2020 Jeep Cherokee Problems, Recalls & Reliability
382 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2020 Jeep Cherokee, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 10/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 60,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2020 Jeep Cherokee has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2020 sits among all Cherokee years
What owners report
““Service 4WD” warning light came on. Took vehicle to mechanic who said error code indicates power transfer unit failure. Car is clearly unsafe to drive.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Cherokee
“The vehicle piston failed which led to complete engine failure. This has been diagnosed by a service center.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Cherokee
“2020 vehicle is having PTU issues but not on recall. 2017-2019 models had a recall for same issue”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Cherokee
“AGS system failed at 26,000 miles causing the check engine light to turn on. Cannot use auto start or get car inspection while light is on”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Cherokee
“Electronic parking break turned on automatically while driving 55 mph on highway.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Cherokee
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 100 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 44,101 miles. Half of those reports fall between 5,098 and 70,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
Fix: The remedy is currently under development. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk are expected to be mailed June 25, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger…
Fix: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update…
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.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.…
Technical service bulletins
388 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2020 Jeep Cherokee. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2020 Cherokee TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2020 Jeep Cherokee reliable?
The 2020 Jeep Cherokee drew 382 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 10/100, scored against the model's worst year (2014).
What are the most common 2020 Jeep Cherokee problems?
The top reported problems for the 2020 Jeep Cherokee are transmission & drivetrain (159 complaints), engine (42), and other (36).
At what mileage do 2020 Jeep Cherokee problems show up?
Owners most often report 2020 Jeep Cherokee problems around 44,101 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 5,098 and 70,000 miles.
Does the 2020 Jeep Cherokee have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2020 Jeep Cherokee. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.