The best Cherokee years to buy are 2021 and 2022. Avoid the 2014 and 2019: the 2014's nine-speed automatic and the 2019's stalling and four-wheel-drive faults give them the highest complaint rates.
Best years: 20212022 Years to avoid: 20142019
Every Cherokee year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Cherokee problems
Engine stalling while driving
1,631 owner complaints, usually around 35,000 miles
2016, 2017, 2019"Service 4WD" and power transfer unit failure
1,533 owner complaints, usually around 86,000 miles
2014, 2015, 2016Nine-speed transmission problems
1,015 owner complaints, usually around 34,000 miles
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 | - | 1 | Transmission and drivetrain | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 52 | 129 | 3 | Transmission and drivetrain | Good buy |
| 2021 | 179 | 201 | 4 | Transmission and drivetrain | Good buy |
| 2020 | 336 | 247 | 3 | Transmission and drivetrain | Good year |
| 2019 | 1,676 | 876 | 11 | Transmission and drivetrain | Skip this year |
| 2018 | 690 | 288 | 7 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2017 | 1,339 | 788 | 6 | Transmission and drivetrain | Watch out |
| 2016 | 1,414 | 702 | 9 | Transmission and drivetrain | Watch out |
| 2015 | 1,794 | 814 | 11 | Transmission and drivetrain | Watch out |
| 2014 | 2,652 | 1,486 | 13 | Transmission and drivetrain | Skip this year |
About the Cherokee
The Cherokee returned in 2014 as a small SUV with a nine-speed automatic. That gearbox made the launch years some of the most complained-about SUVs of the decade, with harsh shifts, sudden neutral and shutdowns. Software updates helped, but the 2019 facelift brought a new round of stalling, power transfer unit and stop-start complaints. The last few years are much better.
- 2014-2018: First years of this design. Nine-speed transmission complaints peak in 2014 and fall each year.
- 2019-2023: Facelift. Stalling, battery and 4WD power transfer unit faults on 2019; far fewer complaints from 2020 on.
Cherokee warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Jeep files with NHTSA. 1,492 Cherokee bulletins are on file in total.
2.4L Excessive Oil Consumption XB1 Warranty Extension The customer may describe one or more of the following: Oil pressure low indicator lamp illumination between oil changes.
Power Transfer Unit (PTU) Broken Input Spline - X89 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves replacing the PTU assembly with an updated part.
Power Transfer Unit (PTU) Broken Input Spline XJ1 Warranty Extension Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination.
Hydraullic Clutch Master Cylinder / Reservoir Hose To announce an extended warranty on the Hydraullic Clutch Master Cylinder / Reservoir Hose Effective Immediately
Clutch Pedal Operation X62 Extended Warranty This bulletin involves the replacement of the hydraulic clutch master cylinder and reservoir hose.
(X62) Hydraulic Clutch Master Cylinder / Reservoir Hose - 2013-2015 Dodge Dart and 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee (Rev.
Nine-Speed Automatic Transmission (X80 Warranty Extension) This bulletin involves extending the warranty on the nine-speed automatic transmissions.
Clutch Pedal Operation X62 Extended Warranty.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Cherokee
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Preliminary evaluation PE22009 · 2014–2016 · opened Jul 2022, closed Oct 2023
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened investigation PE22-009 after having received 80 complaints on model years 2014-2020 Jeep Cherokees alleging the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) inadvertently activated while the vehicle was in motion.During this investigation, the subject vehicles were updated to inclu...
Engineering analysis EA21002 · 2014–2018 · opened Sep 2021
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L.
Recall query RQ15004 · 2014, 2015 · opened Jul 2015, closed Jan 2016 · led to recall 15V508000
On July 23, 2015, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) launched Safety Recall 15V-461 to remedy security vulnerabilities in approximately 1.4 million model year (MY) 2013 through 2015 vehicles equipped with Uconnect head units (HU) 8.4A (RA3 radio) and 8.4AN (RA4 radio) manufactured by Harman International.On July 24, 20...
Preliminary evaluation PE15003 · 2015 · opened Jan 2015, closed Dec 2015 · led to recall 15V676000
On October 15, 2015, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, US LLC, (FCA), submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA regarding an air-conditioning suction/discharge combo line routing condition that may result in engine compartment fire in approximately 75,574 model year (MY) 2015 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with...
Cherokee vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Jeep Cherokee?
2021 and 2022. The best Cherokee years to buy are 2021 and 2022. Avoid the 2014 and 2019: the 2014's nine-speed automatic and the 2019's stalling and four-wheel-drive faults give them the highest complaint rates.
Which Jeep Cherokee years should I avoid?
2014, 2019. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Jeep Cherokee average.
What is the problem with the Jeep Cherokee transmission?
The 2014-2016 nine-speed automatic can shift harshly, slip into neutral while driving, or shut down with a 'Shift to Park' message. Several recalls (16V529, 19V447) and many software updates followed. A car with all updates done drives much better.
What does 'Service 4WD' mean on a Jeep Cherokee?
It usually points to the power transfer unit (PTU), which can leak and fail, especially on 2019-2021 cars. Replacement costs about $2,500 to $4,000.
Based on 10,135 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2014 to 2023, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.