8.8

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
19,250 miles
Total Complaints:
56 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (29 reports)
  2. replace transmission (20 reports)
  3. reflash software (3 reports)
  4. replace tcm and valve body (2 reports)
  5. now trying to replace the valve body of the transmission (1 reports)
  6. replace drive axle (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Jeep dealer.

problem #56

Oct 122019

Cherokee

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,500 miles

  1. Drove car 20 miles and stopped for a couple minutes. Turned the car on and noticed it had a hesitation in starting. Also had Check Engine Light on, Service Parking Break, and 4WD not available. Red light on the shifter position indicator was flashing. Shifted into Reverse and had big clunk as the gears shifted. Shifted into Drive and big clunk again. Drove back home. Very slow to accelerate. Did not seem to go into higher gears, engine RPM ~4000 at 60mph. I realized that if you stop in Neutral momentarily while shifting it stays stuck in Neutral. Have to disconnect the battery to get it out of Neutral..

    2. Next day vehicle needed a jump start. After starting, warning lights went away and the vehicle drives fine.

    3. After work needed another jump but this time the errors cam back and the problems and indicators came back.

    4. Measured the battery terminal voltage. Read 10.75volts. Bought a new battery. Vehicle starts now but problems still present.

    5. Currently searching the Internet to find a suggested solution. I'm worried because I am noticing dealerships are swapping out parts or performing software updates but they aren't sure what the problem is. I'm wondering that the battery going out may have caused a power up glitch and perhaps the TCM module encountered a problem. I don't think any memory was corrupted since it cleared and then came back.

    I will update as I find out more.

- Jerry H., Loveland, CO, US

problem #55

Oct 012020

Cherokee Trailhawk

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

At around 50,000 km's I started getting an error message on my dash 'Service Transmission' with the car failing to drive. If I were to attempt driving the vehicle, there would be an extremely large 'bang' and the parking brake would come on. I've gotten towed about 4-5 times now because of this issue. Luckily it was happening while the vehicle was under warranty. Every single time I was told the dealership had to follow this multi-step process to get it corrected. The issue would seem to have disappeared/fixed - however it continues to come back over and over and over. Like come on here! Now I'm sitting with 110,000 km's and the vehicle is still being towed to the dealership to get fixed. Still the same error message, engine light comes on, unable to drive it, being towed, loss of work, rental cars etc...

THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE MESS! This latest time, the dealership IS UNABLE TO FIND AN ISSUE even though they know there's an issue. They have been in contact with Chrysler head office and now they are going to replace the battery. As if the battery would be the end all of these issues. So since my warranty is now finished, they have replaced the TCM, wires and rebooted the computer and whatever else they said they did. Nothing has ever fixed the issue. So to whomever is out there, what was the fix for your vehicle? I'm desperate for help here! I'm so sick and tired of dealing with this issue. Its a complete joke to be dealing with the same thing for over 2 years !!

- Julie T., Oakville, ON, Canada

problem #54

Sep 012020

Cherokee Sport 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,050 miles

2015 Jeep Cherokee Sport FWD 2.4L, it was bought brand new and I was the only owner, serviced regularly and to manufacturer recommendations (my father is a mechanic so I'm not one to treat cars poorly), but the transmission died at 49k miles. Vehicle died and warning lights came on one day as I was backing out of a parking spot and vehicle wouldn't go into drive, took it to the dealer (plus another mechanic, to double check) who told me the whole transmission needed to be replaced. This was of course after all warranty coverage, and I ended up selling it rather than put over $2k in it to fix it. Not what you expect from a newer SUV with less than 50,000 miles! Incredibly disappointing.

- Chad A., Colorado Springs, CO, US

problem #53

Mar 312020

Cherokee Limited 2.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,602 miles

The wife was driving along when 'TRANSMISSION SERVICE' appeared on the dash along with Engine management light.

The car then went into 'LIMP' as the speed dial was flickering everywhere.

Had a new battery put on the car and it ran for an hour ok but on the second trip out it happened again within two hundred yards.

Car has 24K on the dash and it's completely useless. Paid £32000 for a piece of sh*t

- Lee M., Liverpool, England

problem #52

Mar 012020

Cherokee Trailhawk V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,000 miles

I have a 2015 Jeep Trailhawk and have had multiple issues (bumps, grinds and groans) with the transmission. I’ve taken it back to the dealership but since the transmission isn’t doing anything at the time they tell me there is nothing they can do. The latest incident the car wouldn’t even move and the transmission light went on along with a warning light telling me to have the transmission serviced, after a few minutes I finally was able to move the vehicle. I had to wait two days before the dealership could look at it and by the time I got it there the warning lights were all gone and the transmission is working fine. So again they tell me there is nothing they can do. My power train warranty expires in about two months. What can I do?

- Victor N., Waterford, MI, US

problem #51

Aug 202018

Cherokee Trailhawk

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,675 miles

I parked in my driveway. Nothing near me. I killed the car and got my kiddo out, and we went into the house. I came out and did some weedeating around my yard, nothing abnormal that you don't normally do... right?? WELL we finish everything up and go back to get into the car, and the car gives me hell right there. I get the car started and all types of lights and sounds go off.. you know even the annoying one that says "hey you started your car" ding.. I hate that...

Right across the screen flashes SERVICE TRANSMISSION. I am beyond livid. I am hot. I am tired, and I have crap to do!!! I have NO clue as to why I was getting all types of error messages, but it blatantly show on my screen that apparently my car was in a collision? Which it was not. It was sitting, parked in my empty drive way.

I kill the car and turn it back on a few times, getting the same messages. I try to put my car into reverse (the message never leaving my screen so I couldn't go through any of the options on my dash) just waving itself in my face. Going into reverse is slams twice into what I would assume is the switching of gears and during this you can plain as day hear the sounds of the slamming both inside and outside of the car. It freaks me out. I put it in park, again the same sounds and slamming that can be felt inside the vehicle. I go through Neutral and Drive, this same thing happening as it tries to get into gear. I have called the dealership.. they are USELESS. I can get it towed or WAIT to see if it goes away.. but they won't be able to look at it until at least two days or the three (the day I have a recall appointment schedule) but they wouldn't even offer a complimentary vehicle to drive while I waited.. umm big hell no to this idiotic dealership. I am SO done with them.

I limp my vehicle to Tractor Supply and go inside for a while. Like I said I had things that needed to be done. The drive to the store was AWFUL, I could feel the gears slipping (I had an old Explorer with transmission problems that we finally got rid of, it slipped out of gear and had to try to catch before it would even take off.. I know the feeling, my Jeep was attempting this same routine..). It had no power to move, it was literally running on 1 tire.. pathetic.

I get out to my car. The flashy notes are gone, but my car still has the check engine light on. I take it straight to Auto Zone and have my codes read. It is the TCM (transmission control module) P1634 Internal Watchdog Performance... oh wait.. you read that right.. TRANSMISSION. The same issue I took my jeep into this dealer for twice before... once they documented.. the second I really don't think the did... I think they just wanted to tell me I was crazy and feeling things. You know, for the complaint I filed previously about how HARD my car shifted to spill a half empty bottle of drink..

BTW its almost impossible to figure out what the P1634 code was when you first start looking, because they only want to talk about Chrysler 200 & 300 cars. I had to keep searching to get it to make sure it was about the jeep. I finally got to site that had the actual ones associated with jeep and codes. Even if they are the same, you know you want to have PROOF of it affecting JEEP not something else. So my efforts paid off.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Jeep, other wise I wouldn't have bought it. This little Trailhawk caught my attention with it's color and look (the color sealed it, because other Cherokees to me look freaking ugly.. I hate it..) but I am sick of the same issues and nothing being took care of when it comes to this car. Apparently I can read and see how much is wrong with them and nothing is being done.

I am fed up with the Jeep and this worthless dealer... I am about to assume its time for a lemon law to come into play. Transmission issues over and over.

I am one p'o'd mamma bear.. I need this car for me, my kids and our busy life.. yeah. FIX IT JEEP!!!

- Trista M., Graham, US

problem #50

Aug 112018

Cherokee Limited V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

It all started with my car not starting up for me. Once I finally got it started, the check engine light came on. I did not drive it the next day. Two days later, the check engine light was off when I started it up in the morning on my way to work. When I left work, the light came back on. I stopped off at the grocery store on my way home. When I was leaving the store, I started up my car and the service transmission light came on. When I went to shift into drive, my car made a loud noise as if something dropped. My car would not let me drive it. I turned it back off and waited a few minutes and eventually it let me drive it to my mechanic.

My mechanic ran the machine on my car to determine why the check engine light was on and it was in fact my transmission. He advised me to bring it to the dealer since it was still under warranty. The next day I brought it to the dealer. They agreed it was the transmission and it was covered under the power train warranty. After fixing that, the dealership told me my car would not start up for them. I now had a 'bad battery'. Go figures, what else could go wrong?

The dealership replaced the battery and told me my car was ready to be picked up. When I went to pick my car up and threw it into reverse to back out of the parking spot, my check engine light came on! Like seriously? I didn't even leave my parking spot and there is still a problem. Turns out, I now have a cylinder misfire. Mind you, I have not even owned this car for a year. Stay away from Jeep!

- Stephanie C., Woodstock, US

problem #49

May 032018

Cherokee

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles

Car stalled out on a highway, would not accelerate any longer. Check Engine light came on with transmission warning. Got off highway. was unable to get the car to accelerate properly. Luckily got to work, when I turned the car back on check engine light was still on but transmission message was gone. Car was working fine. Now all lights are off including check engine. But after reading reviews on here I am just waiting for it to happen again. Was already sick of this car because of it's acceleration issues in general but this pushed the issue into being DANGEROUS. Cannot rely on this car at all for highway driving until this issue is fixed.

- bmelara, Jersey City, US

problem #48

Feb 082018

Cherokee Limited 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,550 miles

So, just had the oil changed and off to Tucson, the check Transmission light comes on. WTF. Called dealer and have an appointment tomorrow morning from what I can see a known issue. Why wasn't I notified so I could have got this fixed vs being on the highway where crazy southwestern folks drive like a bat out of hell. this is so freckin crazy and I was looking at getting another jeep, might not be the case now. just sayin'

- bearbadger, Surprise, US

problem #47

Sep 302017

Cherokee Latitude 3.2L V6

  • Manual transmission
  • 39,000 miles

My Jeep Cherokee has the 9 speed transmission. I went to start the car it took several times to start when it did the car dropped hard into gear and all of the service trans lights came on and it was very difficult to get home as the car was having a very hard time getting into gear and stayed in 2 wheel drive mode. I had the car towed to the dealership and they told me my drive train warranty covered the cost and I just needed a software update. Four days later I was driving with my husband and 8 month old baby and while stopped at a stop sign the car died and again took several times to restart, all trans lights came on and could not get into gear, we had to drive slowly home with our hazards home and nearly got into an accident when trying to merge into traffic when it kept slipping out of gear.

- kferrara, Severna Park, US

problem #46

Dec 012017

Cherokee Limited 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,000 miles

engine light came on with [service transmission warning] the car would not down shift went to turn around the car did not accelerate and just about got us all killed dealer wanted 85 just to read the code... last time I had this in that shop for [service shifter] with engine light I was told they did not know what that code meant ? and reset the light so why should pay them

- Dale B., Oscoda, US

problem #45

Nov 122017

Cherokee Limited 6 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,000 miles

Same issues returns. Only now the Jeep dealer saying "out of warranty". I am planning to tell all my friends to avoid jeep at any cost if they think this is not under warranty. We've had continuous warnings of "service shifter" etc. the whole time we have owned this piece of junk. Overall fun to drive when working, but this Jeep can't even go up my driveway without confusion. A Jeep, having problems with a hill? Oxymoronic. This is a sad excuse for a company putting out an untested piece of crap transmission

- Dan V., Larchmont, US

problem #44

Nov 012017

Cherokee Limited

  • Automatic transmission
  • 21,473 miles

Driving on a 2 lane road, the Jeep suddenly canceled Cruise control, simultaneously set off audible alarms, turned on the check engine symbol, and flashed "service transmission" message. At this point the vehicle was losing speed and would not go above 1500 rpm., regardless how far I depressed the accelerator. As there are hills in the area, my speed dropped to 30 mph and I was accumulating a string of cars behind me. I had to drive until there was a wide enough shoulder to pull over safely. Jeep sent someone over to take the vehicle to the nearest service facility, so I still don't know the outcome. This is a very dangerous situation, especially if you are in a multi-lane freeway and not in the outside lane when the problem occurs.

- Chuck K., Bertram, US

problem #43

Oct 072017

Cherokee Latitude 3.2L V6

  • Manual transmission
  • 39,040 miles

My Jeep Cherokee has the 9 speed transmission. I went to start the car it took several times to start when it did the car dropped hard into gear and all of the service trans lights came on and it was very difficult to get home as the car was having a very hard time getting into gear and stayed in 2 wheel drive mode. I had the car towed to the dealership and they told me my drive tran warranty covered the cost and I just needed a software update. Four days later I was driving with my husband and 8 month old baby and while stopped at a stop sign the car died and again took several times to restart, all trans lights came on and could not get into gear, we had to drive slowly home with our hazards home and nearly got into an accident when trying to merge into traffic when it kept slipping out of gear.

- kferrara, Severna Park, US

problem #42

Oct 152015

Cherokee Cloth 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,000 miles

Jeep can't seem to be able to make right......randomly the information center goes black and a warning appears to service shifter. The dealer is telling me that they can't get the car to malfunction trying to put me off. They are picking up the car again tomorrow. This happens going down the highway.

- Dale A., Corpus Christi, TX, US

problem #41

Apr 132016

Cherokee EX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 6,200 miles

I bought the Jeep 2015 Cherokee Trail hawk and planned on keeping it forever. Always loved Jeeps, have owned 5 of them. After my first oil change, the transmission light came on, the dealership kept it about 2 weeks. I was taking a vacation with my grandchildren and they told me they couldn’t get a new transmission because they were ALL ON BACK ORDER! Well, I was stupid and thought the answer was buying a new 2016 jeep, I just wanted to feel safe! Here’s my BIG complaint, because of the transmission I coundn’t get a decent trade in price except through my dealership. So I bought a 2016, it has 2000 mile on it and it WON’T START!!!!!!

- kpb, Brownsboro, TX, US

problem #40

Mar 012017

Cherokee Limited 2.4L 4cy

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,300 miles

2015 JEEP CHEROKEE TRANSMISSION: WARNING LIGHT FOUR WHEEL DRIVING SYSTEM UNAVAILABLE SERVICE REQUIRED! When driving the transmission would shift through 2nd gear and get stuck there with very high RPMS, then slamming into third. (city street & Highway) It accelerates when downshifting. Normal driving, no power. While driving loud whining sound from under the SUV. When stopped and in drive and turning on AC or heat, the RPMS would drop below 1k and the SUV would automatically increase the RPM causing it to lurch forward. Transmission shifted randomly. The dealership we leased the Jeep from replaced/reconfigured the Drivetrain Control Module and Flash programmed the ECU. They replaced a defective transfer control motor. They checked wiring harness and called a Regional Technician. All of these "fixes" failed after an extended test drive. Rt 46 Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge said they now need to replace the transmission control motor. The car has been at their shop for almost a week. Chrysler Corporate said they will not cover consequential damages due to defective parts under warranty. The Sales Manager at Rt 46 Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Little Falls, NJ would not take our 2015 Cherokee as trade in for a new SUV because he called it a Lemon. This vehicle is unpredictable and unsafe while driving. The dealership we leased the Cherokee from doesn't even want it back.

Update from Mar 15, 2017: 03/10/17-Dealership called to inform me the new transfer control motor, Flash Update and TCU reprogramming failed after test drive.4WD Warning light still on. The service tech stated the Transfer Case needs to be replaced.

- Joe G., Oakland, NJ, US

problem #39

Feb 112017

Cherokee Trailhawk 3.2L

  • CVT transmission
  • 20,436 miles

I have a 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk with all the bells and whistle. I bought it new. Today the Service Transmission Light came on along with the check engine light. The car would barely accelerate and finally stopped moving at all. I put it in Park and the car started rolling backward. I had to put on the emergency brake to keep it from rolling into a ditch. I tried restarting it again and a grinding noise started so I didn't try to drive it again and called Chrysler to come and get the vehicle. I live out in the country in Wyoming where the weather last week was 40 degrees below zero so you can imagine this has me concerned. I don't know what they will find but I will update this report as soon as I hear back from them. My local Laramie dealer is far from reliable (I bought it there and service my Ram truck there as well) so that also causes me concern. I am shocked that so many people have had transmission problems with this vehicle. Otherwise I really like the car and hope this is a gross aberration that doesn't get repeated. If other complaints are any indication I fear for the worse. My dealer has spent the last four months trying to fix a broken fuel gauge on my Ram truck (charging me out the a__ while doing it) and it is still not fixed. He even replaced the fuel tank! More to come later I am sure.

- mdratcliff, Laramie, WY, US

problem #38

Feb 032017

Cherokee Limited 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,359 miles

This is the fourth time I have been to the dealership regarding issues with my 2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited. My original complaint was about a faint whining sound that I could hear while driving. Was more pronounced in cold weather. The technicians in the dealership said they could not hear it.?? A blower motor was replaced with a broken fin, a transfer case module was replaced. The fourth time it had to be towed. The service transmission, engine light and various other lights were flashing. When I shifted into Drive, the gear shift lights were flashing. It wouldn't budge. I shut off the vehicle and waited a few minutes. When I started the vehicle again, the service transmission light was off but engine light remained on. I had it towed. The dealership replaced the valve body, transmission O rings, reprogrammed TCM and PCM and said that it would drive roughly for the next few weeks until it learned my driving habits?? The whining is worse than before.This should not be happening to a new vehicle!!! This is a crappy transmission and the manufacturer should be held responsible. This is totally unacceptable!! I don't feel safe driving anywhere. I will be dumping this vehicle as soon as I can and taking a huge loss. I will never by a Jeep product again!!

Update from Mar 16, 2017: The dealer replaced a faulty valve body and I haven't had any problems since but still uncomfortable knowing about the many complaints about this 9 speed transmission.

- raila457, Edmonton, AB, Canada

problem #37

Nov 222016

Cherokee Latitude 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,500 miles

No one knows how to fix the problem, they placate the public. Bottom line

- bobbandjann, Chula Vista, CA, US

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