2014 Jeep Cherokee Powertrain (other) Problems

The PTU is bad and I’ve replaced it twice with no successful fix

NHTSA ID

11755036

Incident

Aug 5, 2026

The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the gear shifter became stuck in neutral. The failure was a recurring failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V447000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11753698

Incident

Jul 29, 2026

Mileage

160,000 mi

The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud roaring sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with power transfer unit failure. The contact was informed that the power transfer unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the parts were on back order. The contact was informed that the failure was a known failure with similar vehicles. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11751909

Incident

Jun 22, 2026

Mileage

80,000 mi

My PTU in my 2014 Jeep Cherokee is failing. The car has been jerking when accelerating. Sometimes very slow when I first accelerate then jerks heavily and takes off at a high rate of speed. I also noticed weird grinding and unusual sounds. The sound starts randomly when accelerating or when traveling and I let off the accelerator. The sound is more of a howling then grinds and quickly goes away. I replaced all the wheel bearings on the vehicle and it still existed. I then took the car to a Jeep dealer where one of the techs had test drove it and confirmed that the PTU has failed.

NHTSA ID

11745328

Incident

Apr 15, 2026

It began with front end grinding sounds. I took the vehicle to multiple mechanic shops and all the shops agree that the Power Transfer Unit is leaking and metal shaving are visibly coming out of the seal. This is supposed to be a sealed unit that doesn’t require service. There are already two separate recalls for this exact issue 2017 - 2019 and 2019 - 2023. Apparently, this could disengage from the transmission or worse, lock my transmission up and possibly cause an accident. Flashing the CM did not solve anything. My car has been at the mechanic shop for a little over a month with a new unit already ordered. I have been paying close attention to this and relevant recalls.

NHTSA ID

11743145

Incident

Mar 28, 2026

Vehicle: 2014 Jeep Cherokee VIN: [XXX] Component: Power Train – Transfer Case (PTU) Safety Issue: Loss of motive power / PTU failure Complaint: My 2014 Jeep Cherokee is experiencing the same failure mode described in FCA PTU recalls W47 (20V343) and W48 (20E037). The PTU output shaft bearing is failing under load. The grinding noise disappears when the driveshaft is removed and returns immediately when the driveshaft is reinstalled, confirming a load dependent PTU failure. This defect can cause sudden loss of motive power and inability to hold Park, which matches the safety description in the recall documentation. My vehicle falls within the recall build date ranges, yet the manufacturer refuses to cover the repair. This is a safety related defect that should be included in the population recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11742687

Incident

Jun 1, 2024

Failed PTU is signaling AWD service light. Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk 2014 Later Trims have recalled failure Jeep won't go over 25mph without shaking. Sounds are grinding. Very dangerous to drive

NHTSA ID

11735043

Incident

Jan 5, 2026

The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the transmission seized, and the vehicle was jumping while accelerating and going around a curve. After the failure, the vehicle started operating as intended. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted and informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,840.

NHTSA ID

11732757

Incident

Apr 21, 2023

Mileage

123,840 mi

My 2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk (Active Drive II / Sales Code DK4) has a confirmed DTC C14A7-97, indicating the PTU Motor is obstructed or blocked. This has resulted in a "Service 4WD" warning and a complete loss of all-wheel-drive capability. My vehicle was manufactured in November 2013, and I am being denied the XJ1 Extended Warranty (15 years/unlimited miles) because my VIN does not appear in the dealer's system, despite the vehicle being a 2014 model year with the exact failure code the XJ1 program was designed to address. This failure can lead to a sudden loss of drive power while in motion and a loss of the "Park" function, creating a significant rollaway risk. These are the same safety hazards identified in NHTSA Recall 20V-343 (W47). I am requesting that NHTSA investigate why 2014 model year vehicles with 2013 build dates are excluded from the XJ1 warranty extension for this known safety defect.

NHTSA ID

11732278

Incident

Apr 5, 2026

Transmission control sensor

NHTSA ID

11730519

Incident

Apr 10, 2026

While traveling at Highway speed approximately 70 miles an hour vehicles transmission suddenly failed without warning, aesthetically freezing the transmission on the highway I could not step on the gas and the vehicle would not move. This was not a minor inconvenience or a routine mechanical issue this was based on research and many reported transmission tests of this model year transmission and Chrysler knew about it in 2013 even as engineers were trying to fix the problem and they still released the vehicle design flaw in 2014, particularly the transmissions internal clutch systems. This should’ve been recalled by the US government.

NHTSA ID

11725374

Incident

Feb 5, 2026

PTU Failure on 2015 Jeep Cherokee

NHTSA ID

11723956

Incident

Mar 12, 2026

No, vehicle just died on highway

NHTSA ID

11723434

Incident

Feb 5, 2026

i have a 2014 jeep cherokee trailhawk. the service 4wheel drive light keeps popping u. a recall needs to be put on this year, make and model. its a known issue that jeep has not addressed at all

NHTSA ID

11723169

Incident

Feb 28, 2026

The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the gear shift indicator lights were illuminated, and the message "Service Shifter" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to CarMax, where the contact was informed that no failure was found; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. Upon parking the vehicle in the garage and then starting the vehicle later, the parking brake unintendedly engaged and seized. The vehicle was towed to Dependable Car Care, where it was diagnosed with water intrusion in the parking brake module. The mechanic determined that the parking brake module needed to be replaced, and an electrical connector cleaning was needed. The vehicle was repaired; however, while driving 45 MPH, the failure recurred, causing the vehicle to brake hard. The message "BRAKE" was displayed. The vehicle was pulled over into a parking lot and remained in the parking lot. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,072.

NHTSA ID

11720768

Incident

Sep 9, 2025

Mileage

118,072 mi

There have been many documented incidents regarding these transmissions on the 2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude. The transmission are junk in these and have been recalled because of splines and clutches. Please get back to me on this issue.

NHTSA ID

11719569

Incident

Feb 13, 2026

I was driving my 2014 Jeep latitude, on the interstate in Maine and the transmission just died. I barely could merge to the right to get out of the way of traffic going 70mph. There is a transmission recall on these isn't there?

NHTSA ID

11718319

Incident

Feb 5, 2026

The vehicle recently showed an error stating "Service 4WD" which appears to be a known issue with this model of vehicle. When checking the VIN number, it appears this particular vehicle is supposedly not one that has this issue. However with that being said, it is giving the code that is specifically has this issue. The cost to fix this totals more than $4,000 and is known to Chrysler. This vehicle should be covered under the known issue by the manufacturer.

NHTSA ID

11712170

Incident

Jan 20, 2026

PTU is being replaced because the dealership said it is going to leave me without power to the wheels which can be extremely dangerous on interstate. Took my Cherokee in because the whining that I’ve been hearing for at least three years was getting louder. The component has not been inspected by the manufacturer yet but I’m waiting on a replacement part and is currently on back order and I’m without the vehicle for a prolonged period of time.

NHTSA ID

11709343

Incident

Dec 27, 2025

The ptu has failed in my vehicle. When I bought the vehicle there was a 4x4 light on the dash but I was told that it needed to be just turned off by a jeep dealership. But I believe it actually was a symtom of the failing ptu. My vehicle sometimes goes into neutral when I try to pull off from a stop sign and then the vehicle kicks itself back into drive. My coolant and transmission temp rises the more I drive it and transmission seems to shift late or hard and sometimes prematurely sometimes it smells like burning electrical.

NHTSA ID

11705702

Incident

Dec 11, 2025

Mileage

172,803 mi

The Jeep has a drivetrain defect involving the transmission and power transfer unit (PTU) that has existed since purchase and has progressively worsened over the years. From early on, the vehicle intermittently hesitated when accelerating from a complete stop, followed by sudden surging or lunging forward. Symptoms were reported to a Jeep dealership early after purchase while under warranty. Their inspections did not identify a defect at that time. Over time, the condition worsened and became more frequent, including hesitation on takeoff, bucking, and abnormal behavior when maneuvering at low speeds or turning the steering wheel to full lock in parking lot. This occurs unpredictably and creates a dangerous situation when entering intersections, making left turns across traffic, or merging, because the vehicle does not accelerate when expected and then suddenly surges. The Jeep was taken to an independent mechanic. After inspection and a test drive, the mechanic stated the condition was unsafe and suspected a transfer case issue, recommending that the vehicle be taken to an authorized dealership for further evaluation. After this referral, the Jeep dealership was able to reproduce the problem during a test drive and confirmed hesitation on acceleration, transmission shift issues, and PTU malfunction. The dealership documented that the transmission and PTU require replacement. The vehicle had previously received the manufacturer’s required powertrain recall software update. The dealership stated they could attempt another software relearn or update, but no guarantee it would resolve the issue. No warning lights or dashboard messages prior to or during these events. MOPAR says that the PTU is on national backorder with no ETA. The cost of repair exceeds the value of the vehicle and would be entirely out-of-pocket since the warranty is up, making repair financially impossible. As a result, the owner is left with an unsafe vehicle that cannot be reasonably repaired.

NHTSA ID

11705620

Incident

Oct 29, 2025

Mileage

106,038 mi

The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under Emissions Recall U90; however, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds or while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle violently downshifted. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that a software update was needed. The vehicle was not repaired and was left at the local dealer. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11704280

Incident

Nov 20, 2025

Mileage

80,000 mi

I have reported this before and I am reporting once again as it is a very serious safety hazard. Vehicle: 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited Component/System: Power Train – Transfer Case / Drivetrain (4WD/AWD System) I am submitting this complaint to report a recurring and potentially hazardous malfunction involving the transfer case on my 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited. The vehicle exhibits multiple symptoms consistent with transfer case failure, including intermittent grinding and clunking noises from the drivetrain, jerking and binding during acceleration or low-speed turns, and difficulty engaging or maintaining 4WD/AWD modes. The vehicle has also displayed dashboard warnings such as “Service 4WD” and “4WD Temporarily Unavailable.” At times, vibration can be felt through the floorboard at highway speeds, and the vehicle has intermittently lost power to either the front or rear wheels. These issues pose a significant safety concern. The inconsistent torque delivery causes unpredictable handling, including sudden hesitation, surging, or traction loss during normal driving. The vehicle has also exhibited momentary drivetrain binding that feels similar to braking or wheel lockup, creating a risk of loss of control—particularly when turning, merging, or driving in adverse weather. There is concern that the transfer case could suffer sudden internal failure, potentially resulting in immediate power loss, immobilization, or inability to maneuver out of traffic. Given the frequency of transfer case and power transfer unit failures reported by other Jeep Cherokee owners of this model year, I believe this issue may represent a broader safety defect. The malfunction directly affects vehicle stability, traction control function, and the ability to safely accelerate or maintain speed. I request that NHTSA investigate this matter for a safety recall as soon as possible due to the potential for loss of vehicle control and the risk of a crash or injury.

NHTSA ID

11702458

Incident

Mar 1, 2020

While driving, the vehicle shifts itself into neutral and goes into a limp mode with no power. Almost caused a serious accident going 70 mph when it shifted itself into neutral

NHTSA ID

11702090

Incident

Nov 16, 2025

I purchased this 2014 Jeep Cherokee from Taverna Collection in Feb 2025 and received it in March 2025. The selling dealer was required to inspect the vehicle before delivery and did not report any transmission or valve-body issues. On June 25, 2025, the vehicle received a multipoint inspection at Auto Angel in Santa Fe. No transmission failure, shifting issues, or valve-body concerns were found. The Jeep was not showing symptoms related to Recall U90 at that time. After this, I attempted to have Recall U90 (PCM/TCM reprogramming) performed. Lithia Chrysler in Santa Fe confirmed the recall by email and scheduled an appointment, but after towing the vehicle to them they refused to perform the recall and repeatedly stated “there is no recall,” forcing me to tow the vehicle home and then again two days later to a dealership in Albuquerque. At the Albuquerque dealership, I gave clear instructions not to perform any paid repairs—including a transmission valve-body replacement—until the U90 reflash was completed and confirmed. I never received confirmation. The dealership later claimed they followed protocol but refused to release the WiTECH session report or timestamps showing when the recall work occurred. They told me I could only see documentation after paying $2,600. I contacted FCA/Stellantis. The case manager said her supervisor stated the dealer “followed protocol,” but FCA admitted this was based solely on the dealership’s word. FCA could not confirm whether they reviewed the WiTECH diagnostic session or any recall repair records. Under 49 U.S.C. §30120(i) and 49 CFR Part 576, manufacturers and dealers must retain detailed recall records, including diagnostic data and timestamps, to verify proper recall completion. FCA’s inability or refusal to verify the recall using these required records raises concerns that Recall U90 may not have been performed correctly or in the proper sequence. I request NHTSA review this matter.

NHTSA ID

11701551

Incident

Nov 6, 2025