2026 Jeep Cherokee Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2026 Jeep Cherokee, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Fuel system430.8%
- Engine323.1%
- Powertrain (other)323.1%
- Body & structure17.7%
- Driver assistance17.7%
- Electrical17.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving my vehicle, the check engine light came on after driving for about 10 minutes. It remained on and I called the dealer and they said that I should bring the vehicle in to be checked. They looked at the check engine light and said it was probably because the gas cap was not on properly. I do not have a gas cap so the turned it off and said I should be ok. It came on again and they said they would have it checked further. After further investigation the discovered a loose flap associated with the cruise control and adjusted the flap. I was told if it came on again it would need to be replaced. The light came on again and I took the vehicle in to have it replaced. It has not yet been repaired. The engine light comes on and even goes out while driving.Generally the light will come on and stay on for a few days and go off but it happens and I have not had one vehicle for more than a few months. I believe another problem is being generated from this because now I am having problems with the vehicle jerking because the vale has not been replaced.
I was driving on a busy street. The fuel gauge said I had 10-12 miles of range left before I was out of fuel. 2 miles later, at a major intersection, my car stalled in middle of the intersection. A kind stranger help me push it off of the road. I could have been hit by a car. This is a major safety issue. This is the first of two times this has happened since August.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2026 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, and the steering wheel locked. The instrument cluster displayed the messages "Stop Safely - Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon" and "Vehicle Cannot Go Over Speed." Prior to the failure, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact waited 10 minutes and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the technicians were unable to duplicate the failure, and the vehicle was returned without repair. The failure recurred, nearly resulting in a collision. The vehicle was pushed to a service station, restarted, and driven to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by telephone and email, and two cases were filed. The contact stated that an arbitration case was filed with the National Center for Dispute Settlement. The failure mileage was approximately 3,700.
While driving my vehicle, the check engine light came on after driving for about 10 minutes. It remained on and I called the dealer and they said that I should bring the vehicle in to be checked. They looked at the check engine light and said it was probably because the gas cap was not on properly. I do not have a gas cap so the turned it off and said I should be ok. It came on again and they said they would have it checked further. After further investigation the discovered a loose flap associated with the cruise control and adjusted the flap. I was told if it came on again it would need to be replaced. The light came on again and I took the vehicle in to have it replaced. It has not yet been repaired. The engine light comes on and even goes out while driving.Generally the light will come on and stay on for a few days and go off but it happens and I have not had one vehicle for more than a few months. I believe another problem is being generated from this because now I am having problems with the vehicle jerking because the vale has not been replaced.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
On October 1, 2026, at approximately 1,968 miles, my 2026 Jeep Cherokee experienced a serious powertrain failure. I began driving home from work and the vehicle initially moved without severe shaking. While traveling on the highway at approximately 70 mph and then accelerating uphill, the vehicle progressively lost power and began shuddering violently. The check-engine light began flashing while the red Electronic Throttle Control warning remained on screen. The vehicle appeared to enter a limp mode and I had significant difficulty maintaining speed and climbing the hill. A highway patrol officer followed me with his lights and siren and with his escort I was able to safely reach the next highway exit, but I was concerned that the sudden loss of acceleration could have resulted in a crash, particularly in highway traffic. The dealership performed a diagnostic scan after arrival and the service advisor told me the vehicle had multiple pending faults involving the electronic throttle body, engine misfires, fuel mixture, and other engine-management systems. The dealership has continued testing the vehicle and I was subsequently advised that testing showed severe internal engine damage affecting three of the four cylinders, described to me as three cylinders having “a hole,” and that a replacement engine may be required. The technician is consulting Jeep/Stellantis regarding additional testing, possible teardown, and repair authorization. The exact internal component that failed and the root cause are still being determined. My concern is the sudden loss of power at highway speeds, violent engine shuddering, and malfunction errors on a new vehicle under 2000 miles.
Complete turbo failure at 5000 miles including the turbo actuator.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was driving the vehicle in heavy traffic, at the speed of 1-3 mph, then stopped at a stoplight, when the hood latch spontaneously disengaged, allowing the hood to pop open. There was seemingly no reason this should have happened. I was traveling on smooth pavement and didn’t hit a bump or anything else that would have jarred the hood latch. I was also nowhere near the hood release button, as both of my hands were on the steering wheel, and there was nothing else that could have accidentally triggered the button while the vehicle was in motion. While the vehicle’s safety system alerted me to the hood opening, it automatically limited the vehicle’s speed to about 1 mph, which nearly prevented me from being able to proceed to a safe spot to pull over and correct the hood issue as vehicles around me began to accelerate once a stoplight turned green.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving my vehicle, the check engine light came on after driving for about 10 minutes. It remained on and I called the dealer and they said that I should bring the vehicle in to be checked. They looked at the check engine light and said it was probably because the gas cap was not on properly. I do not have a gas cap so the turned it off and said I should be ok. It came on again and they said they would have it checked further. After further investigation the discovered a loose flap associated with the cruise control and adjusted the flap. I was told if it came on again it would need to be replaced. The light came on again and I took the vehicle in to have it replaced. It has not yet been repaired. The engine light comes on and even goes out while driving.Generally the light will come on and stay on for a few days and go off but it happens and I have not had one vehicle for more than a few months. I believe another problem is being generated from this because now I am having problems with the vehicle jerking because the vale has not been replaced.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was driving on a busy street. The fuel gauge said I had 10-12 miles of range left before I was out of fuel. 2 miles later, at a major intersection, my car stalled in middle of the intersection. A kind stranger help me push it off of the road. I could have been hit by a car. This is a major safety issue. This is the first of two times this has happened since August.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .