2019 Jeep Cherokee Engine Problems

On September 14, 2025, while driving on the highway, the vehicle began shaking violently, the check engine light illuminated and began flashing, and the vehicle progressively lost power and became undriveable. The vehicle had to be towed. No warning lights appeared prior to the incident. This failure follows a documented history of Power Transfer Unit (PTU) issues. In May 2024 at approximately 88,000 miles, diagnostic codes including C14A7-97 (PTU Motor - Component/System Blocked) were retrieved at an independent service center. The 4-wheel drive system was found to be stuck engaged. The transfer case actuator motor was replaced in December 2024 at approximately 93,000 miles by the same shop at my expense. The vehicle is a single-speed PTU configuration and was excluded from Equipment Safety Recall 02C (Two Speed PTU Failure), despite experiencing substantially similar symptoms: loss of drive power, vibration, and drivetrain malfunction. The PTU and transfer case are available for inspection. The failure has been confirmed by an independent service center. Prior to the highway failure, the vehicle exhibited difficulty accelerating, particularly at highway speeds, and an audible whirring sound from the drivetrain. It also jerked forward when shifting into Park. Safety was put at risk due to sudden loss of motive power at highway speed.

NHTSA ID

11764484

Incident

Sep 13, 2026

I am filing this safety complaint regarding my 2019 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Plus 2.4L AWD. This vehicle is experiencing severe, life-threatening safety hazards involving sudden engine stalling and a complete loss of motive power while in motion. Despite my vehicle exhibiting the exact failure symptoms of multiple major FCA/Stellantis safety recalls for this model year, my specific VIN is currently showing as excluded from the recall database, leaving me with a highly dangerous vehicle and no dealership remedy.The vehicle is suffering from two distinct, interrelated defects that have recently caused terrifying incidents in heavy traffic. First, while driving, the dashboard suddenly illuminated both the "SVC 4WD" (Service 4WD) and the "Auto Start-Stop" warning lights simultaneously. Immediately following these warnings, the vehicle lost forward power and unexpectedly rolled forward while I was fully stopped at a red light, failing to hold its position. This mirrors the exact mechanical behavior of the known Jeep PTU spline-wear defects that cause sudden rollaways and a loss of drive power.Second, the vehicle completely stalled out and shut down while I was driving on a highway exit ramp. The engine lost all power without warning, forcing me to coast through traffic, shift into park, and completely cycle the ignition to restart it. This engine shutdown creates an imminent risk of a rear-end collision on high-speed roads. The vehicle has a severe issue with oil consumption, which I suspect is dropping hydraulic pressure and forcing the engine to shut off while the car is shifted into drive.The manufacturer’s current recall parameters for the PTU failures and engine stalling issues on 2019 Cherokees are clearly too narrow. My vehicle is dealing with identical, dangerous safety failures as the units already recalled, but I am being denied a safe, free repair due to a VIN exclusion. I request that the NHTSA investigate this specific batch of 2019 VINs and force a recall.

NHTSA ID

11763604

Incident

Aug 31, 2026

The motor experiences a malfunction, which the passengers feel as a slight ‘bump’ in the engine. The dash flashes Service Electronic Stability Control and the engine experiences a loss in power followed by a gain in power, experienced as slight lurching. The dash ESC icon lights up yellow simultaneously as the ESC button on the center dash instrument cluster. The vehicle continuously lurches as it tries to stabilize, at this point the most ginger touch to the accelerator is necessary, otherwise the engine may stall out. I have been left stalled in the middle of a road where there was moving traffic passing by both ways. The mechanic said the engine codes read- P0340- Camshaft Position Sensor B1S1 & U1428- Received Engine Torque request signal stuck.

NHTSA ID

11762680

Incident

Aug 28, 2026

An NHSTA #26V290000 report received on 07/05/2026-Power Train from AAA, NHSTA Campaign #25V011000- Power Train, and NHSTA #18V523000- Service brakes, hydraulic foundation and components disc caliper. On July 9th, 2026, I was driving on the highway and about to approach the Delaware Memorial Bridge. All the lights on the dashboard started flashing: temperature, engine, coolant, etc. I lost braking performance and the car's ability to use it because the entire electronic system locked. I could not put the car in neutral, nor could the truck drivers move it. I was in a dangerous location. Both repair shops also impacted the powertrain and differential; during the test drive, they noted noise from the rear differential when turning and a sense of locking up. These are symptoms of early differential failure. The initial gauge fluctuated, and due to the high temperature, it burned out the engine and radiator; the car smoked heavily inside and out. I have had to pay more than $ 3,500 in repairs for two recalls that were indicated to me when I called about them; they were for 2019 Jeeps, but not my vehicle. It appears as though the recall should be for all 2019 Jeep Cherokees. This is my 4th Jeep, and I have driven each one well over 140,000 miles before getting another vehicle. Before that, any recalls were for all Jeep makes and models that carried those parts or were manufactured with a possibility of failure. I want a refund for what I have had to put into the vehicle. If I had not pulled off the highway at the last exit as was laid on my mind by a higher power, I would have been a fatality due to not being able to move the car off the highway.

NHTSA ID

11759545

Incident

Jul 9, 2026

Plastic manifold cover has developed a hairline crack and is leaking oil. Vehicle has only 68,000 miles. Mechanic advised there is a national backorder of replacement manifold covers so up to the mercy of the manufacturer to produce more. From what I've seen online, this is a notorious issue with many different Jeep models over many years.

NHTSA ID

11759479

Incident

Aug 21, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the messages "Reset - Start Unavailable" and "START/STOP System Unavailable" were displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving on another occasion, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The contact was unable to pull over, and the vehicle was pushed to the side of the road with assistance. The vehicle was restarted after a while and was driven to the residence; however, the failure reoccurred. The battery was disconnected and taken to an Auto Zone Store, where it was determined that the battery voltage was low. The contact replaced the battery; however, the new battery drained prematurely. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle at the residence, and the throttle body was replaced, but the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was determined that the PCM and TCM needed to be reprogrammed to restart the vehicle; however, the repair could not be completed due to a loss of communication, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but declined to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

NHTSA ID

11756217

Incident

May 31, 2026

Mileage

82,000 mi

Automatic transmission shifts hard at approximately 30 mph causing a sudden lurch.It has happened several times. It is such a sudden movement that it feels unsafe as if someone has hit my car from behind. I took my car to the dealer of purchase for the first time for this issue on 7/18/26. This has happened at least 4x and there were no warnings prior to it happening. Also, when I hit a small speed bump the lights went off on the dashboard and car was still running. No findings were reported.

NHTSA ID

11751390

Incident

Jul 15, 2026

My 2019 jeep Cherokee limited suffered a complete loss of power while driving down the highway and now has a service 4wd light on as well.

NHTSA ID

11751006

Incident

Jun 18, 2026

Engine failure at 90,000 miles need a whole new engine

NHTSA ID

11750509

Incident

Jul 5, 2026

While driving the 2019 Jeep Cherokee 2.0L turbo lost power and stalled. Had it towed to mechanic and was advised cylinders 1&2 had low compression and needs new motor.

NHTSA ID

11743957

Incident

Jun 5, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power following a loud screeching sound. The Check Engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started to misfire upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The contact managed to drive the vehicle to the local mechanic, where diagnostic testing revealed a misfire in cylinder #3. Further investigation confirmed internal cylinder damage, which resulted in total engine failure. The mechanic ordered a replacement engine long block from Albany Chrysler Center, Inc. (34650 225th Ave, Albany, MN 56307). After a two-month wait, the part arrived; however, the dealer was sent a complete engine assembly instead of a long block, which required additional repair costs. The manufacturer has not yet been notified and the vehicle remained unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

NHTSA ID

11743705

Incident

Apr 14, 2026

Mileage

95,000 mi

When accelerating, the RPMs surge unusually high before the transmission shifts. After the delayed shift, the vehicle jerks hard forward and feels like it is being hit from behind. The shifting feels aggressive and inconsistent, especially during acceleration. In addition, the A/C system was completely rebuilt but continues to intermittently shut off and stop blowing cold air. The infotainment/information center screen also stops functioning in hot weather, especially when outside temperatures are above 90 degrees.

NHTSA ID

11738929

Incident

Feb 22, 2022

I was slowing down coming to a stop in a left turn lane. I went to give the car gas to make the turn and for 4 seconds I had no power. My car was stuck in The middle of the intersection. When the vehicle regained power it slammed forward really hard.

NHTSA ID

11738576

Incident

May 14, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving check engine light had suddenly illuminated and the message "unspecified service unavailable" had displayed along with the 4 wheel drive warning light had illuminated. During the failure the vehicle did not properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed the PTU had malfunctioned. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer was not yet contacted. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000(POWER TRAIN). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 81,000.

NHTSA ID

11737646

Incident

May 13, 2026

Mileage

81,000 mi

I was on a highway in the Middle Lane to accelerate, and after that the car started to lose power and acceleration and the engine started to make noise and I saw smoke behind me. It was only at this point that an engine light came on and then it went off and did not return. It was a safety hazard and dangerous because it lost power on a highway And there were cars around me doing 60 to 80 mph and I had to navigate and then quickly to exit. I exited the highway and pulled off as soon as it was safe, Although I had very little power to do so., The car was towed to a mechanic who said there was a cylinder 1 scoring and cracking of piston. The car was towed to a Jeep dealership who told me it just needed a cylinder pack and it was only $1,000. They kept the car for a week and didn't answer calls until we went over there. The service manager told us we did in fact need a new engine. This is where I bought the car and I still owe $6,000 on it and now I'm looking at a $8,000 job. I have contacted Stellaris and opened a case on April 23rd.

NHTSA ID

11735346

Incident

Apr 17, 2026

while driving ,the vehicle just shuts off while in motion, then dashboard lights come and message says if you want to start vehicle step on brake and push button , but once I push the button it struggles to start. Mechanic ran a diagnostic test and said its the power train control module that is under a recall on other jeeps but not mine.

NHTSA ID

11735222

Incident

Apr 8, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the RPM was unexpectedly elevated. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed from the scene. After the failure, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the pistons and valves had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

NHTSA ID

11734005

Incident

Apr 27, 2026

Mileage

86,000 mi

Loss of driver power- while driving on the freeway/street at a speed car shut off. which it might have cause accident and injured myself and/or others No the problem has not been reproduced by manufacture No the vehicle has not been inspected by dealer. Took the car to an independent service center and unable to confirm defect. The incident been ongoing since yearly last year. It stops and comes back to shut off while driving. engine lights pop up and battery- I have taken care to check battery and is good. Noticed there was a recall for loss of driver power (Recall # 01c) which is what's happening with my car. But my vin num does not come up.. Please help

NHTSA ID

11732735

Incident

Feb 5, 2025

The Rear crank shaft seal is leaking on my car. It was a recall on the same engine but on the grand Cherokee. Not the cherokees. It’s $2500 to fix it.

NHTSA ID

11728622

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

3 Years ago a new motor and starter were put into my car. Now it won't start again and the dealership says the motor is blown again. They tell me that it is not covered under the warranty from the engine that was put in 3 years ago. How is that not covered. I now have a vehicle that I can't drive and no warranty on it and still have a loan on it. This needs to be fixed or covered. Please have someone call me as soon as possible. Thank you [XXX] [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11726984

Incident

Jan 2, 2023

I was driving on the highway going approximately 75mph, everything was 100% normal. All of a sudden, and at once, my steering wheel started to shake, the car lost power/acceleration and speed quickly dropped. The engine was making loud noises. We pulled over, called my mechanic I've had for 35yrs. We were able to get the car to the garage driving very slowly, it wouldn't go above maybe 30mph. My mechanic initially did a diagnostic test which indicated issues with coils??After further investigation he, and 2 of his fellow mechanics determined it was a much more serious issue that has resulted in a total malfunction of the motor. I bought my car in 2021 with 46,740 miles on it, it currently has 84,756 miles. I still owe $4349.63, 1yr left on my loan. My mechanic said he is aware of a number of recalls on jeeps . I looked up my VIN bought found nothing. Similar issues, but nothing with that VIN.

NHTSA ID

11726752

Incident

Mar 17, 2026

Mileage

84,756 mi

The vehicle experienced a sudden engine failure while driving. Prior to failure, a flashing check engine light appeared along with severe engine misfire, sputtering, and loss of power. The vehicle became unsafe to operate and required towing. The vehicle had recently undergone recall service (PTU recall 01C) at an authorized dealership. Shortly after that service, the engine failure occurred. It is unknown if the recall repair contributed to the failure, but the timing is notable. The vehicle has been regularly maintained according to manufacturer recommendations. A dealership has inspected the vehicle and indicated that the engine requires replacement due to internal failure. The failure has been identified as involving piston #2, with coolant intrusion into the cylinder. This condition is consistent with loss of compression and internal engine damage. Numerous other owners of similar vehicles have reported nearly identical failures, frequently involving piston #2, suggesting a potential pattern or common defect affecting that specific cylinder. The sudden loss of power while driving created a safety risk, particularly if this had occurred at higher speeds or in heavy traffic. This issue appears similar to other reported problems involving 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with the 2.0L turbo engine, including misfire conditions and potential loss of compression leading to engine failure.

NHTSA ID

11726326

Incident

Mar 20, 2026

My vehicle has has these issues since I bought them but were unaware of how to report them. I also got a recall letter about my PTU failure and Feldman Jeep in Livonia falsely reported the recall completed and it wasn’t. My car is noisy and vibrational when driving higher speeds, service 4wd messages and noise when I turn the automatic brakes off.

NHTSA ID

11723378

Incident

Apr 27, 2021

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving approximately 70 MPH, there was an abnormally strong burning odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. On another occasion, while the vehicle was parked, there was condensation underneath the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired; however, the contact inspected the vehicle and observed that the PTU seal was damaged. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact believed that the failure was associated with an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11721981

Incident

Oct 1, 2025

Mileage

150,000 mi

When approaching a light, the car will completely shut off and my steering wheel will lock, and the emergency break will engage. I will be unable to use any part of my car for at least 1-2 minutes before the break releases and allows me to start my car again.

NHTSA ID

11720466

Incident

Sep 9, 2024