2022 Jeep Cherokee Reliability & Problems

1. 1.Power transfer unit or 4WD failureCriticalAbout 1 in 3 complaints38,600–67,500 mi39%

   Owners describe a Service 4WD light, scary noises, fluid leaks, metal shavings, lost power and, in some cases, a vehicle that rolled backwards or would not move into drive. It has happened on the freeway, on a parkway, with cruise control on and when pulling away at a stop light. Recall 26V290000 addresses a power transfer unit that may fail.

   What owners describe

   • Service 4WD light25%
   • Sudden loss of power20%
   • Noise from the drivetrain15%
   • Rolling back or not moving15%

   Fix

   Most common repair owners describe: ptu replacement (8 reports). Recall 26V290000.

   Mileage

   63,000 mi

   Middle half 38,600–67,500 mi · 6 reports

   Repair cost

   —

   Fewer than 10 owners report a repair cost

   How common

   39%

   20 of 51 complaints

   Crash, fire or injury

   0%

   of these complaints

   In owners' words

   “Was told the PTU power transfer unit has gone out and needs to be replaced and cannot use four wheel drive until replaced”

   “Suddenly the emergency collision braking system applied and all of the lights on my vehicle lit up.”

Watch for a Service 4WD light, unusual noise, a fluid leak, lost power, or the vehicle rolling backwards or refusing to go into drive. If power drops or the vehicle will not move properly, especially in traffic or on a highway, stop driving and get it checked. Confirm with a dealer that recall 26V290000 for the power transfer unit has been completed, and also check the other two recalls on this model year.

29 problems found in all 51 complaints. One complaint can describe more than one problem, so counts add up to more than the total. Not counted as a defect: 2 about recall paperwork or parts delays. 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 2022. 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: 45% of complaints (23) describe transmission problems (power transfer unit failure, the transmission dropping into neutral, 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 51 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.