2020 Jeep CHEROKEE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
289 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
47,400 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 83 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 161 of 289 complaints (55.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 46 | 15.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 39 | 13.5% |
| Steering behavior | 30 | 10.4% |
| Engine operation | 27 | 9.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 161 |
| Engine | 39 |
| Unknown Or Other | 35 |
| Electrical System | 33 |
| Service Brakes | 23 |
| Steering | 21 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
Power Train: 161; Engine: 39; Unknown Or Other: 35; Electrical System: 33; Service Brakes: 23; Steering: 21; Fuel/Propulsion System: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 33 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 33; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 206 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 30 |
| 2024 | 30 |
| 2025 | 101 |
| 2026 | 78 |
2019: 1; 2020: 20; 2021: 13; 2022: 16; 2023: 30; 2024: 30; 2025: 101; 2026: 78
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 46 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 39 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11277328 · 2019-10-31 (October 31, 2019)
I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE ACCELERATOR TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES FOR A MILE OR TWO UNTIL I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER. ONCE I PULLED OVER AND COMPLETELY STOPPED THE RPMS WENT OVER 7000. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. THE RPMS AGAIN WENT OVER 7000. I LET THE CAR SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND STARTED THE CAR ONCE AGAIN. THE CAR OPERATED JUST FINE AFTER THIS. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 740 miles reported. Look up ODI 11277328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11307842 · 2020-02-08 (February 8, 2020)
DRIVING MY VEHICLE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A THROTTLE ISSUE MESSAGE FLASHED, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DRASTIC LOSS OF POWER CAUSING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION FOR MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH ONLY 8 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, CURRENTLY HAS 500 MILES, VEHICLE HAS THE 2.4 LITER ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC 4X4 TRANSMISSION. CONTACTED THE JEEP DEALER WHEE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY DID NOT MENTION THAT THERE COULD BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS JEEP, HOWEVER AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUN…
Owner-reported narrative. 496 miles reported. Look up ODI 11307842 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11312125 · 2020-02-28 (February 28, 2020)
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS AND NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO PARK AND DRIVE AGAIN TO MOVE. VEHICLE HAS 85 MILES ON IT. PURCHASED 4 DAYS AGO. ON DAY AFTER PURCHASE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE GOING STRAIGHT ON 2 INSTANCES, IT STALLED ON A RIGHT TURN ON 2 INSTANCES, IT STALLED AT TAKEOFF AFTER BEING PARKED ONCE, IT STALLED WHEN TRYING TO BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE 3 TIMES ON REVERSE. ON DAY 3 THE VEHICLE STALLED ON RIGHT TURN ONCE, GOING STRAIGHT ONCE AND WHILE EXITING PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHILE …
Owner-reported narrative. 75 miles reported. Look up ODI 11312125 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11315859 · 2020-03-03 (March 3, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A MOLDY AND MILDEW ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB POYNTER CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM OF SEYMOUR LOCATED AT (873 E TIPTON ST, SEYMOUR, IN 47274) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE AT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WELD SEAMS. THE VEHICLE WAS RE-SEALED AND THE CARPET REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11315859 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11328321 · 2020-06-11 (June 11, 2020)
VEHICLE STALLS ANYTIME IT IDLES OR COMES TO A STOP. STALLS WHILE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. STALLED SEVERAL TIMES IN REVERSE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. STALLED WHILE TRYING TO GO STRAIGHT AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN. STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AFTER BEING STOPPED, WAITING ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO CLEAR. STALLING IN AN INTERSECTION COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF OR PROCEEDING ONCOMING TRAFFIC THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. WHEN VEHICLE STALLS, THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE IS ACTIVATED AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 950 miles reported. Look up ODI 11328321 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11330743 · 2020-06-25 (June 25, 2020)
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE 29TH DAY OF OWNERSHIP, WITH ODB CODE P0139. THE ONE O2 SENSOR WAS REPLACED, DRIVING BACK HOME AFTER THE REPAIR THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. TOOK IT BACK THE NEXT DAY SAME CODE P0139, THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE ECM/PCM COMPUTER. AFTER ALMOST TWO WEEKS THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON WITH THE SAME CODE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH ON 7 MILES ON IT AND IT'S BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP 3 WITH LESS THAN 2K ON IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,128 miles reported. Look up ODI 11330743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11344307 · 2020-08-10 (August 10, 2020)
LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING, ENGINE RPM STARTED FLUCTUATING AND ALMOST STALLED. VEHICLE HAS 1400 MILES IT, WAS ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP THAT I WILL HAVE TO ADD A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1500 MILES TO THE VEHICLE, AND THAT THEY ARE AWARE THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE SEEN THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING BUT IN FACT THE ENGINE SHOULD HAVE STALLED. THAT THEY HAVE HEARD OTHERS IN A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN THEIR CARS STALLING OUT AS THEY CALLED A SAFETY FEATURE. THAT TO ME SOUNDS UNSAFE
Owner-reported narrative. 1,460 miles reported. Look up ODI 11344307 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11351537 · 2020-08-27 (August 27, 2020)
WHEN TURNING IT MAKES A SOUND. WHEN BRAKING IT MAKES A SOUND. WHILE IDLING FAN GET VERY LOAD. WHEN SPEED INCREASES MAKES A SOUND.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11351537 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V637000 · Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack | Steering:Rack And Pinion:Pinion Shaft
Reported: 2019-08-29 (August 29, 2019)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The steering rack gear may break, possibly causing a loss of steering control.
Consequence: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V99.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V191000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Reported: 2020-09-10 (September 10, 2020)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 8.4" or 12" radio displays. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Consequence: The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W30-W37.
NHTSA campaign record ↗26V290000 · Power Train
Reported: 2026-05-07 (May 7, 2026)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
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 are expected to be 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗