2021 Jeep Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a loss of drive power tied to the power transfer unit (PTU) in four-wheel-drive vehicles, usually signaled by a "Service 4WD" message and sometimes by grinding or banging noises. Many of these complaints arrive at highway speeds or at higher mileage, and a number of owners say the part was on backorder. A smaller group reports stalling or electrical shutdowns, and some describe air bags that did not deploy in a crash.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Power transfer unit (PTU) failure and loss of drive power

   • 92 complaints (52%)
   • median 71,500 mi at 5.8 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,243 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe a sudden loss of power to the wheels, often with a "Service 4WD" or "4WD unavailable" message, and sometimes with whining, grinding or banging noises from underneath. Several say the vehicle would not move or would not engage a gear after stopping, and some report the electronic parking brake engaging on its own. According to the complaints, dealers diagnosed a failed power transfer unit and quoted replacement costs, in some cases telling owners the part was backordered and unavailable for weeks or months. Some owners link the failure to NHTSA Campaign 26V290000 but say their vehicle was not covered or that recall parts were not yet available. Reported from about 18,000 to 190,000 miles, with many complaints clustering between roughly 40,000 and 90,000 miles and several occurring at highway speeds.

   Recall 26V2900003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the PTU has been replaced or inspected and whether the 26V290000 recall repair has been completed. On a test drive, watch for a 4WD service message and listen for whining or grinding from the driveline.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I took my vehicle to dealer shortly after purchase due to jerking forward during stops. A software update was performed and did not have any issues until recently. The past few weeks it began to hesitate upon acceleration and jerked forward harshly into first gear. Today there is a very noticeable prolonged hesitation during acceleration and an odd revving noice coming from TPU. This should be a major recall given the frequency and severity of the issue which could lead to a crash.”

   NHTSA complaint #11704383, filed 2025-12

   “PTU went out at 42,900 miles 2 weeks ago traveling on I81, was very foggy and all of a sudden my rpm went crazy and check engine and service 4 wd light came on pulled to side of highway and car was reving itself on and off and when shifting to drive or reverse car would not move and emergency brake was engaging on it’s own. Called Triple A and had to have towed on truck to dealer . Just bought vehicle 3 months prior . Dealer tested and told me PTU went out in vehicle not sure when part will be available could be months . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11650812, filed 2025-03
2. 2
   Engine

   Stalling, shutdown and loss of motive power

   • 30 complaints (17%)
   • median 49,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out or the vehicle losing power at stops, in turns and at highway speed, sometimes with dash and radio screens going blank and the vehicle unable to restart for a period. Owners report check engine and battery warning lights, and some say the vehicle restarted only after sitting. Dealers reportedly replaced batteries or applied software updates in some cases, while others say the cause was not found. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles up to over 130,000 miles, with several occurring at low speed or while stopped.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the battery, battery sensor and any powertrain software updates have been done, and whether the seller has had stalling or no-start episodes. Check for stored codes before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving in a residential area (40 MPH) when my car suddenly jolted as if I had suddenly stepped on the brake pedal and then the gas pedal. I stopped for a red light, and the car suddenly stalled. The engine and battery light were on, the seat/steering wheel warmer, and air conditioning system completely shut off. The monitor kept saying to step on the brake/start the car, I attempted to do this and nothing. I shut the car off and then tried to turn it on again multiple times and nothing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11396202, filed 2021-02, 2,500 miles

   “In May 2021 I leases a brand new car. In Jan 2021 I was driving my car and at a busy intersection, my car stalled. I just got a full tank of gas but the low fuel tank light came on. The car would not turn off, the clutch was stuck and I could not shift out of any gear. I brought my car in to the service center where I bought my car and let them know that I think electrical issues were causing problems with my fuel gauge and my clutch. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11469360, filed 2022-06
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Hesitation, harsh shifting and 4WD-related transmission

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe hesitation on acceleration, harsh engagement into first gear, revving without response, and a transmission that would not shift out of second gear, often alongside a 4WD service message. Some owners say a software update was applied early on and the symptoms returned later. Dealers reportedly diagnosed 4WD actuator or transmission problems in some cases. Mostly reported between about 44,000 and 118,000 miles in the sample.

   Recall 21V3100002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive at low and highway speeds and check for hesitation or rough shifts, and ask whether any transmission control software updates have been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While I was trying to get onto the interstate my vehicle would not accelerate. I tried to merge in with traffic but I was only going 35 and I almost hit someone. They stayed the same speed hoping I would speed up in front of them but I couldn’t. This put everyone around me at risk. I took my vh to the dealership. They called me today and told me they sold the rental I was in and that I needed to bring the car back. Also they ran some codes and my car is coming back fine. So they did not find a problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11445327, filed 2021-12

   “The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH with cruise control engaged, the vehicle hesitated, and the transmission momentarily shifted into neutral(N) before returning to normal functionality. The message “Service All Wheel Drive” was displayed. The local dealer was contacted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11756931, filed 2026-08, 64,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bags not deploying in a crash

   • 9 complaints (5%)
   • median 34,000 mi at 1.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Several owners describe front or side impacts in which the air bags did not deploy, including one account where the driver-side door handle also failed to open from inside. Complaints note injuries and that the vehicle was inspected or declared a loss afterward. One recall for this model year concerns an improperly secured right-side curtain air bag connector. Reported in crashes at speeds from about 30 to 70 mph, on vehicles ranging from new to roughly 92,000 miles.

   Recall 24V516000

   What to check: Ask whether the 24V516000 curtain air bag connector recall has been completed, and confirm there are no open air bag recalls on the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We were in a front impact vehicle accident. Airbags didn't deploy, brakes failed after impact and the engine didn't shut down. I had to disconnect the ecu power relay for the engine to stop.”

   NHTSA complaint #11402644, filed 2021-03, 1,400 miles

   “Car accident on 1/24 hit tree head on around 35 mph with NO airbags deploying. Suffered from concussion and whiplash, and potential of more serious injury. Insurance will be inspecting vehicle in the next week to determine total loss. No warning lamps, messages or other issues to the car prior to the accident”

   NHTSA complaint #11713613, filed 2026-01, 85,541 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the power transfer unit and four-wheel-drive system, and confirm which open recalls (including 26V290000) have actually been repaired. Ask for service records covering battery, software and infotainment work, since several reported faults depend on parts availability and prior updates.

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.