart it. This engine shutdown creates an imminent risk of a rear-end collision on high-speed roads. The vehicle has a severe issue with oil consumption, which I suspect is dropping hydraulic pressure and forcing the engine to shut off while the car is shifted into drive. The manufacturer’s current recall parameters for the ptu failures and engine stalling issues on 2019 Cherokees are clearly too narrow. My vehicle is dealing with identical, dangerous safety failures as the units already recalled, but I am being denied a safe, free repair due to a VIN exclusion. I request that the NHTSA investigate this specific batch of 2019 vins and force a recall.

This issue has occurred on several occasions. I successfully reverse but when I switch back to "drive" the vehicle enters a neutral state. When driving on the highway, the vehicle has slowed itself to 40mph and continues to slow itself until it becomes disabled. I currently see there has been a recall for this vehicle in 2019 (19v447000) which did not include my VIN. However, my vehicle is experiencing the exact symptoms described in that specific recall. The vehicle is unsafe to drive.

See all problems of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

The motor experiences a malfunction, which the passengers feel as a slight ‘bump’ in the engine. The dash flashes service electronic stability control and the engine experiences a loss in power followed by a gain in power, experienced as slight lurching. The dash esc icon lights up yellow simultaneously as the esc button on the center dash instrument cluster. The vehicle continuously lurches as it tries to stabilize, at this point the most ginger touch to the accelerator is necessary, otherwise the engine may stall out. I have been left stalled in the middle of a road where there was moving traffic passing by both ways. The mechanic said the engine codes read- p0340- camshaft position sensor b1s1 & u1428- received engine torque request signal stuck.

Plastic manifold cover has developed a hairline crack and is leaking oil. Vehicle has only 68,000 miles. Mechanic advised there is a national backorder of replacement manifold covers so up to the mercy of the manufacturer to produce more. From what I've seen online, this is a notorious issue with many different Jeep models over many years.

While driving my 2020 Jeep Cherokee latitude plus (2. 0l turbo engine), the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle began misfiring with a severe loss of power and abnormal engine noise. A compression test confirmed lost compression in one or more cylinders. The dealer inspected the engine and diagnosed internal piston damage, consistent with piston ring land failure. Research shows this is a known failure pattern in 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee turbo engines, including a pending class action investigation (sauder schelkopf) for premature engine failure caused by lost cylinder compression, misfire codes, and dealerships declining coverage. Reports describe melted pistons and collapsed ring lands, often in cylinder #2, possibly related to low-speed pre-ignition or the pcm incorrectly detecting fuel octane and over-advancing ignition timing. The failed engine components are available for inspection upon request. This failure occurred at highway speed with no prior warning beyond the check engine light, creating a safety hazard from sudden power loss. The engine is a 2. 0l turbo gme (hurricane) engine. Please investigate this defect pattern for a potential safety recall.

I have a Cherokee that isn't on the current recall list or anything. But I have the service 4wd light. Its a 2020 Jeep Cherokee limited v6 3. 2 4x4.

I was driving on the interstate and lost my engine power.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact was informed that there was an oil leak underneath the vehicle. The contact was unsure if the oil was coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to the residence and parked, and the contact observed puddles of oil underneath the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer stated that the radiator, engine, turbo, thermostat, torque converter, and other unknown parts needed to be replaced, and that the engine control valve was possibly stuck, resulting in oil and coolant contamination. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

Automatic transmission shifts hard at approximately 30 mph causing a sudden lurch. It has happened several times. It is such a sudden movement that it feels unsafe as if someone has hit my car from behind. I took my car to the dealer of purchase for the first time for this issue on 7/18/26. This has happened at least 4x and there were no warnings prior to it happening. Also, when I hit a small speed bump the lights went off on the dashboard and car was still running. No findings were reported.

An nhsta #26v290000 report received on 07/05/2026-power train from aaa, nhsta campaign #25v011000- power train, and nhsta #18v523000- service brakes, hydraulic foundation and components disc caliper. On July 9th, 2026, I was driving on the highway and about to approach the delaware memorial bridge. All the lights on the dashboard started flashing: temperature, engine, coolant, etc. I lost braking performance and the car's ability to use it because the entire electronic system locked. I could not put the car in neutral, nor could the truck drivers move it. I was in a dangerous location. Both repair shops also impacted the powertrain and differential; during the test drive, they noted noise from the rear differential when turning and a sense of locking up. These are symptoms of early differential failure. The initial gauge fluctuated, and due to the high temperature, it burned out the engine and radiator; the car smoked heavily inside and out. I have had to pay more than $ 3,500 in repairs for two recalls that were indicated to me when I called about them; they were for 2019 Jeeps, but not my vehicle. It appears as though the recall should be for all 2019 Jeep Cherokees. This is my 4th Jeep, and I have driven each one well over 140,000 miles before getting another vehicle. Before that, any recalls were for all Jeep makes and models that carried those parts or were manufactured with a possibility of failure. I want a refund for what I have had to put into the vehicle. If I had not pulled off the highway at the last exit as was laid on my mind by a higher power, I would have been a fatality due to not being able to move the car off the highway.

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle and the contact pulled over to the side of the road. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who discovered that the skid plate was cracked, and after further inspection, the contact was informed about the ptu recall and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000 (power train). The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 204,000.

See all problems of the 2017 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

Engine failure at 90,000 miles need a whole new engine.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle intermittently lost automotive power and there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle independently accelerated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 330,000.

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.

My 2019 Jeep Cherokee limited suffered a complete loss of power while driving down the highway and now has a service 4wd light on as well.

While driving the 2019 Jeep Cherokee 2. 0l turbo lost power and stalled. Had it towed to mechanic and was advised cylinders 1&2 had low compression and needs new motor.

I have a 2014 Jeep Cherokee that I have had since 2019. Since I have owned it, there have been several transmission recalls. I am currently dealing with a new transmission issue, where it is jerky and fails to go when pressing the gas after being at a stop. I am also dealing with the second oil filter housing leaking. Apparently this is a known issue, due to a plastic housing that cracks and warps easily. This causes significant oil and coolant leaks. This can potentially cause engine failure as well as the possibility of oil causing a fire due to hot oil on the exhaust. I previously paid over $1000 to have this repaired a few years ago and its now doing the same thing! this is highly frustrating. I will not be able to drive my car until this is fixed to the safety hazard of driving with such a bad oil leak.

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the messages "reset - start unavailable" and "start/stop system unavailable" were displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving on another occasion, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The contact was unable to pull over, and the vehicle was pushed to the side of the road with assistance. The vehicle was restarted after a while and was driven to the residence; however, the failure reoccurred. The battery was disconnected and taken to an auto zone store, where it was determined that the battery voltage was low. The contact replaced the battery; however, the new battery drained prematurely. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle at the residence, and the throttle body was replaced, but the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was determined that the pcm and tcm needed to be reprogrammed to restart the vehicle; however, the repair could not be completed due to a loss of communication, and the vehicle went into limp mode. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but declined to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

I had pulled the vehicle into my garage. When I tried to shut the car off the car it would not shut off. In fact many components of the car seem to be completely out of sync. The car would not go into any gear. I could not shut the car off. No matter what I did the car just kept running. I finally more or less gave up and just let it keep running for a couple of hours. When I went back into the garage to check what was happening the car had finally stopped running. At that point I had call a towing service and arranged to have the vehicle taken to autonation Jeep Chrysler the next morning where I had purchased the vehicle. This was a newly purchased vehicle and only had a total of 78 miles on it. Surprisingly the next morning I went into the garage to check on what was happening with the vehicle and to my surprise the vehicle had stopped running. I then disconnected the 12 volt battery and left it disconnected for an hour or two. After this time I reconnected the battery. I again attempted to start the vehicle and surprisingly the vehicle started up and all functions in the car seem to be performing normally. At this point I drove the car about a mile to the autonation Jeep Chrysler dealership and had conversation with service technician. Surprisingly he told me that Jeep has had this problem with other vehicles and the solution is to disconnect the 12 volt battery for 20 or 30 minutes and then reconnect the battery. At that point the car seems to reset itself and it will run normally. End this car of mine only had 78 miles on it this is totally unacceptable. Furthermore this seems to be a problem with other Jeep vehicles. It is my opinion that Jeep needs to correct this problem so I will not be stuck with a car that's running in my garage and I can't shut it off. All in all it seems to me this is a software problem that needs to be reworked and corrected.

I was slowing down coming to a stop in a left turn lane. I went to give the car gas to make the turn and for 4 seconds I had no power. My car was stuck in the middle of the intersection. When the vehicle regained power it slammed forward really hard.

Twice in the past year, the vehicle stalled after coming to a stop at a red light. The morning after the most recent incident, the car would not start. I had it towed to the dealership. That was luther brookdale Dodge, Jeep and ram in brooklyn center, minnesota. Two weeks ago, I began to intermittently see the message '4wd unavailable - service required'. I brought it yesterday, and was told that the power transfer unit was in need of replacement. I travel as an special education case manager and teacher quite a distance every day to work. The roads in the wintertime can be quite challenging on which to travel. This vehicle should be included in the list of affected vehicle trims that are listed for the multitude of Jeep vehicles part of the ptu related recall. I need to know that the vehicle is being repaired with a part that is safe, not the same ptu used originally, in manufacture, which has been found to be unsafe.

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving check engine light had suddenly illuminated and the message "unspecified service unavailable" had displayed along with the 4 wheel drive warning light had illuminated. During the failure the vehicle did not properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed the ptu had malfunctioned. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer was not yet contacted. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000(power train). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 81,000.

Pulling out of a gas station the engine revved and accelerated without me pressing on the pedal harder. I tried pressing the brakes and they would not respond. It caused my vehicle to crash into a pole where it continued to rev until the vehicle was turned off.

Verified concern, found vehicle to run very rough and does not idle cleanly. Performed misfire monitor and noted no misfires at this time. Inspect spark plugs, coils and cylinder bores for concern, noted low compression on cyl #2 (150, 105, 145, 150). Inspect cyl bore with camera, noted excessive scouring and damage to cylinder walls causing misfire. Advise longblock or complete assembly replacement required. Open investigation: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph, the vehicle shut off as several warning lights appeared on the instrument panel. The contact made multiple attempts to restart the vehicle but to no avail. The police arrived at the scene and helped to place the vehicle into neutral(n) and moved the vehicle off to the side of the road. Due to the failure, the vehicle was initially towed to the contact's home and was then towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a failed alternator and ptu(power transfer unit). The vehicle was towed back to the contact's home due to the cost of the repair. The contact called an independent mechanic who managed to replace the alternator. Although the contact managed to drive the vehicle once the alternator was replaced; the contact stated that the same warning lights including the 4wd warning message remained on the instrument panel. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000(power train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be fully repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

See all problems of the 2018 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

The engine started making clunking sounds when driving. Brought it in and they said piston 2 has low psi, damage to cylinder, oil in cylinder, and the vehicle has roughly 47,500 miles on it. It has had on time oil changes and maintenance. I am told it needs a new engine.

Vehicle is overheating, have had issues right after purchasing from carmax burbank and issues after the recall was worked on at van nuys Jeep dealership.

See all problems of the 2015 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rpm was unexpectedly elevated. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed from the scene. After the failure, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the pistons and valves had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.