Transport CanadaCritical
At a glance
What can fail
The power transfer unit may become damaged and fail, causing loss of power to the wheels or unintended vehicle movement when parked without the parking brake applied.
This page covers 17 recalls, 1542 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2019 Jeep Cherokee.
22–26 mpg combined
9–10.7 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 6 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2019 Jeep Cherokee draws the bulk of its complaints around the powertrain, which leads all systems by a wide margin. Owners frequently report problems with the power transfer unit, describing grinding or clicking noises during low-speed turns or at highway speeds, vibrations felt through the cabin, and in several cases a confirmed PTU failure diagnosed by dealers or independent shops. A related complaint pattern involves the 4WD system throwing service warnings or becoming unavailable, sometimes accompanied by whining noises and vibrations that persist at speed. Engine complaints form the second largest group, though those reports cover a broader range of symptoms without a single dominant thread. The electrical system also generates a notable share of complaints, including warning lights and intermittent fault codes that owners describe as difficult to reproduce or diagnose consistently.
1,542
Total Complaints
40
Crash-Related
19
Fire-Related
22
With Injuries
By System
The 2019 Jeep Cherokee has 17 recalls, with the most serious being a steering rack gear that can break and cause a complete loss of steering control.
Several drivetrain issues are also among the most critical concerns. The power transfer unit can fail on certain all-wheel-drive models, causing a loss of drive power or an unexpected rollaway when parked. A transmission weld can also fail, cutting power to the wheels while driving. On 2.4L models, a transmission calibration problem can cause the engine to stall unexpectedly, and a separate wiring issue in the engine bay can also cause stalls. Vehicles with the 2.0L engine may be missing internal valve components or have an incorrectly installed camshaft cap, either of which can cause the engine to seize or stall.
On the safety equipment side, impact and acceleration sensors can fail to detect a crash properly, causing airbags to deploy incorrectly or not at all. The front passenger seat mounting bolts may also be loose, allowing the seat to shift in a crash. Rear brake caliper pistons on some vehicles may have insufficient coating, reducing braking effectiveness. There is also an electrical concern: the instrument cluster can fail and stop displaying gauges, warning lights, and chimes, leaving the driver without key vehicle information.
At a glance
What can fail
The power transfer unit may become damaged and fail, causing loss of power to the wheels or unintended vehicle movement when parked without the parking brake applied.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
FCA Canada will send written notification. The repair procedure is being developed and will be communicated to owners.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The power transfer unit may fail, which can affect the vehicle's ability to distribute power to the wheels.
What the fix does
Chrysler is developing a repair. Interim letters will be mailed June 25, 2026, with final repair instructions sent later.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The power transfer unit may become damaged and disconnect from the transmission and differential, causing loss of driving power and/or inability to park the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the drivetrain control module and PTU software and replace the PTU if needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A gear in the steering rack may not have been properly hardened during manufacturing, which could cause it to break and result in loss of steering control.
What the fix does
The steering gear will be replaced at a dealer. You'll receive notification by mail with instructions.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steering rack gear may break, which could cause you to lose steering control of the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering gear at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Airbag sensors may fail to detect certain types of crashes, preventing the airbags from deploying properly. The airbag warning light will stay on.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the faulty sensors. You'll receive a notification by mail with instructions to schedule service at your dealer.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The impact and acceleration sensors may fail, which reduces the air bag system's ability to detect certain crash events.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the affected sensors at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front-passenger seat mounting fasteners may not be properly tightened, which could allow the seat to shift or loosen.
What the fix does
A dealer will inspect the front-passenger seat mounts and tighten the fasteners as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts that attach the front passenger seat to the vehicle may be loose, which could affect seat stability.
What the fix does
A dealer will tighten the mounting bolts at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The instrument cluster may fail, which prevents warning chimes, messages, and gauges from working properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the instrument cluster and replace it if necessary at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On some vehicles with a 2.4L engine, faulty transmission controller programming can cause the engine to stall while driving, resulting in loss of power and crash risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the transmission controller with updated software to correct the issue.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission controller may have incorrect programming, which could cause the engine to stall while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the transmission controller's software to correct the programming at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Rear brake caliper pistons lack sufficient coating, allowing gas pockets to form and reducing rear brake stopping power.
What the fix does
Dealers will bleed the brake system to remove gas pockets and restore brake performance at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A voltage regulator chip in the powertrain control module may fail, causing the engine to stall or not start.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the powertrain control module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A transmission component may be improperly welded, which could prevent the transmission from sending power from the engine to the wheels.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the transmission at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The 2.0L engine may be missing valve stem keepers, allowing valves to drop into cylinders and damage the engine. A camshaft cap may also be installed backward, damaging the camshaft bearing and causing camshaft failure.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the engine and repair or replace affected components at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine may have been built without a valve stem keeper, which could cause engine failure and increase crash risk.
What the fix does
The dealer will inspect the engine and repair it as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
