717 of the 2,906 complaints about the Jeep Cherokee (24.7%) concern Engine, making it the model's second-largest problem area. That share is 1.1× the Engine share across all tracked vehicles.
717Complaints · Engine
24.7%Share of complaints
1.11×vs. all vehicles
83Last 12 months
3.5%Share involving a crash or fire
2Related recalls
Analysis
83 Engine complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 100 in the 12 months before — down 17%.
26 of these reports (3.5%) describe a crash or fire, with 2 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.
2 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 18V344000 (2018-05-25, model year 2019).
The contact owned a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sweet/alcohol smell in the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent while in the process of performing a stress test drive.
Engine · 2025-12-10 · ODI 11704201 · Fire
Oil pressure light came on the same day the engine sees on freeway
Engine · 2025-08-26 · ODI 11683037 · Fire
I was coming out of a gas station and the battery light came on/ stayed on and the car just stopped. I couldn’t shut it off, put it in drive, put it in park…….The car still seemed to be running… I had to wait about 10 mins before I could do anything I.e.
Engine · 2026-10-13 · ODI 11770794
So I was driving down the road doing 60 miles an hour and I have lost power total drive power while driving doing 60 miles an hour with a car just goes into a neutral rubs up and I have to pull on side of the road and turn off the car wait like 10 to 15…
Engine · 2026-10-12 · ODI 11770689
Engine light comes on, whenever you attempt to accelerate from a stop (like a traffic light), the vehicle will coast into the intersection, causing a traffic hazard. It has done this multiple times.
Engine · 2026-10-05 · ODI 11768960
Like previous model years, the 2 L Turbo engine started buring excessive oil (more than 1 quart per 500 miles). Two mechanics have indicated that engine and turbocharger need to be replaced.
Engine · 2026-10-05 · ODI 11768970
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Campaign 18V344000 · 2018-05-25 · Model years: 2019
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with 2.0L engines. The engines in these vehicles may be missing valve stem keepers, which can allow the valve to drop into the engine cylinder causing engine damage. These engines may also have a reversed camshaft cap that can damage the camshaft bearing causing camshaft failure.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair or replace the affected engine components, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 9, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U52.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Campaign 17V670000 · 2017-10-24 · Model years: 2018
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee and Compass vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the oil pump, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 5, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T65.
Why modern engines burn oil, and what owner complaints revealDesign choices linked to oil consumption in recent engines, the warning signs owners describe, what counts as normal, and which tracked models currently have the highest engine share in their complaints.
