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2021 Jeep Cherokee

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2021 Jeep Cherokee do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 113.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 30 of 160 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 92 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports4 fire reports6 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

23 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2025
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

Failed rear driveline failed rear differential and failed DTCM. Jeep is still sluggish upon shifting to acceleration. Clunk from park to drive and cold start to warm up normal to drop to normal rpm then rev up to 2.0 while sitting still. I have suspicions that the PTU could be having issues after all the above was replaced

NHTSA ODI #11648014

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2025
Unknown Or Other

2/16/2025 Light for 4WD came on when the temperature was 11 degrees. 4WD System Unavailable Service Required 2/19/25 & 2/25/25 Taken into the dealer and stated that Debris in the PTU causing Actuator to stick - will need to be replace PTU - if approved will need to locate part. Car difficult to put into park

NHTSA ODI #11645338

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2024
Unknown Or Other

Unknown. While driving this vehicle, the engine just shuts off when stopping. The first time it happened it flashed to put vehicle in park and restart. It shut off and was unable to restart it. It happened 4 other times when at a stop, just shuts off off. Was able to restart it after a few minutes

NHTSA ODI #11629876

Mileage unknown · May 28, 2024
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

There are times I go to start my car and it has nothing. No lights no door dinging nothing. I started it up on day to go to work and got to the gas station and shut it down to run in quick. Came out 5 mins later and it acted as if someone took my battery out. The car was totally dead. After about 10-15 mins it lit back up and wa…

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There are times I go to start my car and it has nothing. No lights no door dinging nothing. I started it up on day to go to work and got to the gas station and shut it down to run in quick. Came out 5 mins later and it acted as if someone took my battery out. The car was totally dead. After about 10-15 mins it lit back up and was able to start. Another time it happened in the dead of winter and I was picking my son up. We went to get in the car and all 4 doors were opened. No lights came on and wouldn’t start and as my kids shut doors it would flicker. Times it comes back to life and as soon as you hit the start button it goes black again. It’s been at Tristar and c Harper both and cannot replicate so no fix. I’m afraid it’s going to catch fire or something one day. In the shops for a month and a half total and no results. It’s very intermittent so does not do it all the time. Sometimes it will go a month and be fine then act up 3 times in one week. Please help! I don’t feel safe!

NHTSA ODI #11590968

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2024
Unknown Or Other

I've been experiencing repeated instances of my 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Lux 4X4 shutting off while I'm driving, without any warning lights. The message "Shift to P to start" appears on the screen. On several occasions, the car shut off unexpectedly, almost causing accidents. Despite multiple visits to the IG Burton service d…

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I've been experiencing repeated instances of my 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Lux 4X4 shutting off while I'm driving, without any warning lights. The message "Shift to P to start" appears on the screen. On several occasions, the car shut off unexpectedly, almost causing accidents. Despite multiple visits to the IG Burton service department, no fault codes were found. Chrysler told them to replace the crank sensor. They were very confident that was the problem, but the issue recurred again 13days after I got the vehicle back. They replaced my fuel pump this time but still have no evidence to prove that is the issue. They continue to guess at parts and I have to be the guinea pig to see if they got it right. This has been its 4th time in the shop and well over 10 time has this vehicle shut off on the highway. I believe jeep should step in at this point and find the cause of this problem or label the vehicle defective if they cannot. This ongoing issue has caused me frustration, anxiety, and safety concerns. I feel unsafe driving the vehicle. Especially after being told the last time they "felt confident" only for me to be stuck waiting for a tow truck in the road a few days later. The uncertainty surrounding the problem and the recurring nature of the incidents have greatly undermined my confidence in the vehicle's reliability and safety. I also have a detailed report of every time the vehicle has shut off/ been to the service department but I can't get it to attach on this site.

NHTSA ODI #11573763

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2023
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

Engine oil color is made of plastic and can crack and can cause you to lose your engine to no oil pressure and coolant and can cause an accident if you do not know because it would lock up the engine

NHTSA ODI #11559700

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2023
Unknown Or Other

The vehicle was running in the freeway suddenly transmission alert message pop up at the dashboard and the vehicle slowly stop in the middle of the busy freeway, took it to Chapman Jeep dealership and the vehicle was fixed for PTU malfuntion, got my car back but there was a burning smell everytime I drove and step out of the ve…

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The vehicle was running in the freeway suddenly transmission alert message pop up at the dashboard and the vehicle slowly stop in the middle of the busy freeway, took it to Chapman Jeep dealership and the vehicle was fixed for PTU malfuntion, got my car back but there was a burning smell everytime I drove and step out of the vehicle. I have been trying to call the dealership but no response yet.

NHTSA ODI #11558879

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2023
Unknown Or Other

PTU and rear end failure, it’s been in the shop 9 weeks and I am told will be another month.

NHTSA ODI #11557616

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2023
Forward Collision AvoidanceService BrakesUnknown Or Other

The emergency brake engages on its own and the fuel saving on/off feature is not working and the vehicle stalls while driving.

NHTSA ODI #11544802

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2022
Unknown Or Other

the front part of the panoramic sunroof exploded while I was driving. This was the area directly above the driver and passenger seat. The vehicle is currently at the car dealer. Glass came off into the vehicle and could have possibly blown off the roof of the vehicle onto the road or other vehicles. There was no warning that thi…

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the front part of the panoramic sunroof exploded while I was driving. This was the area directly above the driver and passenger seat. The vehicle is currently at the car dealer. Glass came off into the vehicle and could have possibly blown off the roof of the vehicle onto the road or other vehicles. There was no warning that this was going to break. The sunroof was closed and rarely, if ever, used as the car was just purchased in December 2021. Some Glass came off of the sunroof onto the driver and passenger.

NHTSA ODI #11464770

Official recalls

4

26V290000 · Power Train

May 7, 2026

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A failed PTU may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: 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 searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 14, 2026.

24V516000 · Air Bags:side/window:curtain

Jul 8, 2024

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: 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.

21V310000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooler/radiator:hoses And Fittings

May 4, 2021

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A transmission fluid leak increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

20V657000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Oct 27, 2020

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.