2019 Jeep Cherokee Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 821 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2019 Jeep Cherokee, 49% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 50,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “power transfer” (16% of reports).
- 821power train complaints
- 50,000median miles at failure
- 8mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- $3,500typical repair cost reported by owners
- 38%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Power transfer: mentioned in 135 of 821 complaints (16%)
- Service 4WD: mentioned in 82 of 821 complaints (10%)
- Unit ptu: mentioned in 64 of 821 complaints (8%)
- Rear differential: mentioned in 55 of 821 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2019 Jeep Cherokee at $3,500, and half of them between $2,600 and $4,150.
Based on 45 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2022–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 313 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 821 complaints, 8 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury.
Jeep Cherokee power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Cherokee | 3 | 38% | — |
| 2023 Cherokee | 2 | 67% | 11,500 |
| 2022 Cherokee | 28 | 55% | 63,000 |
| 2021 Cherokee | 103 | 59% | 70,000 |
| 2020 Cherokee | 190 | 58% | 64,000 |
| 2019 Cherokee | 821 | 49% | 50,000 |
| 2018 Cherokee | 295 | 43% | 40,500 |
| 2017 Cherokee | 649 | 49% | 46,638 |
| 2016 Cherokee | 633 | 45% | 48,157 |
| 2015 Cherokee | 1,004 | 56% | 24,000 |
| 2014 Cherokee | 1,471 | 56% | 34,000 |
| 2006 Cherokee | 2 | 12% | 26,689 |
| 2001 Cherokee | 24 | 10% | 33,000 |
| 2000 Cherokee | 29 | 8% | 65,325 |
| 1999 Cherokee | 53 | 14% | 70,000 |
| 1998 Cherokee | 65 | 16% | 121,000 |
| 1997 Cherokee | 47 | 12% | 164,000 |
| 1996 Cherokee | 60 | 13% | 112,673 |
| 1995 Cherokee | 43 | 7% | 14,600 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Power train
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
Risk: A failed PTU may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: 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.
Power train
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: Chrysler(FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. Improper transmission calibration may result in a stall.
Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of crash.
Fix: 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.
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the transmission weld fails, the vehicle will stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I took my car for inspection and would not pass due to the rear shift differential where the seal that connects to the cylinder is away from the cylinder and a crack is now there. Crack is at least three inches long. As the crack continues to widen, I will lose control of my rear end. Mechanic…
I was coming out of a gas station and the battery light came on/ stayed on and the car just stopped. I couldnât shut it off, put it in drive, put it in parkâ¦â¦.The car still seemed to be running⦠I had to wait about 10 mins before I could do anything I.e. start it up again. This was very…
So I was driving down the road doing 60 miles an hour and I have lost power total drive power while driving doing 60 miles an hour with a car just goes into a neutral rubs up and I have to pull on side of the road and turn off the car wait like 10 to 15 minutes and then the car resets itself I…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2019 Jeep Cherokees have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 821 owner complaints about power train for the 2019 Jeep Cherokee (49% of the 1,661 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2019 Jeep Cherokee power train?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 50,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2019 Jeep Cherokee?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,500 (half paid between $2,600 and $4,150), from 45 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2019 Jeep Cherokee?
The most frequent phrase is “power transfer”, in 135 of 821 complaints, followed by “service 4wd” (82).
Other 2019 Jeep Cherokee problems
- Engine problems (459)
- Electrical System problems (341)
- Steering problems (120)
- Service Brakes problems (100)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (83)
See all 2019 Jeep Cherokee problems or power train problems across all Cherokee years.