Jeep Cherokee
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.
V6 makes the Cherokee livable
271 hp finally gives the KL enough pull. The 9-speed transmission is still a weak point, but it behaves better with the V6 than with the 2.4. Not a driver's car, but a solid everyday SUV once you've outlasted the gearbox issues.
Engine Weaknesses 2
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
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
Vehicle Weaknesses 9
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.
EPB control module sits behind the license plate in the tailgate area — water intrudes, module corrodes and activates the parking brake while driving. NHTSA investigation covering 1.34 million Cherokee 2014-2020. FCA TSB issued 2016 without formal recall.
Mechanical vacuum pump on the 2.4L Tigershark supplies the brake booster. When it fails: either oil leaks from the pump housing or brake assist is lost. Pump is driven directly by the exhaust camshaft and can wear at higher mileage.
PTU (Power Transfer Unit) input shaft snap ring not properly installed. Shaft can migrate, damaging internal components. Result: loss of drive power or inability to stay parked. Recall ID 01C for 2017-2019 AWD Cherokee. Notification letters mailed from February 2025.
Incorrectly cured rubber in the transmission oil cooler hose can rupture, allowing transmission fluid to ignite on hot surfaces. Affects Jan–Mar 2021 build dates across all three engine variants. Free hose replacement at dealer.
Electric liftgate module behind the license plate gets damaged by water intrusion. NHTSA recalls R27 and R67 for 2014-2015 Cherokee. Module replaced, leak sealed at no cost.
Stop-start system (ESS) uses a main AGM and a smaller auxiliary battery. A failing aux battery drains the main battery completely. The liftgate module also draws current at rest. Typical issue on older vehicles with original FCA batteries.
Multiple leak sources on the Cherokee KL: missing body sealant under the windshield (TSB 23-015-16a), blocked sunroof drain tubes, improperly seated vent grilles at the wheel wells. Wet floor mats, wet cargo area, and EPB module damage can all result.
Uconnect infotainment freezes, backup camera drops out, or the system spontaneously reboots. Well-known FCA problem across multiple model generations. Software updates partially resolve it.
