2019 Jeep Cherokee: check engine light

Filed Oct 19, 2026 · Transmission · 38,000 miles · KS

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle was initially taken to the dealer because the check engine light illuminated and the radio became very hot. The dealer replaced a valve and installed a new screen, which temporarily resolved the issue. Months later, the failures recurred, and the transmission was replaced. The vehicle was returned to the dealer for a software update. During a later visit, the dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a failing transmission gasket, a rear differential leak, an engine oil leak, and a failed battery requiring replacement. After the contact heard a loud scraping noise, the vehicle was returned to the dealer, who performed a rear differential fluid change but stated no mechanical failure was present. The contact returned the vehicle to the dealer after a "Service 4WD" warning light illuminated. The dealer replaced the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) motor, despite claiming the PTU was unrelated to the failure. The contact stated that the transmission assembly, PTU motor, gaskets, and other essential powertrain components were all replaced within a one-year period. The contact stated that the engine consistently emitted an abnormal unknown odor. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The dealer confirmed the failure. The failure mileage was 38,000.

Filed Oct 8, 2026 · Transmission · 21,134 miles · ND

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the “Service Shifter” message was displayed on the instrument panel. The air bag, check engine, ABS, brake, emergency parking, and 4WD warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure and had also occurred while driving. During the failure while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and the vehicle was unable to move forward or reverse. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact stated that there was an existing recall associated with the failure, but the VIN was not under recall. The dealer was contacted and was able to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,134.

Filed Sep 15, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · MA

On September 14, 2025, while driving on the highway, the vehicle began shaking violently, the check engine light illuminated and began flashing, and the vehicle progressively lost power and became undriveable. The vehicle had to be towed. No warning lights appeared prior to the incident. This failure follows a documented history of Power Transfer Unit (PTU) issues. In May 2024 at approximately 88,000 miles, diagnostic codes including C14A7-97 (PTU Motor - Component/System Blocked) were retrieved at an independent service center. The 4-wheel drive system was found to be stuck engaged. The transfer case actuator motor was replaced in December 2024 at approximately 93,000 miles by the same shop at my expense. The vehicle is a single-speed PTU configuration and was excluded from Equipment Safety Recall 02C (Two Speed PTU Failure), despite experiencing substantially similar symptoms: loss of drive power, vibration, and drivetrain malfunction. The PTU and transfer case are available for inspection. The failure has been confirmed by an independent service center. Prior to the highway failure, the vehicle exhibited difficulty accelerating, particularly at highway speeds, and an audible whirring sound from the drivetrain. It also jerked forward when shifting into Park. Safety was put at risk due to sudden loss of motive power at highway speed.

Filed Aug 19, 2026 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the rear passenger’s side of the vehicle, with the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the message that the “4WD Disabled” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the power transfer unit and rear differential had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 95,000.

Filed Aug 12, 2026 · Transmission · 165,000 miles · MA

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, with a loud screeching sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the local mechanic, who diagnosed that the power transfer unit was inoperable and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V290000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 165,000.

Filed Jun 15, 2026 · Acceleration · AR

The vehichle is available for inspection upon request. While driving the vehichle will lose driving power and the D on the screen will begin blinking. The gas pedal will cause the vehichle to rev, however it does not accelerate. There have been times where an engine light comes on and i will get a message to put the vehichle in park and then back in drive. However, other times the D will just blink and it will not have an engine light or warning on the screen. I have had the vehichle in the Shop five times for the same issue. The first time they changed the wiring harness for the shifter, the second time they changed the shifter assembly. The third time we switched to another dealership and they replaced the whole transmission. When it happened again the dealsership claimed it was related to the recall. Once the recall issue was fixed (they replaced CPU) it began doing the same thing again. It is now in the shop again for the fifth time. This issue has put my family at risk multiple times. It has happened on the highway going 80 MPH multiple times. It has happened in traffic as well and causes me to have to put it in park and back in D in the middle of a crowded street causing many near accidents. It has happened at stop lights and began rolling backwards once while at a light on a hill.

Filed Jun 12, 2026 · Engine · 95,000 miles · MN

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power following a loud screeching sound. The Check Engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started to misfire upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The contact managed to drive the vehicle to the local mechanic, where diagnostic testing revealed a misfire in cylinder #3. Further investigation confirmed internal cylinder damage, which resulted in total engine failure. The mechanic ordered a replacement engine long block from Albany Chrysler Center, Inc. (34650 225th Ave, Albany, MN 56307). After a two-month wait, the part arrived; however, the dealer was sent a complete engine assembly instead of a long block, which required additional repair costs. The manufacturer has not yet been notified and the vehicle remained unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Filed May 13, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · 81,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving check engine light had suddenly illuminated and the message "unspecified service unavailable" had displayed along with the 4 wheel drive warning light had illuminated. During the failure the vehicle did not properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed the PTU had malfunctioned. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer was not yet contacted. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V011000(POWER TRAIN). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 81,000.

Filed May 3, 2026 · Engine · NJ

I was on a highway in the Middle Lane to accelerate, and after that the car started to lose power and acceleration and the engine started to make noise and I saw smoke behind me. It was only at this point that an engine light came on and then it went off and did not return. It was a safety hazard and dangerous because it lost power on a highway And there were cars around me doing 60 to 80 mph and I had to navigate and then quickly to exit. I exited the highway and pulled off as soon as it was safe, Although I had very little power to do so., The car was towed to a mechanic who said there was a cylinder 1 scoring and cracking of piston. The car was towed to a Jeep dealership who told me it just needed a cylinder pack and it was only $1,000. They kept the car for a week and didn't answer calls until we went over there. The service manager told us we did in fact need a new engine. This is where I bought the car and I still owe $6,000 on it and now I'm looking at a $8,000 job. I have contacted Stellaris and opened a case on April 23rd.

Filed Apr 27, 2026 · Engine · 86,000 miles · KS

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the RPM was unexpectedly elevated. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed from the scene. After the failure, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the pistons and valves had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

Filed Apr 21, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · PA

Loss of driver power- while driving on the freeway/street at a speed car shut off. which it might have cause accident and injured myself and/or others No the problem has not been reproduced by manufacture No the vehicle has not been inspected by dealer. Took the car to an independent service center and unable to confirm defect. The incident been ongoing since yearly last year. It stops and comes back to shut off while driving. engine lights pop up and battery- I have taken care to check battery and is good. Noticed there was a recall for loss of driver power (Recall # 01c) which is what's happening with my car. But my vin num does not come up.. Please help

Filed Mar 30, 2026 · Transmission · OR

About a year ago (2025 at about 65,000 miles) the first warning light that came on was the check engine light, but it only came on once,then went out. The next time we drove the car, the indicator light was the 4 wheel drive was unavailable/needed servicing. We took it to a very respected mechanic who gave us the bad news that it was the Power Transfer Unit, the cost would be upwards of $3,500 and that the part would take at least 6 months due to a backlog. WE NEVER, EVER USED THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE! How does a part we never used go bad? The vehicle has started to occasionally act like it doesn't want to shift but eventually does with a jerk forward. Now we hear there is still no recall for our vin. Why would anyone buy a vehicle with 4 wheel drive if we're not going to be able to depend on it being available. I have always loved Jeeps but the type of responses (or lack thereof) we have received from several CJP dealerships will cause us to shop anywhere but a Jeep dealership. "You didn't buy it here .Why would we help you with anything? Not our problem." The Lithia dealership in Eugene, Oregon doesn't even have a real person answer the phone and has never returned one of our many phone calls. Same with computer generated requests. Complete radio silence. We live over an hour away from the dealership where we bought this piece of crap. We paid this expensive vehicle off early and this is how we should expect to be treated by the cheats who sold it to us? If this vehicle is not recalled/repaired for free, we will never own another and we will make sure we warn others of what they can expect if they do. Shame on all of you for not making this right for so many that depend on their vehicles to get them safely to their destinations.