I recieved a 4WD service error on my dashboard. I took it to my mechanic and they said the following codes came up. C14A7-97 PTU Motor P0606-49 Internal Control processor -internal electronic failure U0010-00 CAN interior bus I see that there are recalls for the PTU on other Cherokees for this year, so I want you to know it is happening to my vehicle too.
The worst 2021 Jeep Cherokee problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Transmission109
- Engine30
- Electrical24
- Brakes14
- Driver assistance13
- Airbags9
- Fuel system5
- Suspension5
- Steering3
- Acceleration2
- Seat belts2
- Visibility2
- Lights1
- Locks1
- Tires1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2021 Jeep Cherokee
Check engine light 15Loss of power 14Stalling 12Grinding brakes 10Jerking 9Hesitation 7Transmission failure 6Adaptive cruise 5Fire or smoke 5
Trouble codes owners of the 2021 Jeep Cherokee mention
C14A7 2
Recalls 4
Power train
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
- Risk
- A failed PTU may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the Drivetrain Control Drivetrain Control Module, PTU, and Electronic Park Brake software, and replace the PTU, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk were mailed June 25, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy becomes available. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA's number for this recall is 40D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on beginning May 14, 2026.
Recall number 26V290000 · Recall details
Air bags: side/window: curtain
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. An improperly secured connector for the right-side curtain air bag may prevent the air bag from deploying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 214, "Side Impact Protection" and 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
- Risk
- An air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will secure the connector, free of charge. All vehicles have been remedied. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 71B.
Recall number 24V516000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: cooler/radiator: hoses and fittings
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The transmission oil cooler hose may have been incorrectly cured, allowing transmission fluid to leak.
- Risk
- A transmission fluid leak increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the hose, free of charge. Owners notification letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Y18.
Recall number 21V310000 · Recall details
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude and Jeep Cherokee Limited vehicles. One or both of the front lower control arms may fracture while driving.
- Risk
- A front lower control arm fracture while driving may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front lower control arms and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2020. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W81. Note: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicles until they have been inspected and repaired if needed.
Recall number 20V657000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2021 Jeep Cherokee 258
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- D-26-20
- ID-26-40
- Backup Camera Poor Image Quality Inspection
- Door Latch, Handle And Ajar Additional Service Information.
- Rear Taillamp Condensation Clearing Procedure On occasion, vehicle exterior taillamp assemblies get fogged...
- Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp...
- If replacing $8474412A$ with $8474413A$ version, verify vehicle is proxied and configured properly
- Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC)...
- Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC)...
- Power transfer unit - none
2021 Jeep Cherokee fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 23 | 31 | 26 |
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | FWD | 22 | 31 | 25 |
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | AWD | 20-21 | 27-29 | 23-24 |
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | AWD | 21 | 29 | 24 |
| 3.2L 6‑cyl | FWD | 20 | 29 | 23 |
| 3.2L 6‑cyl | AWD | 18-19 | 24-27 | 21-22 |
What 2021 Jeep Cherokee owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My power transfer unit went out, and has currently been sitting at a dealership since March 9, 2026 due to parts being on backorder.
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message “Service 4WD” remained displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the PTU needed to be replaced. The vehicle was later taken to the local dealer who also diagnosed the vehicle with PTU failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 86,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, an abnormal whining noise emanated from underneath the vehicle, and the vehicle experienced a loss of motive power. While attempting to accelerate, the engine RPM increased; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact pulled over and restarted the engine; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing, and the contact was informed that the power transfer unit (PTU) failed and required replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.
The contact's daughter owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving, the vehicle stalled. The failure was more frequent after stopping at a stop light while attempting to drive at approximately 5 MPH. An orange warning light with the letter A inside a circle was illuminated, indicating a failure with the Automatic STOP/START system. The contact's daughter was able to restart the vehicle after 3 to 4 manual attempts. The failure was a recurring failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.
I've been driving Jeep vehicles for the past 30 years. I currently drive a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. About a year and a half ago my four-wheel-drive needs service light lit up. I didn't think much of it at the time and thought it was just a dummy light that maybe a fuse needs to be changed. I eventually brought it to the dealer and they said that my transfer case is gone bad so now I don't have four-wheel-drive. In order to get four-wheel-drive I have to spend thousands of dollars to replace my transfer case and possibly even my exhaust. I thought when you bought a four-wheel-drive vehicle, you had a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Not that you would have to pay three years down the road to continue to have four-wheel-drive. Anyway, about six months ago I got on a waiting list for a transfer case since there is such high demand for transfer case cases as apparently there are thousands of other people having the same issue with myself. I put down a deposit six months ago to order the part and they probably will be calling me in the next 30 days to let me know the part is in. I've noticed online that there are thousands of vehicles that are being recalled, but apparently my VIN number is not one of them. I don't understand why my VIN number is not included since I'm having the same exact problem as all of these other people. Months ago I was trying every which way to contact Jeep about this issue, but could never find a good number or email to contact until today. I'm hoping that Jeep is going to help me out with my transfer case issue. If I have to incur this cost or not get reimbursed this will be the last Jeep I ever buy. Thank you- [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle lost electrical power. The message “Service 4WD” was displayed after the failure. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, and the failure was associated with the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by telephone. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
PTU issue- located a recall for 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee Power Transfer Unit recall; my VIN wasn't one the ones listed. took vehicle to the local jeep dealership and the advised that PTU internal damage needs to be fixed.
SVC 4WD light came on the dashboard. Took to the dealership, they said it was a PTU issue and it needed to be replaced. $3800 and 45 days to fix. the federal safety agency notes recalls for my year make and model for my 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Lux but does not show a recall for my specific VIN#. Jeep says nothing they can do since the federal safety agency does not show a recall for my specific VIN#. Vehicle was taken to Jeep Chrysler AutoNation in Golden Colorado. Apparently having a faulty PTU can be a MAJOR safety issue. Please advise.
My 2021 Jeep Cherokee suffered a complete failure of its 1-speed PTU and ESM module, causing a loss of 4WD capabilities. This is the exact same failure mechanism and safety risk outlined in recall 40D, but 1 speed units are being excluded from coverage. My vehicle is at dealership awaiting for this PTU. Service 4WD light on dashboard. Not safe to drive.
Compare the 2021 Jeep Cherokee
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2021 Jeep Cherokee
Is the 2021 Jeep Cherokee reliable?
Owners have filed 183 complaints about the 2021 Jeep Cherokee, fewer than a typical Cherokee model year.
What is the 2021 Jeep Cherokee year score?
The 2021 Jeep Cherokee scores 83 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Jeep Cherokee: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Jeep Cherokee?
Transmission and drivetrain, with 109 complaints, typically around 73,000 miles. Next is engine (30).
How many recalls does the 2021 Jeep Cherokee have?
4 recalls, covering power train, air bags and suspension.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Jeep Cherokee transmission?
Yes, 2 recalls: 26V290000, 21V310000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Jeep Cherokee have bad transmission?
The Jeep Cherokee model years with the most transmission complaints are 2014 (1,472 complaints), 2015 (1,007 complaints) and 2019 (840 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2021 Jeep Cherokee get?
Official estimates for the 2021 Jeep Cherokee range from 21 to 26 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 23 city and 31 highway.
VIN decoder
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Check its historyJeep Cherokee in the news
- Jeep extends warranty coverage on 2014-2023 Cherokee (power train)
- Jeep recalls 2024-2026 Grand Cherokee, 2026 Cherokee and 2024-2025 Wagoneer and other models over pressure monitoring and regulating systems problem (201,975 vehicles)
- Jeep recalls 2026 Grand Cherokee, 2026 Wrangler and 2026 Cherokee and other models over back over prevention camera problem (844,028 vehicles)