2019 Jeep Cherokee
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 1,643 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 12 Cherokee model years with reports.
Of the 2019 reports, 40 involved a crash and 19 involved a fire. 37 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power trainMay 7, 2026
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
A failed PTU may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will update the Drivetrain Control Drivetrain Control Module, PTU, and Electronic Park Brake software, and replace the PTU, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk were mailed June 25, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy becomes available. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 40D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 14, 2026.
Campaign 26V290000 on NHTSA.gov
Power trainApr 29, 2025
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power and/or loss of park function.
A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway, which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will update the drivetrain control module and PTU software and replace the PTU, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning February 19, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 01C.
Campaign 25V011000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, rack and pinion, rackAug 29, 2019
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The steering rack gear may break, possibly causing a loss of steering control.
A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V99.
Campaign 19V637000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsJun 13, 2019
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The impact and acceleration sensors may fail and reduce the air bag system's ability to properly detect certain crash events.
In the event of a crash, the inability to properly detect a crash may result in improper air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected sensors, free of charge. The recall began August 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V63.
Campaign 19V449000 on NHTSA.gov
SeatsMar 28, 2019
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The front passenger seat mounting bolts may be loose.
In the event of a crash, the seat may move, increasing the risk of injury.
Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will tighten the mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began April 11, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V31.
Campaign 19V248000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, instrument cluster/panelDec 20, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The instrument cluster may fail resulting in a lack of activation of warning chimes, messages, and gauges.
Without the activation of warning chimes, messages, and gauges to provide vehicle information to the driver, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is UC4.
Campaign 18V917000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionOct 19, 2018
Chrysler(FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. Improper transmission calibration may result in a stall.
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will re-flash the transmission controller with a new calibration, free of charge. The recall began November 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is UA9.
Campaign 18V739000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiring, front underhoodAug 9, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
Campaign 18V524000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, disc, caliperAug 9, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey, and 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U86.
Campaign 18V523000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionJul 26, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica non-hybrid vehicles. A component in the transmission may not have been welded properly, possibly causing the transmission to not transmit engine power to the wheels.
If the transmission weld fails, the vehicle will stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin September 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U85.
Campaign 18V492000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineMay 25, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with 2.0L engines. The engines in these vehicles may be missing valve stem keepers, which can allow the valve to drop into the engine cylinder causing engine damage. These engines may also have a reversed camshaft cap that can damage the camshaft bearing causing camshaft failure.
Cylinder damage or camshaft failure can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair or replace the affected engine components, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 9, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U52.
Campaign 18V344000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
1,643 reports, newest first.
Power train, Apr 29, 2025
About 2 weeks after the extended warranty expired on my 2019 Cherokee I began to notice the Service 4 wheel drive message pop up on my dash. I took the vehicle to the dealership and was told that the PTU was faulty and that it would be $2200 to repair. As I could not afford it at that time I was advised that I could continue to drive without repair although I should not try to change traction modes on my vehicle. I have now gone nearly 3 years without repair and still very much feed that this is a defect that should be repaired by Jeep on all Cherokees that were manufactured around the same time as mine.
Power train, Engine, Apr 29, 2025
During regular driving, the "4WD System Unavailable/Service Required" alert came on the driver screen and a "SVC 4WD" alert appeared on the bottom, right of the screen. It would appear intermittently at first but now it is there constantly when I start the car. It will also flash again every time I switch driving modes.
Power train, Apr 28, 2025
While driving the svc 4wd light came on and a clicking noise was heard. Took to mechanic. They stated the ptu needed to be changed and is common in jeeps
Power train, Apr 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle began shaking, and she heard an abnormal thumping sound emanating from the engine compartment. After which, was warning message was displayed reading "4 wheel drive fault detected", the vehicle began to overheat, and she smelled a burning odor in the interior of the vehicle. The driver was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway to turn the vehicle off. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V739000 (Power Train) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 90,000.
Power train, Apr 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the Service 4WD warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the failure was related to the power transfer unit. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that a diagnostic test was needed. The dealer confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 28, 2025
On multiple occasions the check engine/service fwd drive light would come on, my car would shake as I accelerated. Also when I would come to stop it would shake as well. I took my vehicle to NTB and Pep Boys multiple times over the years and recently took it to Dodge/Jeep dealership where they replaced PTU
Power train, Apr 22, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 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 local dealer was not 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 contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Lane departure, Apr 21, 2025
Vehicle lost power on the highway and rapidly decelerated. SVC 4wheel drive message light on. Not inspected yet.
Power train, Apr 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while his son was driving 50 MPH, the message "4WD Unavailable" was displayed and remained displayed for the entire day. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that an undisclosed part in the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the dealer informed the contact that the dealer was waiting for the part to repair the vehicle. The contact related the failure to the NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (POWER TRAIN). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to NHTSA Hotline to file report the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.
Power train, Service brakes, Apr 19, 2025
Unknown. Discovered with maintenance
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 19, 2025
Transmission failure due to faulty PTU while vehicle was moving at approximately 70 mph. My car rapidly decreased speed and drive power while in middle lanes of highway. The car is at a service center and available for inspection. The problem was diagnosed by an authorized service center. The vehicle has not been inspected by other parties. There were no warnings, indicators, or symptoms prior to the failure
Power train, Other or unspecified, Apr 17, 2025
PTU is malfunctioning and cause my 4 wheel drive to no longer operate and it’s an all wheel drive vehicle. Dash light has “service 4 wheel drive” and error message states not available. There is a safety recall for a pin that could cause damage to the PTU and there is no solution from the manufacturer on this 6 yr old vehicle.
Steering, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 17, 2025
Stalls and loss of control of vehicle
Power train, Apr 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the “Service 4WD” warning light illuminated. While accelerating, the transmission was slow to engage before shifting into the next gear. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the PTU needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.
Power train, Apr 15, 2025
Was driving on the highway when the parking break randomly engaged. This happened twice in 1 day and was followed by the alert "4WD System Unavailable Service Required" on dash. Took to dealership and was told its the "PTU" and the part is on a 6month backorder. My vin is not part of the recall and was told this is a very common problem with Jeep and just to keep driving it considering they cannot get the part anyways. The cost to fix it will be around $4,000 when the part does come in
Other or unspecified, Apr 14, 2025
The service 4wd light went on. It was diagnosed as a faulty power transfer unit. There is a recall for my make , model and year but not my vin#.
Electrical system, Apr 14, 2025
The contact owned a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact parked the vehicle and went inside a restaurant for approximately 30 minutes. Upon returning to the vehicle, the contact opened the front driver’s side door as black smoke poured out of the vehicle. The contact stated that all four windows were covered with black soot. The windshield was cracked. The heater vents and ignition had melted and had fallen to the floor. The dashboard and instrument panel were severely burned with several wires exposed because the contact was able to see inside the dashboard. The authorities were called, but no assistance was provided because there was no active fire. A Police report was filed over the phone. No injuries or property damage were reported. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed by the Insurance provider to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle was later deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle remained with the Insurance provider. The failure mileage was approximately 181,000.
Other or unspecified, Apr 11, 2025
We were notified earlier this year regarding recall number 25V-011. When we checked then, a repair was being investigated. It has been several months and the recall is still categorized as "Recall incomplete, remedy not yet available." We also tried to identify with the local dealer the possible severity of the failure but could not get a definite answer. According to the recall, the fault could cause " an unexpected loss of motive power or loss of PARK function while stationary" with no further explanation. The risk is listed as "a vehicle crash without prior warning". Would the loss of motive power be the simple failure to transfer the engine power to the wheels? Or more severe option of one or more drive shafts becoming disconnected and causing the vehicle to roll when it contacts the road? If so, the vehicle is not safe to be driven at highway speeds. The local dealer was unwilling to escalate our concerns or provide any assurance of safe operation on the highway. So far, we have not noticed any issues related to the recall but have not driven significantly outside the local community.
Power train, Apr 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the message “Four Wheel Drive System Requires Maintenance” was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the power transfer unit (PTU) was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train); as a possible cause for the failure; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 61,500.
Power train, Apr 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a humming sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The following morning, the contact discovered that oil had leaked from the rear of the vehicle onto the garage floor. The vehicle was driven to the local mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the rear differential was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who confirmed the diagnosis that the rear differential was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 128,553.
Power train, Apr 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the transmission warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with the power transfer unit (PTU) failure. The contact was informed that the PTU needed to be replaced. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Power train, Apr 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at slower speeds up to approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle was shaking with the transmission shifting hard. The contact stated that while his girlfriend was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. 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 approximately 58,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Power train, Apr 7, 2025
Was driving down the road approximately 30 to 40 miles an hour and the service four-wheel drive light came on.
Power train, Apr 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall 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. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Other or unspecified, Apr 7, 2025
Issues with PTU (Power Transfer Unit) - I will attach documents