2015 Jeep Cherokee: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed May 19, 2025 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the 4-Wheel Drive mode had become inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the PTU had failed. The dealer advised the contact to continue driving the vehicle until the PTU failed completely because the vehicle could only be repaired under warranty after a complete failure of the PTU. The contact stated that the vehicle had failed to shift into gears as needed and had rolled away while parked. The contact stated that the vehicle required the parking brake to be engaged while parked. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle suddenly stalled and revved temporarily in the middle of an intersection. The contact was able to resume driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that while driving to the dealer the following day, the failure recurred, and the vehicle made abnormal sounds. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the PTU had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under warranty; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing hard and erratic transmission shifts, was shuddering, and was making abnormal grinding sounds. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the PTU was replaced a second time under warranty. The contact stated that while driving from the dealer, the 4-Wheel Drive Mode engaged unintendedly. The contact stated that the vehicle remained stuck in 4-Wheel Drive mode and was undrivable. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was determined that the PTU, the transmission, and the drivetrain control module had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Sep 12, 2024 · Transmission · OR

We bought the car brand new at Lithia Motors in Roseburg Oregon. After just a few months of driving, there was a noticeable clunk in the transmission at approximately 30-40 mph that occurred at random and included a shudder. The problem seemed to occur about every 3 or 4 days. We took the car to Lithia and they could not replicate the problem. Lithia did do some software updates. We were advised of a class action suit regarding the transmission. We made a claim and we were denied because they said we did not report the issues enough to Lithia. We appealed that because we told Lithia about the problem every time we took the car to their facility for oil changes. In December of 23 we had an issue with the car missing and took it to Lithia. The replaced injector one and advised there was minimal seepage from the oil filter. It was not explained that it was a transmission oil cooler. In [XXX] there was a code to service transmission. Minutes later the car was losing power and barely made it up the hill to our house. A return trip to Lithia and they said replacing the transmission cooler might resolve the problem but maybe not. A second opinion AAMCO said the same thing. The AAMCO mechanic showed me the transmission cooler and a puddle of oil that had settled below the leak in between the manifold. I told him I though that was the motor oil filter. On the way back home, the car again failed going up hill to our residence. The car is not safe to drive. There is potential for engine fire. I think a transmission oil cooler in the center of the engine near the manifold does not make a lot of sense. This car has 104,000 miles. I think there should be a safety recall on these cars to include full repair of the drive train. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 11, 2023 · Driver assistance, Engine · AL

Shuddering, crank shaft failure, Engine stall, car shifts into emergency brake. Loss of motive power can cause vehicle crash without warning. Vehicle not yet inspected. Similar vehicles with recall under “Safety Recall W58 / the federal safety agency 20V‑475 Loss of Crankshaft Position”

Filed Mar 3, 2022 · Brakes · CA

Ever since I have owned the vehicle the brakes have shuddered causing the brake pedal and steering wheel to vibrate. I have replace the pads and rotors 3 times and have the same issue. It has been checked by 2 Jeep dealerships and by Tooles Garage in San Carlos CA. NO ONE CAN FIND THE ISSUE. I have looked online and have found far too many confirmed reports from people on forums and such having to same issue. All of them have simply replaced the brakes and rotors and service their brakes regularly in order to get rid of the scraping and shuddering experience. Which should not happen for approximately 40-50k miles and people are changing them in less than 15K. I am not the only person and I feel like there is something wrong with the braking system that so many people are complaining online for years about the exact same issue I have been dealing with. My wife uses the cat to drive our children to school and it does not feel safe to her while driving it. However we cannot purchase or trade in the car yet so we are at an impass. Please help.

Filed Feb 18, 2020 · Engine · 112,262 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 jeep cherokee. While driving at 60 MPH, vehicle started to shudder with an unknown warning light illuminated. The was unsure if the warning light illuminated was the eps warning light. The ignition was cycled off and back on but failed to fix the failure. The vehicle was taken to route 46 chrysler jeep dodge located at 1655 us-46, little falls, nj 07424 (973) 339-7752, to be diagnosed. The contact was informed of a misfire on cylinder number 3. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v676000 (engine and engine cooling) as a possible solution for the failure. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,262.

Filed Dec 19, 2019 · Engine · 32,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 jeep cherokee. While driving various speeds, the contact released the accelerator pedal and the vehicle began to shudder. Also, the vehicle lost power and all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over and, when the vehicle was turned off and restarted, it resumed normal operation. The vehicle was taken to armory chrysler dodge jeep ram fiat of albany (926 central ave, albany, ny 12205, (518) 641-7777) where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the failures recurred multiple times intermittently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The contact was informed to file a complaint with the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was 32,000.

Filed Sep 13, 2017 · Transmission · 10,096 miles · NC

My 2015 jeep cherokee trailhawk transmission shudders, clunks and hesitates. Some of the hesitations have lasted 4 seconds which is dangerous when you're in traffic and push the gas and get no response. The hesitation happens when you're slowing down for a turn and then push the gas. This appears to be in the third to second gears. The computer has been flashed several times. The dealer also did something to the torque converter. Then the chrysler rep had the dealer reset the computer back to factory settings and said it was working according to design. It isn't fixed. It still clunks, shudders and hesitates but only for 2 seconds now. The problems started in the first 10,000 miles. I'll include 4 of the service records. I think there were 10 or more visits.

Filed Oct 8, 2015 · Body, Transmission · 9,000 miles · NE

Bought 2015 jeep cherokee trailhawk 2/2015 brand new. Started having creaking coming from sunroof area about 2 months in. Dealer states no fix for it. Took vehicle in for oil change at 9000 miles. Dealer performed 3 updates at that time. Received car back and auto start/stop light came on and went off several times. Also noted hard shifting and acceleration issues at that time. Took to dealer and they did "software updates." got vehicle back "fixed," drove it 3 blocks and lights came on again with same acceleration and shifting issues. Straight back to dealer. Ended up getting entirely new transmission at 9000 miles! Picked up "fixed" vehicle again and noted severe jerking with slow stops and sluggish acceleration. Back to dealer for yet another software updated. Have back again now. Can now feel vehicle when it is idling. Feels like it has a mild shake or shudder. Also having occasional problems with sluggish acceleration particularly when turning. Also continue to have loud creaking from sunroof which is just getting worse. Scared to drive vehicle as am afraid it simply won't accelerate one of these times. Heaven forbid it is in rush hour traffic with a left turn. Vehicle is not reliable, have absolutely no faith in it.

Filed Aug 1, 2015 · Electrical, Transmission · 1,100 miles · AZ

My husband and I bought a brand new 2015 jeep cherokee trailhawk. 2 weeks after owning our brand new car that we purchased because we were expecting a baby and wanted to have a safe reliable vehicle we started having shifting problems and electrical issues. We brought in the vehicle multiple times (4 times) and although we were told that it might be transmission related issues but then as soon as chrysler got involved we were told our vehicle is perfectly fine. Nothing was ever fixed until my husband and I went to a different dealership. The new dealership fixed the electrical problems but said everything with the transmission is normal. The car makes shudder motions, sometimes it does not accelerate as I'm trying to get onto the freeway and it shifts very jerky. We have owned a jeep before which did not do that. We are so disappointment how chrysler is responding to known transmission problems and not doing any recalls on transmission related issues. We bought this vehicle because we wanted a safe vehicle for the family. However, after the latest TCM update the shifting has gotten worse and it doesn't feel safe to drive the vehicle yet chrysler won't do anything as we are being told this is normal.