2020 Jeep Cherokee Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
33/100
#7 most-complained of 10 Cherokee years
The 2020 Jeep Cherokee has a complaint index of 33 and ranks 7th out of 10 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Cherokee years. It has 303 complaints, 3 recalls, and no reported deaths.
- Complaints
- 303
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 9 / 6
- Injuries / deaths
- 9 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 23
- 20 city / 28 hwy
Top 2020 Jeep Cherokee problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain174 (57%)
- Engine52 (17%)
- Other36 (12%)
- Electrical System34 (11%)
- Brakes30 (10%)
- Steering22 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires13 (4%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras10 (3%)
- Fuel System10 (3%)
- Airbags7 (2%)
What owners report
- Engine compartment fires reported after a burning odor while driving, sometimes progressing to the hood catching flames.
- Vehicles parked and unattended have also caught fire, with the fire traced back to the engine.
- Airbags failed to deploy in multiple front-end and head-on collisions, even in crashes causing injuries.
- Steering wheel reportedly stiffened or seized intermittently, sometimes accompanied by a steering warning light.
- Some drivers reported the vehicle making an unintended sharp turn during acceleration, leading to a crash.
2020 Jeep Cherokee recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V290000May 7, 2026Transmission & Powertrain61,711 vehicles
Power train
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 20V191000Sep 10, 2020Collision Avoidance & Cameras319,610 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
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 image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Risk: The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W30-W37.
- NHTSA 19V637000Aug 29, 2019Steering5,294 vehicles
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.
Risk: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V99.
2020 Jeep Cherokee fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 23 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2020 compared with other Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Jeep Cherokee reliable?
- Relative to other Cherokee model years, the 2020 is rated "Good," with a complaint index of 33 and ranking 7th worst out of 10 years tracked. It has fewer complaints (303) than earlier years like 2014 (2,646) and 2019 (1,641).
- What problems does the 2020 Jeep Cherokee have?
- NHTSA complaints show Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 57% of complaints, followed by Engine problems at 17%, including six reported fires. Electrical System issues account for 11% of complaints.
- Does the 2020 Jeep Cherokee have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists three recalls for the 2020 Cherokee: a power transfer unit failure recall, a radio display software recall, and a steering rack gear recall that could cause loss of steering control.
- How does the 2020 Cherokee compare to other Jeep Cherokee years?
- The 2020 model (complaint index 33) is better than the 2014 (100), 2015 (78), 2016 (67), 2017 (56), and 2019 (89) model years, but is outranked by the 2018, 2021, and 2022 model years, which score lower with 44, 22, and 11 respectively.
- How many miles do 2020 Jeep Cherokee problems typically show up at?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 49,000 miles overall, though the Transmission & Powertrain category shows a median of 63,000 miles and the Engine category shows 21,850 miles.