2015 Jeep Cherokee Owner Complaints

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

Headlights cut out when it says low beam out and both headlights are new and work fine until it decides it doesn’t. Transmission is faulty in these cars.

NHTSA ID

11723656

Incident

Mar 11, 2026

For several months I've received "Service 4WD" notifications in my car and I have noticed it has difficult getting up hills specifically if there is any snow/even rain. I brought it in for repair and was told it was the Transfer Case Assembly (PTU) which is a very common issue they've seen with these Jeeps. I told them to go ahead and order the part to fix it. About a week later the service person was told that Chrysler corporate would not release the part because it was or would soon be a recall and they will only release it to the dealers to handle the recall (I understand there are only about 100 of the part available at this moment). I called 2 dealers and it is not appearing as a recall (yet) for my Jeep so they said they could not do anything and gave me the corporate number. Corporate said to reach out here or talk to the dealership again. It is clear that this is an issue for many and should be a recall. At this point, I am just trying to get my car fixed and I can't even get the part because it is in this "almost" recall stage.

NHTSA ID

11722082

Incident

Feb 27, 2026

After learning of the recall for the lift gate module because of water intrusions of multiple points. The wiring harness to the lift gate module was serverly corroded and had to be replaced. The original fix, without the corrosion on the harness, was the place a piece of plastic over the module. That recall and fix did nothing to address the issues of multiple points of water intrusions. From body seems, the seal around the hatch, and around the tail light(s). There is more than one harness, and more than one module in the tire well. The multiple water leaks, that can and have affected an electrical component the was deemed as being a potential to start a fire, and none of the others in there are. There needs to be a recall on the water leaks, from their poor design! I have saw first hand how badly the harness they HAD to replace, along with the lift gate module. Because of the very seriousness of the corrosion. Where they not only replaced both of them, but also had to relocate the lift gate module, because of the evidence of the amount on water that has been entering the cargo, and wheel well areas! À 11 year old vehicle, from the information I have read up on, many with this same production years are also having the issues of water intrusions! Hold them responsible, instead of letting them cut corners of just trying to put a umbrella over there recall! I don't have pictures now, or when I took it to the dealership originally for the recall. But I am willing to take pictures, as I'm still in the process of disassembly the interior to try and pin point all the water intrusions! The dealership I took it to for the recall work, said they are "not aware of any water intrusions on this vehicle". That's a big problem!!

NHTSA ID

11719382

Incident

Feb 15, 2025

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The message "4WD Low" was displayed, and there was a grinding sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with PTU failure. The contact was informed that the PTU needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11718711

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

Mileage

150,000 mi

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while in a drive-thru line, the front driver's side window started smoking. The contact disconnected the wiring to the door. The vehicle was taken to O'Reilly, where it was diagnosed with an internal door electrical failure. The contact personally replaced the power window motor. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing hard shifts while driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was previously taken to O'Reilly’s, where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to the alternator and low battery voltage. The alternator was taken to two technicians for testing, and the contact was informed that the alternator was in good condition. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was recently taken to O'Reilly’s and AutoZone for diagnostic testing and the contact was provided fault codes for EVAP system leak detected, 1,2,3 Active Grille Shutter (AGS), throttle pedal position sensor switch A circuit high, System Voltage below and above Threshold, denied torque request signal, ECU configuration mismatch, ECU vehicle option mismatch, output speed sensor, input speed sensor/Correlation, fan 1 control circuit, throttle pedal position sensor switches D and B circuit low, and DTC U0402-00 for TCM immediate repair. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

NHTSA ID

11718604

Incident

Jan 17, 2026

Mileage

72,000 mi

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while attempting to open the liftgate, the liftgate failed to open. The contact stated that during inclement weather, water was entering the cabin of the vehicle, causing mold to develop inside the vehicle. Neither an independent mechanic nor a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V338000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11717116

Incident

Feb 10, 2026

Mileage

130,000 mi

My daughter was driving her car in the middle of a busy intersection when the parking brake locked up causing her to come to an abrupt stop and almost cause an accident. A quick google search appears to indicate that this issue has already been under investigation by NHTSA for a period of time.

NHTSA ID

11717039

Incident

Feb 9, 2026