2021 Jeep Cherokee Powertrain (other) Problems

My power train unit (ptu) failed March 2026. At the time, no recall was in effect. I had to hire an independent mechanic to fix the issue because the local Jeep dealerships couldn’t start repair for five days after the ptu failed. After paying $4700 out of pocket for an official Jeep PTU replacement part, Jeep sent out a recall for the Cherokee. In May 2026, Jeep sent out a recall notice for 2019-2023 Cherokees for PTU failures. This affected 60,000 vehicles. I have a 2021 Cherokee. However, my specific VIN was not a part of the recall. As of today, my vehicle still has not been recalled. I contacted Jeep Customer Service to be reimbursed for my repair expense. However, they said I was not entitled to reimbursement because my VIN hasn’t been recalled. I am requesting that Jeep honors my request for reimbursement. After doing some research, the Jeep brand has been having PTU issues for years. They know it’s an issue and have yet to find a fix. They are still selling vehicles with a faulty PTU. Even now with my officially licensed replacement PTU, it could still have the defect. As a loyal Jerp customer since 2018, I am asking for assistance with obtaining reimbursement for my PTU repair. Thanks.

NHTSA ID

11767260

Incident

Mar 12, 2026

My 2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk has been effectively unusable since April 19, 2026 due to the PTU issue associated with FCA Recall 40D/NHTSA Recall 26V-290. I previously filed a complaint regarding this vehicle. It has now been 5 months with no repair remedy available. Due to being told by the certified dealer, Mopar, Jeep/Stellantis (who closed my claim because they claim the vehicle is safe to drive despite of having an outstanding safety recall) I thought I would attempt to drive the vehicle again. On September 15, 2026, the vehicle lost all motive power while I was traveling approximately 65 mph on the highway on my daily commute. I had to coast the vehicle to the shoulder. This is the exact type of safety hazard described in the recall. FCA/Stellantis has not provided a repair solution, rental vehicle, reimbursement, or other meaningful transportation assistance. I continue to incur the expense of owning and paying for a vehicle that I cannot SAFELY operate. I am requesting that NHTSA review the length of time this recall has remained without an available remedy and the lack of assistance being provided to owners whose vehicles have already experienced the recall failure. I would also this complaint associated with my previous complaint and Recall 26V-290/40D

NHTSA ID

11766914

Incident

Sep 15, 2026

Vehicle is a 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Lux equipped with a 1-speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) / Active Drive I system. The vehicle experienced an abrupt failure of the AWD system, triggering an immediate "Service 4WD" warning light on the dashboard. Dealership diagnostics confirmed trouble code C14A7-97 (Power Transfer Unit Rear Axle Motor Circuit - Component Internal Failure), requiring a complete PTU replacement estimated at $2,200. This vehicle is currently excluded from Safety Recall 40D (NHTSA Campaign 26V290000) solely because it utilizes a 1-speed PTU rather than a 2-speed PTU. However, code C14A7-97 confirms that the 1-speed units are suffering from the exact same internal mechanical and electrical component failures described in the active recall. The vehicle has been forced into permanent front-wheel-drive mode, causing a noticeable drop in handling and acceleration performance. This mechanical failure presents a sudden loss of drive power and a severe vehicle rollaway risk if the electronic parking brake is not manually cycled. NHTSA should investigate and expand Recall 40D to include 1-speed PTU Jeep Cherokees, as they share the same defective internal components and safety hazards.

NHTSA ID

11764839

Incident

Sep 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The "4WD" warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was started but failed to shift into gear. The vehicle was able to shift into reverse and was pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed. The dealer was contacted and associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

NHTSA ID

11764799

Incident

Sep 13, 2026

Mileage

73,000 mi

While on a XXX road trip through [XXX] with my son, my Jeep was initially operating normally. We were leaving a hiking site when the Jeep gears would not engage. Soon the engine roared and popped into gear however it would not go over 30 mph and the engine went from idling to roaring with rpms going up to 8,000. We were in a small town and went to the local NAPA dealer who after examining the Jeep said he couldn’t address the issue and felt a new transmission maybe needed. Another local master mechanic advised it wasn’t the transmission and we could drive to the nearest Jeep dealer in [XXX]. While driving there, the car uncontrollably rotated between roaring, operating normally, and stalling out on hills. The Grand Junction dealer advised a total replacement of PTU Motor Component, according to the invoice. Since the Jeep was not operating properly, I approved the replacement. Fortunately the replacement was accomplished before the weekend. Upon arriving to pick up the Jeep, I was told there was a recall on this particular Jeep and issue. However since no repair had been decided upon - where we still are today, 4 months after I had to pay for the replacement parts and service. A total of $1,450.31 had to be paid by me. I’ve been informed by all parties that until a repair option is agreed upon, I remain out of pocket of these funds. I’m retired, living on a fixed income, paid for a warranty protection plan that I am still in compliance with, but I can’t be reimbursed until a repair plan is decided upon. The Jeep was basically inoperable, at least not safely. After the repairs were made, the Jeep is operating better than it had even before the incident occurred. I was not aware of the recall - guess since a repair decision had not been made, I was not notified of the issue. This is BS, sorry but that closely resembles how I feel. Please do something to aid my situation and help me get my funds back. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11764684

Incident

May 18, 2026

Car does not go into 4wd. Svc light is on. Now loud clanging under feet and car won’t go over 35 Moh

NHTSA ID

11764604

Incident

Sep 16, 2026

Driving to work, stopped at a stop light, upon resumption of driving there was a loud bang and my vehicle would not move. I had to have the vehicle towed and the PTU replaced. This was on May 8, 2026 just prior to the official recall notification. The repair was completed at AAMCO. On May 18, 2026 I became aware of the recall 40D / NHTSA 26V-290 for the PTU failure. I submitted claims for reimbursement on 5/18/26, 7/7/2026, 8/4/2026 and Stelanis automated response no parts or remedy available. I again contacted Stellanis on 8/25/26 Case Number 97657475 and asked to elevate for review by the reimbursement team, a follow up call today they again told me the case was closed there is no current remedy or parts available and they will not process any reimbursement claims and again closed my case.

NHTSA ID

11762978

Incident

May 8, 2026

The PTU is bad the vehicle can roll when in park.

NHTSA ID

11761995

Incident

Sep 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH and attempting to stop at a stop light, the vehicle stalled and lost power. The contact attempted to shift into reverse or drive, and there was an abnormally harsh sound coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle became inoperable. The parking brake and 4x4 service light were illuminated during after the failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train). The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was reached by phone and was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

NHTSA ID

11761854

Incident

Jul 24, 2026

Mileage

84,000 mi

While driving i lost power and heard whining and grinding. Loss of power. Had to get it to towed to the dealership where it remains as their no remedy.

NHTSA ID

11761318

Incident

Aug 7, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH with cruise control engaged, the vehicle hesitated, and the transmission momentarily shifted into neutral(N) before returning to normal functionality. The message “Service All Wheel Drive” was displayed. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

NHTSA ID

11756931

Incident

Jul 18, 2026

Mileage

64,000 mi

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power. The 4WD warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the failure was associated with the recall. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the failure reoccurred. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11756410

Incident

Jul 22, 2026

Mileage

70,000 mi

Drive train control module & actuator replaced at less than 75,000 miles

NHTSA ID

11756387

Incident

Aug 6, 2026

Twice in the past year, the vehicle stalled after coming to a stop at a red light. The morning after the most recent incident, the car would not start. I had it towed to the dealership. That was Luther Brookdale Dodge, Jeep and Ram in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Two weeks ago, I began to intermittently see the message '4WD Unavailable - Service Required'. I brought it yesterday, and was told that the Power Transfer Unit was in need of replacement. I travel as an special education case manager and teacher quite a distance every day to work. The roads in the wintertime can be quite challenging on which to travel. This vehicle should be included in the list of affected vehicle trims that are listed for the multitude of Jeep vehicles part of the PTU related recall. I need to know that the vehicle is being repaired with a part that is safe, not the same PTU used originally, in manufacture, which has been found to be unsafe.

NHTSA ID

11756116

Incident

May 14, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the “4WD Service” warning light illuminated, and while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the power transfer unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V343000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 161,000.

NHTSA ID

11756056

Incident

Aug 5, 2026

Mileage

161,000 mi

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving on a ramp at 40-45 MPH, there was an abnormally loud grinding sound coming from underneath the vehicle, and the vehicle lost drive power. No warning light was illuminated. The electronic parking brake engaged automatically. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact restarted the vehicle, but the failure persisted, and the electronic parking brake engaged automatically. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the PTU had failed; however, parts were not available for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered to provide limited reimbursement for rental car expenses. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

NHTSA ID

11755511

Incident

Jul 19, 2026

Mileage

45,000 mi

PTU failure at 62000 miles. There is a recall for the exact issue on the exact part for 2019 to 2025 Jeep Cherokees but this one, as well as several thousand others, somehow do not fall under this recall. Why? From what the dealer told us this is a “critical safety issue that could result in serious injury or death” so why would this not be a recall along with the 60000+ other ones? Dealer told me this was sushi a critical safety issue they would not return the car to me until it was fixed, and part was 2 month back ordered which was last week but still hear nothing. What is the hold up with a recall on this?

NHTSA ID

11754810

Incident

May 22, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in park(P), the 4WD warning light illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11754723

Incident

Aug 3, 2026

Mileage

60,000 mi

I own a 2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk that is included in the PTU safety recall involving sudden loss of motive power and/or loss of the PARK function. My vehicle began exhibiting the exact symptoms of this recall in April 2026 and has been undrivable since that time. The recall was announced in May 2026, but Stellantis has still not provided a repair remedy. As of today, my vehicle has been out of service for approximately four months due to the recalled condition. I have received the recall notification letter, but it continues to state that no remedy is available. This has left me without the use of my vehicle for an extended period despite an acknowledged safety defect. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate Stellantis’ failure to provide a timely remedy for this safety recall. My vehicle has been undrivable since April 2026 because of the recall condition and remains unusable due to the lack of an available repair. This vehicle CANNOT be safely driven.

NHTSA ID

11754404

Incident

Apr 19, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while merging onto a two-lane highway, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle lost motive power but was driven in LIMP Mode to the nearest dealer. Prior to the failure, the contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer confirmed that the failure was associated with the recall; however, the dealer failed to provide the contact with any assistance. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle remained with the dealer unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

NHTSA ID

11754380

Incident

Jul 31, 2026

Mileage

135,000 mi

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle's wheels locked up. The contact sustained injuries to the neck and whiplash and pain. The service 4WD warning light was illuminated after the failure. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the failure was caused by a catastrophic PTU failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was able to obtain a loaner vehicle. The manufacturer opened a STAR case and determined that there was no coverage on the vehicle for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

NHTSA ID

11753043

Incident

Jul 10, 2026

Mileage

62,000 mi

The PTU UNIT HAS FAILED TWICE ALREADY ON MY VEHICLE! THE FIRST TIME IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND COVERED; THIS LAST TIME IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR IT, $3,186.02. Then a month or so later received a document in the mail stating that this is now a safety recall and if you have already had it fixed, once they find a remedy it will have to be fixed again, as it is still wrong and can fail AGAIN. ALSO states if you paid out of pocket for said repair to go to the website with documentation and a refund would be issued within 60 days of them receiving it.... but once you do that they automatically respond and deny it stating until a remedy is found they aren't giving me my money! which is against the law!!! And to top it off, my car is already acting up again, and pretty sure this will be going out again soon... so there will be a lot more for them to deal with if this does not get resolved and money returned to me. Which, in actuality, they should be giving me a refund on the vehicle as this first incident happened in 2022... so we should be well out of the "reasonable timeframe" to come up with a solution to fix said problem. The Manufacturer is withholding a resolution due to a lack of a recall remedy! Campaign 40D NHTSA 23V-404

NHTSA ID

11751666

Incident

Feb 2, 2022

The vehicle has developed a safety-related defect involving the rear differential. During low-speed turns from a stop, in both forward and reverse, the rear drivetrain exhibits grinding, binding, and wheel hop, causing the vehicle to jerk and resist normal movement. This condition affects the vehicle’s predictable handling while maneuvering in parking lots, intersections, and other confined areas. If the rear differential continues to deteriorate, it could result in catastrophic drivetrain failure and a sudden loss of vehicle propulsion, leaving the vehicle unable to move and potentially stranded in an active traffic lane or other hazardous location. This defect presents an unreasonable risk to the safety of the vehicle occupants and other road users and should be investigated as a potential safety-related defect.

NHTSA ID

11748808

Incident

Jun 25, 2026

Jeep Cherokee 2021 with less than 44,000 miles. pTU accentuates went out. VIN not in recall despite the make, model, and problem being recalled on 60,000 other jeeps already. If not fixed the car can freeze and possibly roll over or roll away when in park. I feel jeep should pay for this as part of their recall.

NHTSA ID

11748097

Incident

Jul 2, 2026

While getting an oil change, the mechanic below noticed a crack in my rear differential. He sent me a picture. I have looked online and there are thousands of complaints for the same issue. I immediately contacted the local certified Jeep mechanic and was told that the rea diff housing has a crack around snap ring and the the PTU has a leak and evidence of metal. I was quoted over $6,000 to repair the vehicle and was told I could drive it until I couldn't anymore. The "service 4wd" light has been coming on since I bought the car less than 2 years ago but nothing could be found wrong until last Friday. There is a recall for this issue on other makes and sub models for the Jeep Cherokee but for some reason mine is not included. Please investigate as soon as possible as it is not possible for me to afford the repairs.

NHTSA ID

11747395

Incident

Jun 26, 2026