Jeep Cherokee / 2021
2021 Jeep Cherokee problems
Owners have filed 214 complaints about the 2021 Jeep Cherokee with NHTSA. Power train accounts for 40.2% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of engine at 11.2%.
Complaints214
Crashes16
Fires8
Injuries11
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Power train 40.2% · 86
Engine 11.2% · 24
Unknown or other 10.7% · 23
Electrical system 10.3% · 22
Service brakes 6.1% · 13
Forward collision avoidance 4.7% · 10
Air bags 3.7% · 8
Fuel/propulsion system 2.3% · 5
Severity
Of those complaints, 16 describe a crash, 8 describe a fire and 11 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 20 model years of the Jeep Cherokee in this data, 2021 draws comparatively few complaints; 2014 is the outlier year.
Filings are rising — 137 in the last three years against 77 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 40,000 miles.
In owners' own words
The service 4wd light is on. The dealership said it is a PTU problem. They want $2500 for a new PTU and of course add more money for labor. This seems to be a manufacturer problem not a car owner problem. It should be a recall item as it has been for 2017-2019 Jeep Cherokees. The dealer should fix this at no cost to the auto owners. Power train
Power Takeoff Unit Assembly failed at 61,000 miles. This unit has had three recalls and 5 parts revision that I can find but dealer refuses replacement under warranty due to warranty being 60,000 miles. This part clearly has defects ongoing since 2014 or before and yet FCA continues to produce them and fails to support them. Power train
Failed rear driveline failed rear differential and failed DTCM. Jeep is still sluggish upon shifting to acceleration. Clunk from park to drive and cold start to warm up normal to drop to normal rpm then rev up to 2.0 while sitting still. I have suspicions that the PTU could be having issues after all the above was replaced Power train
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…