Jeep Cherokee KL
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
The Jeep Cherokee KL is Jeep's attempt to compete in the crowded compact SUV segment against the Tiguan, CR-V and similar rivals. Built on a Fiat-Chrysler platform, it arrived in 2014 with polarizing styling and a strong focus on genuine off-road ability in the Trailhawk trims. Anyone after real trail capability in a compact package will find more here than in most SUV competitors. On the used market the KL looks attractively priced, but there are reasons for that: reliability is patchy in typical Jeep fashion, and the biggest headache lives in the drivetrain.
Engine choice makes all the difference. The Pentastar 3.2 V6 with 200 kW is the soundest pick — a strong, mature naturally aspirated unit that shares the known Pentastar weak spots but is fundamentally long-lived. Watch for rocker-arm tick at higher mileage, a leaking oil cooler housing and cracks in the plastic thermostat housing. The later 2.0-litre turbo (GME-T4) with 48-volt mild hybrid is more economical and decent overall, but has its own issues: a rattling wastegate, elevated oil consumption and turbo bearing wear. The one to avoid outright is the 2.4-litre Tigershark. This MultiAir four-cylinder is an oil-burner where the piston rings fail to seal properly — up to a litre every 1,000 kilometres, which triggered a multi-million-dollar class action in the US. At low oil level the engine shuts itself down, and the MultiAir solenoid valve causes trouble too.
Regardless of engine, the ZF nine-speed automatic is the real problem child. It jerks, hesitates on load changes and noticeably dulls the driving experience. Software updates improved the behaviour over the years but never fully cured it. On top of that sits a long list of electronic and mechanical flaws: water ingress at the windscreen, sunroof and tailgate, an electric parking brake that can stop the vehicle while driving if water gets in, a vacuum pump causing a hard brake pedal and oil loss, batteries drained by the stop-start system, and Uconnect units that freeze up.
When buying, always check the recalls — the loose transfer-case snap ring affects over 63,000 vehicles and can cause loss of drive, along with the cracking transmission oil cooler hose that poses a fire risk on 18,800 cars. The PTU actuator is another all-wheel-drive weak point. Take a long test drive and check the nine-speed shifts cleanly in city traffic, insist on a complete service history, and check oil level carefully on the Tigershark. As a V6 with a cared-for history the Cherokee is a usable, genuinely capable compact SUV. As a Tigershark with a neglected gearbox, it is a money pit.
270 PS
Cherokee · Benzin
Modern engine, mature transmission
Decent186 PS
2.4L Tigershark Benzin
3 weaknesses
Stay Away!Engine Overview
The Jeep Cherokee KL is available with 3 engine variants — from 184 to 271 hp. 1 variants had engine changes — the model year is crucial.
A modern 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo with 48-volt mild hybrid from the Stellantis parts bin, around 270 hp and noticeably more economical than the old V6. Direct injection and a twin-scroll turbo deliver strong pull, but long-term data is still limited. An early issue is a coolant leak at a hose fitting, which in the worst case lets coolant into the oil. Add a rattling wastegate at low revs, raised oil consumption, and with mileage intake-valve coking from the direct injection plus turbo bearing wear. Premium fuel and short oil-change intervals are advisable here.
- !! Coolant leak / coolant in oil from 60,000 km
Coolant enters the engine bay through failing hose fittings or head gasket — worst case coolant in the oil. Occurs on early GME-T4 models from ~40k miles.
Symptoms: Coolant loss without visible external leak, overheating, milky oil - !! Turbo bearing wear from 100,000 km
Turbo bearing wears prematurely from oil starvation — especially after short trips with no cooldown period or poor oil quality. Direct injection plus turbo: short oil change intervals (max 5k miles) are critical for longevity.
Symptoms: Whistling from turbocharger, power loss, blue smoke, elevated oil consumption - !! Elevated oil consumption from 30,000 km
2.0T turbo shows elevated oil consumption on some vehicles — direct injection without intake port oil wash. 0.5-1 quart per 3k miles in extreme cases.
Symptoms: Dropping oil level, blue smoke under acceleration, positive oil consumption test
+ 1 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
2.4-liter Tigershark with MultiAir valve train. Modern on paper, in practice an oil consumption scandal: piston rings don't seal properly, up to 1 quart per 1,000 miles disappears. $8M class action settlement. Primarily 2014-2018. Oil warning comes too late — engine can stall without notice.
- !! Piston Ring Defect: Severe Oil Consumption ($8M Settlement) from 50,000 km
Piston rings fail to seal — up to 1 qt per 1,000 mi. $8M class action confirmed design defect. Primarily 2014-2018.
Symptoms: Oil drops rapidly, no warning until critically low, engine stalls - !! Engine Stall from Low Oil Level from 40,000 km
Due to piston ring defect, oil drops unnoticed. Engine stalls without warning.
Symptoms: Engine suddenly dies, no prior warning - !! MultiAir Solenoid Failure from 80,000 km
Electronically-controlled valve train develops solenoid failures, causing power loss and rough idle.
Symptoms: Check engine P106B, power loss, rough idle
Smaller sibling of the 3.6L Pentastar, detuned to 271 hp — same architecture, same known weaknesses: rocker arm tick at higher mileage, plastic oil cooler housing leak. Runs with the ZF 9-speed and most Cherokee complaints trace back to the transmission, not the engine itself. Owners who pass 60k miles without noise and keep up with oil changes have a reliable everyday V6.
- !! Rocker arm wear — ticking, camshaft damage from 80,000 km
The 3.2L Pentastar shares the rocker arm issue with the 3.6L: needle bearing in the rocker wears prematurely, roller exits its seat, camshaft lobe gets scored. React immediately at the first metallic tick. Most expensive repair if left too long.
Symptoms: Metallic ticking on cold or warm start, misfires, power loss, surging - !! Oil cooler housing leak from 80,000 km
Plastic oil cooler housing leaks — oil escapes externally or in worst case mixes with coolant. Identical issue to the 3.6L Pentastar. Dorman metal replacement is the permanent fix.
Symptoms: Oil loss, oil-coolant cross-contamination (milky oil), overheating, oil spots under engine - !! Cracked plastic thermostat housing (coolant loss) from 120,000 km
The 3.2L cooling system uses a lot of brittle plastic. The thermostat housing, coolant crossover pipe above the water pump, and bleeder screw crack with age and slowly weep coolant. Fault code P0128 (thermostat) is also common.
Symptoms: Dropping coolant level with no visible puddle (leak evaporates before dripping), sweet smell, slow warm-up or check-engine light with code P0128, and overheating in severe cases.
2.4-liter Tigershark with MultiAir valve train. Modern on paper, in practice an oil consumption scandal: piston rings don't seal properly, up to 1 quart per 1,000 miles disappears. $8M class action settlement. Primarily 2014-2018. Oil warning comes too late — engine can stall without notice.
- !! Piston Ring Defect: Severe Oil Consumption ($8M Settlement) from 50,000 km
Piston rings fail to seal — up to 1 qt per 1,000 mi. $8M class action confirmed design defect. Primarily 2014-2018.
Symptoms: Oil drops rapidly, no warning until critically low, engine stalls - !! Engine Stall from Low Oil Level from 40,000 km
Due to piston ring defect, oil drops unnoticed. Engine stalls without warning.
Symptoms: Engine suddenly dies, no prior warning - !! MultiAir Solenoid Failure from 80,000 km
Electronically-controlled valve train develops solenoid failures, causing power loss and rough idle.
Symptoms: Check engine P106B, power loss, rough idle
Smaller sibling of the 3.6L Pentastar, detuned to 271 hp — same architecture, same known weaknesses: rocker arm tick at higher mileage, plastic oil cooler housing leak. Runs with the ZF 9-speed and most Cherokee complaints trace back to the transmission, not the engine itself. Owners who pass 60k miles without noise and keep up with oil changes have a reliable everyday V6.
- !! Rocker arm wear — ticking, camshaft damage from 80,000 km
The 3.2L Pentastar shares the rocker arm issue with the 3.6L: needle bearing in the rocker wears prematurely, roller exits its seat, camshaft lobe gets scored. React immediately at the first metallic tick. Most expensive repair if left too long.
Symptoms: Metallic ticking on cold or warm start, misfires, power loss, surging - !! Oil cooler housing leak from 80,000 km
Plastic oil cooler housing leaks — oil escapes externally or in worst case mixes with coolant. Identical issue to the 3.6L Pentastar. Dorman metal replacement is the permanent fix.
Symptoms: Oil loss, oil-coolant cross-contamination (milky oil), overheating, oil spots under engine - !! Cracked plastic thermostat housing (coolant loss) from 120,000 km
The 3.2L cooling system uses a lot of brittle plastic. The thermostat housing, coolant crossover pipe above the water pump, and bleeder screw crack with age and slowly weep coolant. Fault code P0128 (thermostat) is also common.
Symptoms: Dropping coolant level with no visible puddle (leak evaporates before dripping), sweet smell, slow warm-up or check-engine light with code P0128, and overheating in severe cases.
A modern 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo with 48-volt mild hybrid from the Stellantis parts bin, around 270 hp and noticeably more economical than the old V6. Direct injection and a twin-scroll turbo deliver strong pull, but long-term data is still limited. An early issue is a coolant leak at a hose fitting, which in the worst case lets coolant into the oil. Add a rattling wastegate at low revs, raised oil consumption, and with mileage intake-valve coking from the direct injection plus turbo bearing wear. Premium fuel and short oil-change intervals are advisable here.
- !! Coolant leak / coolant in oil from 60,000 km
Coolant enters the engine bay through failing hose fittings or head gasket — worst case coolant in the oil. Occurs on early GME-T4 models from ~40k miles.
Symptoms: Coolant loss without visible external leak, overheating, milky oil - !! Turbo bearing wear from 100,000 km
Turbo bearing wears prematurely from oil starvation — especially after short trips with no cooldown period or poor oil quality. Direct injection plus turbo: short oil change intervals (max 5k miles) are critical for longevity.
Symptoms: Whistling from turbocharger, power loss, blue smoke, elevated oil consumption - !! Elevated oil consumption from 30,000 km
2.0T turbo shows elevated oil consumption on some vehicles — direct injection without intake port oil wash. 0.5-1 quart per 3k miles in extreme cases.
Symptoms: Dropping oil level, blue smoke under acceleration, positive oil consumption test
+ 1 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| ZF 9-Speed Transmission: jerking, hesitating, ruining the drive The ZF 9HP48 (948TE) is the most notorious Jeep problem of the 2010s. Harsh lurching from stops, transmission hunts for gears, power loss during engagement. Class action won, FCA extended warranty to 6 years/100,000 miles for 2014-2015. Software updates help — rarely fix it permanently. Symptoms: Violent jerk from a standstill, hesitation at mid-throttle, banging on gear changes, hunting at highway speeds from 27,000 km | High |
Top Reported Issues
Alternatives
Audi Q4 FZ
Compact SUV (2021–2026)
Buick Envision II
Compact SUV (2021–2025)
Ford Bronco Sport I
Compact SUV (2021–2025)
Honda HR-V RZ
Compact SUV (2021–2024)
Hyundai Ioniq 5 NE
Compact SUV (2021–2026)
Hyundai Kona N OS-FL
Compact SUV (2021–2023)
Explore more
Known Problems and Issues +
A total of 20 weaknesses have been documented for the Jeep Cherokee KL (2014–2023) — 10 engine-related and 10 vehicle-related. One problem engine: ED6 (2.4L Tigershark). Typical issues affect Gearbox, Electronics, Body, Brakes.
Cherokee (ED6, 2014–2018) — Stay Away!: Piston Ring Defect: Severe Oil Consumption ($8M Settlement), Engine Stall from Low Oil Level, MultiAir Solenoid Failure. Power: 184 PS.
Cherokee (Pentastar-3.2, 2014–2023) — Be Careful: Rocker arm wear — ticking, camshaft damage, Oil cooler housing leak, Cracked plastic thermostat housing (coolant loss). Power: 271 PS.
Cherokee (GME-T4, 2019–2023) — Be Careful: Coolant leak / coolant in oil, Turbo bearing wear, Elevated oil consumption. Power: 270 PS.
What to watch out for with the Jeep Cherokee? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems and weaknesses does the Jeep Cherokee KL have? +
What should I look for when buying a used Jeep Cherokee KL? +
Which engine is recommended? +
Which Jeep Cherokee KL engine is the most fun? +
Is the Jeep Cherokee KL worth buying used? +
What horsepower variants are available for the Jeep Cherokee KL? +
Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee