Owner report · 2021 model year

2021 Jeep Cherokee

Crash-test image: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Transmission & Drivetrain

Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 105 of 179 complaints (59%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (7) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed fell from 336 in 2020 to 179 in 2021.

Data last changed Nov 7, 2026. Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

At a glance

NHTSA complaints: 179
Recall campaigns: 4
EPA fuel cost per year: $2,400–$2,950
Combined MPG: 21–26

Complaints by model year

1,6772019
3362020
1792021
522022
32023

Where owners report problems

Transmission & Drivetrain105 (59%)
Engine29 (16%)
Other28 (16%)
Electrical24 (13%)
Brakes14 (8%)
Driver Assistance & Speed Control14 (8%)

Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.Also cataloged for 2021: 3 configuration(s) of a different vehicle class, excluded from the comparison bar only (but included in the figures above).
Category	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	vs. 2021 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Annual fuel cost ($)	2,400–2,950	2,400–2,950	2,400–2,950	2,400–2,950	2,600–2,850
Combined MPG	21–26	21–26	21–26	21–26	22–24
City / Highway MPG	18–23 / 24–31	18–23 / 24–31	18–23 / 24–31	18–23 / 24–31	20–21 / 26–29
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)	345–432	345–432	345–432	345–432	370–400
Complaints filed	1,677	336	179	52	3	Not compared
Recalls issued	11	3	4	3	1	Not compared
Crash-involved complaints	40	9	10	3	1	Not compared
Fire-involved complaints	19	7	4	0	0	Not compared
Injuries reported	37	9	8	5	1	Not compared
Deaths reported	0	0	0	0	0	Not compared
Configurations compared	7	7	6	4	2

Common questions

How many recalls does the 2021 Jeep Cherokee have?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Jeep Cherokee?

Transmission & Drivetrain: 105 of 179 NHTSA complaints (59%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Jeep Cherokee get?

EPA rates it 21–26 MPG combined.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Jeep Cherokee?

EPA estimates $2,400–$2,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

Similar Vehicles

EPA-Rated Configurations (9)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
Configuration	Transmission	Cylinders	Displacement	Drivetrain	Fuel Type	Vehicle Class	City	Highway	Combined	Annual Fuel Cost	CO₂
Configuration 1	Automatic 9-spd	4	2.0L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD	23 mpg (high)	31 mpg (high)	26 mpg (high)	$2,400 (low)	345 g/mi (low)
Configuration 2	Automatic 9-spd	4	2.4L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD	22 mpg	31 mpg (high)	25 mpg	$2,500	352 g/mi
Configuration 3	Automatic 9-spd	6	3.2L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD	20 mpg	29 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700	387 g/mi
Configuration 4	Automatic 9-spd	4	2.0L	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD	21 mpg	29 mpg	24 mpg	$2,600	369 g/mi
Configuration 5	Automatic 9-spd	4	2.4L	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD	21 mpg	29 mpg	24 mpg	$2,600	370 g/mi
Configuration 6	Automatic 9-spd	6	3.2L	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD	19 mpg	27 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850	400 g/mi
Configuration 7	Automatic 9-spd	4	2.0L	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD	20 mpg	27 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700	387 g/mi
Configuration 8	Automatic 9-spd	6	3.2L	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD	18 mpg (low)	26 mpg	21 mpg (low)	$2,950 (high)	416 g/mi
Configuration 9	Automatic 9-spd	6	3.2L	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD	18 mpg (low)	24 mpg (low)	21 mpg (low)	$2,950 (high)	432 g/mi (high)

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
Category	Complaints	Crash-Involved	Fire-Involved	Injuries
Engine	29	0	2	0
Transmission & Drivetrain	105	1	0	1
Fuel System	5	0	1	0
Electrical	24	1	1	0
Brakes	14	2	1	0
Steering	3	0	0	0
Suspension, Wheels & Tires	6	2	0	0
Airbags & Restraints	10	7	1	7
Driver Assistance & Speed Control	14	0	1	0
Body, Seats & Latches	1	1	1	1
Visibility & Lighting	3	0	0	0
Other	28	0	0	0

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (4)

POWER TRAIN
Campaign 26V290000 · May 7, 2026
Defect
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
Consequence
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 NHTSA.gov beginning May 14, 2026.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
Campaign 24V516000 · Jul 8, 2024
Defect
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."
Consequence
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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLER/RADIATOR:HOSES AND FITTINGS
Campaign 21V310000 · May 4, 2021
Defect
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.
Consequence
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.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
Campaign 20V657000 · Oct 27, 2020
Defect
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.
Consequence
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.