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2021 Jeep Cherokee problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
74% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2021 Jeep Cherokee are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 94% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 9 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 70%).
Does the 2021 Jeep Cherokee have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 116 of 157 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Jeep Cherokee concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (74%), and the largest group is filed under power train (96). For comparison, the 2020 scores 72% and the 2022 scores 77%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other Jeep Cherokee years
Of the 13 Jeep Cherokee years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (74%). The worst is the 2022 (77%), the best the 2013 (30%). By volume, the 2021 drew 166 complaints (116 drivetrain), against 309 for the 2020 and 51 for the 2022.
Jeep Cherokee years to avoid and best years →
2010 Cherokee problems · 2011 Cherokee problems · 2012 Cherokee problems · 2013 Cherokee problems · 2014 Cherokee problems · 2015 Cherokee problems · 2016 Cherokee problems · 2017 Cherokee problems · 2018 Cherokee problems · 2019 Cherokee problems · 2020 Cherokee problems · 2021 · 2022 Cherokee problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Jeep Cherokee
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2021 Jeep Cherokee said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 116 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 Jeep Cherokee transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Jeep Cherokee involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
Risk: A failed PTU may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the Drivetrain Control Drivetrain Control Module, PTU, and Electronic Park Brake software, and replace the PTU, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The transmission oil cooler hose may have been incorrectly cured, allowing transmission fluid to leak.
Risk: A transmission fluid leak increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the hose, free of charge. Owners notification letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is…
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Jeep Cherokee? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2021 Jeep Cherokee
Does the 2021 Jeep Cherokee have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 116 of 157 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Jeep Cherokee concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (74%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Jeep Cherokee?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Jeep Cherokee is power train: 96 of 166 complaints (58%) name it, followed by engine (27) and electrical system (23). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2021 Jeep Cherokee reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 74% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 94% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Jeep Cherokee years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Jeep Cherokee?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Jeep Cherokee involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 26V290000 (power train), 21V310000 (power train: automatic transmission: cooler/radiator: hoses and fittings). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Jeep Cherokee years are better?
Among the Jeep Cherokee years we track, the 2013 (30%), the 2012 (34%) and the 2010 (38%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (74%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/jeep-cherokee
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.