2020 Jeep Cherokee complaints

MY TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING AND MY PARKING BRAKE TURNED ON WHILE DRIVING!!!!! This is the same problem that was recalled on jeep Cherokee years from 2017-2019, but my 2020 is not covered in the recall and my neighbor has the same exact car and year and has had to replace his put twice!!!!!! MY MODEL YEAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED!!!!!!!

The check 4 wheel drive light lit up on my dash. Shortly after, there was aloud noise coming from the front passenger side tire area. I replaced the front hub assembly as was the code it was throwing. 1 week ater, noise returned and I took it into Elkhorn Automotive in Waterloo, NE. They said it was throwing a code of C14A7-97...power transfer unit. Dealership said there are no active recalls for my 2020 jeep. Looks like Jeep has had issues with this PTU. What can I do to get my vehicle fixed.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was an abnormal popping sound coming from under the floorboards. The contact stated that the "Service 4-WD" warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle started losing motive power and the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The contact was able to continue driving to the destination. The failure was intermittent but was a recurring failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with PTU failure. The contact was informed that the PTU needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed by the mechanic that the failure was possibly related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Service 4WD warning appeared 9/2025 on my 2020 Jeep Cherokee Limited with 37500 miles. Took it to my local mechanic. They suspected the PTU was the problem and advised to take it Jeep dealer as it should be covered under warrantee. However The car was put into service in 2019 so warrantee has expired. Dealer advised PTU repair ~$3000 but part is back ordered. I see a lot of complaints on this site for this same issue. This was a recall up to year 2019 Jeeps.

The Power Transfer Unit failed, needing repair. It is available for inspection upon request. My safety, and other's safety on the road, was put at risk because now the power can shut off while driving. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer, as we took it in when a warning light appeared. They confirmed it was a power transfer unit failure. They first appeared about a month ago, and today's date is 9/19/25.

The PTU AND PTU Actuator have failed. The repair is estimated to be App $3000 at a local independent repair shop. The parts are unavailable to do a timely repair. We still have to drive it because it cannot be repaired until parts are available, we were told it could be months because there are so many jeeps failing from the same thing. ( "a similar repair was done today after waiting for 3 months for parts"- Bob from Donelinger in Cohasset, Mn) We may be in danger every time we use the jeep but have no choice with it being needed for our transportation. The 4WD service lights are on or blink all the time. We only have 85,000 miles on this jeep we have had since we purchased it new. Please help speed up parts availability and a recall on these Jeeps.

PTU unit has went out. 4wd light on shows needs service. Currently with dealership and told ptu needs replaced, but told there's only 112 available in the nation with over 1200 orders for one Currently. It looks that this has been an ongoing problem with Jeep Cherokees with under 100,000 miles. Mine only has 88.000. Other year models have been recalled in fact up to Feb. 2019 for manufactured cherokees. I missed it by a year. With this Increasing problem, it sure looks as though they should recall since the odds are becoming greater for failure and people are out thousands of dollars and still making payments on it in this economy for not being able to have confidence in a vehicle and company. Thank you for your attention and action!

Parking break engages when car comes to a stop engine light is on them goes off

PTU failure at 65,000 miles. Unknown timeline for the replacement part

A light appeared on the dash that said AWD Failure. After 2 weeks of being at the dealership, I was told it was a complete PTU failure. Other VINs have been recalled but not mine. This was after I had already taken the car because it just stopped while driving and wouldn’t start. I was told then it was the starter needed to be replaced. I am just happy it wasn’t my [XXX] that was driving. I believe it was the PTU the whole time. The car also will not start after stopping at a stop light unless I turn the Automatic setting off. Dealership says PTU is on back order with ETA of 45-60 days. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

While driving my 2020 Jeep Cherokee, my four-wheel-drive light came on and the car felt like somebody had rear-ended me after checking the code that came on. It says it was a PTU failure. It is a known issue with Jeep, but no resolution has been made the same issue has been recalled for other VIN numbers, but not mine. This is a safety issue because when the car did this, if someone was behind me, they would’ve actually hit me in the rear end because the car like actually stops.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the "Steering Wheel with an Exclamation Mark" was displayed. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or right. The contact pulled over and turned off, and restarted the vehicle; however the steering function failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was left on the side of the road. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The contact stated that a mobile mechanic went to the vehicle; however, the mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code with a handheld scanner. The mechanic advised the contact that there was a recall associated with the steering for the make and model. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V637000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact called a local dealer, and it was confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,088.

The transfer case failed at 30,000 miles. There is a 3 month backlog on the part, so the vehicle is off the road until at least December 10. This part was recalled on the 2017-2019 models.

I was at a stop light, light turned green and as I started to accelerate there was a loud banging noise and it felt like I had been hit from behind. I pulled over to check out my car but nothing seemed wrong. The exact same thing happened about 2 1/2 months prior to this incident The jolt was so much so that my head hit the headrest hard enough to cause a headache for several hours

“Service 4WD” warning light came on. Took vehicle to mechanic who said error code indicates power transfer unit failure. Car is clearly unsafe to drive.

2020 vehicle is having PTU issues but not on recall. 2017-2019 models had a recall for same issue

Every time I drive 20-30 my service 4wd light comes on. I got it scanned when the light was not on but it was showing no code

Engine warning light came on. Bloomington Chrysler Jeep repair shop said the active grill shutter connector wasn't working. This can cause engine overheating and damage and possibly a fire. I did not have this happen, as I caught it early.

Blind spot indicator light comes on and I have no control of the windows. Speeds up to four RPMs or more no matter what speed I am going including while I'm in cruise control. Turns off cruise control while driving. All of these are random incidents but they have become more and more frequent.

I am submitting this complaint regarding my 2020 Jeep Cherokee Limited which has now been undrivable for over 3 months due to a part that is on national backorder. The issue began in May 2025 when I brought the vehicle to a Jeep dealership for repairs related to the Power Control Unit (PCU). Since then, the part has not been available, and the car has remained at the dealership with no clear repair timeline. I have been told by Jeep corporate that I am only eligible for rental coverage and nothing more. This delay has left me without a working vehicle for over 90 days, and I am concerned that this issue may involve a defect or systemic parts shortage that is affecting multiple vehicles. I also believe this is a safety-related issue, as a failure of the power control unit could result in sudden loss of power or drivability. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate: Whether this part shortage is linked to a wider defect or recall Whether Jeep (Stellantis) should be required to take further action If any safety recalls should be issued for this model and issue I have already filed a complaint with the New York Attorney General. Jeep is not a participant in BBB Auto Line, and I am left without a reliable resolution while still paying for a vehicle I cannot use. Please let me know what further information is needed.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a grinding sound coming from the vehicle while accelerating, while the vehicle was idling, and while depressing the brake pedal. The failure was intermittent but became more frequent. The traction control warning light was intermittently illuminated. The contact stated that the START/STOP button intermittently failed to start the vehicle, requiring several attempts to start the vehicle. The "A" for the Start/System remained illuminated long after the button was pressed. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the failure might be caused by a failure of the power transfer unit. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

PTU failure. Car was manufactured in 08/2019, Mopar recalled Jeep’s manufactured until 02/2019. Please extend recall.

Component: Power Transfer Unit (PTU) The power transfer unit has failed. This appears to be a manufacturing defect identical to those listed under the recall. Left me stranded in traffic.

PTU/Transmission failure. Vehicle is available for inspection. Traveling 70mph on a local highway when the vehicle gave two large jolts/shutters and loud bangs. Lost all power to the vehicle while on the highway and had trouble safely exiting the highway with other vehicles passing by and having no power to the vehicle. Transmission/gear fluid from the ptu/Transmission completely emptied itself onto the road after the failure. The Jeep brand is well aware of these issues plaguing the 2015- present Jeep cherokee 4x4 models. However, only the 2015-2019 are currently recalled. Vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, or service center but is able to be.

Ptu failure at 75,325 miles as well as active grill shutter at same time. Was told the ptu is on back order and last person it took 6 months to get it. We have had vehicle since new and always dealer serviced. Super disappointed on time to fix it, meaning there is obviously a problem.

Service 4wd light is on, diagnostic is reading code for transfer case

The SVC 4WD light came on in my 2020 Jeep Cherokee at 59000 miles. This indicated a problem with the PTU, the transfer case actuator. The warranty expired 1.5 months ago, and Jeep is denying to fix it under warranty. This has been a recall for over 60,000 Jeep Cherokees, yet it has not been a recall for my vehicle. This clearly needs to be recalled for my specific vehicle, yet Jeep has failed to acknowledge this. The risks for the PTU failing are scary, including sudden loss of power and slipping out of park ,or drive, including while in motion.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "4WD Unavailable" remained displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that that the transfer case unit was faulty and needed to be replaced; however, parts were unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "4WD Unavailable" remained displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transfer case unit was faulty and needed to be replaced; however, there were no parts available for the repair. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

My Jeep keeps going into Limp Mode and not will completely shut off while I come to a complete stop at a stop light. And while I’m driving the engine light comes on. I can cycle it through to get the engine light off. Then it runs fine. This has been happening since after I bought it. I’ve taken back to the dealership I got it from and they couldn’t find anything wrong with it, so they took it to a Jeep dealership and got the same answer. Clearly there is something wrong with it. And could cause me to get into an accident. This is my only vehicle for transportation. The code that shows up is P0934

PTU Failed. 4x4 service light came on weeks after warranty ended. I called jeep and was told if it is not driving bad I can take my time in repair. My car ended up not working on Jericho Tpke., Commack a few days before Christmas. I was not provided a loaner due to the holiday week.

No injury or incident yet. The PTU was diagnosed as failing at 46,500 miles on June 30, 2025. The vehicle is still being driven because the driver has no alternative, but no dealership has been able to confirm whether it is safe to operate in this condition. A failing PTU can result in sudden power loss, drivetrain lockup, or loss of park function—especially in AWD vehicles. These symptoms match those described in NHTSA Recall 25V011000 affecting Jeep Cherokees. The lack of clear safety guidance and the delay in repair have created a potentially hazardous situation. This should be investigated as part of the broader PTU defect pattern.

On June 24 ,2025 I was in a front end collision resulting in personal injury to with parties. From airbags not deploying on my vehicle. My car was deemed total loss from insurance company. Vehicle didn't have any prior electrical or and warning lamps on at time prior collision

SVC 4WD light turned on. Dealership said it may be ptu issue and would cost $1400 just to diagnose, not fix. This is a known issue for Jeep Cherokee 2017-2019. Mine is 2020 with less than 50k miles on it.

SVC 4WD light came on. Took it to Jeep dealership to have them look at it. PTU "power transfer unit" is bad. Got a second opinion at an automotive repair shop, they too diagnosed PTU is bad. Repair shop printed a Safety Recall with our vehicles VIN number. Went back to Jeep with the Safety Recall paperwork and Jeep won't honor the safety recall.

Replaced transmission at 20,000 miles. Now at 55,000 miles it is going again. Powertrain warranty expired by 6 months.

Parking brake will automatically engage randomly while car is stopped at lights, stops signs, ect. The only way to reset is to put vehicle in park, turn off ignition and restart vehicle. Has happened several times over the last 3 months.

Hard shift 70-80 mph, lost drive power output. No response to gas pedal while engine remained on. I turned on hazards and moved to the emergency lane as the car was coasting to a stop. I caught a glimpse of 4WD or AWD something and it disappeared before I could read it all. I was about to approach an off ramp from the highway emergency when at a slow speed perhaps 30 mph or so output returned and I was able to complete driving home. This is the first time it was more than just jerky clunky shifting. Vehicle has 69,858 miles.

I bought my vehicle in summer of 2020 brand new. It currently has 66k miles on it. A week ago the 4 WD service light came on. I took it in for diagnostic and it came back with code C14A7-97 PTO motor operation. The motor is functioning obviously, but the trasfer case is not engaging. There is currently a recall on vehicles similar to 2020, on the same issue but none have been issued on mine yet. The PTU should be good for 100k miles but not even close to that & it’s a super pricey fix on a vehicle I still pay on monthly. PTU input spline is the power transfer unit, so basically my 4 wheeled drive vehicle is not gonna function in 4 wheeled drive. I am hopeful as I saw similar complaints to mine here, that this is the next batch of recalls for Jeep, as I doubt I am alone.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the message "4-Wheel Drive Unavailable" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the PTU had failed and needed to be replaced. The PTU was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 21,794.

The power transfer unit, differential, spark plugs, and air induction failed. The vehicle is still having bad vibration problems at speeds above 50 mph despite $7,000 in repairs.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the parking brake engaged unintendedly, causing the vehicle to stop abruptly, almost causing the contact to hit her head against the steering wheel. The contact stated that the failure nearly caused the vehicle to be rear-ended. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring increasingly. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could only be repaired free of charge if it was covered under warranty. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

Vehicle jerked and lost power to the gas pedal while accelerating. After about 20 seconds the gas pedal reingaged again. The vehicle coasted until that point. The service department of the dealership stated that they will not be able to diagnose the problem unless a code shows up that they can read, which none did. It appears that the issue is similar to the PTU issue of the 2017-2019 Jeep Cherokee. The vehicle was purchased in 2019 even though the model is 2020.

I RECENTLY HAD A SVC 4WD LIGHT COME ON IN MY 2020 JEEP CHEROKEE WHICH HAS 75,750 MILES. THEN WHILE DRIVING A WARNING LIGHT KEPT COMING ON TELLING ME THAT THE 4WD SERVICE IS UNAVAILABLE AND TO SERVICE 4WD. WELL - I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PTU NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL BECAUSE IT ONLY COVERED THE YEARS 2017 - 2019 AND SOME 2020 CHEROKEES. I FEEL THAT THIS PTU THAT IS DEFECTIVE SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE 2020 YEAR AS WELL SINCE IT'S UNREALISTIC TO THINK THAT THE PTU WOULD FAIL ON A VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY HAD THE 4WD EVEN USED MAYBE FIVE TIMES IN A 4 1/2 YEAR SPAN. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CHECK INTO THIS ISSUE THAT I FEEL SHOULD BE A RECALL AND WOULD/COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS DUE TO SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, OR ABILITY TO MOVE VEHICLE DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURES. I FEEL THAT JEEP/CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND HAVE BEEN SLOWLY ISSUING RECALLS, BEGINNING FROM 2014, THEN 2016 AND THEN 2017-2019 AND NOW I FEEL THE 2020 AND POSSIBLY LATER YEARS SHOULD BE COVERED. I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP 4/30/25. AT THIS TIME I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR THIS PTU ISSUE AND AM TAKING A CHANCE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE SINCE MECHANICALLY IT IS WORKING RIGHT NOW - JUST PROVIDING ME WITH THE WARNING LIGHTS/BEEPS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND ADVISE.

The PTU for 4wd going bad before 60k miles

Our 2020 Jeep has the same failing power transfer unit problems of previous Jeep Trailhawk recalls that had been issued for 2014-2017. Chrysler has had this vehicle in the shop now for over 60 days with no idea when they can even get parts because we are told there are several hundred of their vehicles with the same issue. They obviously have done nothing to address the failures of their power transfer units from the previous recalls and continuing to stick owners with that problem. They should also be responsible for providing a vehicle when they can't even provide parts for repair.

I was traveling down Elm Street and had just gone through the railroad under-pass when I pushed on the accelerator and heard something like the grinding, spinning, sound under the front passenger side of the vehicle. Additionally I noticed that I had lost all propulsion. I moved out of traffic and glided to a stop on a slight hill. This is when I found out that some how the whole drive train was disconnected, because I placed the gear selector into Park and let my foot off the brake and began to roll backwards down the hill. I quickly reapplied the emergency brake, and turned on my hazards.i turned the Jeep off hoping that it would re-set, and the transmission would re-engage. After waving a few cars passed, I restarted the vehicle, and the power train did re-engaged and I was able to disengage the emergency brake and remove my foot from the brake pedal. The vehicle was flat bed towed to a mechanic. He informed me of that this year and make of Jeep had a transmission recall but the VIN on my vehicle but was not included on that recall. He verbalized I needed to report this because my Jeep is doing the exact same thing as those involved in the recall. He verbalized that a clip was not postioned correctly and that is causing the transmission to completely disengage internally. He suggested I report this as Jeep may have overlooked the Trailhawk models in that recall.

The message/warning light keeps coming on: Stop/start Unavailable - Service stop/start system. This feature is suppose to help reduce the amount of harmful emissions released into the air! Some times this causes the engine/transmission to clunk. Seems to maybe a common issue with the Jeeps. Save fuel from burning while the car is stationary. Such a great feature and is doesn't work!

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly lost motive power before slamming into two-wheel drive (2WD). The contact turned off the vehicle and, after restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The "Service All-Wheel Drive" warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the power transfer unit (PTU) was damaged and disengaged the transmission and differential. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact related the failure to Jeep Recall: 01C. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Was driving vehicle, started making grinding noise and would not move. After a couple restarts it moved, but was locked in 4x4 snow mode and would not change. Limped pinhole and had tow truck take to dealership. Diagnosis PTU is bad and needs to be replaced. Estimated cost is about $4000. Replacement PTU is on back order for at least 30 days.