8.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$240
Average Mileage:
38,150 miles
Total Complaints:
35 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (22 reports)
  2. reflash software (4 reports)
  3. replaced transmission (3 reports)
  4. replace transmission (2 reports)
  5. replaced unit in transmission control system (2 reports)
  6. crack on gas tank found (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Jeep dealer.

problem #35

Jun 122023

Cherokee Sport

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,675 miles

Driving down the road and get a "Service Transmission" alert. Had to immediately pull over due to lack of power. Turned the Jeep off. Tried restarting it as per the notice on the dashboard stated. Same thing again. Turned it off and back on numerous times. Tried putting the Jeep in drive and it felt like the engine fell out. Turned it off again. Waited a few minutes and re-started it. I was able to limp home. Called Suncoast Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in my city and they said to bring it in. 2 days later I get a recall notice for the PCM. Called to set up a service and was told it would be months before I could get the recall done due to lack of equipment. Apparently it was being held hostage in Canada. Happened again on my way to work 2 days later. Check engine light finally went off.

Called SCJDR again. Sent them the video I took and they still couldn't find out why it was showing the "Service Transmission" and shutting down. Charged me $235.35. To say, "it's fine" Cut to a month later when it started getting cold (less than 50 degrees)and it was happening every morning. Don't know why the cold made it continuously happen.

Supposedly the recall was done when I went in , in October which should have "fixed" the problem. What a waste of $235. Why sell a car if it has transmission problems.?

- Courtney B., Largo, US

problem #34

Jul 172023

Cherokee Sport 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,661 miles

Car won't move. Service Transmission at 0 speed message. It is only 59k on the car. Dealer are going to fix it for $22,000 No words.

- Sjorq Y., North Vancouver, BC, Canada

problem #33

Jun 082019

Cherokee Latitude V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,000 miles

I bought my 2014 Jeep in Jan 2018, she was wonderful (except a couple small things, I bought her used after all). First time the transmission acted up was in the beginning of June 2019. Service transmission light came on and my Jeep went in to limp mode. It happened on a Sunday of course. No shop open. I barely got it home and made an appt with the CarX Monday, they told me it needed to go to the dealership. I couldn't get it in to the dealership for another 2 weeks, by that time the error was gone. They said they couldn't do anything without an error.

The gave me their card with the direct number on it. Service tech said to bring it back immediately if it happens again. It did a month later at 6pm in the evening on the other side of town of course. I barely got it in to that dealership (across town). The next day I got a call, it was two software updates. I picked it up still feeling uneasy for good reason, it was not a software update.

7 days later my transmission light is on again. I of course called the original dealership that said to bring it back immediately. Nope, they said they can't look at it for 2 weeks again. So I called the dealership that performed the software update, can't get in there for 2 weeks either??? I have parked my Jeep and driving my dad's old reliable GMC until I can get to my appt.

I will post this new issue with update after I have my appt. During all of this, the dealership said I only have 23 days left on my warranty. EEK!

- Angie J., Indianapolis, US

problem #32

Jul 242018

Cherokee Latitude V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

Well, picking out just one problem was difficult as there were many. Let's see if I can keep this short.

Before the summer, I was having issues where the jeep would shift right, it would light up with warning likes, and a few times it would give me warning lights and tell me to put the vehicle in park then as soon as I did, it would die. Fast forward to end of July 2018. Taking my youngest son to camp in the morning and I am just about to exit and off ramp onto a 3 lane stretch of road when a bunch of lights came on, it was telling me to put it in park and it was losing power. I had to rush over 3 lanes of traffic, thankfully I did it without getting hit and it probably helped I had a little bit of speed prior to losing the transmission. I was able to pull safely to the side of the road where I sat for 2 hours waiting for a tow truck.

I had my Jeep towed to the dealership where I purchased it. Few days later I got a call about the prognosis. You may ask why it took so long.. well, they had 4 trans issues dropped off that day! So they proceed to tell me that I need a new transmission. Ok, so about a week later or so I get my Jeep back. Within a week, it started acting funny again. I called the lady I dealt with and made her aware of the issue. It didn't last very long so I brushed it off as a fluke thing. Well, about a month later, it started getting worse.. Then a little break until about the 2.5 month mark after getting my jeep back.. Went right back to doing what it was doing before the new transmission, and not getting any better. In one weekend, I died a couple times, one time being in the middle of a busy road, with my youngest son in the car,again! That last time was a Saturday. I had already made an appt for the coming Wednesday. I called her after it happened again and because they know my number from the caller ID, she was quick to tell me to come in first thing Monday morning. I told her there was no way I was going to make it to Wednesday for my appt.

So get the jeep to her, and this time, the call back was a little quicker. I now needed a transmission control module and a wire harness. They put me in a loaner when I dropped it off, so I was like, ok.. hopefully this fixes the issue. A month goes by with the loaner, I get a call to return the loaner and find out I will be put in a rental. Ok. fine.Then I hear the following : "The wire harness has an ETA of March 2019!!!"

Whoa!! They are obviously hoping not to get to March but I am now on week 2 with the rental, almost week 3 and still no updates. What kind of rubs me the wrong way is now my car is sitting outside in the elements during the winter. The brakes are gonna be nasty when I pick it up, whenever that is going to be and then reading this postcard saying I can only get 2 to 4k towards my car... cmon now.. its a 14 with 57 or 59k miles on it. As much as I would love the option to trade it in for something else, I am unfortunately not in the position to do so as I was unemployed the last year. There is no way I can get away with maybe 4k if I still have 13k left. This transmission problem isn't my fault, so I think the options should be much higher that 2k or 4k.

So, I sit here and wait.. now i am driving a dodge journey gt from the rental place.. nice car. I will never buy brand new again. this was my first time. I wish Chrysler would just make it right and take it back, get me into something different and call it even. I can't say if I will ever buy another jeep again. I might just be one and done with this one. Anyone doing anything with a class action lawsuit? I got a postcard, but not very informed of how these things work or if they even do.

- Krissy W., Loves Park, IL, US

problem #31

Dec 172017

Cherokee Lartitude 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,206 miles

Severe jerking, lurching of transmission prior to EVIC display of "Service Transmission" notification with subsequent engine shutoff. MIL light and Electronic Stability Control light lit. Vehicle unable to engage in drive or reverse. Restart of engine locked transmission in "limp" mode. DTC P1DDD code found by Jeep service. TCM flashed as warranted repair. Vehicle returned to service.

- John G., Ocala, FL, US

problem #30

Dec 292017

Cherokee Limited 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 21,450 miles

SERVICE TRANSMISSION MESSAGE CAME UP , CAR RAN ROUGH AND THEN SHUT OFF. MESSAGE TO PUT CAR IN P UNTIL READY TO GO AND THEN INTO D. FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS AND WHEN I GAVE IT THE GAS, IT HESITATED AND THEN THE CAR FELT LIKE I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND IT LUNGED FORWARD. IT STAYED IN LOW GEAR STRAINING TO GET INTO A HIGHER GEAR BUT TOOK A LONG WHILE BEFORE IT DID. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND HAD A SOFTWARE UPDATE PERFORMED UNDER A RECALL MANDATE S55 AS A REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS REPAIR LASTED BEFORE THE PROBLEMS RETURNED. JEEP IS WITH DEALER FOR REPAIR.

- wjbelen, Kingwood, US

problem #29

Jul 152017

Cherokee Trailhawk 3.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,407 miles

This has been an ongoing problem. The transmission issue causes all the alarms to go off, rear end collision, unable to shift transmission out of drive, car loses power and you are left in the middle of the interstate unable to move over in traffic to safety. Vehicle has been towed twice and the problem with the transmission shifting down from 3rd, 2nd, 1st is a real problem. the transmission gets stuck between 1st and 2nd at stop lights and when you give it gas it slams into gear and lunges into traffic. This is a serious problem for anyone who has this transmission. These vehicles should be replaced.

- Troy S., Norman, US

problem #28

Oct 022017

Cherokee Latitude

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,255 miles

My 2014 Jeep Cherokee will now stutter starts, when it does start occasionally saying service transmission and also having a constant check engine light. Every time I turn it on the A/C is set at factory setting. When the car is on the road it runs fine until I have to start it again.

- zluehring, San Antonio, US

problem #27

Aug 282017

Cherokee Latitude V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,883 miles

click to see larger images

transmission needs service warning transmission needs service warning

Bought my "dream car" from Fl Fine Cars in Hollywood FL - thought it was a great deal. Should have known better. After 2 weeks of driving the car, I noticed 'jerking' and rough driving. I was making a right turn and stopped for a few seconds, and the car suddenly shut down on me - Service transmission message came on.

I took the car back to the dealership and of course they sent me to Jeep because they said there was nothing they could do - they didn't seemed surprised, they of course knew the car had this issue to begin with.

Took it to Arrigo Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Sawgrass in Tamarac, FL and was told all my car needed was a 'software' update and it had been checked and passed all tests. They assured me the car had no issues and was safe to drive. I drove the car and within 2 weeks the car did the same thing, while I was at a stop sign. Took the car back in and they told me there was nothing wrong with the car. Safe to drive, they reset it. The car didn't have any 'codes' saved. Which the service person told me, yes I know its malfunctioning but it the codes don't save we can't do anything. This makes the car even more dangerous!

Last Thursday I was driving on i95 at 80mphs and the car started to jerk and shake... and within seconds the car abruptly stopped in the middle of the highway!!!!! I almost got rear ended by two cars also driving at high speeds. I could have easily died in that car if someone was to crash into me then.

Took the car back to Jeep and they told me there was a code for the transmission module to be replaced. The technician supposedly drove the car for 100 miles and nothing happened to him. I told them that there is enough information online to know that the transmission in these cars are not safe and are malfunctioning. They know about this, they know what the issue is and they still tell me that the car is safe to drive! I told them to be honest and based on what had happened to me, if what they fixed made sense to solve the issue, they said yes. To not worry about it. I asked why they simply just don't replace my transmission? Well because they won't pay for it.

Picked the car up on Saturday, Sunday night I was going to the gas station and the car started jerking and suddenly shutdown while I was driving in the middle of the road, again, almost caused a car accident.

but it was fixed??

Right now this is a mechanical issue, which can pretty quick turn into a legal one if I get killed or injured while I drive this car they keep telling me has no issues! It jerking and shuts down so abruptly that my neck hurts from the slamming and whiplash....

I will escalate this, how is this car still in the market? Why are they letting people drive this car still, knowing is it a safety hazard?!!!

Update from Mar 27, 2019: After several trips to the dealership and several calls to complain they finally 'FOUND' the problem. Supposedly there was a CRACK on my gas tank so every time I would fill up my tank some would leak into the transmission or other parts making my car have those issues I mentioned above ^^. They fixed it and I havent had that issue again, it has been about 8 months; but I also do not fill my tank all the way just to make sure I dont have this issue again. Maybe this is something some of you want to consider - regardless this car is a piece of crap!

- ldumet, Tamarac, US

problem #26

Jan 102016

Cherokee Latitude

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

I have had transmission issues with this vehicle 4 times in the 3.5 years i have owned it! When reading up on it after this 4th time and the dealer not having a solution it seems as though this car year and model are doomed!

- Justin L., Clementon, NJ, US

problem #25

Jun 052017

Cherokee Sport V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,500 miles

JEEP SHOULD RECALL THIS CAR. BOUGHT THE CAR USED TWO YEARS AGO AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 6 TIMES. IT IS GOING BACK TOMORROW FOR THE TRANSMISSION SERVICE LIGHT COMING ON. WAS IN THE SHOP IN MARCH WHEN I COMPLAINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING FUNNY, NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AND NOT ACCELERATING WHEN GETTING ON THE THE FREEWAY. I WAS TOLD BY THE DODGE CHRYSLER SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE JEEP HAS 9 GEAR TRANSMISSION AND THAT IS WHY IT SHIFTS THE WAY IT DOES. BUT NOW ITS JUNE AND MY SERVICE TRANSMISSION LIGHT COMES ON AT 35000 MILES. THE CAR IS NOT EVEN BROKEN IN YET. I AM VERY UPSET WHEN YOU PAY THIS MUCH FOR A CAR YOU EXPECT IT TO LAST AT LEAST 100,0000 MILES. BAD DEAL

- Lois S., Lakewood, WA, US

problem #24

May 142017

Cherokee Limited 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,000 miles

Against my better judgement, I purchased an immaculate, loaded 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited with 31K miles. Wife loved the vehicle, it drove/rode great and felt like a great purchase. After 2 weeks, it started idling rough and went dead in our drive. We thought it was bad gas as we had just filled up and headed to auto store for some Heet or SeaFoam to clear it up. Cherokee died in the middle of street as we coasted to stop at red light. Engine light came on along with message to place in park, restart, then select desired gear. We placed in park, restarted, and selected drive. Vehicle went dead again. Same message appeared then we received Service Transmission message. Finally got vehicle to crank, then it lunged into gear, bouncing in gear while limping with little power steering off street and died. We were able to restart vehicle, risking our lives as we went limping the half-mile back home at approximately 10 mph. I had vehicle towed to place of purchase and are currently awaiting diagnosis from dealer.

Very disappointed in my purchase. I should have known better!

- T S., Lake Worth, US

problem #23

Mar 192017

Cherokee Limited V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

As I was driving, the car said SERVICE TRANSMISSION IMMEDIATELY and the car started to decelerate and turned off the ABS. The car would not move. I had it towed to the dealer who said they could not tell what was wrong with it and that it was behaving normally. They asked to drive it home for a few days to ensure that there is no re-occurrence. I cannot trust my wife to drive this car to see her parents over 7 hours away.

- Jake G., Coraopolis, US

problem #22

Jul 252016

Cherokee Limited V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,250 miles

When the "Service Transmission" indicator goes on, the transmission becomes ineffective and car won't move. After several hours of being idle, the light goes out. But the problem can reoccur several days or weeks later. Took the Jeep into the Jeep Dealership and there first response is that the transmission is no longer under warranty due to 48,000 miles on speedometer. I advised that there have been substantial information on the internet indicating that this was a frequent and recurring issue with Jeep Cherokees. After calling the home office, I was advised that there was a software fix and it was to be covered under warranty. However, it is about three weeks later and the problem has reoccurred again. I am fearing for my life if this problem were to occur on the freeway at high speeds.

- Paul R., Leesburg, FL, US

problem #21

Mar 082017

Cherokee Trailhawk V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,494 miles

Within 2 hours of replacing transmission and re flashing software twice the transmission software forgot what is was suppose to do. The explanations from this dealer get more laughable every time. Again asked for buy back and am filing for arbitration. Minot Automotive is a joke.

- Rich P., Surrey, ND, US

problem #20

Jan 122017

Cherokee Latitude 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,642 miles

It seems I bought a NEW piece of junk. It is totally unreliable.

- peacemaker, New York City, NY, US

problem #19

Nov 012016

Cherokee V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,000 miles

My car transmission has never run properly since I got it brand new! I brought it to the dealer several times and they told me that is how that cars transmission runs and it takes a while "to learn how I drive". I only have 16,000 miles on my jeep. One of the times I brought it in I told them it didn't feel like it was shifting correctly from 1st to 2nd and sometimes it felt like it was gliding or off during the highway ride. 2 weeks ago, my dash display for my radio and GPS was black. It slowly gained some light so I could see it but it went off 4 more times when I restarted the car. I drove it to the dealership so they could see it. Now today, I started my car and the check transmission light was on. I thought it was a fluke until I put it into reverse and it made a huge clunking sound!. I put it in park and the check transmission warning is on, the parking brake is lit on the dash (and the brake button is not enabled) the check engine light is on. I waited for Jeeps roadside assistance for several hours and had to reschedule to have it towed.

Not a happy camper today!

- Judy G., Sandy, UT, US

problem #18

Nov 182016

Cherokee Latitude V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,000 miles

Leaking transmission fluid discovered by independent mechanic in April 2016. Took to dealer in April and June 2016 and they said transmission was working within normal limits per manufacturer and took no action. November 2016 on trip at gas station won't go into gear. Eventually goes into middle gear with "service transmission" message and have to complete trip driving slowly in lower gear. Service at dealership scheduled tomorrow.

- William C., Richlands, NC, US

problem #17

Oct 312016

Cherokee Limited V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

Have had nothing but issues from the Jeep since purchase. Constant software updates, recalls, and now transmission issues.

Update from Nov 7, 2016: At first, the dealership thought a software update would solve the issue as the trouble code was a shift cylanoid error. However, after the software update, the errors continued. The problem all along was the wire harness addressed in the recall. Once the recall was addressed and fixed, the problem went away.

- Matthew M., Valley Head, AL, US

problem #16

May 102016

Cherokee Latitude 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,073 miles

click to see larger images

transmission needs service warning

Coming home from My brother in laws, and was reversing out of drive way and load bang. Dashboard light up and was in limp mode home.... turned off truck and it reset itself of half the lights. Next start up and it was cleared up.. Brought to the dealership only to be told that nothing is wrong and you owe us $100 for checking.

- Jeff V., Brampton, ON, Canada

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