Jeep Cherokee years to avoid (and the best years)
10,000 NHTSA owner complaints and 39 recalls across 9 model years, 2014 to 2022. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 10,000complaints
- 39recalls
- 235reported crashes
- 97reported fires
- 191reported injuries
Which Jeep Cherokee years should you avoid?
No Jeep Cherokee model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical Jeep Cherokee year has 1,333 complaints on file. The busiest year is the 2014 (2,645).
What are the best Jeep Cherokee years?
The Jeep Cherokee years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2022 (50), 2021 (162) and 2020 (296). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 50 | 0.0× | 3 | 3 | 5 | Few red flags | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2021 | 162 | 0.1× | 4 | 10 | 8 | Few red flags | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2020 | 296 | 0.2× | 3 | 9 | 9 | Few red flags | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2019 | 1,639 | 1.2× | 11 | 40 | 37 | Some concerns to check | Power transfer unit and four-wheel-drive failure |
| 2018 | 683 | 0.5× | 7 | 11 | 7 | Some concerns to check | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2017 | 1,333 | 1.0× | 6 | 24 | 27 | Some concerns to check | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2016 | 1,406 | 1.1× | 9 | 37 | 27 | Some concerns to check | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2015 | 1,786 | 1.3× | 11 | 45 | 32 | Some concerns to check | Transmission harsh and erratic shifting |
| 2014 | 2,645 | 2.0× | 13 | 56 | 39 | Some concerns to check | Transmission drops into neutral, loses power |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 538 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Engine & powertrain331 (62%)
- Other systems58 (11%)
- Steering, suspension & tires40 (7%)
- Brakes39 (7%)
- Electrical & infotainment38 (7%)
Recalls (39)
Transmission · 26V290000 · May 2026 · model years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
A failed PTU may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Transmission · 25V011000 · Apr 2025 · model years 2017, 2018, 2019
A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway, which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Airbags · 24V516000 · Jul 2024 · model years 2021, 2022
An air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Exterior lighting · 24V239000 · Mar 2024 · model year 2022
Turn signals that do not function properly may fail to indicate the driver's intention to change vehicle direction, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 23V338000 · May 2023 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Transmission · 23V302000 · Apr 2023 · model years 2016, 2017
A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Transmission · 21V310000 · May 2021 · model year 2021
A transmission fluid leak increases the risk of a fire.
Suspension · 20V657000 · Oct 2020 · model year 2021
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.
Safety · 20V191000 · Sep 2020 · model year 2020
The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 20V343000 · Jun 2020 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
A loss of drive can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning. A loss of the Park function can cause unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Steering · 19V637000 · Aug 2019 · model years 2019, 2020
A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 19V447000 · Jun 2019 · model year 2014
An unexpected shift to neutral would result in a loss of drive, increasing the risk of crash.
Airbags · 19V449000 · Jun 2019 · model year 2019
In the event of a crash, the inability to properly detect a crash may result in improper air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 19V248000 · Mar 2019 · model year 2019
In the event of a crash, the seat may move, increasing the risk of injury.
Electrical system · 18V917000 · Dec 2018 · model year 2019
Without the activation of warning chimes, messages, and gauges to provide vehicle information to the driver, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Transmission · 18V739000 · Oct 2018 · model year 2019
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of crash.
Electrical system · 18V524000 · Aug 2018 · model years 2018, 2019
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Brakes · 18V523000 · Aug 2018 · model year 2019
A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 18V494000 · Jul 2018 · model year 2018
If the halfshaft bearing cage breaks, the halfshaft may not be able to transmit engine power, causing a loss of drive or it can allow the vehicle to move while in the "Park" position. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 18V492000 · Jul 2018 · model year 2019
If the transmission weld fails, the vehicle will stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Engine · 18V344000 · May 2018 · model year 2019
Cylinder damage or camshaft failure can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 18V332000 · May 2018 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fuel system · 18V282000 · May 2018 · model year 2018
A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Safety · 17V824000 · Dec 2017 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016
If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
Engine · 17V670000 · Oct 2017 · model year 2018
If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 17V543000 · Aug 2017 · model years 2017, 2018
The missing tire and rim designation information may lead to an incorrect combination being installed on the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 16V799000 · Nov 2016 · model year 2017
If the driver's knee air bag does not properly inflate, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Safety · 16V590000 · Aug 2016 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016
Loose fasteners may allow the seats to move, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupants in the event of a crash.
Transmission · 16V529000 · Jul 2016 · model years 2014, 2015
If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Transmission · 16V287000 · May 2016 · model year 2016
A fractured halfshaft may disconnect from the drive axle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 16V284000 · May 2016 · model year 2016
A fractured halfshaft may disconnect from the drive axle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 15V826000 · Dec 2015 · model years 2015, 2016
A short circuit in the module increases the risk of a fire.
Engine · 15V676000 · Oct 2015 · model year 2015
If the line is misrouted, it may contact the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.
Body & glass · 15V509000 · Aug 2015 · model year 2014
BCM damage may result in the failure of the windshield wipers, impairing the driver's vision and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Safety · 15V461000 · Jul 2015 · model years 2014, 2015
Exploitation of the software vulnerability may result in unauthorized remote modification and control of certain vehicle systems, increasing the risk of a crash.
Structure · 15V393000 · Jun 2015 · model years 2014, 2015
A short circuit in the liftgate control module may result in a fire.
Airbags · 15V041000 · Jan 2015 · model years 2014, 2015
If the air bags deploy unexpectedly during vehicle operation, it can increase the risk of personal injury and increase the risk of a crash.
Suspension · 14V392000 · Jul 2014 · model year 2014
Damage to the tire or reduced braking increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
Safety · 14V293000 · Jun 2014 · model year 2014
The unintended continued acceleration may increase the risk of a crash.