2019 Jeep Cherokee Problems: Transmission / driveline (1,658 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2019 Jeep Cherokee is Transmission / driveline (40% of 1,658 owner reports). There are 11 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-16 1,658 complaints · 11 recalls
What problems show up on the 2019 Jeep Cherokee?
663 of 1,658 filings named Transmission / driveline (40% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Engine (269 reports).
There are 11 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Engine, Transmission / driveline, Brakes, Electrical, and Steering. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2018 has 687 reports on file; this year has 1,658. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Transmission / driveline 663 complaints · 40.0% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 40
- Fires 19
- Injuries 37
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 663 | 40.0% | 4 crashes · 0 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 269 | 16.2% | 2 crashes · 8 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 111 | 6.7% | 0 crashes · 1 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 97 | 5.8% | 5 crashes · 1 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 60 | 3.6% | 3 crashes · 0 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 47 | 2.8% | 4 crashes · 0 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 28 | 1.7% | 0 crashes · 1 fires |
| Airbags (AIR BAGS) | 25 | 1.5% | 13 crashes · 0 fires |
| Wheels (WHEELS) | 25 | 1.5% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 312 | 18.8% | 8 crashes · 7 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 18V344000 was reported 1 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 18V524000 was reported 98 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 18V739000 was reported 56 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 18V917000 was reported 231 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 19V637000 was reported 337 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 41 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 56 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 56 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 52 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 75 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 54 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 43 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 25 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 55 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 39 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 42 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 25 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 30 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 24 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 35 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 26 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 27 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 31 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 38 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 41 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 29 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 29 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 37 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 32 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 89 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 105 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 133 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 97 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 113 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 69 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 70 | |
| 2026-Q4 | Owner reports | 12 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V344000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V492000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V523000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V524000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V739000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V917000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V248000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V449000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V637000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 25V011000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 26V290000 |
Safety Recalls (11)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Engine, Transmission / driveline, Brakes, Electrical, and Steering.
-
Recall campaign 18V344000
Engine
- Report date
- Component:
- Engine (ENGINE)
- Consequence:
- Cylinder damage or camshaft failure can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair or replace the affected engine components, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 9, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U52.
-
Recall campaign 18V492000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- If the transmission weld fails, the vehicle will stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin September 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U85.
-
Recall campaign 18V523000
Brakes
- Report date
- Component:
- Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
- Consequence:
- A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U86.
-
Recall campaign 18V524000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
-
Recall campaign 18V739000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- A vehicle stall can increase the risk of crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will re-flash the transmission controller with a new calibration, free of charge. The recall began November 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is UA9.
-
Recall campaign 18V917000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- Without the activation of warning chimes, messages, and gauges to provide vehicle information to the driver, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is UC4.
-
Recall campaign 19V248000
Safety recall 19V248000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- In the event of a crash, the seat may move, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will tighten the mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began April 11, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V31.
-
Recall campaign 19V449000
Safety recall 19V449000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- In the event of a crash, the inability to properly detect a crash may result in improper air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected sensors, free of charge. The recall began August 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V63.
-
Recall campaign 19V637000
Steering
- Report date
- Component:
- Steering (STEERING)
- Consequence:
- A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V99.
-
Recall campaign 25V011000
Safety recall 25V011000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway, which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will update the drivetrain control module and PTU software and replace the PTU, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning February 19, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 01C.
-
Recall campaign 26V290000
Safety recall 26V290000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- A failed PTU may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will update the Drivetrain Control Drivetrain Control Module, PTU, and Electronic Park Brake software, and replace the PTU, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk were mailed June 25, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy becomes available. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 40D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 14, 2026.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-16
Showing 6 of 1,658 complaints · page 1 of 67
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I took my car for inspection and would not pass due to the rear shift differential where the seal that connects to the cylinder is away from the cylinder and a crack is now there. Crack is at least three inches long. As the crack continues to widen, I will lose control of my rear end. Mechanic stated there is no reason for this crack or the seal to be in this condition as it was not involved in any accidents.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I was coming out of a gas station and the battery light came on/ stayed on and the car just stopped. I couldn’t shut it off, put it in drive, put it in park…….The car still seemed to be running… I had to wait about 10 mins before I could do anything I.e. start it up again. This was very scary and unsafe as the car stopped dead between a street entrance/ exit of the gas station, and cars had to swerve to get around me.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
So I was driving down the road doing 60 miles an hour and I have lost power total drive power while driving doing 60 miles an hour with a car just goes into a neutral rubs up and I have to pull on side of the road and turn off the car wait like 10 to 15 minutes and then the car resets itself I believe my car has a recall for the PTU and I believe that’s what’s wrong with it. It’s a recall so it needs looked at and I took it to the dealership saying my concerns and they have told me that there is no fix available yet for it which that cannot be true because I got something in the mail saying that there is a fix available so I’m not sure if they just don’t wanna do it cause it’s gonna be a hard job to do but it needs done ASAP because that’s putting my life in danger just having total loss drive power while driving down the highway doing 65 to 70 miles an hour it has happened three total times now.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Service 4WD appeared on car and noticable reduce power and performance has been happening. Mechanic states its the power transfer case. My model does not show a part of the recall, but we wanted to report it.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
My 2019 Jeep Cherokee Limited experienced a structural failure of the rear differential assembly, Mopar part number 53010758AG. The aluminum housing has fractured and broken away around the output shaft/retaining-ring area. There has been no known collision or external impact that would explain this damage. This failure raises serious safety concerns because damage to the differential housing could potentially cause lubricant loss, further drivetrain failure, or loss of propulsion. Photographs documenting the broken housing are available. I have identified multiple similar NHTSA complaints involving 2019 Jeep Cherokees with rear differential housing fractures and retaining-ring failures, including complaints 11761757, 11736628, and 11718514. I am concerned that this may represent a recurring safety-related defect rather than an isolated failure. I request that NHTSA investigate these rear differential housing failures and determine whether a safety recall is warranted. My 2019 Jeep Cherokee Limited experienced a structural failure of the rear differential assembly, Mopar part number 53010758AG. The aluminum housing has fractured and broken away around the output shaft/retaining-ring area. There has been no known collision or external impact that would explain this damage. This failure raises serious safety concerns because damage to the differential housing could potentially cause lubricant loss, further drivetrain failure, or loss of propulsion. Photographs documenting the broken housing are available. I have identified multiple similar NHTSA complaints involving 2019 Jeep Cherokees with rear differential housing fractures and retaining-ring failures, including complaints 11761757, 11736628, and 11718514. I am concerned that this may represent a recurring safety-related defect rather than an isolated failure. I request that NHTSA investigate these rear differential housing failures and determine whether a safety recall is warranted.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Vehicle suffered sudden total internal PTU failure with active Diagnostic Trouble Code C1496-92 (PTU Motor Position Performance). Diagnosed at AutoNation CDJR Southwest (RO #619044). * Technicians attempted to resolve the drivetrain issue by applying factory software updates UA9 and W20. The software flashes completed successfully, but DTC C1496-92 remained active and 4WD remained unavailable, confirming a complete internal mechanical breakdown of the PTU assembly. This mechanical failure causes a sudden loss of motive power and rollaway hazard identical to NHTSA Recall 25V011 / Campaign 01C. Chrysler’s dealer portal (DealerCONNECT) auto-rejected goodwill assistance strictly due to vehicle model year parameters, despite low mileage (65,438 miles) and an identical mechanical failure mode to recalled units.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2019 Jeep Cherokee?
Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 663 of 1,658 reports (40%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2019 Jeep Cherokee?
NHTSA lists 11 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Engine, Transmission / driveline, Brakes, Electrical, and Steering. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2019 Jeep Cherokee?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-16. YearTell is not a government agency.