Is the 2015 Jeep Cherokee a bad year?
1,794 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 1,007, 35× a quiet Cherokee year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 5k–59k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 20 of 798 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2015 Cherokee owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 25,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 1,007 (56%) | 5k–59k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 327 (18%) | 10k–64k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 120 (7%) | 4k–50k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 51 (3%) | 27k–64k miles · ahead | — |
| Engine | 370 (21%) | 5k–64k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 128 (7%) | 2k–60k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structure | 86 (5%) | 9k–57k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 59 (3%) | 7k–56k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Air bags | 41 (2%) | 5k–73k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 40 (2%) | 1k–66k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Suspension | 38 (2%) | 5k–52k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Exterior lighting | 37 (2%) | 5k–44k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Wheels | 29 (2%) | 2k–56k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Visibility and wipers | 15 (1%) | 3k–46k miles · around this mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 25,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,794 complaints: 45 mention a crash · 29 mention a fire · 24 report an injury · 60 say the car was towed.
50 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
The transmission bangs intermittently in varying degrees if intensity from noticeable to extreme. When the bang is extreme it feels like the vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle.
My 2015, brand new Jeep has been acting sluggish, with a delay in shifting, poor highway pickup for a few weeks.
I am getting repetitive "Service shifter" Notices on my dash. This can be a safety issue in more ways than just the issue with the vehicle.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 25,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2015 Jeep Cherokee: 11
An electrical short in the power liftgate module may lead to a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Relative movement in the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) between the differential input splines and the transmission output shaft may cause some input spline teeth to wear off, which may eventually cause a loss of engagement between the transmission and the differential inside the PTU. A loss of drive can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning. A loss of the Park function can cause unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged… If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
The seat fasteners on the first or second row seats may not have been tightened to the proper torque specification. Loose fasteners may allow the seats to move, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupants in the event of a crash.
The transmission sensor clusters may have insufficient crimps in the transmission wire harness, and as a result, the transmission may unexpectedly shift to neutral. If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, there is an increased risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, water may leak into the Power Liftgate Control Module and result in a high resistance short circuit. A short circuit in the module increases the risk of a fire.
The affected vehicles may have a misrouted air conditioning suction/discharge hose. If the line is misrouted, it may contact the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.
The affected vehicles are equipped with radios that have software vulnerabilities that can allow third-party access to certain networked vehicle control systems. Exploitation of the software vulnerability may result in unauthorized remote modification and control of certain vehicle systems, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, water may enter the Power Liftgate Control Module and cause a high resistance short circuit in the module. A short circuit in the liftgate control module may result in a fire.
The affected vehicles may experience unintended side curtain and seat air bag deployment during vehicle operation. If the air bags deploy unexpectedly during vehicle operation, it can increase the risk of personal injury and increase the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Jeep: 262
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2015 Jeep Cherokee. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
2.4L Excessive Oil Consumption XB1 Warranty Extension
Power Transfer Unit (PTU) Broken Input Spline XJ1 Warranty Extension Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA)
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Electronic Parking Brake Water Ingress
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Software security vulnerability
Engine compartment fire
Neighbouring years
2014 Cherokee: 2,652 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2016 Cherokee: 1,415 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Jeep Cherokee year
2000 · 2001 · 2006 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2026 · All Cherokee years side by side
Other Jeep models: Jeep Commander · Jeep Compass · Jeep Gladiator · Jeep Grand Cherokee · Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe · Jeep Grand Cherokee L · Jeep Grand Wagoneer · Jeep Laredo · Jeep Liberty · Jeep Patriot · Jeep Renegade · Jeep Wagoneer · Jeep Wrangler · Jeep Wrangler 4xe · Jeep Wrangler Sahara. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2015 Jeep Cherokee a bad year?
1,794 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 1,007, 35× a quiet Cherokee year. At 25,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 5k–59k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 20 of 798 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Jeep Cherokee?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (1,007), electrical system (327), speed control (120), stability control (51), engine (370). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 5k–59k miles.
How many recalls does the 2015 Jeep Cherokee have?
11 recall campaigns list this model year: Body structure (NHTSA 23V-338), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 20V-343), Speed control (NHTSA 18V-332), Equipment (NHTSA 17V-824) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.