1990-2023 model years · 17,800+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
All years · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
Interest applies to the selected vehicle and configuration; it is not a reservation. Voting stores a first-party identifier for up to 180 days to prevent repeat votes. No account or email is needed. Clearing cookies or using another device may count separately. Privacy
Visual coming soon
Your interest helps us choose what to build next.
Visual Known Issues · Coming soon
$4.99/month plus taxes at launch · No payment today
Choose a year to request this visual. Trim and engine are optional; omitted trim is Not specified.
According to Au7o's analysis of 17,800+ owner reports, the 1990-2023 Jeep Cherokee has 20 documented known issues, with 11 rated critical. The most serious are Excessive Oil Consumption (2.4L Tigershark) ($0-$8,500 repair), ZF 9-Speed Transmission Shifting Problems ($0-$6,500 repair), Engine Stalling (Multiple Causes) ($0-$2,500 repair), TIPM Fuel Pump Relay Failure ($75-$2,000 repair), Electronic Shifter Rollaway Risk ($0-$750 repair), Death Wobble (Front Solid-Axle Steering Oscillation) ($150-$900 repair), Recall 16V529000: 9-Speed Automatic Can Shift Itself Into Neutral (Transmission Harness Crimps), Power Liftgate Fire Hazard, Power Transfer Unit (PTU) Failure, Crankshaft Position Sensor (CPS) Failure Causes Intermittent No-Start and Hot Stalling ($30-$300 repair) and Rear Unibody Frame Rail, Floor Pan and Rocker Rust (Structural) ($300-$3,000 repair). The most commonly reported issue is Excessive Oil Consumption (2.4L Tigershark) with 4,500 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $15 to $8,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLER/RADIATOR:HOSES AND FITTINGS
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The transmission oil cooler hose may have been incorrectly cured, allowing transmission fluid to leak.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude and Jeep Cherokee Limited vehicles. One or both of the front lower control arms may fracture while driving.
POWER TRAIN
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. An improperly secured connector for the right-side curtain air bag may prevent the air bag from deploying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 214, "Side Impact Protection" and 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
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."
+ 11 more recalls. Check all on NHTSA.gov
Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check recalls specific to your vehicle.
Don't see your problem? Describe your symptoms to get a diagnosis, or get a full repair guide.
According to Au7o's analysis of 17,800+ owner reports, the 1990-2023 Jeep Cherokee has 20 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Excessive Oil Consumption (2.4L Tigershark), ZF 9-Speed Transmission Shifting Problems, Engine Stalling (Multiple Causes). Of these, 11 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 1990-2023 Jeep Cherokee has 20 known issues documented across 17,800+ owner reports. 11 issues are rated critical: Excessive Oil Consumption (2.4L Tigershark) and ZF 9-Speed Transmission Shifting Problems and Engine Stalling (Multiple Causes) and TIPM Fuel Pump Relay Failure and Electronic Shifter Rollaway Risk and Death Wobble (Front Solid-Axle Steering Oscillation) and Recall 16V529000: 9-Speed Automatic Can Shift Itself Into Neutral (Transmission Harness Crimps) and Power Liftgate Fire Hazard and Power Transfer Unit (PTU) Failure and Crankshaft Position Sensor (CPS) Failure Causes Intermittent No-Start and Hot Stalling and Rear Unibody Frame Rail, Floor Pan and Rocker Rust (Structural). Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Jeep Cherokee issues range from $0 to $8,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Excessive Oil Consumption (2.4L Tigershark), typically costs $0-$8,500 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
Reliability varies across model years of the Jeep Cherokee. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 1990-2023 Jeep Cherokee with 20 documented issues documented across 17,800+ owner reports.
The 2.4L Tigershark MultiAir engine suffers from defective piston rings allowing oil to burn in combustion chamber. Owners report consuming 1 quart per 1,000 miles. Engine can stall when oil falls below 3.5 quarts without warning light. Repairs typically run $0-$8,500. Severity: high.
The ZF 948TE 9-speed automatic transmission exhibits harsh shifting, delayed engagement, and unexpected shifting into neutral. Early models (2014-2015) experienced the most severe issues. The transmission can unexpectedly shift into neutral while driving, creating a crash risk. Repairs typically run $0-$6,500. Severity: high.
Multiple factors cause sudden engine stalling including low oil levels (2.4L), VVT issues, faulty sensors, fuel system problems, and transmission-related stalling (2019 9-speed). Stalling typically emerges after ~1,000 miles. Repairs typically run $0-$2,500. Severity: high.
The Totally Integrated Power Module fuel pump relay fails, causing no-start conditions or fuel pump running continuously. Unlike older models, the relay is integrated and cannot be replaced separately. Repairs typically run $75-$2,000. Severity: high.
The ZF "Monostable" electronic shifter returns to same position after each shift, making it difficult to determine if vehicle is in Park. Caused rollaway incidents including death of actor Anton Yelchin in 2016. Repairs typically run $0-$750. Severity: high.
Like other coil-sprung, solid-front-axle Jeeps, the XJ is prone to 'death wobble' - a violent, self-sustaining side-to-side shaking of the front axle and steering, usually triggered by a bump or expansion joint at speeds above ~45 mph. It is caused by cumulative slop anywhere in… Repairs typically run $150-$900. Severity: high.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) recalled 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee models built with the 9-speed automatic transmission because the transmission sensor clusters may have insufficient crimps in the transmission wire harness. With a bad crimp, the transmission can unexpectedly shift into neutr… Severity: high.
NHTSA campaign 23V338000 covers certain 2014-2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a power liftgate. An electrical short in the power liftgate module may cause a vehicle fire whether the ignition is on or off. Severity: high.
NHTSA campaign 20V343000 covers certain 2014-2017 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a two-speed Power Transfer Unit. Relative movement between the differential input splines and transmission output shaft may wear away input-spline teeth, causing loss of drive while moving and… Severity: high.
The crankshaft position sensor on the 4.0L I6 and 2.5L I4 XJ is a classic thermal-failure item. Internal components and wiring degrade with age and heat, so the sensor works cold but drops signal once the engine reaches operating temperature. Without a CPS signal the PCM cuts spa… Repairs typically run $30-$300. Severity: high.
The XJ uses a thin unibody with no separate frame, and corrosion is one of its defining long-term problems, especially in salt-belt climates. The rear unibody rails rot where the fuel lines pass through the rail 'tunnel' and near the leaf-spring mounts, while floor pans under the… Repairs typically run $300-$3,000. Severity: high.
The plastic oil filter housing and cooler assembly on Pentastar V6 engines develops leaks due to thermal cycling. The plastic warps, becomes brittle, and cracks over time from constant engine heat exposure. Repairs typically run $700-$1,500. Severity: medium.
Controller Area Network electrical system experiences communication failures between modules, triggering multiple warning lights and system failures simultaneously. Common codes U0001 and U0131 indicate wiring harness breaks or connector corrosion. Repairs typically run $150-$2,000. Severity: medium.
Sunroof drain tubes become clogged with debris, causing water to overflow into cabin. Drain hoses can become kinked or detached, allowing water into headliner. Leads to water damage, mold, electrical issues. Repairs typically run $0-$900. Severity: medium.
Front brake rotors warp prematurely (often around 25,000 miles) due to heat management issues. Soft rotors combined with harder pads and thermal cycling causes excessive wear. Corroded caliper slide pins worsen problem. Repairs typically run $250-$800. Severity: medium.
The 4.0L is notorious for rear main seal (RMS) leaks, in part due to its two-piece seal design. Compounding the diagnosis, the XJ engine sits nose-up, so oil from almost any upstream leak runs down and collects at the RMS area - the lowest point on the engine - making other leaks… Repairs typically run $150-$900. Severity: medium.
The factory 4.0L exhaust manifold is well known for cracking, most often where the two down pipes converge into the collector. The cracks are frequently hairline and follow the factory welds; a major cause is that the manifold is rigidly mounted to the chassis while it moves with… Repairs typically run $200-$900. Severity: medium.
2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee models are named in FCA US LLC's radio software recall. The radio fitted to these vehicles has software vulnerabilities that can allow third-party access to certain networked vehicle control systems. NHTSA's stated consequence is that this may permit unaut… Severity: medium.
Moisture accumulates inside headlight housings due to vent holes designed for manufacturing. While FCA considers minor condensation normal, excessive moisture or water droplets indicate seal failure. Repairs typically run $0-$1,200. Severity: low.
The 4.0L oil filter adapter uses three O-rings that harden and shrink with age (owners describe them becoming brittle 'like bakelite'). When they fail, pressurized oil weeps out and gets blown back onto the rear of the engine, so it is very frequently misdiagnosed as a rear main… Repairs typically run $15-$350. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.
