2014 Jeep Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report transmission and driveline trouble: rough or delayed shifting, the vehicle slipping into neutral, and the "Service Shifter" or "Service Transmission" messages, sometimes with a loss of power while driving. Oil leaks from the engine oil cooler/filter housing and stalling shortly after refueling are the other recurring themes. Many complaints come in between roughly 40,000 and 120,000 miles, and several owners describe the transmission behavior as present since early ownership.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slips to neutral / limp mode, Service

   • 1,214 complaints (46%)
   • median 35,000 mi at 3.3 yrs old (991 state mileage)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 38 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle losing drive or dropping into neutral while moving, often with a "Service Transmission" or "shift to park" message and sometimes a check engine light. Owners report the car going into a reduced-power mode, having to stop and restart to continue, and dealers often first trying software reprogramming before recommending transmission or hydraulic pressure sensor replacement. Several owners note their VIN was not covered by the 9-speed transmission recalls. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 15,000 miles to over 150,000, with many in the 60,000-100,000 mile range during ordinary driving.

   Recall 19V447000Recall 16V5290002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether transmission software updates or the 19V447000 recall were completed, and test drive from a stop, on an incline, and at highway speed to feel for hesitation, lurching or neutral engagement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While traveling at speeds of 45mph in the city the gear shifted into neutral and the vehicle shut off and informed me to put the car into p after doing so I tried to start the vehicle but it was inoperable and the message service the shifter appeared on the dash with all lights on the shifter illuminated”

   NHTSA complaint #11359898, filed 2020-09, 117,000 miles

   “I live in nj but work in phila. In december I was on my way home on i95 and my check engine light came on saying service transmission. 30 secs later it goes limp. With no way to accelerate I had to coast to a shoulder at the base of the bridge with a tractor trailer almost crashing into the back of me. I took it to cherry hill Jeep and the invoice says recall partial complete. Fast forward to today 3/21, I am riding over the walt whitman bridge with the check engine light comes on saying service transmission. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11404094, filed 2021-03, 80,100 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Power transfer unit (PTU) failure, clunking and loss of

   • 253 complaints (10%)
   • median 64,979 mi at 6.0 yrs old (121 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,500 (median of 24 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe a clunk or bang from the front end followed by loss of propulsion, sometimes with the vehicle not holding in park. Dealers diagnosed stripped splines or a failed power transfer unit or transfer case needing replacement. Several owners report the repair was not covered because their VIN was outside the PTU recall, while others say the part was already damaged when they arrived for the recall repair. Mostly reported between roughly 40,000 and 160,000 miles, often during acceleration from a stop or while turning.

   Recall 20V3430004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the 20V343000 PTU recall was performed and whether the AWD/4WD system has been serviced; listen for clunks when pulling away from a stop or turning at low speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I took my 2014 Jeep Cherokee in for a recall notice to have shift points changed. Upon receiving the vehicle back I noticed a thumping noise whenever the vehicle was not excelerating. I contacted the dealership to inform them the recall didnt work, took the vehicle back to have it looked at. Was informed that a new power transfer unit (ptu) needed to be installed and that it had nothing to do with the recall. I was informed the 5 year warranty had expired in april of 2019 even though the vehicle only had 69500 miles on it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11297606, filed 2020-01, 64,979 miles

   “The ptu has failed in my vehicle. When I bought the vehicle there was a 4x4 light on the dash but I was told that it needed to be just turned off by a jeep dealership. But I believe it actually was a symtom of the failing ptu. My vehicle sometimes goes into neutral when I try to pull off from a stop sign and then the vehicle kicks itself back into drive. My coolant and transmission temp rises the more I drive it and transmission seems to shift late or hard and sometimes prematurely sometimes it smells like burning electrical.”

   NHTSA complaint #11705702, filed 2025-12, 172,803 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Stalling or rough running after refueling

   • 108 complaints (4%)
   • median 53,574 mi at 5.5 yrs old (74 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,400 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2025

   Complaints describe the engine dropping RPMs and stalling shortly after filling the tank, sometimes with a strong fuel smell and a message to shift to park and restart. Owners also report the fuel pump nozzle repeatedly shutting off during refueling and rough running or hesitation afterward; dealers and independent shops have replaced fuel lines and the charcoal canister without a lasting fix in some cases. Reported from low mileage up to about 120,000 miles, usually within a short drive after refueling.

   What to check: Fill the tank during a test drive and watch for hard starting, rough idle or stalling shortly afterward, and ask whether the evaporative emissions system or fuel tank has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Attempting to fill gas tank at gas station. Gas tank at about 1/4 full. Gas pump repeatedly shuts off while filling about every 0.1 gallon. It takes 10-15 minutes to fill the tank. This first happened january 2020 but problem went away after several fill ups. I have the problem again in september 2020. Still happening. I live in northwest ohio.”

   NHTSA complaint #11362546, filed 2020-10, 40,000 miles

   “In october of 2020 while driving on the highway my Jeep shut off and lost all motive and electric power. The steering wheel locked up and the brakes applied themselves. My wife was driving, doing about 40-45mph. A message came up that said put vehicle in park and turn off. After doing so my wife was able to turn the vehicle back on and get home safely. We took our Jeep into to be looked at by the dealership. They said they found a code for low voltage but the battery was good, just loose connections. . No other codes were present. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11375228, filed 2020-11, 77,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Rough, jerky or delayed shifting from a stop

   • 547 complaints (21%)
   • median 24,500 mi at 2.5 yrs old (438 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,450 (median of 16 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe jerking and lunging on low-speed upshifts and downshifts, a delay before the car moves from a stop, and a revving sensation as if the gear has not engaged. Complaints say dealers frequently applied software updates and characterized the behavior as normal for an adaptive transmission, with the symptoms returning afterward. Often described as present since early ownership and continuing over time, commonly reported between about 40,000 and 100,000 miles.

   Recall 19V4470002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the car repeatedly from a standstill and at low speed in traffic; ask whether transmission software updates were applied and whether the behavior was documented before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My husband was sitting at a traffic light and accelerated when the light turned green. As he proceeded through the intersection the vehicle made a loud pop noise and then the engine went to a high rev and the vehicle would not move. He coasted down a hill with no power and was able to pull into a parking lot. A few months before the transmission failed, I had noticed that the vehicle kept jumping while I would have my foot on the brake. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11407914, filed 2021-04, 59,082 miles

   “My husband and I purchased a used 2014 Jeep Cherokee limited 4 cylinder for our daughter in 2017. We noticed early on that it had shifting problems with its gears. It would sort of jerk and lunge forward when shifting gears. We purchased the vehicle from a carmax in north carolina. We also purchased the maxcare extended warranty, good for 60 months and 100,000 miles. The car had 38,000 miles when we purchased it. We had it a few weeks before returning it to carmax complaining about the jerking. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11337089, filed 2020-07, 60,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Engine oil leaks from oil cooler / filter housing

   Mentioned in 6 of 80 sampled complaints

   Owners report oil leaking from the engine oil cooler or oil filter housing, sometimes dripping onto the exhaust and producing a burning smell, with oil visible on the engine and underside. Complaints mention repeated housing replacement and dealer findings of low oil pressure and lifter noise following oil loss. Typically reported between about 60,000 and 100,000 miles, noticed while parked or after driving.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check under the engine and around the filter housing for oil residue or a burning smell, and ask whether the housing has been replaced or whether oil consumption has been measured.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I went to get my oil changed and was told and showed (in pictures taken by the attendant) that my vehicle has several oil leaks. The attendant also told me that it was a possibility that the vehicle could catch on fire because of the oil leaks. I was then asked if I had had any mechanical work done on my vehicle and I replied no since I hadn't had any work done other than maintenance. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11386024, filed 2021-01, 91,698 miles

   “This year Jeep was equipped with a plastic engine oil cooler housing that is easily cracked when the oil is changed. I have had to replace it twice, and it is leaking again. Due to significant oil leaks and loss of oil in the engine, I took it to the chrysler auto service center they told me the lifters in the engine are now 'tapping' probably from loss of oil pressure, and the cost to replace both the engine oil cooler housing, and the lifters will be another $1,900. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11388219, filed 2021-01, 76,000 miles

Buying note. Budget for a careful test drive and a pre-purchase inspection that covers the transmission, PTU and AWD system, since those are the most frequently reported areas. Ask for records of completed recalls (19V447000, 20V343000) and software updates, and check for oil leaks around the engine before deciding.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 80 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.