2021 Jeep Cherokee — Known Issues & Recalls

Your 2021 Jeep Cherokee's 9-speed automatic transmission failed at 75,000 miles, causing the engine light to come on while driving. When you stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle rolled backward and had little power when accelerating, creating a collision risk. The dealership confirmed the transmission needs to be completely replaced, and Jeep declined to provide any warranty assistance even though you were just outside the coverage period.

While driving on the interstate at 70 mph, your engine revved but the car wouldn't accelerate when you tried to pass another vehicle. You coasted safely to an exit and had the vehicle towed to a dealership, where they discovered a catastrophic failure of the Power Transfer Unit (PTU). The replacement PTU they ordered was also found to be defective. The fix will require replacing the PTU with a functioning unit.

While driving 50 MPH on the highway, your 4WD system stopped working and a "Service 4WD" warning appeared on the dashboard. The dealer found that the 4WD actuator failed and the transmission needs to be replaced. The repair hasn't been completed because the replacement transmission isn't currently available.

Your Power Transfer Unit (PTU) may fail and lock up your transmission, which is a known issue that affected 2017-2019 models under recall. The same problem persists in later model years like yours but hasn't been recalled yet. This could leave you stranded or cause loss of power to the wheels. Fixing this typically requires replacing the PTU assembly.

Your Cherokee is hesitating when you accelerate and jerking harshly into first gear, along with unusual revving noises from the transmission. This issue started after a dealer software update and has gotten worse over the past few weeks. The transmission may need a software reprogram, fluid service, or internal inspection to diagnose the shifting and noise problem.

Your 4-wheel drive light is on and the vehicle won't drive properly. Your dealer says the power transfer unit (PTU) has major problems and needs to be replaced, but they won't cover it under warranty. The repair costs about $4,000.

Your Power Transfer Unit (PTU) has failed. This component transfers power from your engine to both your front and rear wheels in your all-wheel-drive system. When it fails, you may experience loss of power delivery or difficulty getting the vehicle to move properly. Repair will likely require replacement of the PTU unit itself.

Your 4-wheel drive system displayed an error message while driving on the highway, then the message cleared. Later, your battery went dead unexpectedly, and when you tried to put the car in reverse, it wouldn't move. The dealership found that your Power Transfer Unit (PTU) — which transfers power to your four-wheel drive system — contained metal chunks and a sludgy buildup, indicating internal wear or failure. The fix will likely involve replacing or rebuilding the PTU and possibly the transmission fluid and filter.

Your four-wheel drive warning light is illuminated on the dashboard. The power transfer unit (PTU), which controls your 4WD system, may need to be replaced to resolve this issue.

Your Jeep has shut off unexpectedly while driving on the interstate at highway speeds on multiple occasions, creating dangerous situations in traffic. The first dealership kept your vehicle for 2 months and replaced several parts, but the problem returned the next day. A second dealership also attempted repairs, but your Jeep shut off again at 70 mph in rush hour traffic. You've found reports of similar issues affecting other owners of this model, and your vehicle has now been in the shop for over a month without a confirmed diagnosis.

Your vehicle's interior touchscreen display has become pixelated and shows discolored pixels, affecting your backup camera view—which is a safety concern. The same screen also controls your climate, radio, and vehicle information, so these functions may also be impacted. The issue likely requires professional diagnosis and may involve screen replacement or display system repair.

Your radio display went black and showed a "Re-insert USB" message, making the radio unusable. When this happened, your rear-view camera, AC/heat controls, and other safety features also stopped working. The dealer found that your radio unit needs to be replaced, but the manufacturer has stopped making this part, so a replacement isn't available through normal channels.

Your vehicle lost all power while being driven, with multiple warning lights appearing on the dashboard and the hazard lights not working. Your wife was able to coast safely to the side of the road. The dealer found that the battery had failed and replaced it, even though the battery warning light hadn't come on before the failure occurred.

Your 2021 Jeep Cherokee is experiencing sudden, unexpected braking while driving at highway speeds with no warning, creating an immediate risk of being rear-ended. Diagnostic scans reveal multiple critical computer failures including loss of communication with the brake control module and engine computer errors. The vehicle is also showing symptoms of engine problems—loud fans, fluctuating RPMs, black soot from the tailpipe, and rough sputtering—along with excessive fuel consumption. Fixing this will likely require replacing the brake control module, engine computer, and related wiring to restore proper communication between the vehicle's systems.

Your parking brake is engaging unexpectedly and randomly, sometimes while you're driving or stopped at a light, causing your car to suddenly brake hard. When this happens, your hazard flashers also turn on, and you have to put the car in park and restart it to disengage the brake—sometimes multiple times. This dangerous issue has nearly caused other vehicles to rear-end you, but your dealership hasn't been able to find any error codes or duplicate the problem despite confirming your software is current. The fix will likely require a deeper diagnostic by the dealer or a software update to the brake and electrical control modules.

Your airbags failed to deploy during a head-on collision with a tree at approximately 35 mph, resulting in injuries including concussion and whiplash to the occupant. There were no warning lights or messages before the accident that might have indicated a problem with the airbag system. The vehicle is being inspected by insurance to assess if it will be declared a total loss.

Your 2021 Jeep Cherokee experienced an engine fire while driving on the interstate. You may have noticed a sweet or alcohol smell before the problem occurred, followed by a popping sound from the ignition area and the engine stalling. When you opened the hood, you saw smoke and flames; the vehicle became fully engulfed and was a total loss. The fire department determined the cause was a cable or hose installation failure that created an electrical fire. The fix would require a complete engine bay inspection, replacement of damaged cables and hoses, and electrical system repair or replacement.

Your check engine light came on with a message saying the vehicle cannot move, and your car stopped completely. The power transfer unit has failed, and replacements are currently on backorder due to high demand for this part.

Your service 4WD light has been on for months due to a faulty power transfer case. The replacement part has been on backorder from Jeep for over 4 months, leaving your vehicle unable to be repaired. You haven't received any updates about when the part will become available. The repair will require replacing the power transfer case component.

Your gas pump stops clicking off and shuts down before your tank is full, preventing you from completely filling up. You're hearing a lot of air noise when you insert the pump nozzle, and your check engine light is on with a diagnostic code pointing to an EVAP (emissions control) system issue. This typically involves inspecting and possibly replacing components in the fuel tank's vapor recovery system that help seal the tank properly.