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2019 Jeep Cherokee: won't start

45 of the 1,683 complaints about the 2019 Jeep Cherokee describe won't start.

owner complaints
45
of this car's complaints
3%
typical mileage
19,991
recalls
1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 36 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below

Won't start by model year

What owners say

Filed May 10, 2026 · NJ

2019 Jeep Cherokee. In December 2023, when I took my foot off the brake at a light, the car stalled out and would not start afterward. I was using the auto start/stop feature. Of course it started when the tow arrived, but I took it to the dealer anyway for safety. I had a new starter put in under warranty by the dealer. Code was a faulty starter. In April 2026, the same thing happened and was not covered because the 2 year warranty expired. Stalled out, while taking my foot off the brake at a red light. I had forgotten to turn off the auto start/stop. Thankfully, I was in a safe area and people were able to go around me. Private mechanic said a wire was out of place and a battery cell was a little low. They fixed it, but 1 month later it happened again in May 2026. It was taking a split second longer to start and it did not feel very powerful in comparison (same thing in April). This time, I returned to it after work, and it simply would not start. I assume the starter had simply died due to hearing 1 "click". Not sure why another starter blew in 2.5 years! I am fortunate to not have been stalled on a major highway! They've been coded as faulty starters, but how long are these things actually supposed to last? 2.5 years is way too short. Currently waiting to get my second replacement starter since buying the car used in November 2020. Has over 155,000 miles. No complaints other than this. I do not use the auto start/stop.

Filed Mar 25, 2026 · Engine · MN

3 Years ago a new motor and starter were put into my car. Now it won't start again and the dealership says the motor is blown again. They tell me that it is not covered under the warranty from the engine that was put in 3 years ago. How is that not covered. I now have a vehicle that I can't drive and no warranty on it and still have a loan on it. This needs to be fixed or covered. Please have someone call me as soon as possible. Thank you [XXX] [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Dec 30, 2025 · Electrical · OR

What happened : The vehicle experienced a sudden electrical failure and loss of normal shutdown control. The vehicle would not start or turn over. After repeated attempts, it eventually started, at which point all dashboard lights began flashing uncontrollably. The engine continued running even after the ignition was turned off and the key was removed. The only way to shut the vehicle down was to disconnect the battery. This created a safety concern due to the inability to control the vehicle’s electrical systems or safely shut off the engine. The failure occurred without prior warning. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership for inspection. Diagnostics confirmed a failure of the Body Control Module (BCM). The Steering Column Control Module (SCCM) was also found to be non-functional and may have been affected by the BCM failure. The vehicle remains inoperable and is awaiting replacement of the BCM, which is currently on backorder with no estimated availability. The failed components are available for inspection upon request. The issue has been confirmed by the dealership. No crash occurred, but the malfunction posed a potential safety risk due to uncontrolled electrical behavior and inability to shut down the vehicle normally.

Filed Nov 6, 2025 · Electrical · AZ

Have had multiple issues where stop/stop fails while at a stop in the street and either doesn’t start again or starts after a while. Last time on 10/29/2025 I was at a stop just getting off I-10 and the car would not start and gave start stop error and took multiple minutes before starting again. This first began 5/2024. Dealership has replace the battery, starter relay, and the start twice. It is a huge safety concern for me being stuck in the middle of the street or at a stop

Filed Sep 17, 2025 · IL

I have already received the official recall notice, but I have been told by both my local mechanic and FCA representatives that there is still no remedy available. In the meantime, my vehicle is exhibiting exactly the defect described in the recall and is now unsafe to drive. Here is my experience: In early 2024, while running errands, I stopped at a red light before making a left turn. When the light turned green, the car would not move forward. I had to turn on my blinkers while other drivers were honking. I panicked, tried turning the car off and on, and eventually it moved again. This same issue has happened four other times since then. Most recently, on 8/22/25 the car left me stranded in a grocery store parking lot. It was full of groceries, making multiple alert sounds, and would not start. My cousin had to leave what he was doing to try to jump it; when that didn’t work my brother and nephew went to buy a new battery. When they returned, the car started on its own and we returned the battery. We took the vehicle to our local autozone to run tests in which it passed all. Since that day, every time I turn the car on it stalls momentarily before starting. I have also called certified Jeep dealers in my area who have stated the parts are unavailable and there is no ETA on their availability.

Filed Aug 23, 2025 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · MD

My 2019 jeep Cherokee latitude only had 25000 miles on it when i bought it. Within a month the emergence break would come on by itself randomly while driving or beginning to accelerate from a parked or stopped state. Vehicle also can be parked completely level and it states the vehicle needs to be returned to park and restarted. Meanwhile all the lights come on on the dash and the shifter lights up red. Every single gear. It literally will not move unless you drift. It also will not start randomly, you will go out get in and for no reason it won’t turn over, yet the electrical systems will turn in fine, it’s getting power. In order for this to stop, you have to keep turning it on and off and apply the parking brake and the brake and than release them…. Over and over with intermittent breaks in between until it finally turns over. If you manage to get it started than it won’t shift properly. It stays in an extremely low gear unless you accelerate rapidly. And it won’t accelerate rapidly, your foot can be to the floor and it’s barely going until it gets into third and than just keeps rising never down shifting again until you coast to a stop and have to turn it off again and start the process over. On hills when this happens you will get hit and killed bc it won’t go in time for you to get out of oncoming traffic’s way. It has shut off while driving on the highway. Left me stranded blocking people in in parking lots. And almost gotten me and my family killed in several occasions. There are no similar circumstances in which it does this. It is comletely random and that makes it terrifying. I have 2 children that I am afraid to take anywhere now, and the jeep was bought to keep them safe and able to get anywhere in case of inclement weather etc. as if that’s not enough, the passenger seat floor is always wet. There is no leak coming in from doors or windows so I have no idea. And the radio and ac/heat turn on and off by themselves constantly

Filed Apr 4, 2025 · Engine · MA

Vehicle turned off on highway while in drive. Would not start again after this happened and was only five years old. This created a significant safety risk of the veg I leg stopping on the highway. Due to this insurance would not cover, and vehicle was returned to bank. Was assessed at a dealership stating potentially could be repaired costing more than the value of vehicle. We became aware of a pending recall of the following issue that describes what occurred. “The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power and/or loss of park function.”

Filed Mar 23, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · NC

My car have been having an issue with starting so I changed the battery and a couple of days later my car would not start. And this has been since December 26 2024. And my car haven't started since. Everytime I had to hit the brake a message would come up saying to check the electrical stability thing.

Filed Jan 31, 2025 · Engine · MD

In December I started noticing that I would have to pump the accelerator to get the vehicle to go but was fine once it was going. On December 10th while driving and stopped at a red light the truck cut off, I quickly turned on the flasher and tried to restart the truck. This happened every time I stopped. At that time the check engine light came on. After pumping the gas again I got it started. This happened 5 times by time I got home. I contacted a friend who is a mechanic and he informed me that I needed to get it to a shop. I did not drive it for 3 days, but upon driving it to put gas in it, I noticed that again I had to pump the gas pedal to get it going. When I reached a stop sign it cut off again. I called road side assistance through my insurance company and they were able to get it started. After pumping the gas again I was able to drive it to the gas station, where it would not start after that. Because of the time of night I had the truck towed to my house. Afterwards I it towed to a repair shop where I have been informed that a new engine is required . The truck only has 110,000 miles on it. I have had to replace the battery twice already. I feel it should be included in the recall as the issue stated for the recall is the problem and could have caused an accident when it shut off in the middle of the road during rush hour traffic.

Filed Nov 21, 2024 · NJ

While idling in my child's school drop off line, I was in park with car running, I stepped on the brake to put the car into gear to move forward and the car stalled and wouldn't start back up until about 1-2 minutes later. No lights were lit up once I restarted the car. This happened one other time and we thought it was the battery, but not we are rethinking it wasn't the battery.

Filed Oct 30, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · NM

Stalling while driving slow. Stalled in traffic. Had to pushed off the road. Started running after a few minutes. Stalled 2 more times while i was leaving home. Would not start again for a few days each time. Alot of sensors are flashing. Has not been looked at by any dealership. Engine shuts down while driving

Filed Oct 30, 2024 · Engine · TX

Engine failed in traffic and would not start resulting in pushing vehicle by hand out of highway. Towed to dealership and was told needed new engine $17000.

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

Engine and engine cooling: engineReported May 25, 2018 · 14 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with 2.0L engines. The engines in these vehicles may be missing valve stem keepers, which can allow the valve to drop into the engine cylinder causing engine damage. These engines may also have a reversed camshaft cap that can damage the camshaft bearing causing camshaft failure.
Risk
Cylinder damage or camshaft failure can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair or replace the affected engine components, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 9, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U52.

Recall number 18V344000 · Recall details

Questions about the 2019 Jeep Cherokee won't start

Is won't start a common problem on the 2019 Jeep Cherokee?

45 of 1,683 owner complaints about the 2019 Jeep Cherokee (3%) mention won't start. The model year with the most reports is 2014.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2019 Jeep Cherokee?

There is 1 recall and 36 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2019 Jeep Cherokee

Stalling 304Loss of power 126Check engine light 113Jerking 86Grinding brakes 75Hesitation 50Oil consumption 48Start-stop 48Harsh shifting 42Power steering loss 37Engine failure 35Warning lights 31Fire or smoke 20Won't shift 20Backup camera 18Transmission failure 17Adaptive cruise 16No deployment 14ABS 13Overheating 13Rollaway 13Steering lock-up 13Battery drain 11Slipping 11Airbag light 10Brake failure 10Knocking 10Shudder 10Wipers 10Misfire 9Headlights 8Screen failure 8Key fob 8Seat belt 8Pulling 8Sudden acceleration 8Whining noise 8

All model years of the Jeep Cherokee

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