2021 Jeep Cherokee: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
154 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 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. 2021 specifically: a year the record favours — 154 complaints, score 82/100. 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 2021 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 154 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 30.8
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
While driving i lost power and heard whining and grinding. Loss of power. Had to get it to towed to the dealership where it remains as their no remedy.
I have filed a reimbursement twice now for recall 26V290000 (FCA Recall 40D). I had this repaired in August of 2025. Both times I have submitted the claim it has been denied because of no remedy available. I am just asking for a reimbursement and I think they are just using this as an excuse not to pay the bill. My reference claim number is 97934186.
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH with cruise control engaged, the vehicle hesitated, and the transmission momentarily shifted into neutral(N) before returning to normal functionality. The message “Service …
Recalls: 4 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 21V310000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooler/Radiator:Hoses And Fittings | 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. |
| 26V290000 | Power Train | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail. |
| 24V516000 | Air Bags:Side/Window:Curtain | 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. |
| 20V657000 | Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm | 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. |
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 Train86 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Engine25 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other23 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Electrical System22 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Service Brakes14 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Forward Collision Avoidance10 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
Other Jeep Cherokee years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Jeep Cherokee?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Power Train (86 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2021 Jeep Cherokee a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 82/100, computed from 154 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2021 Jeep Cherokee's most common problem?
86 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2021 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 2021 Jeep Cherokee cost to run per year?
About $4,504 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $22,522 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 2021 Jeep Cherokee have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2021 Jeep Cherokee, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 04/05/2021. 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 2021 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 — 154 complaints, 4 recalls on record
- 154 NHTSA complaints on record (30.8/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (39.4/yr)
- 4 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems