2021 Jeep Cherokee Problems, Recalls & Reliability
214 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2021 Jeep Cherokee, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 7/100 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 2021 Jeep Cherokee has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2021 sits among all Cherokee years
What owners report
“Service 4wd light came on. Driver side clinking noise came from tire area. Took my jeep to the dealership in which they diagnosed the problem as a PTU (Power train unit) failure. The part is on 2 months back order”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Cherokee
“I purchased a brand new car and the ABS system keeps failing. My car has passed inspections but for this continues to be a problem”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Cherokee
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 39 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 40,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 3,055 and 64,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
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 2021-2022 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. An improperly secured connector for the right-side curtain air bag may prevent the air bag from deploying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements…
Fix: Dealers will secure the connector, free of charge. All vehicles have been remedied. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 71B.
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.
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…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude and Jeep Cherokee Limited vehicles. One or both of the front lower control arms may fracture while driving.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front lower control arms and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2020. Owners may contact FCA US…
Technical service bulletins
256 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2021 Jeep Cherokee. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2021 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 2021 Jeep Cherokee reliable?
The 2021 Jeep Cherokee drew 214 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 7/100, scored against the model's worst year (2014).
What are the most common 2021 Jeep Cherokee problems?
The top reported problems for the 2021 Jeep Cherokee are transmission & drivetrain (86 complaints), engine (25), and other (24).
At what mileage do 2021 Jeep Cherokee problems show up?
Owners most often report 2021 Jeep Cherokee problems around 40,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 3,055 and 64,000 miles.
Does the 2021 Jeep Cherokee have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2021 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.