2020 Jeep Cherokee: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
288 NHTSA owner complaints · 3 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. 2020 specifically: a year the record favours — 288 complaints, score 72/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Jeep Cherokee 2014 to 2023: the nine-speed years and the years that fixed it, including 2020 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 288 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 48.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. T…
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while reversing at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The message "4WD Service" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed and determined that the power transfer unit motor needed to be replaced. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown recall…
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Service 4WD" was intermittently displayed, and the vehicle only operated in front-wheel drive. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed, and the failure was assoc…
Recalls: 3 campaigns (1 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. |
| 20V191000 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 8.4" or 12" radio displays. A software error can cause the rearview camera… |
| 19V637000 | Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The steering rack gear may break, possibly causing a loss of steering control. |
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 24 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,550
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 Train164 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Engine39 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System34 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other34 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Service Brakes24 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Steering22 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
Other Jeep Cherokee years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Jeep Cherokee?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Power Train (164 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2020 Jeep Cherokee a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 72/100, computed from 288 NHTSA complaints and 3 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2020 Jeep Cherokee's most common problem?
164 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2020 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 2020 Jeep Cherokee cost to run per year?
About $4,972 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $24,860 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 2020 Jeep Cherokee have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for the 2020 Jeep Cherokee, 1 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 2020 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 — 288 complaints, 3 recalls on record
- 288 NHTSA complaints on record (48.0/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (39.4/yr)
- 3 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems