Is the 2019 Jeep Cherokee a bad year?
1,676 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 836, 29× a quiet Cherokee year.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2019 Jeep Cherokee were filed between 13k and 90k miles. You're at 51,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2019 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 51,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 836 (50%) | 13k–90k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 470 (28%) | 4k–40k miles · mostly behind | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 342 (20%) | 2k–33k miles · mostly behind | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Steering | 120 (7%) | 5k–32k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 106 (6%) | 2k–25k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 83 (5%) | 2k–20k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 42 (3%) | 4k–37k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Stability control | 27 (2%) | 1k–24k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 42 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 32 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 24 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 20 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 18 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 12 (1%) | too few with a 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 51,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,676 complaints: 40 mention a crash · 19 mention a fire · 22 report an injury · 84 say the car was towed.
341 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
2019 Jeep cherokee trailhawk randomly shifts to neutral. Not specific to speed, climate or terrain. Commonly occurs during reducing and acceleration speeds.
Started out when going over a bump slow you heard a grinding noise, now when it shifts into first at a stop the transmission has a clicking noise and also surges and shifts hard.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 51,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2019 Jeep Cherokee: 11
The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail. A failed PTU may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power and/or loss of park function. A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway, which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The steering rack gear may break, possibly causing a loss of steering control. A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
The impact and acceleration sensors may fail and reduce the air bag system's ability to properly detect certain crash events. In the event of a crash, the inability to properly detect a crash may result in improper air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
The front passenger seat mounting bolts may be loose. In the event of a crash, the seat may move, increasing the risk of injury.
The instrument cluster may fail resulting in a lack of activation of warning chimes, messages, and gauges. Without the activation of warning chimes, messages, and gauges to provide vehicle information to the driver, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Improper transmission calibration may result in a stall. A vehicle stall can increase the risk of crash.
The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition. A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance. A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
A component in the transmission may not have been welded properly, possibly causing the transmission to not transmit engine power to the wheels. If the transmission weld fails, the vehicle will stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Cylinder damage or camshaft failure can cause the engine to stall, increasing 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: 208
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2019 Jeep Cherokee. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Unable to Complete 01C Recall Drive Cycle C14A7-97 Active Technicians may experience the following: SYMPTOM: After performing Recall 01C…
Two Speed Power Transfer Unit Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must SYMPTOM: exhibit/set the following…
Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp…
Before replacing any parts please refer to SOL S2518000008 if it applies to the vehicle you are working on based on a VIN search in Service Library
Neighbouring years
2018 Cherokee: 690 complaints, consider selling · 2020 Cherokee: 336 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 2019 Jeep Cherokee a bad year?
1,676 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 836, 29× a quiet Cherokee year. At 51,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2019 Jeep Cherokee were filed between 13k and 90k miles. You're at 51,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Jeep Cherokee?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (836), engine (470), electrical system (342), steering (120), brakes (106). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 13k–90k miles.
How many recalls does the 2019 Jeep Cherokee have?
11 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 26V-290), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 25V-011), Steering (NHTSA 19V-637), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-449) 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.