2020 Jeep Cherokee Reliability & Problems

1. 1.Power transfer unit or 4WD failureCriticalNearly half of complaints48,800–82,800 mi~$3,100 repair50%

   Owners most often describe a Service 4WD light or message, a failed PTU, and sometimes jerking or grinding, usually while driving. Reports cluster around 65,000 miles, with the middle half between 48,800 and 82,800 miles. Recall 26V290000 says the PTU may fail, and many owners mention it.

   What owners describe

   • Service 4WD light or message38%
   • PTU failure10%

   Fix

   Most common repair owners describe: ptu replacement (16 reports). Recall 26V290000.

   Repair worked in 56% of complaints that describe one (complaints lean toward repairs that failed)

   Mileage

   65,000 mi

   Middle half 48,800–82,800 mi · 64 reports

   Repair cost

   $3,065

   Middle half $2,878–$4,375 · 18 owner amounts

   How common

   50%

   154 of 309 complaints

   By engine

   • 3.2L V668%
   • 2.4L 4-cyl22%
   • 2.0L 4-cyl10%

   In owners' words

   “This causes an abrupt change in direction requiring immediate correction of steering to avoid hitting vehicles in next lane or driving into a parked car along the road.”

   “The vehicle then began to shift ruff and the only way you could get it to point a to b is if as soon as you started it you put it in sports mode”

   “Driving home I realized that I had no operating lights, turn signals, and all th Jeep electrical components were out.”

2. 2.Drops into neutral or loses driveCriticalAbout 1 in 10 complaints48,800–68,900 mi10%

   Owners describe no response to the accelerator, lost drive power and grinding, often at highway speeds such as 70 mph. Reports typically come around 62,600 miles. Owners mention recalls 26V290000 and 25V011000, and several point to the PTU or transfer case.

   What owners describe

   • Lost drive power26%
   • No response to accelerator13%
   • Grinding sound6%
   • Rolled backwards in park6%

   Fix

   Most common repair owners describe: ptu replacement needed (3 reports).

   Mileage

   62,600 mi

   Middle half 48,800–68,900 mi · 11 reports

   Repair cost

   —

   Fewer than 10 owners report a repair cost

   How common

   10%

   31 of 309 complaints

   By engine

   • 3.2L V692%
   • 2.4L 4-cyl8%

   In owners' words

   “The transmission failed without warning and the RPM became extremely elevated; however, the vehicle failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal”

   “Hard shift 70-80 mph, lost drive power output. No response to gas pedal while engine remained on.”

3. 3.Stalling or shutting off while drivingCriticalAbout 1 in 13 complaints950–53,000 mi8%

   Owners describe a sudden loss of power, stalls in motion and stalls when coming to a stop, often with a check engine light or a throttle or transmission message. Some say it was hard to restart. The reports are spread across driving situations and this model year has no recall for it.

   What owners describe

   • Sudden loss of power25%
   • Check engine light8%
   • Stalls in motion or at idle8%

   Fix

   Most common repair owners describe: shifter assembly replaced (1 report).

   Mileage

   49,000 mi

   Middle half 950–53,000 mi · 9 reports

   Repair cost

   —

   Fewer than 10 owners report a repair cost

   How common

   8%

   24 of 309 complaints

   By engine

   • 2.4L 4-cyl54%
   • 3.2L V629%
   • 2.0L 4-cyl17%

   In owners' words

   “Vehicle stalls while in motion on city streets and needs to be put into park and drive again to move”

   “The vehicle suddenly went from drive mode into losing power and completely stalling out”

   “The brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle shut off and lost electrical power”

4. 4.Parking brake engages on its ownCriticalAbout 1 in 15 complaints20,900–71,000 mi7%

   Owners say the parking brake engaged while driving, at a stop light or on the highway, sometimes with warning lights, lost gauges or a vehicle that would not shift. Recall 26V290000 includes an Electronic Park Brake software update, and one or two owners mention it.

   What owners describe

   • Brake engages while driving48%
   • Will not shift or restart10%

   Fix

   Most common repair owners describe: blind side module fixed (1 report).

   Mileage

   47,600 mi

   Middle half 20,900–71,000 mi · 7 reports

   Repair cost

   —

   Fewer than 10 owners report a repair cost

   How common

   7%

   21 of 309 complaints

   By engine

   • 2.4L 4-cyl50%
   • 3.2L V650%

   In owners' words

   “The electronic emergency brake engaged on its own at a stop light, then later while driving on the highway.”

   “Parking brake will automatically engage randomly while car is stopped at lights, stops signs, ect.”

   “Vehicle slowed while driving at highway speed and started making a rotational grinding noise.”

5. 5.Loss of power steeringCriticalAbout 1 in 19 complaints26,000–106,500 mi5%

   Owners describe a steering warning light, a steering wheel that became firm or locked, and in some cases lost brakes or a stall, at speeds from about 25 mph to 65 mph. Recall 19V637000 says the steering rack gear may break, possibly causing a loss of steering control, and one owner mentions it.

   What owners describe

   • Steering wheel firm or locked25%
   • Steering warning light19%
   • Several warning lights13%
   • Engine stalled suddenly6%

   Fix

   Most common repair owners describe: rack and pinion steering needed replacement (1 report).

   Mileage

   63,500 mi

   Middle half 26,000–106,500 mi · 6 reports

   Repair cost

   —

   Fewer than 10 owners report a repair cost

   How common

   5%

   16 of 309 complaints

   By engine

   • 2.0L 4-cyl40%
   • 2.4L 4-cyl33%
   • 3.2L V627%

   In owners' words

   “Power steering assist can stop working, especially at complete stops, making steering extremely difficult”

   “The steering rack and pinion system failed, which caused a loss of power steering while driving.”

Watch for a Service 4WD light or message, grinding sounds, jerking, or a loss of power while driving. Owners also describe the electronic parking brake applying by itself and the engine stalling at speed. If the vehicle loses drive, stalls, or the steering or brakes feel different, pull over safely and have it checked before driving on. Confirm with a dealer that recall 26V290000 has been completed, and keep every repair record.

75 problems found in all 309 complaints. One complaint can describe more than one problem, so counts add up to more than the total. Not counted as a defect: 5 about recall paperwork or parts delays, 1 describing no vehicle defect. Typical miles, repair cost and fix rate show only when enough owners report them.

• Complaints. NHTSA's owner complaint file, counted as unique complaint numbers for make JEEP, model CHEROKEE, model year 2020. Data through Oct 4, 2026.
• Verdict. Judged from this model year's own complaints, not against other models, using shares rather than counts. Serious known problems: one serious problem (transmission, engine or stalling, steering, brakes, airbags, fire, fuel leaks) is in a quarter or more of complaints; or a smaller but clear cluster comes with an unusual share of crash, fire, injury or loss-of-power reports or early failures; or an urgent recall or NHTSA investigation matches a top complaint. Some known problems: one of those signals on its own. No pattern of serious problems: none of them; this doesn't mean the vehicle is trouble-free. Too few complaints to judge: under 50 complaints. Why this verdict: 54% of complaints (168) describe transmission problems (power transfer unit (PTU) or 4WD failure, loss of drive while moving, harsh, jerky shifting).
• No grade or class ranking. Raw complaint counts favor models that sell fewer cars, so we don't score or rank this vehicle against other models until we can adjust for sales.
• Trouble spots and history. Complaints grouped by the part owners chose when filing. The history grid counts complaints filed in each model year's first 3 years so older and newer years compare fairly; years with fewer than 3 complete years are marked too new.
• Named problems. Every one of the 309 complaints was researched and classified by its problems, severity, symptoms, repairs and any cost the owner mentions; the counts, costs and fix rates on this page are tallies of those classifications. Quotes are verbatim excerpts, checked against the original text. Engines are decoded from partial VINs with NHTSA's vPIC service.
• Repair costs and fix rates. Shown only when at least 10 owners report a repair cost, or at least 10 complaints describe whether a repair worked.
• Not adjusted for sales. Not affiliated with NHTSA. Page updated Nov 5, 2026.