2020 Jeep Cherokee: Recalls, Complaints & California Lemon Law

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 75 MPH, the vehicle began to lose propulsion upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The contact also stated that an abnormal, clunking sound began to emti from the without warning. The contact pulled the vehicle over and attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle lost all forward propulsion. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer where they also experienced the same failure. The dealer managed to get the vehicle to move while in reverse(R); however, the vehicle failed to accelerate forward. The dealer had diagnosed the vehicle with a defective PTU(Power Transfer Unit) and it was later discovered that a recall had been placed on the vehicle for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V290000(Power Train). Although a recall was placed on the vehicle; the part for the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and the contact was informed that the repair would not be covered under warranty. The contact was given an estimate to have a new PTU placed inside the vehicle; however, that would only be a temporary fix. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

NHTSA #11740333

Service 4WD Indicator

NHTSA #11734410

I was driving and my power steering suddenly went out by its self. It was a very dangerous and traumatic experience. I had to get a good grip on the steering wheel to keep from hitting a Parked Car or something! I read that it was once a recall for this part but when I took it to the dealer they said it wasn’t. I need some type of help. My car isn’t safe for me or my son

NHTSA #11742589

I’ve got the dreaded service 4wd light coming on which means my 4wd system is not working. It’s also known as the C14A7-97 DTC. I bought a 4wd vehicle to have 4wd not front wheel drive. I drive approx 130 miles a day in rain, snow, ice, mud, etc so I need a vehicle that I know will get me to my destinations. I ask dealers about my problem and they are like oh another ptu issue. There’s many jeeps with the same problem. That makes a person feel better. Parts are back ordered but also my 2020 doesn’t fall into recall even though it’s the same issue as the prior jeep Cherokee years. Apparently this is a very well common problem but they refuse to fix them. Shouldn’t have to be worrying about these kinds of problems when the vehicle don’t even have 50k mileage yet. I’ve read on many different forums to report about this issue to you. Thanks

NHTSA #11729818

I received a warning light svc and, had the car looked at a Jeep dealership in late Feb early March, the PTU case needs to be replaced. There seems to be a recall for this on jeep cherokees but my car isn't listed and my car has had a failure.

NHTSA #11742572

The power transfer unit stopped working and we got a message on the dashboard about the four-wheel-drive not working. We had to replace the PTU

NHTSA #11727332

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while changing lines and attempting to depress the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond with a grinding sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact pulled over into a parking lot and attempted to shift to park, and the vehicle started to reverse unintendedly. The contact stated that after returning to the residence, the vehicle was parked and the parking brake was activated to keep the vehicle from moving unintendedly. The “Service 4WD” warning light was illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the PTU needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure had occurred twice. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number:25V011000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to another dealer to seek assistance with repairing the vehicle. The failure mileage was 68,000.

NHTSA #11720000

No accident or incident cause issues with the power train. Seems like a recurring problem that this specific model of Jeep has been facing.

NHTSA #11720361

Warning light came on that said "Service 4WD System" at approximately 86,969 miles on a 2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. Took to dealer and was advised that PTU (power transfer unit) must be replaced at a cost of $3,945.19. Was also advised that DTCM "transfer case control module must be replaced at a cost of $776.95. Total cost to resolve "Service 4WD System" problem as quoted is $4,722.14. It has been noted that older versions of this same vehicle model have been recalled by the manufacturer for this same problem. I would like to know why this particular model year has not been included that recall as it appears that the earlier noted manufacturing defect was not corrected for the 2020 model year.

NHTSA #11712296

Failed Power Train Unit, and this is available for inspection. I was driving on the highway with my grandson and husband going 70 mph when the unit failed it basically felt like the car was thrown into neutral. Thankfully no one was hurt. Dealership has confirmed the issue. No issues driving the vehicle before the issue after the issue the light did come on and the vehicle is undriveable.

NHTSA #11709907

My PTU failed while driving 70mph on a 4 lane interstate during a heavy rush hour, I'm 7 months pregnant and this was mortifying for me. I lost all power moving forward and could not accelerate. My RPMS would near red-line. When I pulled on to the shoulder, while trying to not get hit or cause an accident from 3 lanes over, I put my car in park and shut it off, it sounded like a dying weedwhacker. It started rolling backwards without me noticing and I almost rolled back into the outside lane. I put on the e-brake, had it towed to Firestone where they said it was likely the PTU that failed as I have every gear, except moving forward. When they had my vehicle on the lift they moved the tires in reverse motion and there was no noise, when they moved the tires in forward motion there was a loud knocking coming out of the PTU and the tires wouldn't budge. If in park on a decline, park works. If in park on an incline or flat, it rolls backwards. It can drive in reverse, but no forward movement at all. I got it towed to another shop where they took out&opened the PTU and checked the gears on the shaft inside, one of the gears was COMPLETELY MISSING. Just completely disintegrated. There was NO warning that anything was failing on my car. No check engine lights, no noises. Just loss of acceleration. PTUs are on back order 3-5 months right now because they're a known issue on the 2017-2019 models of Jeeps. My Jeep is a 2020 Trailhawk with the v6 3.2l.

NHTSA #11707117

4wd service light came on. The code was c14a7-97. A well known PTU problem. There was a previous recall for the same problem. It can be a dangerous situation if it completely fails while driving. Also a very expensive repair bill. My 2020 Jeep Cherokee only has 72k miles and a has a major known failure already.

NHTSA #11706139

Transfer case failure, I had started to notice as if the transmission were shifted to neutral, high engine rpm and no output to the wheels. This happened a few times but not consistently. After the 3rd time this occurred, I decided to bring the vehicle in to a well-known local shop transmission shop. It was diagnosed as the transfer case a known issue with previous years. Still such a popular failure that local dealerships were told by Mopar they could only order one replacement per month. I was without my vehicle for nearly 3 months while it was inoperable. The vehicle is now repaired with a Mopar remanufactured transfer case. $3000 and 10 weeks later.

NHTSA #11720324

While driving in northwestern Pennsylvania during a snowstorm, the driver engaged the vehicle’s factory “Snow Mode.” Immediately thereafter, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power and loss of steering control. The driver was forced to pull off the I79 interstate in severe winter conditions and exit the vehicle to avoid being struck by a snowplow. This created a dangerous roadside exposure and a significant risk of collision or injury. The vehicle was towed to a Jeep dealership and diagnosed with a failed rear differential requiring replacement. The dealership stated the part has been on national backorder since 2024, with no estimated availability. The failure occurred without warning and rendered the vehicle completely inoperable. The dealership further advised that this rear differential failure is a known issue, and recommended against installing a used replacement due to reliability and safety concerns. Safety Concern: This failure resulted in: •Sudden loss of vehicle control in hazardous weather •Loss of motive power •Forced roadside exposure in active traffic conditions The inability to obtain replacement parts compounds the safety risk by leaving the vehicle unusable and preventing timely repair. Request: I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA can evaluate whether this represents a systemic safety defect related to the rear differential in this vehicle platform, including failure mode, warning adequacy, and parts availability affecting safe remediation.

NHTSA #11707545

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The message "Service 4WD System" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with PTU failure. The vehicle was not repaired, and the failure persisted. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V343000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA #11714446

2020 Jeep Cherokee Power Transfer Unit (PTU) Per a discussion the dealer service manager, I realized the vehicle is undrivable because the PTU could fail at anytime. The danger is losing propulsion to the wheels on an interstate or other high speed or high capacity road. The problem was discovered by the dealer when I took my Cherokee in on 11/24/25 to have them fix the "SVC 4WD" warning light. Once they explained the issue I decided to leave the vehicle at the dealer to replace the PTU. There is no timeframe for them to receive a new PTU. Jeep had recalled 2017-2019 Cherokees due to issues with the PTU. The 2020 Cherokees should also be recalled so owners don't have to pay for an issue Jeep is aware of with the power train.

NHTSA #11701877

The 4WD service light indicated an issue. After a week of the light staying on, the vehicle was brought to a local dealer for diagnosis. After diagnosis from a dealer, the PTU failed which can result in complete propulsion of vehicle.

NHTSA #11701397

Vehicle has been having a grinding noice since I bought it, had it checked and nothing came up. Now service 4x4 light comes on intermittently. Took back to the dealer and diagnostic says that the ptu has low voltage. Needs to be replaced. I have to pay for the part first ($2000), but it's been on back order for over 6 months.

NHTSA #11700040

The "4WD Needs Service" light appeared on the dashboard of our 2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. We took vehicle to the Enumclaw Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram dealer located in Enumclaw, WA. Their service technician determined that the PTU (Power Transfer Unit) was failing and found active code c14a7-97 "ptu motor-component or system operation obstructed or blocked". Had the PTU completely failed we could have been left without any power to the drive wheels. This would have been very dangerous if the vehicle had lost power while driving on a freeway or major highway and the vehicle could not have been driven to a safe location. The dealer replaced the PTU and confirmed that the problem had been repaired. We don't know if the defective part is still available for inspection.

NHTSA #11710004

PTU unit on my Jeep Cherokee failed at 70 miles per hour on the highway. The car is located on a Jeep dealer lot and is available for inspection. Traveling at high speeds I suddenly lost and transfer of power from the motor to the wheels and was unable to keep speed in traffic. The problem has been noted on Jeep models of prior production with this exact problem per consumer reports. The car went through a full Jeep inspections and found that the PTU was the culprit of the issue. When the PTU failed it displayed a message stating “Service 4WD”. This did not occur until after the incident occurred. Additionally when the issue occurred the car turned itself into snow/ice mode. I was driving in the standard drive mode as there was no snow or ice. I had driven for over an hour prior to this failure in the car. It was mid morning when the failure happened.

NHTSA #11698850

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly jerked, and the message “4X4 System Service Required” was displayed. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle unexpectedly lunged forward. The contact engaged the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the power transfer unit (PTU) had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired, and the contact was referred to the dealer for further assistance. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,301.

NHTSA #11697714

I dropped my car for a service appointment on October 25, 2025 because the car was running loud at highway speeds and felt as though something was grinding. I was told that the recommendation is to replace the PTU. I was unfamiliar with the term and guessed, "Power Takeoff Unit" and the service technician agreed with me. He then informed me that there was an issue with the part and it would be 45-days before the part would be available. He told me that other shops were contacted and there was no shop in the area that was willing to part with the PTU, and I would need to wait 45-days for the repair. I asked if it was safe to drive the vehicle until the repair and he informed me it was. He appeared to be a new team member, so I clarified again, "I just want to be clear it is safe to drive the car". He responded it was, and then said he would check with his manager. After checking with the manager, he came back and said it was okay to drive the car but it may lead to further damage. Following the call I Googled PTU and learned that there was a recall on Jeep Cherokee's, due to defective PTUs which could cause a loss of power when the vehicle is in motion - leading to a crash, prevent the driver from putting the vehicle in park, or causing the vehicle to come out of park. Given the large number of vehicles involved in the recall, 660K + it is not surprising that the part is on back-order. It is frustrating that this is a voluntary recall, and that the scope of the recall has grown from 2016/2017 to now include 2017/2019 but not yet 2020. Please consider including the cars manufactured in 2020, and changing this from a voluntary recall.

NHTSA #11695556

While driving, the car began making a rattling noise and felt unstable. Shortly after, the “Service 4WD” warning light came on. I took the vehicle to the dealership, and they diagnosed a Power Transfer Unit (PTU) failure that requires replacement. This is a serious safety concern, as the vehicle could lose the ability to drive, especially in certain road or weather conditions. After researching the issue, I discovered that PTU failures appear to be a widespread problem in Jeep Cherokees, yet there has been no effective recall or permanent fix. Owners are being put at risk due to potential loss of power while driving.

NHTSA #11698612

My service FWD light came on so I took it to the shop to get it looked at. Upon diagnosing this issue, I was informed it is a faulty power transfer unit and was informed of the dangers of driving with this issue. I have a newborn son so I immediately stopped driving my car and left it at the shop to be fixed. It has been there since October 6th.. It is now December 1st and the part is still not in stock to fix. This same part is recalled for the same reason in Jeep models 2017-2019. However mine is 2020, no recall yet, but is having the same issue and is now on backorder. I have been paying for insurance, etc.. on my car to just be sitting there rusting away and Jeep cannot give a timeframe on when the part will be in. I am out on a car and struggling to find transportation to and from work and a safe way to transport my newborn child.

NHTSA #11702173

Hello, The widespread issue of defective the PTU (power transfer unit) is far beyond the recall 25V011. We have 2 Jeep cherokees in my family and both have a bad PTU and they both aren’t under the recall. Thank you

NHTSA #11698083

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was an abnormal popping sound coming from under the floorboards. The contact stated that the "Service 4-WD" warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle started losing motive power and the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The contact was able to continue driving to the destination. The failure was intermittent but was a recurring failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with PTU failure. The contact was informed that the PTU needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed by the mechanic that the failure was possibly related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA #11691555

The PTU AND PTU Actuator have failed. The repair is estimated to be App $3000 at a local independent repair shop. The parts are unavailable to do a timely repair. We still have to drive it because it cannot be repaired until parts are available, we were told it could be months because there are so many jeeps failing from the same thing. ( "a similar repair was done today after waiting for 3 months for parts"- Bob from Donelinger in Cohasset, Mn) We may be in danger every time we use the jeep but have no choice with it being needed for our transportation. The 4WD service lights are on or blink all the time. We only have 85,000 miles on this jeep we have had since we purchased it new. Please help speed up parts availability and a recall on these Jeeps.

NHTSA #11688212

The Power Transfer Unit on my 2020 vehicle is not working. I bought this car specifically to have four wheel drive. In the Buffalo NY brutal winter I count on 4 wheel drive to get me through the snow. Now, I have a serious safety issue. I wanted to fix the car but not only is it expensive, but the parts are on back order with 2700 in the backlog waiting for parts. This is a known issue and there was a recall for a number of years including 2018 and 2019. They haven't issued it for 2020. I am being forced to sell the car at a loss! I can't drive something that is unsafe. Jeep should make us whole! I shouldn't lose money because of known safety fault. Plus, I can't keep it because i do a lot of driving and can't risk my life with no 4 wheel drive.

NHTSA #11706305

Service 4WD warning appeared 9/2025 on my 2020 Jeep Cherokee Limited with 37500 miles. Took it to my local mechanic. They suspected the PTU was the problem and advised to take it Jeep dealer as it should be covered under warrantee. However The car was put into service in 2019 so warrantee has expired. Dealer advised PTU repair ~$3000 but part is back ordered. I see a lot of complaints on this site for this same issue. This was a recall up to year 2019 Jeeps.

NHTSA #11690878

The check 4 wheel drive light lit up on my dash. Shortly after, there was aloud noise coming from the front passenger side tire area. I replaced the front hub assembly as was the code it was throwing. 1 week ater, noise returned and I took it into Elkhorn Automotive in Waterloo, NE. They said it was throwing a code of C14A7-97...power transfer unit. Dealership said there are no active recalls for my 2020 jeep. Looks like Jeep has had issues with this PTU. What can I do to get my vehicle fixed.

NHTSA #11692143

Received "SVC FWD" light on the dash. Four wheel drive stopped working. I was able to continue driving with front wheel drive only. Jeep had 13,000 when it happened. Took it to the dealership for inspection in September 2025. They diagnosed it as a bad PTU and needed replaced. They were going to call me when the new part came in. It's been over 5 months and I never heard from them.

NHTSA #11712758

“Service 4WD” warning light came on. Took vehicle to mechanic who said error code indicates power transfer unit failure. Car is clearly unsafe to drive.

NHTSA #11683465

While driving my 2020 Jeep Cherokee, my four-wheel-drive light came on and the car felt like somebody had rear-ended me after checking the code that came on. It says it was a PTU failure. It is a known issue with Jeep, but no resolution has been made the same issue has been recalled for other VIN numbers, but not mine. This is a safety issue because when the car did this, if someone was behind me, they would’ve actually hit me in the rear end because the car like actually stops.

NHTSA #11685446

The transfer case failed at 30,000 miles. There is a 3 month backlog on the part, so the vehicle is off the road until at least December 10. This part was recalled on the 2017-2019 models.

NHTSA #11684661

The Power Transfer Unit failed, needing repair. It is available for inspection upon request. My safety, and other's safety on the road, was put at risk because now the power can shut off while driving. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer, as we took it in when a warning light appeared. They confirmed it was a power transfer unit failure. They first appeared about a month ago, and today's date is 9/19/25.

NHTSA #11688365

A light appeared on the dash that said AWD Failure. After 2 weeks of being at the dealership, I was told it was a complete PTU failure. Other VINs have been recalled but not mine. This was after I had already taken the car because it just stopped while driving and wouldn’t start. I was told then it was the starter needed to be replaced. I am just happy it wasn’t my [XXX] that was driving. I believe it was the PTU the whole time. The car also will not start after stopping at a stop light unless I turn the Automatic setting off. Dealership says PTU is on back order with ETA of 45-60 days. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11687103

PTU failure at 65,000 miles. Unknown timeline for the replacement part

NHTSA #11687442

PTU unit has went out. 4wd light on shows needs service. Currently with dealership and told ptu needs replaced, but told there's only 112 available in the nation with over 1200 orders for one Currently. It looks that this has been an ongoing problem with Jeep Cherokees with under 100,000 miles. Mine only has 88.000. Other year models have been recalled in fact up to Feb. 2019 for manufactured cherokees. I missed it by a year. With this Increasing problem, it sure looks as though they should recall since the odds are becoming greater for failure and people are out thousands of dollars and still making payments on it in this economy for not being able to have confidence in a vehicle and company. Thank you for your attention and action!

NHTSA #11687708

PTU failure. Car was manufactured in 08/2019, Mopar recalled Jeep’s manufactured until 02/2019. Please extend recall.

NHTSA #11678109

Bad PTU on 2020 Jeep Cherokee. It is out of any warranties and a know issue among this vehicle line. Current recall is for vehicles through Feb 2019, and this would be right outside that window (my specific VIN is outside of the recall).

NHTSA #11714417

Component: Power Transfer Unit (PTU) The power transfer unit has failed. This appears to be a manufacturing defect identical to those listed under the recall. Left me stranded in traffic.

NHTSA #11677179

"Service 4WD" warning light appeared unexpectedly. Code scan revealed that the PTU unit had failed, leading to a loss of 4WD capabilities. Jeep is much less safe to drive in winter here in Minnesota. Took to a dealer, where it was replaced. Through research, I have come to find that this is an all-too-common failure in Jeep Cherokees and had been recalled in previous years' models.

NHTSA #11701061

Ptu failure at 75,325 miles as well as active grill shutter at same time. Was told the ptu is on back order and last person it took 6 months to get it. We have had vehicle since new and always dealer serviced. Super disappointed on time to fix it, meaning there is obviously a problem.

NHTSA #11675169

Every time I drive 20-30 my service 4wd light comes on. I got it scanned when the light was not on but it was showing no code

NHTSA #11682141

Service 4wd light is on, diagnostic is reading code for transfer case

NHTSA #11674759

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "4WD Unavailable" remained displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that that the transfer case unit was faulty and needed to be replaced; however, parts were unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

NHTSA #11673360

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "4WD Unavailable" remained displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transfer case unit was faulty and needed to be replaced; however, there were no parts available for the repair. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

NHTSA #11673362

No injury or incident yet. The PTU was diagnosed as failing at 46,500 miles on June 30, 2025. The vehicle is still being driven because the driver has no alternative, but no dealership has been able to confirm whether it is safe to operate in this condition. A failing PTU can result in sudden power loss, drivetrain lockup, or loss of park function—especially in AWD vehicles. These symptoms match those described in NHTSA Recall 25V011000 affecting Jeep Cherokees. The lack of clear safety guidance and the delay in repair have created a potentially hazardous situation. This should be investigated as part of the broader PTU defect pattern.

NHTSA #11671750

Replaced transmission at 20,000 miles. Now at 55,000 miles it is going again. Powertrain warranty expired by 6 months.

NHTSA #11664494

I bought my vehicle in summer of 2020 brand new. It currently has 66k miles on it. A week ago the 4 WD service light came on. I took it in for diagnostic and it came back with code C14A7-97 PTO motor operation. The motor is functioning obviously, but the trasfer case is not engaging. There is currently a recall on vehicles similar to 2020, on the same issue but none have been issued on mine yet. The PTU should be good for 100k miles but not even close to that & it’s a super pricey fix on a vehicle I still pay on monthly. PTU input spline is the power transfer unit, so basically my 4 wheeled drive vehicle is not gonna function in 4 wheeled drive. I am hopeful as I saw similar complaints to mine here, that this is the next batch of recalls for Jeep, as I doubt I am alone.

NHTSA #11662917

Vehicle jerked and lost power to the gas pedal while accelerating. After about 20 seconds the gas pedal reingaged again. The vehicle coasted until that point. The service department of the dealership stated that they will not be able to diagnose the problem unless a code shows up that they can read, which none did. It appears that the issue is similar to the PTU issue of the 2017-2019 Jeep Cherokee. The vehicle was purchased in 2019 even though the model is 2020.

NHTSA #11659137

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly lost motive power before slamming into two-wheel drive (2WD). The contact turned off the vehicle and, after restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The "Service All-Wheel Drive" warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the power transfer unit (PTU) was damaged and disengaged the transmission and differential. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact related the failure to Jeep Recall: 01C. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA #11656268

I was traveling down Elm Street and had just gone through the railroad under-pass when I pushed on the accelerator and heard something like the grinding, spinning, sound under the front passenger side of the vehicle. Additionally I noticed that I had lost all propulsion. I moved out of traffic and glided to a stop on a slight hill. This is when I found out that some how the whole drive train was disconnected, because I placed the gear selector into Park and let my foot off the brake and began to roll backwards down the hill. I quickly reapplied the emergency brake, and turned on my hazards.i turned the Jeep off hoping that it would re-set, and the transmission would re-engage. After waving a few cars passed, I restarted the vehicle, and the power train did re-engaged and I was able to disengage the emergency brake and remove my foot from the brake pedal. The vehicle was flat bed towed to a mechanic. He informed me of that this year and make of Jeep had a transmission recall but the VIN on my vehicle but was not included on that recall. He verbalized I needed to report this because my Jeep is doing the exact same thing as those involved in the recall. He verbalized that a clip was not postioned correctly and that is causing the transmission to completely disengage internally. He suggested I report this as Jeep may have overlooked the Trailhawk models in that recall.

NHTSA #11658245

Was driving vehicle, started making grinding noise and would not move. After a couple restarts it moved, but was locked in 4x4 snow mode and would not change. Limped pinhole and had tow truck take to dealership. Diagnosis PTU is bad and needs to be replaced. Estimated cost is about $4000. Replacement PTU is on back order for at least 30 days.

NHTSA #11656432

The PTU for 4wd going bad before 60k miles

NHTSA #11658810

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the message "4-Wheel Drive Unavailable" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the PTU had failed and needed to be replaced. The PTU was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 21,794.

NHTSA #11662635

The Jeep was making noises and jerking some. Took it to the dealership and the Power Transfer Unit needs replaced and the cost would be 5800.00. The dealership said the vehicle could just stop at any time jeopardizing our safety. NO warning lamps came on. Apparently this has been an issue on models 2017-2019 and recalls were issued. Apparently the 2020 needs to be recalled as well before someone gets hurt.

NHTSA #11649527

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the transmission was failing and was slipping between 3rd and 4th gear. Additionally, the contact stated that the torque converter was also failing. There were no warning lights illuminated. There was an abnormally sharp chirping metal-on-metal and a rumbling sound coming from the vehicle while accelerating. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact speculated that the manufacturer was attempting to allow the warranty to expire. The contact was concerned that the warning lights were not activating as expected during the failure. The local dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was diagnosed, and determined that the transmission and the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called another local dealer, Premier Cape Cod Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, A Premier Company at (556 Yarmouth Rd, Hyannis, MA 02601), but no additional assistance was provided. The manufacturer was contacted and declined the repairs and referred the contact to another dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA #11704153

Our 2020 Jeep has the same failing power transfer unit problems of previous Jeep Trailhawk recalls that had been issued for 2014-2017. Chrysler has had this vehicle in the shop now for over 60 days with no idea when they can even get parts because we are told there are several hundred of their vehicles with the same issue. They obviously have done nothing to address the failures of their power transfer units from the previous recalls and continuing to stick owners with that problem. They should also be responsible for providing a vehicle when they can't even provide parts for repair.

NHTSA #11658640

PTU/Transmission failure. Vehicle is available for inspection. Traveling 70mph on a local highway when the vehicle gave two large jolts/shutters and loud bangs. Lost all power to the vehicle while on the highway and had trouble safely exiting the highway with other vehicles passing by and having no power to the vehicle. Transmission/gear fluid from the ptu/Transmission completely emptied itself onto the road after the failure. The Jeep brand is well aware of these issues plaguing the 2015- present Jeep cherokee 4x4 models. However, only the 2015-2019 are currently recalled. Vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, or service center but is able to be.

NHTSA #11676372

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a grinding sound coming from the vehicle and the service 4-WD warning light was illuminated. The contact parked the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was undrivable. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with PTU failure. The contact was informed that the PTU needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact referenced an unknown recall repair; however, the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

NHTSA #11640667

Ptu unit not working. I brought to dealership, and he confirmed issue. However, there is a recall for 2017-2019 jeep Cherokees. My jeep was manufactured 8/2019 even though I purchased it in January 2020. How do I know they checked my Jeeps vin number with the 2019 models? I understand it's a 2020 but it was made with the 2019 models.

NHTSA #11648124

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle started to jerk, lost automotive power, and stalled. The contact later discovered that the vehicle would reverse. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed and determined that the transfer case had experienced an internal failure and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 50,000.

NHTSA #11648065

srvc4WD. This IS a reoccurring issue. Not only for the 2020 jeep TH but for other years as well. I follow many forms on Jeep Cherokee, everyone states this to be an issue. This issue can cause the vehicle to shutdown or malfunction causing a horrible accident. Jeep needs to get this situated as this is a life risk.

NHTSA #11642027

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the 4WD warning light was flashing on the instrument panel, and the vehicle lost 4WD functionality. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the 4WD was inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,500.

NHTSA #11716796

The power Train Unit failed. My wife is a nurse that drives from PA to MD on the back roads everyday, The part will not be avaliable until 5-22-25 if I order it today. Are people expected to rent a car for 3 months while the part might come in? We are very frustrated. Thank you , [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11635260

PTU Failed. 4x4 service light came on weeks after warranty ended. I called jeep and was told if it is not driving bad I can take my time in repair. My car ended up not working on Jericho Tpke., Commack a few days before Christmas. I was not provided a loaner due to the holiday week.

NHTSA #11672008

4WD Warning light illuminated during normal driving. 4WD system inactive creating unsafe driving condition in Michigan winter weather. Vehicle taken to Jeep Service center and found C1494-92 active fault code. Performed PTU fork recalibration and fault went away, vehicle returned to owner. Within 2 days, 4WD Warning light illuminated again. 4WD system inactive again creating unsafe driving condition in Michigan winter weather. Vehicle returned to same Jeep Service center and same C1494-92 active fault code found. Now fix changed to PTU replacement, very expensive and time consuming service. From first visit to second visit, warranty expired so customer was responsible for PTU replacement cost.

NHTSA #11649483

Power train problems at 17,000 miles, 5 years 3 weeks from purchase, with a 5-year / 60,0000 mile warranty. First diagnosis required replacement of the transmission valve body. This did not work. The second repair required replacement of the transmission. This failed after a 3 mile drive. The third repair was the power transfer unit. I have only driven about 5 miles since then and am hesitant to drive more. The repairs above took 102 days to complete and cost $4907. Other than the transmission failure and need to pull off the road and await a tow, there was no safety risk apparent. The vehicle was serviced by a dealer. The manufacturer is aware of the problem(s). No warning lamps or messages were noted.

NHTSA #11647963

the vehicle lost drive and would not move. lost power and then would not shift

NHTSA #11639889

I was going 35 miles per hour the car as i was driving started acting abnormally driving in a lagging jerky way and then states 4wd unavailable service soon. I looked up the issue which seems like a ptu defective part and it seems to be a pretty common issue that jeep cars are experiencing and having difficulty with while driving.

NHTSA #11622162

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, and while driving at various speeds, a warning chime sounded, and the message "Service Four-Wheel Drive" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure was initially occurring intermittently but had become consistent. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle would jerk upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) was defective and needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to a recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

NHTSA #11652720

ptu premature failure

NHTSA #11609614

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the transmission failed without warning and the RPM became extremely elevated; however, the vehicle failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. Despite the failure, the contact was able to coast the vehicle off to the shoulder of the highway. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the residence where it remained. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle needed to be towed to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

NHTSA #11597873

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Plus has a defect in the PTU in which the 4WD system doesn't work. On the dashboard, a SVC 4WD light is always on which makes the car only driveable in 2WD. The Liberty Auto City Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram service center associate told me that the PTU is bad in my car, also that there are also a lot of other Jeep Cherokee's that have defective PTU's all over the country as well. It's been discussed in the Jeep Community throughout the years.

NHTSA #11616448

Power transfer unit broken. Not a recall but reported on many jeeps.

NHTSA #11695642

Brought to dealer to evaluate for loud popping in/out of park, clunking and grinding noises on accelaration and stops. Dealer determined it was the PTU. Was told it is covered under warranty, but the part is on backorder for 3 months, so I'm still waiting. I'm unsure if safe to drive. Seems like a known issue with ealier models of Jeep Cherokee, likely issue with 2020s as well.

NHTSA #11699238

I was at a stop light, light turned green and as I started to accelerate there was a loud banging noise and it felt like I had been hit from behind. I pulled over to check out my car but nothing seemed wrong. The exact same thing happened about 2 1/2 months prior to this incident The jolt was so much so that my head hit the headrest hard enough to cause a headache for several hours

NHTSA #11684031

2020 vehicle is having PTU issues but not on recall. 2017-2019 models had a recall for same issue

NHTSA #11682411

SVC 4WD light turned on. Dealership said it may be ptu issue and would cost $1400 just to diagnose, not fix. This is a known issue for Jeep Cherokee 2017-2019. Mine is 2020 with less than 50k miles on it.

NHTSA #11670631

SVC 4WD light came on. Took it to Jeep dealership to have them look at it. PTU "power transfer unit" is bad. Got a second opinion at an automotive repair shop, they too diagnosed PTU is bad. Repair shop printed a Safety Recall with our vehicles VIN number. Went back to Jeep with the Safety Recall paperwork and Jeep won't honor the safety recall.

NHTSA #11669002

The past two days the car has been running a little rough. This morning the car didn't start and service shifter message came on along with battery and engine lights.

NHTSA #11605313

While driving the Jeep at any speeds, or while parked and not running, the steering has a sticking or notchy feel when the steering wheel is turned. While driving staraight, any adjustment to the steering wheel cause the vehicle to jerk/pull to one side or another. Had vehicle evaluated at repair shop where the complaint was dulicated. All electrical functions passed inspection. The shop concluded that the malfunction would be a mechanical failure in the steering gears.

NHTSA #11651004

Steering feels shaky or loose in the rack and pinion and I saw this was a problem with this vehicle year

NHTSA #11643459

The contact's mother owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while his mother was driving at unknown speeds, the steering wheel stiffened and was difficult to maneuver. The failure would occur intermittently. The contact stated that while his mother was driving at approximately 25 MPH, the steering warning light illuminated and the steering wheel seized. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a nearby tree where it came to a stop. No air bags deployed. The driver sustained bruising to the chest, and back injuries, and hit their head against the steering wheel. Medical attention was required. A police report was failed. The police department towed the vehicle. The vehicle's front end was severely damaged causing the radiator to leak. It was unknown if the vehicle was diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

Allegedly reported: 1 injury (as reported to NHTSA). NHTSA #11633806

The steering rack and pinion system failed, which caused a loss of power steering while driving. The failure of the steering rack and pinion system resulted in a complete loss of steering control while I was driving on the highway at high speeds. This sudden and unexpected malfunction left me unable to steer the vehicle, putting both my safety and the safety of others on the road at immediate and extreme risk. The inability to control the vehicle could have led to a catastrophic accident, endangering not only myself but also other drivers and passengers in close proximity. This failure posed a significant threat to life and property. Yes, the problem was confirmed by an independent service center. It has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives No, there were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure.

NHTSA #11637203

The vehicle piston failed which led to complete engine failure. This has been diagnosed by a service center.

NHTSA #11695092

My 2020 Jeep Cherokee was in for a multi-point inspection and oil change on 9/10/2025. On 10/15/2025, the Service 4wd, AWD System Service Required light turned on as I was driving. I called the same dealership immediately and was able to get it in for diagnosis on 10/21/2025 (the soonest appointment available). They called me on 10/27/2025 to inform me that they diagnosed a faulty PTU part #68333254AI. They sent me a quote of $3,129.81 for the part, labor, and fluid. My Jeep has remained at the dealership since it was diagnosed. I was told that there could be a loss of power to the wheels that could result in loss of control and a potential crash. I was also told that it may be an extended period of time before they can get the part. The dealership has stated that this would not be covered under my warranty because the warranty ended on 10/17/2025. The warning light actually came on before this date. I understand that there was safety recall/class action lawsuit for this issue on the 2017-2019 years but not the 2020. I feel that this is a known safety issue and believe that it should be covered by my warranty or the manufacturer. My vehicle's mileage is 43,230 miles.

NHTSA #11696683

Vehicle popped an engine as the vehicle was in motion. After taking it to a mechanic, they ran diagnostics and said that the Active Grill Shudder (AGS) had stopped responding to the cars computer. The problematic part was ~$600 and happened 11 months after purchasing the car. The dealer refused a reimbursement stating that they couldn’t help as I brought it to a local mechanic. The fact the engine light popped up while the car was in motion could be a safety issue. No warning happened before the issue presented itself. The car started fine with no engine light.

NHTSA #11636629

The contact owned a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the four-wheel drive overheated warning light illuminated. The contact reduced the speed, and the vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that a nearby driver pulled over and informed the contact that the vehicle was on fire. The nearby driver also assisted the contact out of the vehicle. The contact stated that there were several explosions. The contact stated that the vehicle was burned to the ground. The fire department and the local police arrived on the scene. There were no injuries sustained. A Fire report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned to total loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. In addition, the case is currently under investigation. The failure mileage was approximately 26, 900.

NHTSA #11595553

My vehicle started having issues in December saying that my oil levels were low. i couldn't pinpoint what the issue was so i called AAA due to how unsafe it would be to drive my car with it stating the oil levels were low and my engine light being on. AAA came out to my house and when he inspected it he stated that everything in the engine looked good but that my oil was low because of leak even though we could not pinpoint where it was coming from. I took my vehicle to contintental transmission the next day on christmas eve, upon speaking with the manager of the shop he confirmed that the jeep cherokees that had the 3.2L or 3.6L engine had an issue with the oil filtration system, he stated that he estimates he fixes 2-3 of them per week and replaces the entire oil system. He stated how unsafe it was and that the issue occurs in those drivetrains specifically after 3-4 years of ownership, he told me the job was be $1500 to fix.

NHTSA #11639996

INITIAL CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE CASE #[XXX] NEW (ESCALATED TO SUPERVIOR) CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE #new case #[XXX] high idle new engine at about 50k miles when car was 3 years old new battery $270 recently SVC 4WD - in July dealer told me it wasn't covered under warranty and made no mentioned of goodwill warranty, 2-year grace on warranty, nor any options. several mechanics told me $3K to fix. declined. called dealer who told me to call Chrysler customer care who told me they can't do anything until dealer diagnoses the vehicle. Chrysler customer care tried various times to reach service team at sterling heights dodge - they would not take call or call him back. he finally reached someone who told him that i need to come by and they can look at my car and then after I could see receptionist to then make appt. he said it doesn't make sense for me to go there twice. I did call and make appt and have gotten the run around since. Chrysler customer care told me I would qualify to have this fully covered since I was just over warranty (now at 65K miles since months has passed since this first occurred in July (60,250 miles) and because I was the original owner and mentioned something about a 2-year grace. However, the goodwill warranty came back only covering 70% and making me responsible for 30%. This is ridiculous - this is just a start or continuation of more costly major repairs, and I cannot afford to keep this car any longer but need to get this fixed so I can trade it in or sell it and get a new car with a different automaker. I cannot get Chrysler customer care to call me back nor is the dealership willing to help. While I don't know the ins/outs of lemon law and this probably doesn't qualify, it feels s like a lemon. see attached letter for details/history. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11627792