Jeep Recalls 63,000 Cherokee Vehicles Due to Damaged Powertrains: NHTSA

More than 1,000 warranty claims have been made regarding Jeep Cherokee powertrains with damaged power transfer units.

Federal highway safety officials have announced a recall of 63,082 Jeep Cherokee vehicles due to a potential defect in the power transfer unit (PTU), which may result in loss of driving power and impaired parking functions.

The PTU is found in the powertrain of certain all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles. It allows the engine’s power to be split between the front and rear axles, enabling power to be automatically shifted depending on different traction requirements.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Jeep Cherokee recall on January 21, warning that some 2017 through 2019 model year vehicles have PTU input shaft snap rings that may not have been properly installed, which could lead to significant damage within the engine, resulting in transmission failures and problems with driving or parking the vehicle.

Officials are warning that the defect can damage the PTU, causing transmission failure, loss of driving power or parking issues, which could increase the risk of auto accidents, rollaway incidents and injuries.

While FCA US LLC is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the defect, the automaker has received 1,064 warranty claims, 55 service records, 43 field reports and 14 customer assistance records related to the issue.

FCA US LLC first became aware of the issue on June 4, 2020, after identifying multiple reports of Jeep Cherokee vehicles with reported PTU part failures. The company began investigating the issue in March 2023.

After further investigation, the company decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall on January 9, impacting 2017 through 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles.

Drivers are being advised to watch for a “Service 4WD” message, unusual noise, vibration or changes in driving quality, as these may indicate PTU damage.

Although the manufacturer has not yet announced an official repair, FCA plans to start sending recall notification letters to customers on February 13, 2025.

FCA’s number for this recall is 01C. Customers may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403, or the company’s contact for this recall, Emily C. Smith, via email at emily.c.smith@dot.gov.

Owners with any additional questions may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.