2021 Jeep Cherokee problems and recalls

56% of owner complaints on the 2021 Jeep Cherokee related to the Power Train (87 of 155).

155
Complaints
4
Recalls
10
Crash reports
4
Fire reports
8
Injuries
74.1
Severity index

Severity index 74.1 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 74.1p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 19 of 92 by severity index among 2021 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 79% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2021 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Power TrainPower Train: 87 complaints (56.1%)87 56%EngineEngine: 25 complaints (16.1%)25 16%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 23 complaints (14.8%)23 15%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 22 complaints (14.2%)22 14%Service BrakesService Brakes: 14 complaints (9.0%)14 9%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 10 complaints (6.5%)10 6%Air BagsAir Bags: 8 complaints (5.2%)8 5%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 5 complaints (3.2%)5 3%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN8756.1%
ENGINE2516.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2314.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2214.2%
SERVICE BRAKES149.0%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE106.5%
AIR BAGS85.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM53.2%

Complaints filed per year

022452021: 132022: 162023: 212024: 152025: 452026: 45 (partial year)21222324254526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
202113
202216
202321
202415
202545
2026 (year to date)45
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 2.8x those in 2021 to 2022 (81 against 29).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V31000004/05/2021POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLER/RADIATOR:HOSES AND FITTINGSChrysler (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.
20V65700027/10/2020SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARMChrysler (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.
24V51600008/07/2024AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAINChrysler (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 of Federal Motor Veh
26V29000007/05/2026POWER TRAINChrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.

Other Jeep Cherokee model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 9 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-07. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.