2020 Jeep Cherokee Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Cherokee years
- About as many complaints as other years 13th of 19 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 324 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Jeep Cherokee. That ranks 13th out of 19 Cherokee model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (189 complaints, 58%), typically at around 64,000 miles. Complaints mention 9 crashes, 7 fires, 9 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 324owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 9complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2020 Jeep Cherokee problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 189 | 58% | 64,000 | “transfer unit” (25%) | $3,100 |
| Engine | 46 | 14% | 14,900 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 37 | 11% | 2,200 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 35 | 11% | 5,650 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 25 | 8% | 5,650 | — | — |
| Steering | 22 | 7% | 17,500 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 10 | 3% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 3% | 845 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 2% | 11,700 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 7 | 2% | 6,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 7 | 2% | 5,098 | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 2% | 46,900 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 1% | 85,500 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 1% | 82,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 1% | 27,400 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 1% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 1% | 39,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 1% | 37,100 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 1% | 17,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | 3,900 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2020 Jeep Cherokee recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
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.
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 8.4" or 12" radio displays. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Risk: The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W30-W37.
Steering:rack and pinion:rack; steering:rack and pinion:pinion shaft
Problem: 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.
Risk: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
SERVICE AWD light came on, took to a mechanic and he stated the PTU failed causing the AWD to be shut off. He said this is a known issue and gave me the FCA's number 40D for this issue.
While driving, emergency parking brake engaged. Required vehicle to be driven on and parked on road shoulder. Grinding sound was coming from engaged parking brake. Vehicle was towed to nearest dealership.
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal humming sound that grew louder at 30 MPH. The message "Service AWD" was displayed, and there was an abnormal odor coming from the vehicle. The contact drove to the residence and turned…
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle before the vehicle lost motive power. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact…
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while his wife was driving and pulling out of the driveway, the contact became aware of fluid on the driveway. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed and there were metal shavings found in the PTU, and the…
Other Jeep Cherokee years
← 2019 Cherokee · 2021 Cherokee →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Cherokee | 8 | 4 |
| 2023 Cherokee | 3 | 1 |
| 2022 Cherokee | 51 | 3 |
| 2021 Cherokee | 173 | 4 |
| 2020 | 324 | 3 |
| 2019 Cherokee | 1,661 | 11 |
| 2018 Cherokee | 687 | 7 |
| 2017 Cherokee | 1,336 | 6 |
| 2016 Cherokee | 1,409 | 9 |
| 2015 Cherokee | 1,789 | 11 |
| 2014 Cherokee | 2,650 | 13 |
| 2006 Cherokee | 17 | 0 |
| 2001 Cherokee | 229 | 2 |
| 2000 Cherokee | 369 | 1 |
| 1999 Cherokee | 366 | 2 |
| 1998 Cherokee | 399 | 5 |
| 1997 Cherokee | 390 | 4 |
| 1996 Cherokee | 447 | 6 |
| 1995 Cherokee | 608 | 6 |
See all Jeep Cherokee problems by year, every Jeep model, or the Jeep VIN decoder.
Similar Jeep models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Jeep Cherokee?
Owners most often report power train, engine, unknown or other problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 189 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2020 Jeep Cherokee?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2020 Jeep Cherokee a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Cherokee model years, the 2020 has about as many complaints as a typical year, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.