Model record
Jeep Cherokee Years to Avoid: Reliability and Recalls
Every Jeep Cherokee model year in NHTSA's owner complaint file, 2014 to 2022: how many complaints each year drew, the problem owners named most, and the recalls to check before you buy.
NHTSA owner complaintsChecked Oct 2, 20269,933 complaints9 model years
The Jeep Cherokee years with the most owner complaints are 2014, 2015 and 2019. Owners named the powertrain most for 2014, 2015 and 2019.
It's a count of reports, not a failure rate, and the newest years have had less time on the road to collect them.
The launch year drew the most complaints, 2,641 for 2014, and the 2019 with its new front design rose again to 1,615.
Jeep Cherokee complaints by model year
Every Jeep Cherokee model year in NHTSA's owner complaint file, 2014 to 2022. Years with 2,000 or more complaints are dark; beside each bar is the system owners named most that year.
- 2014Powertrain55%2,641
- 2015Powertrain56%1,784
- 2016Powertrain44%1,403
- 2017Powertrain48%1,328
- 2018Powertrain42%681
- 2019Powertrain48%1,615
- 2020Powertrain55%281
- 2021Powertrain53%152
- 2022Powertrain52%48
Best Jeep Cherokee years by complaint count
Of the years with at least five years on the road, these drew the fewest owner complaints. Fewer reports is not a clean bill of health: check the recalls for the exact car, and remember 2022 has had less time to collect complaints.
- 2021Powertrain · 4 recalls152
- 2020Powertrain · 3 recalls281
- 2018Powertrain · 7 recalls681
Most common Jeep Cherokee problems
The systems owners named most across all 9 model years, counted from each year's six most-named systems.
- PowertrainNamed most in 9 of 9 years5,018
- EngineNever the top system in a year2,124
- Electrical systemNever the top system in a year1,968
- Braking systemNever the top system in a year625
- Throttle and speed controlNever the top system in a year253
Our guides for these problems
Check engine codes Jeep Cherokee owners name
The OBD-II codes owners wrote into their complaints for the Cherokee years we have read in full (2014, 2015 and 2019), one count per complaint. None of these codes has a guide yet.
Jeep Cherokee years to avoid by generation
Jeep called the 2014 Cherokee all-new and gave the 2019 a new front and rear design, so the years in the file fall into two groups. NHTSA's file has the Cherokee from 2014 to 2022.
2014–2018
All-new for 2014
2014 most complaints · powertrain
- 20142,641
- 20151,784
- 20161,403
- 20171,328
- 2018681
7,837 complaints · 5 model years
2019–2022
New front and rear design for 2019
2019 most complaints · powertrain
- 20191,615
- 2020281
- 2021152
- 202248
2,096 complaints · 4 model years
Jeep Cherokee recalls by year
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for each model year, read Oct 2, 2026. A campaign that covers several years counts in each of them. Recall repairs are free at the dealer; check one car with its VIN.
- 2014Most often: powertrain13
- 2015Most often: electrical system11
- 2016Most often: powertrain9
- 2017Most often: powertrain6
- 2018Most often: powertrain7
- 2019Most often: powertrain11
- 2020Most often: backup camera3
- 2021Most often: powertrain4
- 2022Most often: exterior lighting3
Jeep Cherokee crash test ratings by year
NHTSA's overall star rating for each model year, with the frontal, side and rollover stars beside it.
- 2014Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 44/5
- 2015Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 44/5
- 2016Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 44/5
- 2017Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 44/5
- 2018Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 44/5
- 2019Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 44/5
- 2020Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 44/5
- 2021Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 44/5
- 2022Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 44/5
Federal investigations
NHTSA's defect office has opened 4 investigations into 4 problems that cover Jeep Cherokee model years from 2014 to 2022. An investigation looks into a possible defect; it is not a finding.
Common questions
What are the Jeep Cherokee years to avoid?
The years with the most owner complaints are 2014, 2015 and 2019. Treat them as the years to inspect hardest, not as a verdict on every car: run the VIN for open recalls and have the systems owners named checked before you buy.
What year is the most reliable Jeep Cherokee?
Complaints can't name a most reliable year, because the file counts reports, not failures per car sold. Of the years with at least five years on the road, 2021 drew the fewest complaints: 152. Newer years have fewer still, but they have had less time to collect them.
What is the most common problem with the Jeep Cherokee?
Across every year in the file, owners named the powertrain most, in 5,018 complaints, then the engine, in 2,124.
Which Jeep Cherokee years have the most recalls?
2014, 2015 and 2019, with 13, 11 and 11 recall campaigns.
What the complaint record can't tell you
Sources
Show all 4 sources
Counts by system and year cover vehicles with at least 10 complaints.