2019 Jeep Cherokee Common Problems & Defect Telemetry
Authoritative defect intelligence synthesized from 1612 verified NHTSA owner complaints, 11 federal safety recalls, and interquartile failure mileage telemetry.
The 2019 Jeep Cherokee receives a 3.5/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 1612 verified NHTSA federal complaints and 11 safety recalls. The primary reported failure mode is Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports with a median failure point at 39,000 miles (IQR: 6,664 – 65,000 mi). Out-of-warranty repairs benchmark at $1,400 – $3,800 .
189.6 complaints / 10k sold
Verified US federal records
Crash, fire & stall audit
11 Active / Free Remedies
2019 Cherokee Failure Distribution by Vehicle Subsystem
Top Reported Problem Clusters (7)
Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports
- Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse
- Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration
- Transmission slipping between gears
“The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the rear passenger’s side of the vehicle, with the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the message that the “4WD Disab...”
“Out of the blue my service 4 wheel drive indicator came up and I have been having power issues ever since. Everything points to my car should be u see this recall but it is not. This was a non collision related issue with my car. With the price of PTU replacements, I would lik...”
“The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, with a loud screeching sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the local mechanic, who diagnosed that th...”
Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports
- Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving
- Abnormal oil burning / consumption
- Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing
- Engine overheating / coolant loss
“The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the rear passenger’s side of the vehicle, with the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the message that the “4WD Disab...”
“The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, with a loud screeching sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the local mechanic, who diagnosed that th...”
“The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the messages "Reset - Start Unavailable" and "START/STOP System Unavailable" were displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving on another occasion, the vehic...”
Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports
- Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight
- Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts
- Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings
“While driving my car stalled at 2 different times only weeks after purchasing this used car. I took it back only for them to replace the battery with an aftermarket battery then having to get it replaced again at another location; following a parasitic draw, the PTU was noted ...”
“The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the messages "Reset - Start Unavailable" and "START/STOP System Unavailable" were displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving on another occasion, the vehic...”
“My driver side seat belt will not stay latched. The screen on my dashboard will freeze up and not turn on or off”
Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports
- Spongy or hard brake pedal travel
- ABS / Brake warning light illuminated
- Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration
“I was leaving the parking lot of a grocery store - I was probably 100 yards from where I parked to the exit to the road. My ... and ... were in car seats in the back. I went to merge into traffic going left out of the parking lot. As I accelerated to merge into traffic and get...”
“Had cruise control on set on 64 up and down hills and around curves it just started going faster & faster I had to stomp the brakes 3 times to get it to quit afterwards the power train is now not shifting right it still was at times going to shop staying at 27 to 35 rpm’s, mad...”
“Service 4WD light appeared on dashboard. Vehicle will shake while braking- I am told brakes are sounds. Struts, rotors, and sway links replaced this year. Vehicle has been experiencing a loss of power. Start/Stop system will sometimes initiate loss of power. Battery light come...”
Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports
- Sudden loss of electric power steering assist
- Steering wheel pull or highway wander
- Clunking / knocking noise over bumps
“Service 4WD light appeared on dashboard. Vehicle will shake while braking- I am told brakes are sounds. Struts, rotors, and sway links replaced this year. Vehicle has been experiencing a loss of power. Start/Stop system will sometimes initiate loss of power. Battery light come...”
“NHTSA ODI Case Update – Supplement to Complaint #XXX Vehicle: 2019 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Plus (VIN: ... ) Subject: Dealership Deflection Tactics and Denial of Recall Repair Verification This statement is submitted to update my ongoing federal safety complaint regarding the...”
“Power train (PTU) failed on the highway huge crash sound and then no power to wheels, transfer case visably broke due to catastrophic failure shockwave cracked housing of my rear difrential too. It is available for inspection. Safety reason is the same as recall 01C / 40D. Sud...”
Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports
- SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated
- Passenger occupant classification sensor failure
- Seat belt retractor lockup
“My driver side seat belt will not stay latched. The screen on my dashboard will freeze up and not turn on or off”
“Air bags did not deploy during my recent car accident, even thought the front end took significant impact.”
“Power Train- error message stating 4x4 is unavailable, message will appear anytime between when first starting the car to active on the road. While active, there sounds like there’s some sounds coming from the rear tires before message appears. This issue has been consistent s...”
Fuel Pump Pressure Loss & Fuel Delivery Defect Reports
- Sudden loss of propulsion power at highway speeds
- Extended engine cranking / failure to restart
- Fuel odor near fuel tank / engine bay
“The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds or depressing the brake pedal, t...”
“2019 Jeep with 59051 miles on it. Upon starting the car, the idle was low and the engine ran rough. While driving, it would stall when stopping. After several tries it would start but not stay running while idling. The jeep dealership stated the plugs were fouled, ($400), then...”
“The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated the vehicle was hesitating while starting the vehicle and was jerking into gear while shifted into drive(D). The contact stated that the failure also occurred while stopped at a traffic signal. The contact stated that w...”
Official NHTSA Safety Recalls (11)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The instrument cluster may fail resulting in a lack of activation of warning chimes, messages, and gauges.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica non-hybrid vehicles. A component in the transmission may not have been welded properly, possibly causing the transmission to not transmit engine power to the wheels.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Summary: Chrysler(FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. Improper transmission calibration may result in a stall.
AIR BAGS
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The impact and acceleration sensors may fail and reduce the air bag system's ability to properly detect certain crash events.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The steering rack gear may break, possibly causing a loss of steering control.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with 2.0L engines. The engines in these vehicles may be missing valve stem keepers, which can allow the valve to drop into the engine cylinder causing engine damage. These engines may also have a reversed camshaft cap that can damage the camshaft bearing causing camshaft failure.
SEATS
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The front passenger seat mounting bolts may be loose.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey, and 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
POWER TRAIN
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power and/or loss of park function.
POWER TRAIN
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for 2019 Jeep Cherokee
Before purchasing a used 2019 Jeep Cherokee, perform the following targeted inspections based on reported federal defect patterns:
Scan the OBD-II port under the dash for pending freeze-frame codes (e.g. P0300 misfires, P0087 fuel rail pressure, P0420 catalytic efficiency).
Test vehicle at low-speed stop-and-go and highway merges. Check for delayed reverse engagement or gear shift shudder between 2nd and 3rd gears.
Verify that all 11 NHTSA safety recall campaigns have been performed by an authorized dealership using the VIN.
Ensure the instrument cluster, center screen, and auxiliary charging ports operate with stable 12.0V–14.4V alternator voltage.
Defect & Reliability Q&A: 2019 Jeep Cherokee
Is the 2019 Jeep Cherokee a reliable used car?
The 2019 Jeep Cherokee earns a 3.5/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 1612 federal owner reports. Vehicles maintained under factory service schedules exhibit strong longevity past 150,000 miles.
What is the most frequent defect reported on the 2019 Jeep Cherokee?
The leading complaint category is Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports, with a median failure point around 39,000 miles (IQR: 6,664 – 65,000 mi).
Are there free recall repairs available for the 2019 Jeep Cherokee?
Yes, the NHTSA records 11 safety recall campaign(s) for this model year. All safety recalls are performed 100% free of charge by authorized franchise dealerships regardless of vehicle warranty status.