2022 Jeep Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe power transfer unit (PTU) failures that disable four-wheel drive and turn on the Service 4WD light, often followed by long waits for parts. Other frequent themes are sudden shifting faults or loss of drive, unexpected stalls, and driver-assist braking or cruise control behavior. Complaints are rising in recent filings, and where mileage is stated for the PTU cases it ranges from about 21,000 to about 68,000 miles.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Power transfer unit failure with Service 4WD light

   • 21 complaints (40%)
   • median 61,267 mi at 3.8 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the power transfer unit (PTU) failing, with the Service 4WD warning on and four-wheel drive disabled, sometimes leaving the vehicle in front-wheel drive. Some describe grinding, thumping, or a loud noise on the highway, with leaking fluid and metal shavings found in one case, and some say the vehicle had to be towed. According to complaints, dealers diagnosed the unit from fault codes or inspection and said it needed replacement, and one owner was told to keep driving until the part arrived. Where mileage is stated, it ranges from about 21,000 to about 68,000 miles, and most of these complaints were filed in 2025 or 2026.

   Recall 26V2900003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the power transfer unit was checked for stored fault codes and whether any recall or PTU replacement has been completed, and request the dealer's records. On a test drive, confirm that the Service 4WD light stays off and that four-wheel drive engages when selected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2022 Jeep Cherokee Lux is currently at the dealership after they diagnosed a failed PTU. This came to my attention due to the messages the vehicle gave me, warning if Loss of 4WD capability and a Serv 4 WD light. Jeep has recalled over 61000 other Cherokees for the exact same problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11749035, filed 2026-07

   “Service 4WD light came on. Took to Jeep dealership. They stated the PTU needs to be replaced. My car has been in the shop for over 4 months and no ETA on part arrival. This is a common issue in Jeep Cherokee’s but my VIN is not included in a recall. I was told by dealership it is safe to drive but I drive on the highway over and hour everyday to and from work. I have read it can result in loss of driving ability and the ability to put in park.”

   NHTSA complaint #11687987, filed 2025-09
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Recall repairs delayed by parts or remedy shortages

   • 20 complaints (38%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe waiting for recall or PTU repairs because parts were back-ordered, sometimes with no estimated arrival date. Some were told a remedy was still under development, and one describes an extended-warranty approval step adding to the delay. Some say the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair, and one says the vehicle is not included in a recall even though the warning is on. Mileage is mostly missing, though one owner notes about 21,000 miles; all of these complaints were filed from 2024 to 2026, and several describe waits of months.

   Recall 26V290000

   What to check: Check the VIN against the manufacturer's recall lookup, and ask the dealer for the recall status and parts estimate in writing. Ask whether any PTU repair is pending, since owners describe waits of months.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Previously reported that my vehicle was throwing the code for the 40D. I returned today, vehicle vehicle start to slam, jerk. Jeep Cares escalated after dealership tech confirmed active failure. Fuse pulled, but can't really drive my car to avoid damages. Now waiting for them to give dealership approval to order part. I still have the 5,/60 Warranty. It's red tape and leaving me driving a dangerous vehicle or be grounded. I'm now waiting fit the case manager to call dealership. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11755677, filed 2026-08

   “Today May 20, 2024 we called the NHTS to inform that we did received the notification from the manufacturer indicating that there is indeed an important safety recall which can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning. In the same letter the manufacturer states that The remedy for this condition is currently unavailable. When asking about what is considered a reasonable amount of time to solve this issue we were told that around July 20, 2024 we should expect a letter with the official findings. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11591612, filed 2024-05
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Sudden shifting faults and loss of drive

   • 11 complaints (21%)
   • median 63,000 mi at 2.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the vehicle suddenly downshifting, shifting into manual mode, or shifting out of gear, sometimes with a Shift to Park or Shift to Drive message. Some report a loud clunk and no forward movement, or rolling backward on a hill even with the accelerator pressed, and one says the car stopped suddenly in traffic. According to complaints, dealers could not always reproduce the problem, and one owner says they were told the vehicle was safe to drive. Where mileage is given, these were reported between about 300 and 66,000 miles, and several happened at low speed in traffic or on uphill grades.

   What to check: On a test drive, check for sudden downshifts, hesitation, or shift warning messages when accelerating and slowing. Ask whether the shifter, transmission, and power transfer unit were inspected, and request the diagnosis records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving, I heard a loud clunk and was not able to go forward when stepping on the gas. It then kicked in and could move on for a minute and it happened again. Then it happened again and this time we pulled over and had to call a tow truck. While we were waiting the car rolled even with it being in park, it wasn't until the emergency brake was engaged that the vehicle stopped ð¥ ng. Luckily we were going to fast and we were on side roads or we could have been in a terrible accident. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11700970, filed 2025-11

   “While coasting/foot off gas transmission will suddenly shift out of gear and a Shift to Park message will appear on dash. I must stop and shift to park then back into gear to re-engage the transmission. Driving will proceed normally at that point. This has occured unexpectedly and sporadically over the last year-3+ times. No error code is noted by the Jeep technician. Tech installed new shifter and bezel-seemed to work but then happened again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11745224, filed 2026-06
4. 4
   Engine

   Sudden stalling or loss of power while driving

   • 7 complaints (13%)
   • median 105,000 mi at 2.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the engine stalling or losing power without warning while driving, including at stop lights, on highways, and in traffic. Some describe several warning messages at the same time, such as electronic throttle control, check engine, battery, or park brake warnings, and one says the vehicle failed to restart after stalling. One owner says a faulty fuel pump was found at the dealer after a stall at an intersection. Mileage is mostly missing, but one complaint lists about 105,000 miles and another describes a new car with under 600 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether any stalling or warning messages were recorded in the dealer's diagnosis, and request the repair records for any fuel pump or electrical work. A scan for stored fault codes during a test drive can show whether engine or electrical warnings are present.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk 2022 got completely and unexpectedly stalled while driving on a highway without any type of warning. Many warning signs flashed at the same time: ETC (Electronic Throttle control), Service Park brake, check engine, battery, and a few more. The battery is one year old - had to replace it at 20k for a similar reason. The incident could have been so much worse had a car been driving behind me. Service dealership is currently inspecting the car”

   NHTSA complaint #11765488, filed 2026-09

   “While stopping at a light, the car will just stall. While driving, the car will stall. This is all a safety issue, especially at night when the car stalls and you have no lights or any way for anybody to see you.”

   NHTSA complaint #11559803, filed 2023-12
5. 5
   Brakes

   Driver-assist braking and cruise control faults

   Mentioned in 5 of 50 sampled complaints

   Owners describe forward collision braking applying on a highway with no vehicle ahead, which one says made the vehicle slide. Another says the cruise control and emergency braking acted together, with engine speed reaching redline several times, and a third says the cruise control exceeded the set speed on steep downhill grades. Dashboard messages in another complaint report forward collision warning or power steering faults, and one says lane departure features were disabled when a turn signal failed. Mileage is missing from these complaints; they describe highway driving or cruise control on steep grades, and were filed from 2022 to 2024.

   What to check: On a highway test drive, check that the forward collision and lane departure alerts behave normally and that cruise control holds the set speed on a downhill grade. Ask the dealer whether any braking or driver-assist diagnosis was recorded for the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Your website has some trouble & won't accept my jpg files. First time to see this. I use cruise control all the time on 3 vehicles I own. But, this JEEP has a strange problem that is not safe. Almost all vehicles I have driven with cruise controls will exceed set speed by 1~3mph while going down a steep hill. But my JEEP will exceed by 5~7mph on steep hills. I have turned off cruise control when it didn't control speed and drove manually for a while, then used cruise control again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11567587, filed 2024-01

   “Vehicle is making emergency brakes at anytime on highway even without a vehicle in front to set off the sensor - causing vehicle to slide and go off road - the screen is over heating and snells like it’s burning”

   NHTSA complaint #11523140, filed 2023-05

Buying note. Buyers considering this model year may want to check the vehicle's VIN against the open recall list and ask whether any power transfer unit repair has been done. On a test drive, confirm the Service 4WD light stays off, that four-wheel drive engages, and that shifting is smooth.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 50 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.