Jeep Cherokee Transmission Problems by Year

Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.

20141,237605.5 per 100K sold 2015809367.3 per 100K sold 2016403201.8 per 100K sold 2017471277.3 per 100K sold 201818677.7 per 100K sold 2019275143.7 per 100K sold 20205540.5 per 100K sold 20212932.5 per 100K sold 20221024.8 per 100K sold 20230no sales data

What owners describe

Hard or jerky shifting20%

Lost power while driving16%

Delay or hesitation10%

Transmission replaced5%

Slipping5%

Stuck in gear or limp mode5%

Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.

Transmission and power train recalls

2023 2026
The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
2021 2021
The transmission oil cooler hose may have been incorrectly cured, allowing transmission fluid to leak.
2019 2018
A component in the transmission may not have been welded properly, possibly causing the transmission to not transmit engine power to the wheels.
2019 2018
Improper transmission calibration may result in a stall.
2019 2025
The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power and/or loss of park function.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

In owners' words

The vehicle doesn't know what gear it's in, hard and loud jerky shifting, the vehicle occasionally quits when it is idle.
2014 Jeep Cherokee owner · NHTSA complaint

While driving the transmission service light came on as well as the engine light and began to de celerate to come to a stop.
2014 Jeep Cherokee owner · NHTSA complaint

Quick answers

Which Jeep Cherokee years have transmission problems?

By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Jeep Cherokee years are 2014, 2015, 2017.

What are common Jeep Cherokee transmission problems?

Owners most often describe hard or jerky shifting, lost power while driving, delay or hesitation.

Which Jeep Cherokee years have the fewest transmission complaints?

Since 2010, the Jeep Cherokee years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2022, 2021, 2020.

See every problem, not just the transmission: Jeep Cherokee reliability by year. How we count

Jeep Cherokee transmission problems by year.