2019 Jeep Cherokee Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 50,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

My 4wd service light came on and I took it to a private mechanic who did a diagnostic. They found a bad PTU and it needs to be replaced. My car VIN is not falling into the recall that was current within my year of Jeep (Recall number: 26V290000) . My problem is the same as the recall but my vehicle was not included. Please provide help…Owner complaint, filed 2026

I have a 2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk that has a "Service 4WD" issue. I have had the vehicle diagnosed and have a PTU failure of C14A7 which coincides with a recall 25V-011. The symptoms and failure mode I have mirrors the recall but yet, my VIN is excluded.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 17,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 12,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

Vehicle was stopped at a light. When I let go of the break the car turned on the parking break. After I turned off the parking break it asked to shift into neutral or park and press the break button the break was locked. I tried to turn the car off but it wouldn’t shut all the way off. It unlocked everything after I turned the engine off…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What happened : The vehicle experienced a sudden electrical failure and loss of normal shutdown control. The vehicle would not start or turn over. After repeated attempts, it eventually started, at which point all dashboard lights began flashing uncontrollably. The engine continued running even after the ignition was turned off and the…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 10,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was leaving the parking lot of a grocery store - I was probably 100 yards from where I parked to the exit to the road. My [XXX] and [XXX] were in car seats in the back. I went to merge into traffic going left out of the parking lot. As I accelerated to merge into traffic and get up to speed, the emergency brake on my car engaged with…Owner complaint, filed 2026

While driving, the emergency brake system becomes enabled, which immediately causes the vehicle to stop and sometimes stall. This is so dangerous! My daughter has been in the middle of an intersection when the vehicle has done this, she's lucky she hasn't been struck and killed. We have not taken it to a dealership, however online…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 12,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The steering is very "glitchy" almost sticky. When driving the steering wheel does not move freely when turned and will slightly stick in place.Owner complaint, filed 2026

I’m having power steering issues , when i start my vehicle the power steering light comes on and my steering wheel locks upOwner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 4,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The vehichle is available for inspection upon request. While driving the vehichle will lose driving power and the D on the screen will begin blinking. The gas pedal will cause the vehichle to rev, however it does not accelerate. There have been times where an engine light comes on and i will get a message to put the vehichle in park and…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The car only has 79 miles and the transmission is slugglisg it has a delay in it when you accelerate. and lots of 2019 Jeep Cherokee latitude plus have been recalled for the transmission. Just not my VIN number, but my car is having an exact same problem as the other 2019.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 44,000 miles. Parts named most: Automatic emergency braking (22), Adaptive cruise control (7), Blind spot detection (6).

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the rear-view camera was stuck in the on position. There was an abnormal beeping sound while another vehicle was approaching. The local dealer was contacted and notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 80,000 miles

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a distorted image. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the rear-view camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 49,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 16,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

would like to add to the growing list of frustrated Jeep Cherokee owners requiring an expensive repair for known PTU issues. The "Service 4WD" check light came on 1 year ago (checked by service department 12/2025), finally diagnosed in August 2026 as a failed PTU, with back ordered repair due to rising number of this specific…Owner complaint, filed 2026

PTU for this car, with no light or warning on the dashboard, car began to make a cranking clicking noise and began to smoke from the rear exhaust, car lost steering capability for the brief moment and fellow driver alerted me that my car was on fire below. Car immediately pulled to the side, i never lost power. at mechanic shop, appears…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 14,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

Was in an accident due to hitting ice hit a guard rail going 60 mph on the highway totaled the vehicle but not one air bag deployed.Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the air bag was visible on the steering wheel. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the air bag warning light was reset. The vehicle was not…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 74,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 6,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, there was an abnormal popping sound coming from the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road to inspect the vehicle and discovered that the sunroof had shattered without impact. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 70,000 miles

I find it very interesting that no one ever called me and you have closed my case . I wrote to you & told you the dealer on St. Thomas did not do windshields , Carribbean Auto Mart zip code 00802. I purchased my car at Arrigo in WPB , FL 33411 . I recently relocated to STT and shipped my car here. A 12 inch dead branch (which I have…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 1,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

Wheel lugs seize to wheels making it difficult to remove them if you have a flat tire. Unlike metals causes the problem. Safety issue.Owner complaint, filed 2024

I know it's on recall last year but it's happen when driving on freeway over 70miles per hrs and I can feel my steering wheel like not turn like something stop the steel then I can turn or change line on the freewayOwner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 10,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (16).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

My panoramic sunroof just shattered without reason.i wasn't close enough to any vehicle for a rock or debris to be the issue I was driving a steady speed on the freeway when it happen. The glass that broke seemed to have broke outward not inward.Owner complaint, filed 2025

We purchased the 2019 Jeep Cherokee new from a Jeep dealership. At 15,000 miles (approx.) the hood began to bounce up and down 1/2" to 3/4" while driving at highway speeds, driving into a wind or following a semi-truck. In addition to the obviously concern over the safety of the hood bouncing and potentially unlatching, this causes the…Owner complaint, filed 2024

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The vehicle abruptly stopped driving going 40 mph, this could have caused an accident or rollover had It been on the highway. The check engine light came on after the incident. This was towed by flatbed to the dealership where it was diagnosed as the ptu.Owner complaint, filed 2025

The PTU has shown a code of failure to communicate. My 4WD light was on stating Ned’s to be serviced. While driving and excellerating I would hear and feel a clunk. There was a whooping sound while driving, at first when turning and then increasing to more and louder. At 57,000. Miles when getting an oil change told the mechanic of the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

After an accident occurred the drivers seat moved forward. The incident was a minor collision. During the repair of the vehicle, the body shop stated the seat could not be fixed. Drivers seat may not be moved forward or back now, making the vehicle unsafe to drive for certain people.Owner complaint, filed 2025

Passenger seat belts closest two both driver side and passenger side in the back seat do not lock properly. We tried to vacuum it clean and blow compressed air in it to clean it out but still not working. We took it to a local jeep dealer and they confirmed they would need to be replaced but only the extended warranty covers $599 (we owe…Owner complaint, filed 2025