Jeep Cherokee stalling problems: what 1,717 owners reported

Owners of the Jeep Cherokee have filed 1,717 complaints with NHTSA that describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. That is 17% of the 10,120 complaints on file for the model. The 2014 model year has the most (507), followed by 2019 (433). Many of the recent complaints name the power transfer unit (PTU), a drivetrain part, and describe a sudden loss of drive power.

NHTSA's recall data lists four recalls that cover Cherokee model years in this period, two of them for the PTU and two for stalling caused by a calibration or a control module. Which one applies to you depends on your model year and VIN. If this is not your case, read the full Jeep Cherokee problem report.

TL;DR

• 1,717 stalling and loss-of-power complaints out of 10,120 on the Cherokee (17%).
• Worst model years: 2014 (507 reports), 2019 (433), 2016 (218) and 2015 (192).
• The reports list 8 injured people in total; 18 reports mention a crash and 7 mention a fire.
• Components named most often: Power Train (874), Engine (774), Electrical System (389).
• Recalls 25V011000 (2017 to 2019) and 23V302000 (2016 to 2017): a damaged PTU can cause loss of drive power.
• Recall 18V739000 (2019, 2.4L engine) and 18V524000 (2018 to 2019): both state a stall.
• Check your VIN at https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls before anything else.

Which Jeep Cherokee years have the most stalling complaints?

The 2014 model year has the most reports, but 2019 is the one where stalling makes up the largest share of all complaints (26%). Model years 2014 to 2019 account for nearly all of the reports. The 2020 to 2026 cars have fewer reports, which partly reflects less time on the road, and the 2023 and 2026 rows are too small to compare.

What do Cherokee owners describe?

The most common component in these reports is the Power Train (874 reports), followed by Engine (774) and Electrical System (389). Fuel/Propulsion System (153), Vehicle Speed Control (98) and Steering (86) are also named.

Loss of power at low speed or on the highway. A 2019 owner wrote: "Loss of power between 15-20 mph and causes the gears to “jump”. This sometimes happens between 7-10 mph. Loss of 4 wheel drive also." (complaint 11771984). A 2021 owner reported that "the vehicle lost all motive power while I was traveling approximately 65 mph on the highway on my daily commute" (complaint 11766914).

Warning lights at the same time. A 2022 owner described that the car "got completely and unexpectedly stalled while driving on a highway without any type of warning. Many warning signs flashed at the same time: ETC (Electronic Throttle control), Service Park brake, check engine, battery, and a few more." (complaint 11765488). A 2026 owner reported the car "progressively lost power and began shuddering violently" with the check engine light flashing (complaint 11769616).

Random stalling. A 2014 owner wrote: "This vehicle stalls while on the road and it also stops driving, and the vehicle remains stationary. It's random and I never know when it will happen." (complaint 11742247).

Stalling after a recall visit. A 2016 owner reported that after the PTU recall update, "the vehicle started stalling and actually died in the middle of an intersection twice" (complaint 11768968).

Owners who say the PTU failed. A 2018 owner reported that the drivetrain control module showed fault codes C1440-64 and C1477-4B (complaint 11729828). A 2015 owner wrote that the PTU "stripped the drive splines" and caused "an immediate loss of power and four-wheel-drive engagement" (complaint 11758385). These are the owners' own descriptions, not confirmed diagnoses.

Disputes over repairs. Several owners say the dealer or manufacturer would not cover the repair, for example "they said there is no fix available" (complaint 11771721). I cannot verify these accounts from the data, so treat them as what owners reported.

Is there a recall for stalling on the Cherokee?

NHTSA lists four recalls that match this problem:

For all four, NHTSA says a loss of drive power or a stall can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause unintended rollaway. None is flagged as a "do not drive" recall. For 25V011000, owner letters were mailed beginning February 19, 2026, and FCA customer service is on 1-800-853-1403.

Several owners above mention other recall numbers and an extended warranty. I have not confirmed those from NHTSA's data here, so check your own VIN. Recalls for other parts may also apply to your car.

What should you do if your Cherokee stalls?

• Check open recalls for your VIN at https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls. Do this even if you were told before that none applied; recalls are added over time.
• Ask a dealer to check for open recalls and manufacturer service bulletins, and ask for the findings in writing.
• Write down the date, mileage, warning messages on the dashboard and the conditions each time it happens (speed, hill, cold start).
• Report the problem at https://www.nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. Owner reports are what this guide is built from.
• If the car loses power in traffic, switch on the hazard lights, coast to a safe place and call for help. I would not keep driving a car that stalls without warning.

I am not a mechanic and this guide does not diagnose your car. It shows what owners reported and what the recalls say.

How this guide was made

This guide uses owner complaints filed with NHTSA and NHTSA recall records, with data as of 27 October 2026. Complaints were counted when their text matched stalling, loss of power or the engine shutting off. The quotes are copied from the complaints with only capitalisation fixed. See the methodology for how matching works.