8.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
33,500 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (2 reports)
  2. replace faulty pmu (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Jeep dealer.

problem #3

Aug 052025

Cherokee Trailhawk 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,361 miles

While driving at approximately 40 mph, the transmission started to slip, rpm went up, speed went down. Pulled off road, called tow truck. Took it to Lewis Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealership in Fayetteville, AR. The shop diagnosed the problem, said that the transmission had failed, and would need replacing. Took about 4 weeks to get the item shipped and installed. Next, I was contacted by the repair facility that they would have to re-install the software so that the new transmission would work properly.

Another week passed by. Then, I was notified that the PTU was also faulty, and that a new one would be ordered. Three more weeks passed. The PTU was then installed, and on the 58th day, I picked up the car. During this timeframe, I did some research on this problem. I found that there had been a recall issued on this particular car (verified by vin#). When I presented this information to the service rep., they said that the cost of the PTU would be covered, but NOT the cost for the transmission replacement. I insisted that just reviewing the sequence of events during the repair, one would logically conclude that the failure of the PTU did, in fact, as stipulated in the Recall Data, cause the transmission to fail.

I've contacted the customer service groups at "Mopar", and "Stellantis" (both online, and by phone). During one conversation I was advised that yes, there is a problem, but they have not yet arrived at a solution. I was told to just "wait and see". Obviously, this glitch is affecting a lot of owners. (One write-up states 63000 cars impacted, and another more recent put the number at 80,000. I just would just like to find one place where I can explain the situation, get confirmation that my vehicle does, in fact, fall under the NHTSA recall, (O1C), as well as a new recall along the similar problem, #25-003. $6565.48 is a big ticket item, and I believe I should be reimbursed for that out-of-pocket expense.

- Gary C., Fayetteville, US

problem #2

Jul 012019

Cherokee Trailhawk 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,000 miles

Bought brand new 2017 Cherokee Trailhawk. Have owned this car for roughly 3 years. Over the course of owning the vehicle I rarely place it into "sport" mode and drive very conservatively. The engine malfunction warning light has come on 4 times now all while in sport mode. The first time they updated software. The second time they "found nothing", the third time required a brand new transmission...at 18k miles!!!!

Took them over a week to get the part and replace my transmission. After driving the car for only one additional month I was just in sport mode and the same engine light came back on AGAIN. Car was stuck in gear and would not shift, causing RPMs to spike. Luckily was close to home. This is the same exact thing which occurred previously before transmission failure. The next time around the transmission just failed. When that occurred the transmission was slipping and could not shift reliably into/out of drive and reverse.

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH SPORTS MODE, CLEARLY. Why I as someone who is fairly ignorant on cars has detected the pattern/cause yet the full brain power of the dealership has not is mind boggling. Luckily I bought the 7 year bumper to bumper warranty. I will gladly bring them failed transmission after failed transmission and watch them pay for their failure on their dime until my warranty expires at which point I will trade this POS in.

Will NEVER buy Jeep again, will be going back to Subaru. What an awful company and a POS vehicle I otherwise would love.

- Brendan M., Cherry Hill, NJ, US

problem #1

Jan 012019

Cherokee Trailhawk 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,000 miles

My 2017 Jeep Cherokee 3.2L Trailhawk was in cruise control at about 70mph going uphill. It felt as though the transmission was attempting to change gears to maintain the 70mph uphill when suddenly the transmission gave out. The jeep lost power. Jeep would not engage any gear. I made a quick decision to get over to the right shoulder on an incline. After I had the jeep stopped on the side of the road and in park, I attempted to shift the jeep into DRIVE and stepped on the accelerator. The jeep would not move forward (gear not engaged) and started to roll back as if the Jeep was in neutral. I could not get the JEEP into any drive mode. Had to call AAA and tow the jeep to my home. The following morning I called my local dealership to have them come tow the jeep from my house to the dealership for repair. Thank god it was still under warranty because that would have been one expensive fix.

My jeep only had approximately 18 or 20,000 miles on it when this occurred. This is a serious issue and should NOT have happened on a new vehicle!

In addition, my jeep has had 2 recalls since I've owned it and the vehicle is still new! Neither recall was for the issue I had.

- John R., Victorville, US