The Lemon IndexAnother computer in the car received data from the transmission computer that did not make sense. Full U0402 page
11 owner complaints · the #3 code Jeep Cherokee owners name · 6% of Jeep Cherokee complaints that name a code (every car: 0.2%)
Middle of 53,000 miles · most between 18,000 and 145,000 (6 owners gave it)
Jeep Cherokee owners named U0402 in 11 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2014, 2015 and 2017 model years, at a middle of 53,000 miles. The part they name most is the transmission computer (TCM) (5 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Jeep Cherokee model years that report U0402
Owner complaints naming U0402, by model year. Raw counts: years that sold more get more complaints, so this is each model year's record, not a failure rate.
Mileage when it happened
53,000 miles is the middle of what 6 owners entered. Half were between 18,000 and 145,000 miles.
The mileage on the complaint form, when the owner gave one.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the transmission computer (TCM), in 5 of the 11 complaints (45%). 4 of those mention it being replaced or repaired. Next: engine computer (ECM / PCM) (3), engine software (a reflash) (3) and valve body or shift solenoid (2).
- Transmission computer (TCM)5 complaints4 mention a repair or replacement · what owners paid
- Engine computer (ECM / PCM)3 complaints3 mention a repair or replacement · what owners paid
- Software update (reflash)3 complaints3 mention a repair or replacement
- Valve body or shift solenoid2 complaints2 mention a repair or replacement · what owners paid
7 complaints mention a recall and 3 mention a warranty.
Counted from the owners' own words: a part counts when a sentence names it with a cause or repair word. What owners wrote, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause before replacing parts.
Symptoms owners describe with U0402
82% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Brakes or ABS act up18%2 of 11 complaints
- Transmission slips or shifts hard18%2 of 11 complaints
Share of the complaints naming U0402 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Recalls on these Jeep Cherokee years
- Transmission & drivetrain · 2017 · issued 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. NHTSA 25V011000 - Electrical · 2014, 2015 · issued 2023
An electrical short in the power liftgate module may lead to a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off. NHTSA 23V338000 - Transmission & drivetrain · 2017 · issued 2023
The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power or loss of park function. NHTSA 23V302000 - Transmission & drivetrain · 2014, 2015, 2017 · issued 2020
Relative movement in the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) between the differential input splines and the transmission output shaft may cause some input spline teeth to wear off, which may eventually cause a loss of engagement b… NHTSA 20V343000 - Transmission & drivetrain · 2014 · issued 2019
In the event that a clutch becomes stuck in the transmission, the transmission software may shift the transmission to neutral. NHTSA 19V447000
9 recalls for the same systems (electrical, engine and powertrain) on the Jeep Cherokee model years above. A recall for the same system isn't proof it's behind U0402. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- U0402: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Jeep Cherokee reliability by year
- 2014 Jeep Cherokee problems and recalls
Other codes Jeep Cherokee owners report
The details
How we count
We read every owner complaint in the NHTSA file whose text names this trouble code, and count the ones filed about this model (matched by the make, model and model year on the complaint). Mileage is what the owner entered on the form.
Parts: a complaint counts for a part when one of the owner's own sentences names that part together with a cause word (failed, bad, diagnosed, caused by, leaking ...) or a repair word (replaced, repaired, new, reprogrammed ...). "Came back" means the same complaint also says the problem returned or the repair didn't fix it. These are counts of what owners wrote, not a diagnosis, and one complaint can name several parts.
Complaints are reports, not proof of a defect, and most owners never file one. Popular models get more complaints, so the counts are not a failure rate. The code meaning is the standard SAE J2012 definition in our own words, or the carmaker's meaning where we verified it for that make.
What U0402 means
Another computer in the car received data from the transmission computer that did not make sense.
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
- A fault inside the transmission computer
- Network wiring problem
- Needs a software update
- Weak battery
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11718604, 11670810, 11667793, 11665800, 11621168, 11120918, 11111856, 10895379, 10849924, 10777758, 10733536.
Quick answers
What does U0402 mean on a Jeep Cherokee?
Invalid Data Received From TCM. Another computer in the car received data from the transmission computer that did not make sense.
Which Jeep Cherokee years have the most U0402 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2014 (6), 2015 (4), 2017 (1) Jeep Cherokee named U0402 most (11 complaints in all, 2014–2017). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes U0402 on a Jeep Cherokee?
Owners most often name the transmission computer (TCM) (5 of 11 complaints), then engine computer (ECM / PCM) and engine software (a reflash). That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
At what mileage does U0402 show up on a Jeep Cherokee?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 53,000 miles; half were between 18,000 and 145,000 (6 owners).
Can I drive my Jeep Cherokee with U0402?
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints that name U0402 on the Jeep Cherokee, counted by The Lemon Index; NHTSA recalls; repair bills owners named. Meanings: SAE J2012 in our own words. Owner reports, not a diagnosis or repair advice for your car.