2020 Jeep Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Complaints about the 2020 Jeep Cherokee are dominated by the all-wheel-drive system: owners frequently describe a "Service 4WD" or "4WD Unavailable" message, sometimes with jerking, grinding, or loss of drive, and many say they were told the power transfer unit had failed. Transmission concerns are the second main theme, ranging from harsh shifting and stalling to a complete loss of drive. Engine, electrical, and brake complaints are more scattered and often show up early, sometimes within the first few thousand miles.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Service 4WD / 4WD Unavailable - power transfer unit

   • 157 complaints (47%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (44 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $3,000 (median of 16 quotes)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe a "Service 4WD," "4WD Unavailable," or "Service AWD" message appearing while driving, often with jerking, a popping or grinding noise from underneath, or a brief loss of power. Many say the dealer or mechanic diagnosed a failed power transfer unit (sometimes also a transfer case or rear differential) that needed replacement. Several note the part was on back order, and more than one mention that their vehicle identification number was not included in a related recall. Mostly reported between roughly 20,000 and 100,000 miles, with several cases in the 45,000-90,000 mile range.

   Recall 26V2900003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the power transfer unit or transfer case has been replaced, and check whether the vehicle's VIN is covered by the power train recall. During a test drive, watch the instrument panel for any 4WD service message and listen for grinding or popping from underneath.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased a brand new 2020 Jeep Cherokee last january and my 4 wheel drive sensor came on in november. My dealership got me in the first of december and told me it's my ptu. They stated the part was on back order till the first of january. I asked if I could get a loaner till the part came in and they stated they don't provide loaners for that long of time. I let it go and decided today to give them a call with an update on my part for my 4 wheel drive. They stated still don't have a date for when the part will be in. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11388876, filed 2021-01, 20,000 miles

   “The vehicle was in motion. The vehicle made a notification on the cluster saying 4wd system unavailable, service required. The vehicle then began to shift ruff and the only way you could get it to point a to b is if as soon as you started it you put it in sports mode. The vehicle went into the shop on 10-15-2020 and came out of the shop on 12-4-2020 due to them not being able to get the part which was a power transfer unit. The part got delayed multiple times. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11382976, filed 2020-12, 7,674 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Harsh shifting, stalling, or sudden loss of drive

   • 61 complaints (18%)
   • median 53,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $2,250 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Complaints describe the transmission shifting roughly, jerking when accelerating or when the pedal is released, and occasionally stalling at low speed or after a stop. A few owners report the engine revving with no response from the accelerator, or the vehicle dropping out of gear and refusing to move, with diagnoses including a failed transmission or metal debris in the fluid. Dealers in some cases told owners the behavior was normal or could not find a cause. Reported from very low mileage (under 1,000 miles on some vehicles) up to about 105,000 miles, with many between 40,000 and 90,000 miles.

   What to check: Drive the vehicle from a cold start through several stop-and-go cycles and note any clunking, hesitation, or harsh shifts. Ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced and whether any dealer diagnosis or repair has been performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On and off the highway the steering sticks when trying to stay in the lane which leads to oversteering and constant weaving in the lane and sometimes going over the lines. The transmission also shift very hard and at times will not shift when it should. I was told these are normal in this vehicle.... It is not normal!”

   NHTSA complaint #11373912, filed 2020-11, 1,500 miles

   “Vehicle stalls while in motion on city streets and needs to be put into park and drive again to move. Vehicle has 85 miles on it. Purchased 4 days ago. On day after purchase vehicle stalled while going straight on 2 instances, it stalled on a right turn on 2 instances, it stalled at takeoff after being parked once, it stalled when trying to back out of parking space 3 times on reverse. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11312125, filed 2020-02, 75 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Check engine light, throttle loss, and overheating

   • 27 complaints (8%)
   • median 14,900 mi at 2.0 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners report the check engine light coming on, sometimes together with a throttle-related message and a sharp loss of power while driving. Other complaints describe the temperature gauge rising into the hot range after several miles of driving, traced in one case to the active grille shutter system. A few owners also describe low oil pressure warnings, oil use between changes, or oil leaking around the oil filter housing area. Mostly reported under about 15,000 miles, including several vehicles with under 2,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for signs of oil around the filter housing and upper engine area, and ask whether any powertrain control module updates have been applied. Confirm no stored check engine codes remain and that the cooling fan and grille shutters operate.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Engine light came on the 29th day of ownership, with odb code p0139. The one o2 sensor was replaced, driving back home after the repair the engine light came back on. Took it back the next day same code p0139, this time they replaced the ECM/PCM computer. After almost two weeks the engine light came back on with the same code. I purchased this car with on 7 miles on it and it's been in the dealership 3 with less than 2k on it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11330743, filed 2020-06, 1,128 miles

   “The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that there was oil underneath the front end of the vehicle. The oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The contact noticed oil leaking from the top of the oil canister. The contact looked online and found a recall related to the failure experienced; however, the contact could not recall the NHTSA Campaign Number. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer and was not diagnosed or repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11639272, filed 2025-01, 84,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Sudden stalling and electrical shutdown

   • 20 complaints (6%)
   • median 5,650 mi at 1.2 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle shutting off or losing electrical power while driving or stopped, with the instrument panel going blank and warning chimes sounding. Some owners report the parking brake engaging on its own or being unable to restart the vehicle for several minutes. Diagnoses mentioned include the body control module, battery and charging system, and starter issues. Spread across the range, from under 5,000 miles to about 73,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the battery and charging system have been checked and whether any control module or software updates were performed. Note during a test drive whether warning lights flicker or the displays drop out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In the am, the monitor went out and came on at a later time that day; when driving at 70 miles per hour the front end was vibrating; and when returning home, within three seconds I lost steering, it engaged, went out and engaged again. I parked the Jeep, had it towed to the dealership two days later. Went thru arbitration and lost.”

   NHTSA complaint #11388551, filed 2021-01, 480 miles

   “While driving the vehicle all the warning lights come on and warning sounds start going off. We lose our speedometer, fuel guage and all other instruments. The parking brake engages as we are driving down the road and the vehicle will not shift gears. When stopped after this incident, the parking brake engages and we are unable to go forward or backwards while in gear. After todays incident, the vehicle wouldn't start back up after the vehicle was turned off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11360125, filed 2020-09, 11,700 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Power steering loss or binding

   • 21 complaints (6%)
   • median 22,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe the steering becoming stiff or the power steering cutting out, in some cases with a warning light, and one owner reported the vehicle pulling sharply side to side. Complaints also mention the steering feeling sticky at highway speed, requiring constant correction. Dealers in some cases replaced electronic steering components or told owners the behavior was normal. Reported from a few hundred miles up to about 65,000 miles, with several cases around 13,000-23,000 miles.

   Recall 19V637000

   What to check: Ask whether the steering rack recall repair has been completed for this VIN. On the test drive, check for stiffness or binding at low and highway speeds and any steering warning light.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle steering wheel had become firm. The power steering lock warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11549265, filed 2023-10, 23,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly jerked two feet to the right and two feet to the left. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the electronic steering power transfer unit had failed and needed to be replaced. The electronic steering power transfer unit was replaced, and the vehicle was fixed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11522022, filed 2023-05, 13,000 miles

Buying note. Have any 2020 Cherokee inspected with attention to the all-wheel-drive system, since the power transfer unit is the most common complaint topic, and confirm which recalls and software updates have been completed for the specific VIN. A service history showing recent transmission and cooling system work is worth requesting.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.