2020 Jeep Cherokee: start-stop system problems

6 of the 337 complaints about the 2020 Jeep Cherokee describe start-stop system problems.

owner complaints: 6
of this car's complaints: 2%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 90 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Start-stop system problems by model year

2021
3
2020
6
2019
48
2018
3
2017
7
2016
7
2015
32

What owners say

Filed May 19, 2026 · Electrical, Steering · NY

2020 Jeep Cherokee Limited AWD, VIN [XXX] , approx. 111,355 miles. Reporting serious safety concern: repeated/worsening electrical system failure with intermittent loss of power steering assist. For nearly a year, Auto Start/Stop warning and battery warning lights have appeared. During episodes, power steering assist can stop working, especially at complete stops, making steering extremely difficult when stopped, parking, or pulling out. Battery, alternator, battery cables/connections, and belt have been replaced, but issue continues and is worsening. Recently while driving, radio shut off, dash/instrument cluster began shutting down, blower motor cycled on/off repeatedly, and windshield wipers slowed while raining. Warnings included battery/charging, Auto Start/Stop, Service Electronic Stability Control, Service Park Brake, ABS, traction control, check engine, and Blind Spot Alerts Unavailable. Vehicle vibrated/ran rough, sounded like it might stall, then revved back up. Burning smell noted after failure and possible smoke near rear after shutdown. Vehicle was towed home due to safety risk. After tow, vehicle restarted but same warnings returned within minutes and radio/dash failures repeated. Concerned this is system-wide electrical, charging, power distribution, ground, or steering assist failure that could cause loss of steering assist, visibility systems, or safety systems while driving INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 29, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · SD

The message/warning light keeps coming on: Stop/start Unavailable - Service stop/start system. This feature is suppose to help reduce the amount of harmful emissions released into the air! Some times this causes the engine/transmission to clunk. Seems to maybe a common issue with the Jeeps. Save fuel from burning while the car is stationary. Such a great feature and is doesn't work!

Filed Mar 3, 2024 · Steering · NJ

On Feb. 9th I was driving my 2020 Jeep Cherokee when the steering locked,I was unable to control the Jeep. Warning lights popped on the dash. Service power steering, four-wheel-drive system temporarily unavailable, Blindspot alert temporary unavailable, Service electric stability Control, stop start not ready. By the grace of God, somehow I was able to stop the car. I called AAA to have me towed to the dealership Autoland Springfield New Jersey. My car was in the service department from From February 9 to March 1 After checking my Jeep they called in a master mechanic and it was determined that the rack and pinion steering needed to be replaced.

Filed Aug 22, 2023 · Brakes, Driver assistance · SC

Vehicle stopped at a red light, auto stop/start activated. Took foot off brake when light turned green, car struggled to restart, all lights/system went off and finally restarted. Kicked the auto emergency break on and the auto stop/start warning light came on. Has happened 5-10x in the last month. Started around July 2023. Sometimes forward collision breaking turns on out of nowhere, when cars are 2 car lengths in front of me.

Filed Aug 25, 2022 · Electrical · 73,000 miles · NE

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently stopped. There was a temporary message of no bus, then the instrument panel went blank. The contact waited 10-15 minutes to press the Auto START/STOP button for the vehicle to restart. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer who diagnosed a failure with body control module (BCM). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.

Filed Dec 11, 2020 · Transmission · 7,674 miles · TX

The vehicle was in motion. The vehicle made a notification on the cluster saying 4wd system unavailable, service required. The vehicle then began to shift ruff and the only way you could get it to point a to b is if as soon as you started it you put it in sports mode. The vehicle went into the shop on 10-15-2020 and came out of the shop on 12-4-2020 due to them not being able to get the part which was a power transfer unit. The part got delayed multiple times. After I got the car back on the 4th it started making a rattling noise from the front end like something was loose. I messaged the mechanic and advised him of the issue and he told me to take it in the following day and he would look at it. Unfortunately he got sick and I finally got back ahold of him on monday the 7th to look at it. He said it seems like something is out of torque and that he would get ahold of me the following day to bring it in so I could have a loaner vehicle. I have since heard from him. My car also made an error code of auto start/stop system not responding yesterday the 10th of december which I notified the mechanic and have yet to get a response.