Jeep Cherokee Engine Problems
Owners have filed 2,186 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Jeep Cherokee across 17 model years. The 2014 model year has the most (516). The words owners use most often: “put park” (7% of reports).
- 2,186engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 26mention a crash
- 10mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $1,150typical repair cost reported by owners
- 27%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.
- Put park: mentioned in 145 of 2,186 complaints (7%)
- Service shifter: mentioned in 122 of 2,186 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Jeep Cherokee at $1,150, and half of them between $780 and $4,950.
Based on 26 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2014–2026), 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 engine problems happen?
Based on 1,455 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 2,186 complaints, 26 mention a crash, 50 a fire, 10 an injury.
Jeep Cherokee engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Cherokee | 1 | 13% | — |
| 2022 Cherokee | 8 | 16% | 105,000 |
| 2021 Cherokee | 27 | 16% | 27,028 |
| 2020 Cherokee | 46 | 14% | 14,900 |
| 2019 Cherokee | 459 | 28% | 15,000 |
| 2018 Cherokee | 155 | 23% | 28,000 |
| 2017 Cherokee | 259 | 19% | 38,500 |
| 2016 Cherokee | 314 | 22% | 41,000 |
| 2015 Cherokee | 364 | 20% | 28,000 |
| 2014 Cherokee | 516 | 19% | 40,000 |
| 2001 Cherokee | 7 | 3% | 118,500 |
| 2000 Cherokee | 12 | 3% | 133,500 |
| 1999 Cherokee | 1 | 0% | 207,000 |
| 1998 Cherokee | 4 | 1% | 146,000 |
| 1997 Cherokee | 6 | 2% | 150,156 |
| 1996 Cherokee | 4 | 1% | 223,000 |
| 1995 Cherokee | 3 | 0% | 125,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 2019
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with 2.0L engines. The engines in these vehicles may be missing valve stem keepers, which can allow the valve to drop into the engine cylinder causing engine damage. These engines may also have a reversed camshaft cap that can damage the camshaft bearing causing camshaft failure.
Risk: Cylinder damage or camshaft failure can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair or replace the affected engine components, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 9, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U52.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 2018
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee and Compass vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.
Risk: If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the oil pump, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 5, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T65.
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system
Model years: 2015
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured October 1, 2014, to June 18, 2015. The affected vehicles may have a misrouted air conditioning suction/discharge hose.
Risk: If the line is misrouted, it may contact the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the air conditioning hose. Any hose that is misrouted will be replaced and installed correctly. This work will be performed free of charge. The recall began on November 23, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R57.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
The transmission light went on. Car was brought into dealership two times while still under warranty. They did not have a fix and PTU was on back order for over a year in 2017. I am now resorting to pay out of pocket. I had a PTU shipped from a Jeep dealer in Louisiana. PTU from them was not new…
Like previous model years, the 2 L Turbo engine started buring excessive oil (more than 1 quart per 500 miles). Two mechanics have indicated that engine and turbocharger need to be replaced. Both said that this engine is same as previous model years for which recalls were initiated.
Engine light comes on, whenever you attempt to accelerate from a stop (like a traffic light), the vehicle will coast into the intersection, causing a traffic hazard. It has done this multiple times. At 60,300 miles, dealership told me that engine was not covered. I purchased a new engine, which…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Jeep Cherokees have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 2,186 owner complaints about engine for the Jeep Cherokee. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Jeep Cherokee engine?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Jeep Cherokee?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,150 (half paid between $780 and $4,950), from 26 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Jeep Cherokee?
The most frequent phrase is “put park”, in 145 of 2,186 complaints, followed by “service shifter” (122).
Other Jeep Cherokee problems
- Power Train problems (5,516)
- Electrical System problems (2,257)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (691)
- Service Brakes problems (647)
- Steering problems (598)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (574)
- Structure problems (522)
- Air Bags problems (457)
See all Jeep Cherokee problems.