Which Jeep Cherokee years have the most engine problems?

The 2019 model year has the most owner complaints in this area, at 201, then 2018 at 143. The 2020 year has fewer complaints but the most fire reports. Newer years show fewer complaints mainly because they have had less time on the road.

Is it safe to drive a Cherokee with engine problems?

Not if it stalls or loses oil. Owners describe the engine shutting off in intersections and at highway speed, with no warning light. Fire reports are also in the data. Have any stalling, burning smell, or low oil checked before driving further.

Is there a recall for Jeep Cherokee engine problems?

Federal recall records list two for this model. One covers 2018 cars with 2.4L engines, for a cracked oil pump housing (17V670000). The other covers 2019 cars with 2.0L engines, for missing valve stem keepers and a possibly reversed camshaft cap (18V344000). Repairs are free.

Why does my Cherokee burn oil without a warning light?

The data does not give a cause. Owners report adding a quart every 750 to 800 miles, or 2 to 3 quarts between changes, with no low-oil warning. Some dealers told them to change the oil or shortened the service interval to monitor it.

How much does a Cherokee engine repair cost?

Independent repair-cost data puts yearly repair cost for the model at $520. Major failures cost far more. One owner reports $400 for plugs, $4,000 for a fuel pump, and an $11,500 quote for a new motor, after the warranty ended.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Jeep Cherokee Engine Problems

Jeep Cherokee engine problems center on heavy oil loss with no warning, then stalling. Engine fires also appear in the 2019 and 2020 model years.

Owner complaints: 458
Share of all complaints: 9%
Crash / fire / injury reports: 2 / 17 / 3
Related recalls: 7

Cherokee engine complaints by model year

The 2019 model year has the most engine complaints, at 201, followed by 2018 with 143. Both also have fire reports. The 2020 year has far fewer complaints at 46, but it has the most fire reports, at six. The 2021 and 2023 years have a modest number, and 2024 has 22. The 2025 year has only 4 and 2026 has none, but those years have had little time to collect complaints. Low counts there do not show the cars are sound.

2018
143
2019
201
2020
46
2021
27
2023
15
2024
22
2025
4
2026
0

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA under engine, engine and engine cooling. Newer model years have had less time to collect complaints.

What goes wrong

The most common engine complaint is oil loss that the dash never flags. Owners add quarts between changes, find a dry dipstick, and then the car shuts off in traffic or at speed. Restarting can take several tries. Others describe rough idle, misfires with a flashing check engine light, coolant or oil leaks, and a ticking that turns into a failed engine.

The safety side is serious. Stalling in an intersection or on a highway puts other drivers at risk, and some owners lose power steering when the engine quits. Fire reports are the sharpest concern. Several describe flames at the front of the car, some while parked, and some cars burned completely. Some of these cars had only 13,000 to 16,800 miles. Other owners were told to replace the whole engine after the warranty ended. Many complaints in this area also come from Grand Cherokee owners, so read each report with that in mind.

Symptoms owners report

Oil loss with no warning

Owners add a quart every 750 to 800 miles, or 2 to 3 quarts between changes. The dipstick can read empty while the dash shows oil life remaining. No low-oil light comes on before the engine is in trouble.

Stalling while driving

The engine shuts off in traffic, at red lights, or at highway speed, often with no warning light. Some cars restart after a short wait. Others take several tries. Software updates have not always stopped it.

Engine compartment fires

Owners report smoke or a burning smell, then flames from the front of the car. Some fires start while parked. A few follow a 4WD overheated message. Several cars were destroyed, and one fire reached a home.

Rough running and misfires

Reports include rough idle, low idle, misfires with a flashing check engine light, and power loss at freeway speed. One owner says fouled plugs and a fuel pump were blamed first, then lost compression.

Leaks and cooling failures

Owners describe coolant leaks, failed water pumps, and oil cooler or oil housing failures that mix oil and coolant. Head gasket leaks are reported around 100,000 to 115,000 miles, with a new engine suggested.

Early engine mount wear

Newer hybrid-era reports mention engine mounts wearing out early. One owner replaced them twice within 7,000 miles. Another needed them before 50k miles. Parts backorders stretched some repairs.

When the problems start

Some problems show up almost at once. One engine lost oil and shut off at 6,723 miles. Another was damaged by oil loss at about 37,700 miles. Two fires happened at 13,000 and 16,800 miles. Rough running that ended in lost compression was reported at 59,051 miles, and head gasket failures appear from about 100,000 to 115,000 miles.

Repairs and recalls

Owners report dealers shortening oil change intervals to watch oil use, replacing spark plugs and fuel pumps, and sometimes suggesting a new engine. One owner was quoted $400 for plugs, $4,000 for a fuel pump, and $11,500 for a motor after a 60K warranty ended. Federal recall records list a 2018 oil pump housing recall on 2.4L engines (17V670000) and a 2019 valve stem keeper and camshaft cap recall on 2.0L engines (18V344000). Both repairs are free at dealers. Independent repair-cost data puts yearly repair cost for the model at $520.

Model years	Campaign	Problem
2024, 2025	25V766000	Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4XE and 2024-2025 Jeep Wrangler 4XE Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. Debris inside the engine may cause engine failure, which can result…
2024	24V926000	Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L vehicles. The radiator crossmember bolts may not be properly secured, which can lead to improper air bag deployments and a fuel…
2021	22V284000	Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee WK, 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines. The exhaust gas recirculation…
2018, 2019, 2020	23V411000	Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L Diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine…
2018, 2019	20V699000	Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with the 3.0L EcoDiesel engines. The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may crack and allow pre-heated vaporized coolant…
2019	18V344000	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…
2018	17V670000	Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee and Compass vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.

Checking a used Cherokee for engine problems

Pull the dipstick on a cold engine. A low or dry reading on a car you did not just service is a warning sign.
Ask for oil change records and whether the owner added oil between visits.
Enter the VIN on the federal recall lookup. Confirm that the 2.4L oil pump and 2.0L valve recalls were completed.
Test drive for ten minutes with stops. Watch for stalling, rough idle, or a flashing check engine light.
Look under the hood for oil residue, coolant stains, and burn marks near the front passenger side.
Ask whether the engine has ever been repaired or replaced, and how much warranty remains.

7 engine recalls cover the Jeep Cherokee. A VIN check shows whether the car you're looking at had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.

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