Jeep Cherokee Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Yes. Owners have filed 4,999 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2014–2023 Jeep Cherokee. For the Jeep Cherokee, that's 2.75 transmission complaints per 1,000 sold across the 2015–2022 cohorts, 9.8× the median of the 53 models we can rate. The worst years are 2014, 2015 and 2019.
Transmission complaints
4,999
Filed with NHTSA, 2014–2023 models
Per 1,000 sold
2.75
2015–2022 cohorts
Share of all complaints
50.8%
of 9,834 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
12
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Jeep Cherokee transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline), and per 1,000 vehicles sold where a published U.S. sales figure exists. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Per 1,000 sold | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014WORST | 1,460 | — | 55.4% | 28 | 20V34300019V44700016V529000 | 158 |
| 2015WORST | 997 | 4.53 | 56.1% | 16 | 20V34300016V529000 | 199 |
| 2016 | 625 | 3.1 | 44.7% | 12 | 23V30200020V34300016V28400016V287000 | 117 |
| 2017 | 640 | 3.77 | 48.4% | 7 | 25V01100023V30200020V343000 | 66 |
| 2018 | 289 | 1.21 | 42.6% | 1 | 25V01100018V494000 | 32 |
| 2019WORST | 751 | 3.92 | 47.5% | 10 | 26V29000025V01100018V73900018V492000 | 65 |
| 2020 | 140 | 1.03 | 54.3% | 0 | 26V290000 | 58 |
| 2021 | 72 | 0.81 | 52.6% | 1 | 26V29000021V310000 | 28 |
| 2022 | 23 | 0.57 | 52.3% | 0 | 26V290000 | 16 |
| 2023 | 2 | — | 66.7% | 1 | 26V290000 | 7 |
- Per 1,000 sold = complaints ÷ published U.S. calendar-year sales × 1,000. Calendar-year sales stand in for the model-year cohort. A dash means no published figure or fewer than 5,000 sold, too small to divide by.
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Jeep Cherokee transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 4,999 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Jeep Cherokee years to avoid for the transmission
2014 Jeep Cherokee
1,460 transmission complaints (55.4% of the year's 2,636). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts. Covered by transmission recalls 20V343000, 19V447000, 16V529000.
2015 Jeep Cherokee
997 transmission complaints (56.1% of the year's 1,776), 4.53 per 1,000 sold. Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts. Covered by transmission recalls 20V343000, 16V529000.
2019 Jeep Cherokee
751 transmission complaints (47.5% of the year's 1,581), 3.92 per 1,000 sold. Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts. Covered by transmission recalls 26V290000, 25V011000, 18V739000, 18V492000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Jeep Cherokee years to avoid.
Jeep Cherokee transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Jeep Cherokee model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 26V290000 · 2026-05-07 · 2019–2023 models
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
- 25V011000 · 2025-04-29 · 2017–2019 models
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.
- 23V302000 · 2023-04-27 · 2016–2017 models
The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power or loss of park function.
- 21V310000 · 2021-05-04 · 2021 models
The transmission oil cooler hose may have been incorrectly cured, allowing transmission fluid to leak.
- 20V343000 · 2020-06-11 · 2014–2017 models
Relative movement in the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) between the differential input splines and the transmission output shaft may cause some input spline teeth to wear off, which may eventually cause a loss of engagement between the transmission and the…
- 19V447000 · 2019-06-13 · 2014 models
In the event that a clutch becomes stuck in the transmission, the transmission software may shift the transmission to neutral.
- 18V739000 · 2018-10-19 · 2019 models
Improper transmission calibration may result in a stall.
- 18V492000 · 2018-07-26 · 2019 models
A component in the transmission may not have been welded properly, possibly causing the transmission to not transmit engine power to the wheels.
- 18V494000 · 2018-07-26 · 2018 models
The bearing cage for the right front halfshaft assembly may not have been properly heat treated, possibly resulting in the bearing cage breaking and a potential halfshaft assembly failure.
- 16V529000 · 2016-07-12 · 2014–2015 models
The transmission sensor clusters may have insufficient crimps in the transmission wire harness, and as a result, the transmission may unexpectedly shift to neutral. On August 29, 2016 Chrysler added the 2016 Fiat 500X vehicles to this recall.
- 16V284000 · 2016-05-11 · 2016 models
The right halfshaft may have been incorrectly manufactured causing it to fracture without warning.
- 16V287000 · 2016-05-11 · 2016 models
The left halfshaft may have been incorrectly manufactured causing it to fracture without warning.
Which transmission does the Jeep Cherokee use?
- ZF 9-speed (9HP / 948TE) — 2014–2023
Years are as listed for that transmission's applications. Some apply to certain engines only.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2014 Jeep Cherokee have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 1,460 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2014 Jeep Cherokee, 55.4% of all 2,636 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (404 complaints). 3 transmission-related recalls cover it: 20V343000, 19V447000, 16V529000. 28 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2015 Jeep Cherokee have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 997 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2015 Jeep Cherokee, 56.1% of all 1,776 complaints for that year, or 4.53 per 1,000 sold. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (299 complaints). 2 transmission-related recalls cover it: 20V343000, 16V529000. 16 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2019 Jeep Cherokee have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 751 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2019 Jeep Cherokee, 47.5% of all 1,581 complaints for that year, or 3.92 per 1,000 sold. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (87 complaints). 4 transmission-related recalls cover it: 26V290000, 25V011000, 18V739000, 18V492000. 10 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Jeep Cherokee years have the most transmission complaints?
2014 (1,460), 2015 (997) and 2019 (751), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so compare the per-1,000-sold column too.
What are the most common Jeep Cherokee transmission problems?
In the 4,999 transmission complaints, owners most often describe jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (18.9%), loss of power or limp mode (8.9%) and hesitation or delayed engagement (8.2%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Dividing by sales shows how often owners complain relative to how many were sold, which makes models of different sizes comparable.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Jeep Cherokee model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration