Reliable Auto DB

2021 Jeep Cherokee reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2021 Jeep Cherokee holds 162 complaints after 6 years, a rate of 17 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Cherokee years here — under the median of the other years, which is 103. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Powertrain, Curtain, and Hoses and fittings.

2014 Jeep Cherokee
Photo by Kevauto, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

162

Per year

17

Recalls

4

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (93 of 162), then Engine (26) and Electrical system (22). Those filings include 10 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 6 that report an injury.

Next to 2020 and 2022

The 2020 Cherokee has 303 complaints, 17 per year, and the 2022 has 51 complaints, 7 per year. The 2021 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Jeep Cherokee. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall Powertrain 2026-05-07 · NHTSA campaign 26V290000
Summary Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
Remedy 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 risk were mailed June 25, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy becomes available. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 40D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 14, 2026.
Recall air bags, side and window, curtain 2024-07-08 · NHTSA campaign 24V516000
Summary 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 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 214, "Side Impact Protection" and 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Remedy 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.
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission, transmission cooler, hoses and fittings 2021-05-04 · NHTSA campaign 21V310000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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 Y18.
Recall Front lower control arm 2020-10-27 · NHTSA campaign 20V657000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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 customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W81. Note: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicles until they have been inspected and repaired if needed.

Complaints by component (162 total)

Powertrain
93
Engine
26
Electrical system
22
Service brakes
13
Forward collision avoidance
10
Air bags
8
Fuel and propulsion system
5
Suspension
5
Steering
3
Lane departure
2
Seat belts
2
Speed control
2
Air brakes
1
Back-over prevention
1
Engine and engine cooling
1
Exterior lighting
1
Insert and padding
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Tires
1
Visibility
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Wheels
1
Show 14 more Show less
Crash-flagged

10

Fire-flagged

4

Injury reports

6

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

132021162022212023152024452025522026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "While I was driving, I suddenly heard an extremely loud popping/banging noise that sounded like a gunshot. Immediately afterward, I discovered that the moonroof glass had shattered. Nothing fell onto or struck the…"
    Visibility and wipers · filed 2026-09-17
  • "The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The "4WD" warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was started but failed to shift into gear. The vehicle was…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-09-16
  • "Vehicle is a 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Lux equipped with a 1-speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) / Active Drive I system. The vehicle experienced an abrupt failure of the AWD system, triggering an immediate "Service 4WD"…"
    Powertrain, Engine · filed 2026-09-16
  • "While on a XXX road trip through [XXX] with my son, my Jeep was initially operating normally. We were leaving a hiking site when the Jeep gears would not engage. Soon the engine roared and popped into gear however it…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-09-16
  • "Car does not go into 4wd. Svc light is on. Now loud clanging under feet and car won’t go over 35 Moh"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-09-16

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2021 Jeep Cherokee SUV 4WD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2021 Jeep Cherokee SUV FWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Cherokee four-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 9-speed All-wheel drive 21 29 24 MPG $2700
Cherokee four-wheel drive 3.2L, 6-cyl Automatic 9-speed All-wheel drive 19 27 22 MPG $2950
Cherokee four-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic 9-speed All-wheel drive 21 29 24 MPG $2700
Cherokee four-wheel drive Active Drive II 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 9-speed All-wheel drive 20 27 23 MPG $2800
Cherokee four-wheel drive Active Drive II 3.2L, 6-cyl Automatic 9-speed All-wheel drive 18 26 21 MPG $3100
Cherokee front-wheel drive 3.2L, 6-cyl Automatic 9-speed Front-wheel drive 20 29 23 MPG $2800
Cherokee front-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic 9-speed Front-wheel drive 22 31 25 MPG $2600
Cherokee front-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 9-speed Front-wheel drive 23 31 26 MPG $2500
Cherokee Trailhawk four-wheel drive 3.2L, 6-cyl Automatic 9-speed All-wheel drive 18 24 21 MPG $3100

Specs and fitment

KL generation, 2014–2023
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 (2.4L Tigershark); 5W-20 (3.2L V6) , 5 qt capacity
Tire size 225/60R17 to 245/45R20 (trim dependent)
Towing capacity 4,500 lbs

Known issues for this generation

Early KL years (especially 2014) draw heavy NHTSA powertrain filings. Recall 19V-447 covers certain 2014 Cherokees with the 3.2L V6: if a clutch sticks, transmission software may shift to neutral and cut drive; dealers update transmission software (FCA V69). Recall 16V-529 covers certain 2014-2015 Cherokees with the 9-speed: insufficient crimps in the transaxle range-sensor harness can default the gearbox to neutral; dealers reprogram and replace the harness as needed (FCA S55). Recall 20V-343 covers certain 2014-2017 Cherokees with a two-speed PTU: spline wear between the PTU and transmission can lose drive or Park; dealers apply software that keeps rear drive and sets the electronic park brake (FCA W47). Recall 26V-290 covers certain 2019-2023 Cherokees for PTU failure with possible loss of drive or rollaway; dealers update drivetrain/PTU/park-brake software and replace the PTU as needed.

Compare

Previous year 2020 Jeep Cherokee Next year 2022 Jeep Cherokee See every Jeep Cherokee model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Jeep Cherokee reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2021 Jeep Cherokee holds 162 complaints after 6 years, a rate of 17 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Cherokee years here — under the median of the other years, which is 103. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Powertrain, Curtain, and Hoses and fittings.

What are common problems with a 2021 Jeep Cherokee?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (93 of 162), then Engine (26) and Electrical system (22). Those filings include 10 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 6 that report an injury.

Is the 2021 Jeep Cherokee more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2020 Cherokee has 303 complaints, 17 per year, and the 2022 has 51 complaints, 7 per year. The 2021 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Jeep Cherokee been recalled?

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Jeep Cherokee?

Owners have filed 162 complaints about the 2021 Jeep Cherokee with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Jeep Cherokee get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Jeep Cherokee is 23.2 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Cherokee take?

0W-20 (2.4L Tigershark); 5W-20 (3.2L V6)

What does NHTSA recall 19V-447 cover on the Jeep Cherokee?

Recall 19V-447 covers certain 2014 Cherokees with the 3.2L V6: if a clutch sticks, transmission software may shift to neutral and cut drive; dealers update transmission software (FCA V69).

What generation is the 2015 Jeep Cherokee?

KL generation (2014-2023).