Power Train Problems of Jeep Cherokee - part 2

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the 4wd feature was inoperable. The contact stated that the ptu splines were worn, preventing the engagement of the 4wd feature, and potentially preventing the vehicle from remaining unmovable while shifted to park(p). The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. 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 failure mileage was 149,000.

See all problems of the 2018 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

Ptu/transfer case issues under 50,000 miles, Jeep randomly shuts off 4wd in dangerous areas without any warning.

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The service shifter warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that when the gear shifter was shifted into park, the vehicle rolled backwards. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with ptu failure. The contact was informed that the ptu needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed that the parts were not yet available. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000 (power train); however, parts were not yet available. The contact stated that parts had not been available for almost a year. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

See all problems of the 2017 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000 (power train). While parked in the snow, the contact attempted to engage the 4wd, but the 4wd feature failed to activate. The “service 4wd” message was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. 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 approximate failure mileage was 86,650.

See all problems of the 2019 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

Current mileage 120,287 have owned since purchased in 2019. On 12/28/2025 experienced a loud pop and an apparent disconnect of power to drive wheels, place car in neutral and back into drive seemed to drive normal. After driving another 12 miles and turning onto a side road experienced the occurrence again. We began having pops and vibrations as early as 2023 predominantly during an acceleration following a turn. On 10/19/2024, mileage 98,975, I requested maintenance as “developed slack in the drive train. When slowing down it bumps, when accelerating, mostly from a stop, it bangs and slips when shifting”, however despite having a tech drive with me only the hesitation was noticed. The concluded “trans no problem found at this time. ” the bangs have intermittently continued but I had never experienced the loss of power like occurred on 12/28/2025.

Ptu is being replaced because the dealership said it is going to leave me without power to the wheels which can be extremely dangerous on interstate. Took my Cherokee in because the whining that I’ve been hearing for at least three years was getting louder. The component has not been inspected by the manufacturer yet but I’m waiting on a replacement part and is currently on back order and I’m without the vehicle for a prolonged period of time.

See all problems of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

I am writing regarding a defective transfer case on my 2017 Jeep Cherokee. I took my car in to firestone as I was having issues with my heater not blowing hot air and my check engine coming on and off. I have attached a copy of firestone's estimate of repair. Firestone informed me that my VIN was not part of the recall. Although my vehicle's VIN is not currently included in the existing recall, I am experiencing the same failure that has been widely reported and documented for this model and model year. My Jeep is only eight years old, and a transfer case should not fall under normal use at this age. This issue is a known and recurring problem with 2017 Jeep Cherokees, and the failure of such a major drivetrain component raises serious concerns about the reliability and safety of the vehicle. Given that this defect is well know and consistent with issues cover under the recall, I am requesting that my VIN be reviewed and considered for inclusion. I also ask that Jeep provide assistance or goodwill coverage for the repair, as this failure is not consistent with reasonable expectations for durability. I have been a loyal Jeep owner and chose this vehicle based on its reputation. I hope Jeep will stand behind its product and address this issue fairly. Please let me know what additional information or documentation you may need from me to move this review forward. I look forward to you response.

Shifter module problems. . The car jerks hard between shifts. The car reversing on it own and wont stop. Warning light in dash "service shifter soon".

The contact owns a 2018 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 contact stated that while driving at 35 mph, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood with a burning odor. The contact pulled over to the side of the road to allow the smoke to clear. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the power transfer unit had failed and needed to be replaced; however, the recall remedy part was not available. 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 failure mileage was approximately 114,000.

My ptu failed while driving 70mph on a 4 lane interstate during a heavy rush hour, I'm 7 months pregnant and this was mortifying for me. I lost all power moving forward and could not accelerate. My rpms would near red-line. When I pulled on to the shoulder, while trying to not get hit or cause an accident from 3 lanes over, I put my car in park and shut it off, it sounded like a dying weedwhacker. It started rolling backwards without me noticing and I almost rolled back into the outside lane. I put on the e-brake, had it towed to firestone where they said it was likely the ptu that failed as I have every gear, except moving forward. When they had my vehicle on the lift they moved the tires in reverse motion and there was no noise, when they moved the tires in forward motion there was a loud knocking coming out of the ptu and the tires wouldn't budge. If in park on a decline, park works. If in park on an incline or flat, it rolls backwards. It can drive in reverse, but no forward movement at all. I got it towed to another shop where they took out&opened the ptu and checked the gears on the shaft inside, one of the gears was completely missing. Just completely disintegrated. There was no warning that anything was failing on my car. No check engine lights, no noises. Just loss of acceleration. Ptus are on back order 3-5 months right now because they're a known issue on the 2017-2019 models of Jeeps. My Jeep is a 2020 trailhawk with the v6 3. 2l.

See all problems of the 2020 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

The power transfer unit (ptu) has failed for the second time in this vehicles history. This problem disables the four wheel drive feature of the vehicle, causing a dashboard warning light to illuminate, and may lead to other serious drivetrain safety issues. According to the dealer service technician, the splines on the unit are wearing out and causing disengagement of the rear drive wheels. This unit was replaced two years ago, and is a known issue with the manufacturer according to my dealer service department.

4wd service light came on. The code was c14a7-97. A well known ptu problem. There was a previous recall for the same problem. It can be a dangerous situation if it completely fails while driving. Also a very expensive repair bill. My 2020 Jeep Cherokee only has 72k miles and a has a major known failure already.

Ptu failure. Known issue. 2017-2019 recalled but the part is still and issue and can lock up transmission. Recall needs to be extended to cover later years.

See all problems of the 2021 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

While driving in northwestern pennsylvania during a snowstorm, the driver engaged the vehicle’s factory “snow mode. ” immediately thereafter, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power and loss of steering control. The driver was forced to pull off the i79 interstate in severe winter conditions and exit the vehicle to avoid being struck by a snowplow. This created a dangerous roadside exposure and a significant risk of collision or injury. The vehicle was towed to a Jeep dealership and diagnosed with a failed rear differential requiring replacement. The dealership stated the part has been on national backorder since 2024, with no estimated availability. The failure occurred without warning and rendered the vehicle completely inoperable. The dealership further advised that this rear differential failure is a known issue, and recommended against installing a used replacement due to reliability and safety concerns. Safety concern: this failure resulted •sudden loss of vehicle control in hazardous weather •loss of motive power •forced roadside exposure in active traffic conditions the inability to obtain replacement parts compounds the safety risk by leaving the vehicle unusable and preventing timely repair. Request: I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA can evaluate whether this represents a systemic safety defect related to the rear differential in this vehicle platform, including failure mode, warning adequacy, and parts availability affecting safe remediation.

The ptu has failed in my vehicle. When I bought the vehicle there was a 4x4 light on the dash but I was told that it needed to be just turned off by a Jeep dealership. But I believe it actually was a symtom of the failing ptu. My vehicle sometimes goes into neutral when I try to pull off from a stop sign and then the vehicle kicks itself back into drive. My coolant and transmission temp rises the more I drive it and transmission seems to shift late or hard and sometimes prematurely sometimes it smells like burning electrical.

Safety issue involving loss of power and braking prior to receiving a ptu recall notice in January 2025, my vehicle began experiencing sudden and unexpected loss of power while driving, particularly when braking. Since that time, the issue has worsened significantly and now occurs more frequently. On multiple occasions, the vehicle has failed to accelerate properly after braking, creating dangerous situations in traffic. In at least one incident, there was a loss of braking power that nearly caused me to run a red light. Several of these incidents were near-accidents and occurred without warning. I have brought the vehicle to my local Jeep dealership three separate times and fully explained the loss of power and braking concerns. Each time, I was told that all issues are “directly related to the ptu recall,” that there is currently “no solution,” and that “nothing can be done. ” the vehicle was returned to me without repairs despite the safety risk. The dealership has acknowledged the issue but has not provided a fix, alternative transportation, or assurance that the vehicle is safe to operate. With a longer commute and the problem occurring more often, I no longer feel safe driving the vehicle and believe an accident outside of my control is inevitable if this continues. This defect presents a serious safety hazard involving loss of acceleration and braking while driving.

I took my vehicle to dealer shortly after purchase due to jerking forward during stops. A software update was performed and did not have any issues until recently. The past few weeks it began to hesitate upon acceleration and jerked forward harshly into first gear. Today there is a very noticeable prolonged hesitation during acceleration and an odd revving noice coming from tpu. This should be a major recall given the frequency and severity of the issue which could lead to a crash.

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the 4wd warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was purchased, and the contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed that parts were not available to repair the vehicle. An alternate dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that parts were not available. The dealers advised the contact not to drive because the vehicle was unsafe to drive due to the unrepaired recall. The contact was informed of NHTSA campaign number: 25v011000 (power train); however, parts were not available for the recall repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

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.

See all problems of the 2015 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

I began hearing an intermittent moderate grinding sound seeming to come from the center of the vehicle just below my console while driving for about the last month's time. On some days, I would not hear the noise at all. On [xxx] I pulled onto a road and when on the road heard a loud clunk then head continuous grinding sounds. I believe it to be a failure of the ptu. I had an issue of a more constant grinding sound while driving eminating from the same area when the Jeep was at 63000 miles and still under warranty. I took it to the seller dealership, (solomon Jeep in brownsville, PA). They told me that the fault was with the ptu. Kept the Jeep for one month waiting for a replacement ptu. Now my Jeep is unable to be driven. I intend to explore the lemon law. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The message "service 4wd system" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with ptu failure. The vehicle was not repaired, and the failure persisted. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 20v343000 (power train); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

See attached document for complaint.

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.

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 vehicle is experiencing a malfunction of the power transfer unit (ptu), which is part of the drivetrain / power train system. The vehicle is currently available for inspection upon request. The vehicle loses power during driving and produces grinding noises when making hard turns, which creates a risk of loss of propulsion while in motion, increasing the risk of a crash. The vehicle has stopped, loss of power while driving, at lights, and while waiting in traffic to make turns. The problem has been experienced multiple times during normal driving conditions. Formal dealer confirmation is pending / not yet completed. An appointment was made at Jeep dealership for software update (free) and a charge of $240 per hour for a diagnostic test to see what is causing the vehicle to suddenly stop. Not affordable for me at this time. I also went to my regular mechanic, whom is stating no issues detected, he can’t find an issue with the vehicle. I haven’t mentioned the ptu recall issue with this make and model vehicle to my mechanic but I will be taking it back to them and mentioning the recall for the make and model for 2017 Jeep for his inspection of my vehicle. Symptoms occurred without prior warning lights and included drivetrain-related behavior consistent with ptu failure. The vehicle experienced loss of power and grinding noises during hard turning without prior warning lights or messages. Exact mileage at first occurrence is unknown. The symptoms first appeared at approximately December 7, 2025, and has continued 3 more times since. Similar ptu failures are documented in multiple recalls affecting the same vehicle model and model year range, though this VIN is not currently included.

The vehicle is subject to an active safety recall involving the two-speed power transfer unit (ptu), which can cause loss of motive power and/or loss of park function. The vehicle displayed a “service 4wd” message and all-wheel drive functionality is disabled. The issue has been confirmed by a Jeep dealership, which stated that the recall repair cannot be performed because the manufacturer has not released the remedy under the recall. The dealership also stated the replacement ptu part is available for retail purchase but is not authorized for recall installation. The vehicle is being operated in winter conditions without all-wheel drive, increasing the risk of loss of control. The manufacturer has provided conflicting information, with the recall assistance center stating the recall was resolved, while the dealership and VIN recall system continue to show the recall as incomplete. Warning messages related to the drivetrain appeared prior to this complaint. The vehicle has not been repaired, and the recall remains open with no timeline for remedy.

My ptu has failed and my safety is at risk as my car could at any point loose power causing harm to me and others involved. This appears to be a manufacturing defect identical to those listed under the recall. I am requesting immediate inclusion and repair under the recall provisions.

Power transfer unit needs to be replaced. I took vehicle to repair shop for noise in left front tire. They informed me that the unit needs to be replaced. They checked for recall will a Chrysler dealer. The recall does not apply to this vehicle. I purchased this vehicle new from a Chrysler dealer in CT. The repair shop informed me that the ptu unit in my car is a used one from a junkyard, the said it has writing on it that junkyards use to identify parts. I never had it replaced so it had to come from the dealer like that.

See all problems of the 2016 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 25v011000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. 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.

Component malfunctioned: power transfer unit (ptu); safety risk: failure risks loss of drive power of the vehicle, putting driver and surrounding individuals at risk; problem reproduced: yes - dealer; component inspected: yes - dealer; messages: yes - svc 4wd. Upon purchasing the vehicle, I was informed that the ptu fluid is not meant to be changed - that it is meant to be "lifetime". However, at 8 years and 56,000 miles, I am now informed that the ptu is failing because the fluid was never changed. Thus, instead of a simple, cheap fluid change service, I now need to pay around $5,000 for the dealer to change out the entire ptu. 8 years and 56,000 is far from "lifetime" but it just outside of the warranty so I have to pay for this out of pocket despite Jeep claiming that the ptu fluid is not meant to be changed. This is so common of a problem that the ptu part needed to complete this repair is not only out of stock at all dealers, there is a long queue for obtaining the part. This is costing me not just extra repair money but also impacting my daily life as I am out of a vehicle for much longer due to having to wait for an available part. I now also have to pay for other modes of transportation while also being overall limited on my ability to complete daily responsibilities. Clearly, if the ptu fluid is meant to be "lifetime", as I was informed it was meant to be when I purchased the vehicle, it is consistently defective since so many Jeep owners are dealing with this problem. Consumers should not be the one footing the bill for this Jeep defect.

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 contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a stop, there was an abnormal clunking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The “service shifter” warning light was occasionally illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because parts were not yet available. 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 failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

Since December 2025 we have had a "service 4wd" light on our dash. Recall 01c was announced on 01/26/25. I have contacted Jeep dealers and Chrysler customer service with help/resolution to this. That all tell me to wait for parts. It's been a year. When will this be addressed???.

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.

-there is a warning that pops up on the dash saying "4wd unavailable, needs service". It's winter and I can't use the "snow mode" or 4wd. -potential for issues if I get stuck in the snow. -took it to a repair shop to deal with the service light and they told me there was a recall. I was unaware until today. -went to Jeep dealer and was informed there is no fix available at this time. It appears the recall was issued January 16, 2025.