Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Jeep Cherokee. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Power Transfer Unit May Fail and Cause a Loss of Drive Power
- Summary
- 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.
Side Curtain Air Bag May Not Deploy/FMVSS 214, 226
- Summary
- 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.
Transmission Oil Cooler Hose May Leak
- Summary
- 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.
Front Lower Control Arms May Fracture
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (166)
166 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The power train is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 166 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 96 | 57.8% |
| Engine | 27 | 16.3% |
| Unknown or other | 24 | 14.5% |
| Electrical system | 23 | 13.9% |
| Service brakes | 14 | 8.4% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 10 | 6% |
| Air bags | 8 | 4.8% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 3% |
| Suspension | 5 | 3% |
| Steering | 3 | 1.8% |
How 2021 compares with other Cherokee years
Best and worst Cherokee years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1,789 | 11 |
| 2016 | 1,406 | 9 |
| 2017 | 1,335 | 6 |
| 2018 | 687 | 7 |
| 2019 | 1,650 | 11 |
| 2020 | 309 | 3 |
| 2021 | 166 | 4 |
| 2022 | 51 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 | 1 |
| 2026 | 5 | 4 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 4 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2021 Jeep Cherokee suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 26 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,600
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 345 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 26 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 9-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 31 / 26 | $2,600 | 345 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 9-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 31 / 25 | $2,700 | 352 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 9-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 29 / 24 | $2,800 | 369 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 9-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 29 / 24 | $2,800 | 370 |
| 3.2 L 6-cyl · 9-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 29 / 23 | $2,900 | 387 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 9-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 387 |
| 3.2 L 6-cyl · 9-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 27 / 22 | $3,050 | 400 |
| 3.2 L 6-cyl · 9-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,200 | 416 |
| 3.2 L 6-cyl · 9-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 21 | $3,200 | 432 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2021 Cherokee for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2021 Jeep Cherokee FAQ
How many recalls does the 2021 Jeep Cherokee have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 26V290000 (power train), 24V516000 (air bag), 21V310000 (power train), 20V657000 (suspension). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2021 Jeep Cherokee problems?
Owners filed 166 complaints with NHTSA. Power train (96), Engine (27), Unknown or other (24) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2021 Jeep Cherokee get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 9-speed automatic version at 23 city, 31 highway and 26 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2021 Jeep Cherokee get?
NHTSA rated the 2021 Jeep Cherokee suv fwd 4 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (17.4% rollover risk).
How does the 2021 Cherokee compare with other years?
Among the 2015–2021 Jeep Cherokee model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (166) and the 2015 the most (1,789). The 2021 drew 166. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.