2020 Jeep Cherokee Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 190 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2020 Jeep Cherokee, 58% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 64,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “transfer unit” (25% of reports).
- 190power train complaints
- 64,000median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $3,100typical 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.
- Transfer unit: mentioned in 47 of 190 complaints (25%)
- Service 4WD: mentioned in 26 of 190 complaints (14%)
- Ptu failed: mentioned in 16 of 190 complaints (8%)
- Parking brake: mentioned in 11 of 190 complaints (6%)
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 2020 Jeep Cherokee at $3,100, and half of them between $2,900 and $4,550.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2025–2026), 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 50 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 190 complaints report a crash, fire or 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 (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
SVC 4x4 light came on and brought to Jeep dealer immediately and they immediately tell us ptu and rear differential near to be replaced. They said it brakes need to be replaced when we replaced them 2 months ago. There's a recall for our year jeep but it says we have no recalls at the moment.
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.
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2020 Jeep Cherokees have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 190 owner complaints about power train for the 2020 Jeep Cherokee (58% of the 325 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 2020 Jeep Cherokee power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall 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 64,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2020 Jeep Cherokee?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,100 (half paid between $2,900 and $4,550), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2020 Jeep Cherokee?
The most frequent phrase is “transfer unit”, in 47 of 190 complaints, followed by “service 4wd” (26).
See all 2020 Jeep Cherokee problems or power train problems across all Cherokee years.