2015 Jeep Cherokee Owner Complaints

Issues started in 2025 when the emergency brake system started engaging by itself. I was at a stop light when it happened the first time. Then it happened again in our driveway and we ended up having to unplug the battery to get it to turn off. Then on 09.14.2026 I was at a customers home and I put it in park got out and when I got back in to drive off I got the ((P)) light along with the warning to get it serviced. Please see pictures. This popped up on all occasions. I ended up having to tow the jeep to my mechanic. Please see pictures of the module. Water under my spare tire and corrosion on the part.

NHTSA ID

11765745

Incident

Sep 14, 2026

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the transmission independently shifted to neutral(N). The power train warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with range sensor failure. The contact was informed that the range sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was contacted by phone, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.

NHTSA ID

11764170

Incident

Aug 17, 2026

Mileage

132,000 mi

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the A/C unit while in operation. The contact also stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated upon depression of the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the vehicle shifted into neutral(N) without warning and rolled backward. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V529000 (Power Train) and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer initially informed the contact that the vehicle was included in the recall; however, the contact was later informed that the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 144,233.

NHTSA ID

11760251

Incident

Mar 1, 2026

Mileage

144,233 mi

I have a complaint concerning the 3.2L V6 Pentastar engine. A repair was necessary for a manufacturer KNOWN fault concerning factory installation using improperly hardened steel for the Rocker arms/lifters needle bearings, AKA, “The Pentastar Tick”. Rocker arms collapse and cause gouging/scoring damage to the intake camshafts. I had to pay for repairs totaling $5091.05 for this manufacturer’s known and acknowledged, factory mistake. -Copy of final invoice attached.. I have tried to get help from Jeep/Stellantis and assistance to make these expensive repairs. I was told no assistance was possible even though the factory recognized the steel used for the needle bearings that held the rocker arm did not meet strength requirements. Chrysler/Stellantis upgraded needle bearings using properly hardened steel to resolve their factory installation error. I believe Chrysler/Stellantis owes me compensation for costs associated with this repair.

NHTSA ID

11758916

Incident

Mar 2, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?The Power Transfer Unit (PTU) / all-wheel-drive transfer case assembly failed internally. Yes, the vehicle and the defective component are physically located at an authorized dealership facility and are available for federal or manufacturer inspection upon request.How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?The sudden internal mechanical failure of the PTU stripped the drive splines while operating the vehicle. This caused an immediate loss of power and four-wheel-drive engagement, creating a severe road hazard and an unexpected safety risk to myself and surrounding traffic.Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?Yes. The failure was formally diagnosed, reproduced, and confirmed by certified technicians at the authorized factory dealership, Lithia Chrysler Jeep of Reno.Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others?Yes. The vehicle and failed component have been inspected and verified by the authorized manufacturer dealership representing Jeep/Stellantis.Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?Yes. The "Service 4WD" warning lamp and dashboard messages illuminated immediately when the failure occurred. Symptoms included total loss of rear-wheel torque engagement and mechanical grinding noises originating from the front drivetrain.

NHTSA ID

11758385

Incident

Jun 25, 2026

While driving my 2015 Jeep Cherokee on an interstate trip, we began noticing a strong unusual odor inside the vehicle. At first, we thought we were simply driving past a paper mill or another external source of the smell. A short time later, we noticed other vehicles beginning to merge out of our lane and realized something might be wrong with our vehicle. We exited the highway and pulled over as soon as we could safely do so. We did not see any smoke or steam while the vehicle was moving. After we had pulled over and stopped, we noticed steam coming from under the hood. When we opened the hood, smoke came out and there was a strong burning smell. Because we were concerned that the vehicle was unsafe to continue driving, we did not continue the trip and the vehicle had to be towed by AAA. An independent mechanic subsequently inspected the vehicle and diagnosed a leaking Power Transfer Unit (PTU) that requires replacement. There were no warning lights, warning messages, or other dashboard alerts before the incident, during the incident, or afterward. The unusual odor was the first symptom we noticed. I later contacted Jeep/Stellantis and was informed that the required OEM replacement PTU is currently unavailable, and they could not provide an estimated availability date. As a result, there is currently no clear OEM repair timeline for the vehicle. My safety concern is that this problem developed while the vehicle was being driven at highway speeds, with no dashboard warning, and resulted in smoke/steam and a strong burning odor once the vehicle was stopped.

NHTSA ID

11757963

Incident

Aug 7, 2026

Online is saying there is 0 recalls after a year of having the vehicle a recall was sent by mail. I got it fixed by jeep van nuys, the engine and the other equipment attached looks unsafe and it is completely overheating

NHTSA ID

11757134

Incident

Apr 10, 2021

Slipping of transmission

NHTSA ID

11755227

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

The power transfer unit (transfer case) went out as I was driving. I wasn't able to drive it and had to towed it to a mechanic. We found that later, the transfer case actuator and seals also needed replaced. Because this went out on a whim while I was driving, I had to continue through stop lights and traffic through downtown without a way to fully stop, control my speed, and was starting and restarting my car to get to where I needed to be. From what I've found, there are recalls on these parts, however not on my specific vehicle as of now. There weren't any other symptoms or warning signs before these went out. The parts have been inspected by a mechanic and are currently being replaced. Even without a recall, if I'm able to be reimbursed for any of this, it would be appreciated.

NHTSA ID

11752486

Incident

Jun 22, 2026

My Jeep caught on fire in the area of the power lift gate control module . A fire department report was filed.

NHTSA ID

11752433

Incident

Jul 23, 2026

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle, closing the door, and starting the vehicle, the passenger’s side rear-seat air bag unexpectedly deployed. The driver's side rear seat air bag deployed the following day. The air bag warning light was illuminated. There were no injuries reported. The local dealer was contacted and referred the contact to the insurance company for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The manufacturer confirmed that the vehicle was no longer covered under warranty. The insurance company was contacted and declined the claim. The failure mileage was approximately 280,000.

NHTSA ID

11750489

Incident

Jul 6, 2026

Mileage

280,000 mi

The light just came on

NHTSA ID

11748252

Incident

Jun 15, 2026

There has been multiple issues with the PTUs on these jeeps. Mine does not fall under the recall if there was one. I’m battling with the place I bought the jeep from for warranty and they are not covering it. I’ve talked to hundreds of people about it and they said this jeep should have been recalled for this PTU issue but it’s not. Not sure what to do or where to go from here.

NHTSA ID

11744270

Incident

Jun 8, 2026

2 speed transaxle harsh/slam engagement. When vehicle is in normal drive mode transaxle will engage/disengage depending on input from driving conditions (turns, slippery roads, heavy throttle input). This engagement is so harsh the vehicle will jump and surge. Condition does not occur if transaxle is fully engaged under "sport, snow, mud, rock modes" where transaxle is always locked in. Vehicle does not show and fault code during this harsh engagement. Conditions are reproducible at will. Multiple recalls on this style transaxle unit for same style vehicle (why not all?).

NHTSA ID

11739587

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, the brake pedal became inoperable and felt spongy while attempting to stop the vehicle. The contact also stated that the steering wheel became difficult to operate, and a crunching sound was heard while turning the steering wheel. Additionally, the contact stated that multiple incorrect warning messages illuminated on the instrument panel, including the Start/Stop warning message and a door open warning message. The contact stated that the failures began after the vehicle had been repaired under a tailgate recall. The vehicle was taken to another dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer advised the contact to return to the previous dealer for repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,600.

NHTSA ID

11739326

Incident

May 21, 2026

Mileage

118,600 mi

Parking brake module went out and locked up the back end this has happened multiple times now while driving at different speeds!

NHTSA ID

11738305

Incident

May 13, 2026

The car continues to have an issue with the same recalls that were priorly fixed but continued to happen after a few years. The last repair for this recall only lasted six months and I now need to replace the exact same parts again. The vehicle is completely faulty. The computer control valve for the transmission continues to fail. My vehicle will say service transmission, and then you cannot switch gears and becomes undrivable until you clear the codes or replace the parts.... again.

NHTSA ID

11738041

Incident

May 15, 2026

I was driving and going around the roundabout and I got an error message service shifter & park, reverse, neutral, drive, and drive minus or negative which is the manual part all lit up. I took it to the dealer and they said it would have to be examined, but I went online and found out between 2014 and 2018 of these vehicles, this is something that happens frequently. I don’t understand why it’s not a recall.

NHTSA ID

11738026

Incident

May 14, 2026

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25E003000 (POWERTRAIN). The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal and went into limp mode. Multiple warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the power steering seized. The contact's wife was able to cruise into a dealer. The vehicle was inspected and diagnosed that the power transfer unit (PTU) had failed. The contact was informed that the part was on a national backorder. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The contact stated that the failure had occurred in the past and was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that a request to expedite the part was submitted. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.

NHTSA ID

11736617

Incident

May 1, 2026

Mileage

139,000 mi

Vehicle is overheating, have had issues right after purchasing from carmax burbank and issues after the recall was worked on at van nuys jeep dealership.

NHTSA ID

11736374

Incident

May 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle the warning message "Service Four Wheel Drive" had displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who performed a software update but the warning light remailed illuminated. The contact retrieved the vehicle and later experienced transmission gear slippage and grinding. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 154,000.

NHTSA ID

11735459

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

Mileage

154,000 mi

I am writing to formally raise a concern regarding the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) on my Jeep Cherokee, which currently has approximately 123,000 miles and has been driven fewer than 10,000 miles per year. Despite what I would consider normal usage, the PTU appears to be failing—an issue I understand is not uncommon for this vehicle. I have been informed that replacement PTU units are currently on extended backorder, with dealerships reportedly facing a backlog of hundreds of pending repairs. This raises serious concerns, not only about parts availability but also about the apparent frequency of this failure. More importantly, I am concerned about the risk of continued operation while awaiting replacement. Based on my understanding, a failing PTU can place additional strain on the transmission and drivetrain, potentially leading to more extensive damage, overheating, or even sudden mechanical failure. Given that the part is unavailable for an extended period, I am left in a position where continued use of the vehicle may result in further costly damage and possible safety risks. I would appreciate clarification on the following: What steps can be taken to mitigate further damage while the PTU is on backorder? Whether there are any alternative repair options, including temporary solutions or access to remanufactured or used parts Whether any goodwill assistance, extended warranty consideration, or manufacturer support is available given the known issues and current supply constraints I rely on my vehicle for regular transportation and am concerned about both safety and the potential for escalating repair costs due to circumstances beyond my control. I would appreciate a prompt and thorough response outlining available options. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11734892

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

The Vehicle suddenly stopped and I was unable to brake or steer the wheel while driving (loss of power/limp mode). I took it to a shop who ran a diagnostic and it came back as DTC code. I now had to tow it out of pocket to the nearest dealership.

NHTSA ID

11730789

Incident

Jul 1, 2025

Car is in great shape, however, recently the Service AWD has popped up. brought it to the Reedman JEEP Dealership - they say its a bad PTU. Now I see a bunch of people have the bad PTU. Now I have a car in great shape minus the fact I won't be able to sell it or trade it in for full value and it cots thousands to fix.

NHTSA ID

11727686

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

Power Transfer Unit stopped working. Brakes locked up and car would not move. Is not drive-able at this time. Currently at a dealership awaiting part, of which there is NO ETA on. I was just entering a roundabout when the part failed, and I could have been hit as the vehicle fully stopped and could not be moved. There was a grinding noise and no warning prior of this part failing. The problem was confirmed by a local mechanic who recommended a Jeep Dealership to take care of the issue as the part may be under warranty. I am unsure of who inspected the part currently. This is my primary vehicle and the dealership will not "cover" a loaner car so I am stuck.

NHTSA ID

11726910

Incident

Mar 10, 2026