2021 Jeep Cherokee problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (89) · Service Brakes (11) · Engine (11)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Jeep Cherokee model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
35 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Power Train 2026-05-07 · campaign 26V290000 · 61,711 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
Risk: A failed PTU may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the Drivetrain Control Drivetrain Control Module, PTU, and Electronic Park Brake software, and replace the PTU, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk were mailed June 25, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy becomes available. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 40D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become search
Air Bags:side/Window:curtain 2024-07-08 · campaign 24V516000 · 13 vehicles
Defect: 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."
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will secure the connector, free of charge. All vehicles have been remedied. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 71B.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooler/Radiator:hoses And Fittings 2021-05-04 · campaign 21V310000 · 18,800 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A transmission fluid leak increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the hose, free of charge. Owners notification letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Y18.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm 2020-10-27 · campaign 20V657000 · 698 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A front lower control arm fracture while driving may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash without prior warning.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front lower control arms and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2020. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W81. Note: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicles until they have been inspected and repaired if needed.
Service bulletins (256)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-06-26 · S2208000045 REV.D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
backup camera poor image quality inspection
Structure:body 2026-04-22 · S2523000003 REV.A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
door latch, handle and ajar additional service information.
Electrical System 2026-04-15 · 08-075-26 REV. A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
rear taillamp condensation clearing procedure on occasion, vehicle exterior taillamp assemblies get fogged with a light layer of condensation on the symptom: inside of the lenses fig. 1. this may be reported after the lamps have been turned on and brought up to operating temperature, turned off and
Engine 2026-03-21 · 18-044-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
flash: powertrain control module (pcm) updates customers must experience a malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illumination and the vehicle must symptom: exhibit/set one or more of the following diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs): ● **p0111-00 - intake air temperature sensor 1 circuit range performance ba
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-18 · S2208000045 REV.C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
backup camera poor image quality inspection
Electrical System 2026-03-09 · 9100778 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
if replacing $8474412a$ with $8474413a$ version, verify vehicle is proxied and configured properly. the 4412 part does not have rsd (sxm) capability. the 4413 part has rsd (sxm) capability and will not have an antenna connected. if replacement radio does not function, verify rsd sales code is added
Showing the 6 most recent of 256 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-28 · Power Train · 75,000 mi“the contact owns a 2021 jeep cherokee. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 26v290000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that while driving approximately 15 mph, the vehicle lost electrical power. the message “service 4wd” was displayed after the failure. the veh…”
2026-10-15 · Unknown Or Other“svc 4wd light came on the dashboard. took to the dealership, they said it was a ptu issue and it needed to be replaced. $3800 and 45 days to fix. nhtsa notes recalls for my year make and model for my 2021 jeep cherokee latitude lux but does not show a recall for my specific vin#. jeep says nothing they can do since the nhtsa does not show a recall …”
2026-10-15 · Power Train“ptu issue- located a recall for 2019-2023 jeep cherokee power transfer unit recall; my vin wasn't one the ones listed. took vehicle to the local jeep dealership and the advised that ptu internal damage needs to be fixed.…”
2026-10-15 · Power Train“my 2021 jeep cherokee suffered a complete failure of its 1-speed ptu and esm module, causing a loss of 4wd capabilities. this is the exact same failure mechanism and safety risk outlined in recall 40d, but 1 speed units are being excluded from coverage. my vehicle is at dealership awaiting for this ptu. service 4wd light on dashboard. not safe to d…”
2026-10-12 · Power Train“jeep cherokee suffered the exact ptu failure detailed in nhtsa campaign 26v290, and it has been sitting at a dealership since august 17 because the manufacturer has failed to provide a remedy. dealership confirmed the issue is a ptu failure. has been almost 2 months since the ptu failed and there is no fix in sight. have spoken to fca us llc assist…”
2026-10-09 · Power Train · 117,800 mi“the contact owns a 2021 jeep cherokee. the contact stated that the transmission was hesitating while attempting to accelerate after the vehicle was started and slowly accelerated to the intended speed. while driving, the transmission was shifted to sports mode and manual shift mode to drive the vehicle. the check engine warning light was intermitte…”
2026-10-09 · Lane Departure: Warning“i am reporting a safety concern involving the forward collision warning (fcw) system on my 2021 jeep cherokee altitude fwd with a 2.4l engine. every time i start the vehicle, the dashboard displays the warning message "fcw unavailable – service required." the warning remains displayed while i am driving, indicating that the forward collision warni…”
2026-10-08 · Power Train · 113,400 mi“the contact owns a 2021 jeep cherokee. while driving 70 mph, there was an abnormal whining and grinding sound coming from the vehicle. the message "4wd service unavailable" was displayed. the failure mileage was approximately 113,400.…”
2026-10-08 · Power Train · 190,000 mi“the contact owns a 2021 jeep cherokee. the contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the ptu unexpectedly exploded. the contact pushed the vehicle into a parking lot, and the vehicle was then towed to a dealer. the vehicle was diagnosed with ptu failure. the contact was informed that the ptu needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the cont…”
2026-10-06 · Air Bags“i entered my vehicle and noted the panel below the steering column was sagging. upon closer inspection, it appeared to be an airbag, specifically the driver-side knee bolster air bag. i took the vehicle in for service at the dealership, and two technicians stated the air bag was partially deployed. the panel was continuing to sag and the air bag wa…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.