Best Jeep Cherokee Years to Buy
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, the best Jeep Cherokee years to buy are 2020, 2021 and 2022 — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates among years with enough road time to judge, while 2014, 2015 and 2019 are the years to skip.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of October 2026 · How we rate model years
Buy these years
Every Jeep Cherokee year, ranked by federal record
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2023 | 3 | 1 | OK |
| 2022 | 44 | 3 | BEST |
| 2021 | 137 | 4 | BEST |
| 2020 | 258 | 3 | BEST |
| 2019 | 1,581 | 11 | AVOID |
| 2018 | 678 | 7 | OK |
| 2017 | 1,323 | 6 | OK |
| 2016 | 1,398 | 9 | OK |
| 2015 | 1,776 | 11 | AVOID |
| 2014 | 2,636 | 13 | AVOID |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts are severity-weighted rates per year on the road, compared within the model’s own history.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best year for the Jeep Cherokee?
2020, 2021 and 2022 — based on federal NHTSA records, they show the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Jeep Cherokee model year with meaningful time on the road. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
Which Jeep Cherokee years should I avoid?
2014, 2015 and 2019 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by drivetrain issues. The full breakdown is on our Jeep Cherokee years-to-avoid page.
Is a used Jeep Cherokee a good buy?
Year-dependent. Across 9,834 NHTSA owner complaints on record, the spread between the cleanest and worst Jeep Cherokee years is significant — pick from the best-year list, confirm the specific car's history by VIN, and negotiate from what buyers actually paid rather than asking prices.
How do I buy the best Jeep Cherokee year for the right price?
Two steps: verify the exact car (free VIN decode, then the recall/complaint record for that VIN), and negotiate the out-the-door price in writing. CarWhere's AI car-buying agent does the second part for you — it contacts dealers about the exact Jeep Cherokee you pick, requests written itemized out-the-door quotes, and negotiates them down while you approve every message ($34.99/month, includes Pro pricing data).