2021 Jeep CHEROKEE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
156 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
47,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 84 of 156 complaints (53.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 28 | 17.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 23 | 14.7% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 10.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 9.6% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 7.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.3% |
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 | 84 |
| Engine | 25 |
| Unknown Or Other | 23 |
| Electrical System | 21 |
| Service Brakes | 13 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
Power Train: 84; Engine: 25; Unknown Or Other: 23; Electrical System: 21; Service Brakes: 13; Air Bags: 8; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 126 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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 45 |
| 2026 | 46 |
2021: 13; 2022: 16; 2023: 21; 2024: 15; 2025: 45; 2026: 46
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 23 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 16 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 11396202 · 2021-02-14 (February 14, 2021)
I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA (40 MPH) WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY JOLTED AS IF I HAD SUDDENLY STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THEN THE GAS PEDAL. I STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED. THE ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHT WERE ON, THE SEAT/STEERING WHEEL WARMER, AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE MONITOR KEPT SAYING TO STEP ON THE BRAKE/START THE CAR, I ATTEMPTED TO DO THIS AND NOTHING. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN TRIED TO TURN IT ON AGAIN MULTIPLE TIMES AND NOTHING. THANKFULLY, MULTIPLE PEOPLE STOPPED TO PUSH ME OFF …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11396202 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11399011 · 2021-03-03 (March 3, 2021)
DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, CAR KEPT SPUTTERING. RPM GAUGE KEPT GOING UP AND DOWN WHILE PRESSING IN THE GAS MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY SHUT DOWN AGAIN. ENGINE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. THIS HAS OCCURRED FOR THE SECOND TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,055 miles reported. Look up ODI 11399011 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11402644 · 2021-03-12 (March 12, 2021)
WE WERE IN A FRONT IMPACT VEHICLE ACCIDENT. AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, BRAKES FAILED AFTER IMPACT AND THE ENGINE DIDN'T SHUT DOWN. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE ECU POWER RELAY FOR THE ENGINE TO STOP.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11402644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11406339 · 2021-04-04 (April 4, 2021)
MY 2021 JEEP'S POWER TRAIN UNIT BROKE AND DAMAGED OTHER CONNECTING PARTS WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY USING CRUISE CONTROL CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THIS OCCURRED WITH ONLY 5696 MILES DRIVEN ON THE VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,696 miles reported. Look up ODI 11406339 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11417579 · 2021-05-18 (May 18, 2021)
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 JEEP CHEROKEE LATITUDE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE REAR, THE ADVANCE BRAKE ASSIST FAILED TO PERFORM AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,912.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,912 miles reported. Look up ODI 11417579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11419036 · 2021-05-30 (May 30, 2021)
I was involved in an accident on May 27, 2021 with my brand new Jeep Cherokee Latitude 2021, less than 3 k miles. Another driver ran a red light and I t-boned him, all of his air bags went off, but none of my air bags deployed. Hit the steering wheel with my chest, arms, hit the under dash area with knees and ankles as a result and am pretty bruised up.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11419036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11419038 · 2021-05-30 (May 30, 2021)
Another driver ran a red light and I t-boned him. All of his air bags went off, none of mine deployed. Hit the steering wheel hard with chest and arms, hit lower dash hard with knees and feet. Resulted in concussion and a bunch of bruising and strains.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11419038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11420024 · 2021-06-07 (June 7, 2021)
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving approximately 55-60 mph, the vehicle lost motive power without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was plastic left from the manufacturing process inside the engine. The mechanic flushed the engine however, the failure recurred with the check engine and battery warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to another dealer, Stevens Point Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (5441 US-10, Stevens Point, WI 54482) how…
Owner-reported narrative. 836 miles reported. Look up ODI 11420024 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
20V657000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm
Reported: 2020-10-27 (October 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V310000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooler/Radiator:Hoses And Fittings
Reported: 2021-05-04 (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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V516000 · Air Bags:Side/Window:Curtain
Reported: 2024-07-08 (July 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: 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.
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 ↗