no report yet
Power train
NewRisk. A failed PTU may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
2021 Jeep CherokeeProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 183 owner complaints about the 2021 Jeep Cherokee, most often about the power train. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-310 the manufacturer reports only 91% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 6, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Gold Pony, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2021 Jeep Cherokee has problems
183 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
109Power train2 crash/fire/injury
29Engine2 crash/fire/injury
24Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
13Service brakes
11Forward collision avoidance
9Air bags
5Suspension
5Fuel/propulsion system
3Steering
1713 other systems3 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 109 | 2 |
| Engine | 29 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 24 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 13 | 3 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 11 | 1 |
| Air bags | 9 | 7 |
| Suspension | 5 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 1 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 |
| 13 other systems | 17 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2021 Jeep Cherokee recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Side/window: curtain
Risk. An air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q1
Cooler/radiator: hoses and fittings
Risk. A transmission fluid leak increases the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2022 Q3
Control arm: lower arm
Risk. A front lower control arm fracture while driving may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash without prior warning.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Jeep.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
73kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 22 power train complaints. 77% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 21% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
3under 30k miles17under 100k miles5100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
9 owners mentioned a cost$3,186median
Middle half: $2,200 – $3,400
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2021 vs. every other Cherokee year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cherokee median. How we score
'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'06'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2021 Jeep Cherokee safety ratings
2021 Jeep Cherokee SUV 4WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (16.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Cherokee owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I recieved a 4WD service error on my dashboard. I took it to my mechanic and they said the following codes came up. C14A7-97 PTU Motor P0606-49 Internal Control processor -internal electronic failure U0010-00 CAN interior bus I see that there are recalls for the PTU on other Cherokees for this…
My power transfer unit went out, and has currently been sitting at a dealership since March 9, 2026 due to parts being on backorder.
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message “Service 4WD” remained displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the PTU needed to be replaced. The vehicle was later taken to the local dealer who also diagnosed…
Own a 2021 Cherokee?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.