2019 Jeep Cherokee: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
1,625 NHTSA owner complaints · 11 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The KL Cherokee (2014–2023) launched with the first mass-market nine-speed automatic transmission, and that gearbox is the story of its early years: harsh shifts, hesitation, loss of drive, and repeated software reflashes that did not fully cure it. The 2014 model year has more than 2,600 complaints on record. Read the full note on the model page. 2019 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 1,625 complaints on record, verdict AVOID.
Read the guide
Jeep Cherokee 2014 to 2023: the nine-speed years and the years that fixed it, including 2019 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 1,625 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 232.14
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
My vehicle (2019 Cherokee trailhawk) was subject to 2 PTU recalls. I had the first one replaced after the dash light came on, then had that one replaced after it failed and began leaking fluid. When it started having issues again, I took it to a dealership and they stated the transmissions first gear dog clutch had gone out/was damaged. It only has 80,500 miles on it and I believe the shock load from multiple failing…
PTU failure. Jeep Cherokee manufacture in 2019 through February and again in December have recalled PTU failure. The ones manufactured in between were not recalled but have same dangerous failure.
Service 4w drive light came on vehicle stores going up in Kleins as well as it shut off on me on an interstate thank goodness there was no vehicles I was able to get it started and get to safety on side of the road. My car is a 2019 Jeep Cherokee and it is not on the power trend recall and I’m not sure why when it’s having these issues it’s a very dangerous situation
Recalls: 11 campaigns (5 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 26V290000 | Power Train | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail. |
| 18V524000 | Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid… |
| 18V523000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey, and 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance. |
| 19V449000 | Air Bags | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The impact and acceleration sensors may fail and reduce the air bag system's ability to properly detect certain crash events. |
| 18V739000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission | Chrysler(FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. Improper transmission calibration may result in a stall. |
| 18V917000 | Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The instrument cluster may fail resulting in a lack of activation of warning chimes, messages, and gauges. |
| 18V344000 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 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. |
| 18V492000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica non-hybrid vehicles. A component in the transmission may not have been welded properly, possibly causing the transmission to not transmit engine power to the wheels. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 22 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,800
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Power Train788 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Engine454 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System338 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other255 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Steering120 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Service Brakes107 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
Other Jeep Cherokee years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Jeep Cherokee?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Power Train (788 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2019 Jeep Cherokee a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 25/100, computed from 1,625 NHTSA complaints and 11 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2019 Jeep Cherokee's most common problem?
788 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2019 Jeep Cherokee sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is transmission service or clutch-pack repair: about 7.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,290–$4,040 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2019 Jeep Cherokee cost to run per year?
About $8,860 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $44,300 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2019 Jeep Cherokee have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 11 recall campaign(s) for the 2019 Jeep Cherokee, 5 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 07/05/2026. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2019 Jeep Cherokee really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 1,625 complaints, 11 recalls on record
- 1625 NHTSA complaints on record (232.1/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (39.4/yr)
- 11 recall campaigns, 5 touching safety-critical systems