2017 Jeep Cherokee: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Sep 1, 2026 · MN

I was stopped at a red light and once the light turned green my vehicle made a grinding noise and would not go faster than about 15 miles per hour. I pulled through the intersection and over to the side of the road and put my hazard lights on and put the vehicle in park but it wanted to roll while in park so i put the parking brake on. There was no warning lights or messages or other symptoms prior to this failure. I managed to get the vehicle checked at a corner shop and was told the PTU recall is the issue and that it failed and to tow it to the dealership. I towed it to Luther Brookdale Jeep and Dodge in Brooklyn Park, MN and they claim to not know how to fix or even diagnose the problem and are not being forthcoming with any information.

Filed May 4, 2026 · Transmission · 200,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an abnormal grinding sound was coming from under the vehicle. The 4-Wheel warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a PTU failure. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the VIN not being included in any recalls. In addition, the contact related the failure to an unknown the federal safety agency Campaign; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Filed May 3, 2026 · Transmission · OK

My Active-Drive 1 PTU failed at 112k miles. This failure happened going down the highway at 65mph. It occurred via a loud clunk and mechanical grinding noise, followed by a “service 4-WD” light. In my case, the failure was not catastrophic and did not cause safety concerns. However, this part runs the risk of seizing all four wheels or losing power to the wheels when failing, which could have caused a significantly dangerous situation such as a collision with nearby vehicles or even a pile-up, had the wheels seized. I did not have the part serviced or inspected by the dealer, as in order to do so would have required a substantial fee. It can be reproduced and I would be open to doing so should the manufacturer come to their senses. Unfortunately, despite the lack of recall, this part is known for failure by the manufacturer and a similar component on other models, the AD-2 PTU, was recalled by the manufacturer for the same failure and safety concerns that this part has.

Filed Apr 17, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · ID

PER DIAGNOSTICS, PTU HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. I was driving on the highway and the car started to shake and make a loud, grinding noise and seemed to be stuck in gear. When I stopped it wouldn't go into park or go into drive.

Filed Mar 9, 2026 · Transmission · WI

2017 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk 80,758 miles - I began to accelerate from a stop light and heard a large clunk. Proceeded to pull over after a complete loss of power. Once away from traffic, Jeep would not be put into 'park' without hearing and feeling the grinding of gears through the shifter handle. I had to shut the car off prior to being able to place Jeep into 'park', and even then the car was able to roll. The only way to fully have the vehicle in 'park' is by using the emergency brake. Without a doubt this related to the PTU recall that so many Jeep Cherokees have been having. From what I can find from MOPAR, the vehicle had the necessary recall done to "fix" the software back in 2020, but the problem still arose. Had to tow the vehicle back 200 miles using a Uhaul and trailer in order to get home. I have very little hope that not only will it be unable to get fixed due to the inability to get parts that so many people are having, but also the fact that Jeep themselves have and will deny so many claims without proper investigation. Currently the vehicle is parked at the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler dealer in West Bend, WI waiting on inspection to truly diagnose the issue.

Filed Mar 6, 2026 · Transmission · 75,000 miles · IA

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact placed the vehicle in park(P), and the vehicle rolled backwards. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a local dealer and the PTU (Power Transfer Unit) was replaced under warranty. Approximately a year later, while driving 55 MPH, there was an abnormal clunking and grinding sound coming from the vehicle with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle failed to move while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle was placed in 4WD Low and slowly driven to the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with a defective PTU, but the part was on backorder. The contact then received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train). The contact was informed that a test would be performed with new software to detect and monitor for excessive wear within the PTU. The test showed that there was no excessive wear within the PTU and that the PTU would not be replaced under recall. The contact stated that the PTU was being reprogrammed and test-driven to ensure that the vehicle was safe to operate. The contact stated that the recall repair was insufficient to repair the vehicle, and the contact feared that the failure would return. The contact stated that the vehicle remained with the dealer for over a year due to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was provided a case number. The vehicle was repaired but remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

Filed Mar 3, 2026 · Transmission · OH

I own a 2017 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk (VIN: [insert VIN here]) affected by the federal safety agency Recall #25V‑011 (FCA #01C) for PTU failure due to an improperly seated snap ring, causing spline wear and loss of drive power. This is a safety defect risking sudden power loss while driving. The vehicle failed suddenly in July 2024 after a car wash: grinding noise, loss of power, unable to shift into park. It drove perfectly prior—no transmission issues, smooth shifts. Diagnosed as failed PTU at Jeff Wyler Springfield Auto Mall (Springfield, OH). They confirmed recall but parts unavailable, so it’s sat undrivable for over a year, delaying repair. Parts became available ~Feb 2026. Dealer now denies free PTU replacement, claiming vehicle must be drivable for recall remedy (despite defect causing undrivability). They push out-of-pocket transmission replacement (~$4K-$6K), saying PTU failure “may have damaged” trans, but won’t confirm coverage as consequential under warranty extension #XJ1/XX1 (unlimited miles for spline wear linking PTU/trans). No documentation provided: No DTCs, inspection reports, photos of splines, or STAR Case details (called “proprietary”). They asked for trans approval without evidence, then backtracked as “miscommunication.” This delays safety fix, risks further defects, and seems like upsell tactic. Stellantis/Jeep customer care (1‑800‑853‑1403) overrides not helping. This non-compliance endangers owners—please investigate FCA and dealer for recall evasion and improper handling. I’ve emailed Stellantis multiple times (rejected when including VIN), filed Ohio AG complaint. Impact: Vehicle unusable 1+ year, safety risk if driven or parked. Urge enforcement for free PTU/trans repair.

Filed Feb 17, 2026 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · OR

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that after stopping at a stop sign, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. There was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was slowly driven to a parking lot and then towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with PTU failure. The contact previously received information from the manufacturer of an Extended Warranty on the vehicle. The dealer informed the contact that since a diagnostic test had not produced two specific fault codes, the vehicle could not be repaired under the Extended Warranty. The vehicle remained with the dealer unrepaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train). However, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

Filed Dec 22, 2025 · Transmission · PA

The vehicle is experiencing a malfunction of the Power Transfer Unit (PTU), which is part of the drivetrain / power train system. The vehicle is currently available for inspection upon request. The vehicle loses power during driving and produces grinding noises when making hard turns, which creates a risk of loss of propulsion while in motion, increasing the risk of a crash. The vehicle has stopped, loss of power while driving, at lights, and while waiting in traffic to make turns. The problem has been experienced multiple times during normal driving conditions. Formal dealer confirmation is pending / not yet completed. An appointment was made at Jeep dealership for software update (free) and a charge of $240 per hour for a diagnostic test to see what is causing the vehicle to suddenly stop. Not affordable for me at this time. I also went to my regular mechanic, whom is stating no issues detected, he can’t find an issue with the vehicle. I haven’t mentioned the PTU recall issue with this make and model vehicle to my mechanic but i will be taking it back to them and mentioning the recall for the make and model for 2017 Jeep for his inspection of my vehicle. Symptoms occurred without prior warning lights and included drivetrain-related behavior consistent with PTU failure. The vehicle experienced loss of power and grinding noises during hard turning without prior warning lights or messages. Exact mileage at first occurrence is UNKNOWN. The symptoms first appeared at approximately December 7, 2025, and has continued 3 more times since. Similar PTU failures are documented in multiple recalls affecting the same vehicle model and model year range, though this VIN is not currently included.

Filed Dec 22, 2025 · Transmission · PA

This is clarification and additional information to a previous complaint filed: 11706675. The vehicle was experiencing grinding during hard turns shortly after i purchased it off the dealership lot in 2017. I didn’t know why, I thought I should practiced not making hard turns and thats what I did. Years later, around 2021 or 2022, I needed the first service on my vehicle, outside of regular maintenance (coolant hose piece replacement) and the mechanic mentioned the grinding during test drive while turning. I told him it always did that and that was the extent of that. He said nothing else and I didn’t know any better. Tjat shop has since closed down and I’ve been going to another mechanic since then. Most recently, December 2025, the vehicle started shutting off while driving. Im going to get my regular mechanic to inspect the PTU.

Filed Dec 17, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · 140,000 miles · AZ

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that upon starting and driving the vehicle, the 4WD and engine warning lights were illuminated. While driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and shut off. There was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the vehicle while turning. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer several times, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact reached out to Chapman Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Scottsdale (3800 N 89th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251); but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the check engine warning light illuminated was due to an issue with the PTU. The manufacturer was contacted and offered a possible rental. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Filed Nov 17, 2025 · Transmission · PA

Nov 2023 while driving, car began grinding. Service engine light along with Service Shifter warning appeared. Took to my Independent Mechanic who diagnosed problem as the PTU. There were several complaints, but no official Recall for my VIN. Had PTU replaced. Nov 2024 similar problem except car rolled forward after being placed in Park, and warning lights appeared again. Returned to Independent mechanic who replaced the defective PTU. Still no active Recall for my VIN. Repair completed under warranty. Since repair, Intermittent "Service Shifter" light, but no codes or faults showing. Nov 2025 grinding noise when turning. Independent mechanic diagnosed the Rear Differential and hydraulic pumps to be the problem.