2020 Jeep CHEROKEE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Jeep CHEROKEE has 348 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: vehicle stalls while in motion on city streets and needs to be put into park and drive again to move. vehicle has 85 miles on it. purchased 4 days ago. on day after purchase vehicle stalled while going straight on 2 instances, it stalled on a right turn on 2 instances, it stalled at takeoff after be. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 6 crash reports 2 injuries

348

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

135 complaints

39%

• VEHICLE STALLS WHILE IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS AND NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO PARK AND DRIVE AGAIN TO MOVE. VEHICLE HAS 85 MILES ON IT. PURCHASED 4 DAYS AGO. ON DAY AFTER PURCHASE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE GOING STRAIGHT ON 2 INSTANCES, IT STALLED ON A RIGHT TURN ON 2 INSTANCES, IT STALLED AT TAKEOFF AFTER BE
• VEHICLE STALLS ANYTIME IT IDLES OR COMES TO A STOP. STALLS WHILE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. STALLED SEVERAL TIMES IN REVERSE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. STALLED WHILE TRYING TO GO STRAIGHT AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN. STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AFTER B
• VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAKING A CLANKING SOUND WHEN COMING TO A FULL STOP. SOUND SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM DIRECTLY UNDER THE VEHICLE. SOUND GOES AWAY WITH ESC TURNED OFF. JEEP DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE SOUND, BUT HAVE NOT FOUND THE PROBLEM.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“VEHICLE STALLS WHILE IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS AND NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO PARK AND DRIVE AGAIN TO MOVE. VEHICLE HAS 85 MILES ON IT. PURCHASED 4 DAYS AGO. ON DAY AFTER PURCHASE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE GOING STRAIGHT ON 2 INSTANCES, IT STALLED ON A RIGHT TURN ON 2 INSTANCES, IT STALLED AT TAKEOFF AFTER BE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

38 complaints

11%

• DRIVING MY VEHICLE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A THROTTLE ISSUE MESSAGE FLASHED, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DRASTIC LOSS OF POWER CAUSING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION FOR MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH ONLY 8 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, CURR
• VEHICLE STALLS ANYTIME IT IDLES OR COMES TO A STOP. STALLS WHILE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. STALLED SEVERAL TIMES IN REVERSE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. STALLED WHILE TRYING TO GO STRAIGHT AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN. STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AFTER B
• ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE 29TH DAY OF OWNERSHIP, WITH ODB CODE P0139. THE ONE O2 SENSOR WAS REPLACED, DRIVING BACK HOME AFTER THE REPAIR THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. TOOK IT BACK THE NEXT DAY SAME CODE P0139, THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE ECM/PCM COMPUTER. AFTER ALMOST TWO WEEKS THE ENGINE LIGHT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports

“DRIVING MY VEHICLE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A THROTTLE ISSUE MESSAGE FLASHED, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DRASTIC LOSS OF POWER CAUSING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION FOR MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH ONLY 8 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, CURR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

37 complaints

11%

• I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE ACCELERATOR TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES FOR A MILE OR TWO UNTIL I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER. ONCE I PULLED OVER AND COMPLETELY STOPPED THE RPMS WENT OVER 7000. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT
• WHEN TURNING IT MAKES A SOUND. WHEN BRAKING IT MAKES A SOUND. WHILE IDLING FAN GET VERY LOAD. WHEN SPEED INCREASES MAKES A SOUND.
• VEHICLE SOS CALL LOCKS THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM AND WILL NOT CALL SOS NOR DISCONNECT. NO RADIO AVAILABLE. HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE UCONNECT HAD SERIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE ACCELERATOR TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES FOR A MILE OR TWO UNTIL I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER. ONCE I PULLED OVER AND COMPLETELY STOPPED THE RPMS WENT OVER 7000. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

33 complaints

• WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND WARNING SOUNDS START GOING OFF. WE LOSE OUR SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GUAGE AND ALL OTHER INSTRUMENTS. THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGES AS WE ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS. WHEN STOPPED AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE PARKING
• WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL DRY CONDITIONS SERVICE PARKING BRAKE,ABS,ESC ACTIVE WARNING LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. FRONT BRAKES PULSATE ALSO
• ESC LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY, CONDENSATION IN BOTH BODY SIDE TAIL LIGHTS ,SWITCHING FROM DEFROST TO A/C WARM AIR BLOWS TO FLOOR (SET AT 70),THEN I CHANGE TO FRONT VENTS WARM AIR CONTINUES ,THEN TRY TO SET ON AUTO AND NOTHINGS BLOWS OUT, THEN TURN TO A/C AGAIN AND IT GOES TO WARM DEFROST. FRONT DRIVER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND WARNING SOUNDS START GOING OFF. WE LOSE OUR SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GUAGE AND ALL OTHER INSTRUMENTS. THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGES AS WE ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS. WHEN STOPPED AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE PARKING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

23 complaints

• WHEN TURNING IT MAKES A SOUND. WHEN BRAKING IT MAKES A SOUND. WHILE IDLING FAN GET VERY LOAD. WHEN SPEED INCREASES MAKES A SOUND.
• WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND WARNING SOUNDS START GOING OFF. WE LOSE OUR SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GUAGE AND ALL OTHER INSTRUMENTS. THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGES AS WE ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS. WHEN STOPPED AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE PARKING
• WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL DRY CONDITIONS SERVICE PARKING BRAKE,ABS,ESC ACTIVE WARNING LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. FRONT BRAKES PULSATE ALSO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“WHEN TURNING IT MAKES A SOUND. WHEN BRAKING IT MAKES A SOUND. WHILE IDLING FAN GET VERY LOAD. WHEN SPEED INCREASES MAKES A SOUND.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 348 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: VEHICLE STALLS WHILE IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS AND NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO PARK AND DRIVE AGAIN TO MOVE. VEHICLE HAS 85 MILES ON IT. PURCHASED 4 DAYS AGO. ON DAY AFTER PURCHASE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE GOING STRAIGHT ON 2 INSTANCES, IT STALLED ON A RIGHT TURN ON 2 INSTANCES, IT STALLED AT TAKEOFF AFTER BE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: DRIVING MY VEHICLE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A THROTTLE ISSUE MESSAGE FLASHED, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DRASTIC LOSS OF POWER CAUSING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION FOR MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH ONLY 8 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, CURR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE ACCELERATOR TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES FOR A MILE OR TWO UNTIL I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER. ONCE I PULLED OVER AND COMPLETELY STOPPED THE RPMS WENT OVER 7000. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND WARNING SOUNDS START GOING OFF. WE LOSE OUR SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GUAGE AND ALL OTHER INSTRUMENTS. THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGES AS WE ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS. WHEN STOPPED AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE PARKING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)