YearToAvoid

2020 Jeep Cherokee Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 52 engine complaints for the 2020 Jeep Cherokee, 17% of its 303 total complaints for the year, with 6 fires reported and a median failure mileage of 21,850 miles. No related recalls are listed for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
52
17% of 303
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
6
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
21,850 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report engine compartment fires starting suddenly, sometimes preceded by a burning odor while driving at low or highway speed.
  • Some vehicles caught fire while parked, with flames reported to have spread to nearby vehicles.
  • Several owners describe a four-wheel drive overheating warning light appearing shortly before smoke or fire was noticed near the engine.
  • Owners report the check engine light returning repeatedly after an oxygen sensor and later the engine computer were replaced.
  • A low oil pressure warning combined with fluctuating engine RPM and a near-stall was reported, with the dealership advising the owner to add oil every 1,500 miles.
  • Sudden loss of acceleration power paired with visible smoke and dashboard lights flashing before going blank was also reported.

When 2020 Jeep Cherokee engine complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 8, 2020, latest Sep 24, 2026.

2020 Jeep Cherokee engine complaints: complaints filed per month4Feb 2020Jan 2021Jun 2022Sep 2023Nov 2024May 2025Nov 2025Jul 2026
52 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2020 to Sep 2026; peak Sep 2026 (4).

Engine recalls for the 2020 Jeep Cherokee

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Cherokee model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20062 (12%)
  2. 2014652 (25%)
  3. 2015462 (26%)
  4. 2016372 (26%)
  5. 2017304 (23%)
  6. 2018170 (25%)
  7. 2019516 (31%)
  8. 202052 (17%)
  9. 202129 (18%)
  10. 20229 (18%)
  11. 20230 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2020 Jeep Cherokee?
NHTSA lists 52 engine complaints for the 2020 model year, which is 17% of the 303 total complaints filed for that year.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Jeep Cherokee engine fires?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint category as of the latest update.
At what mileage do 2020 Cherokee engine problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for engine-area complaints is 21,850 miles.
Did any 2020 Cherokee engine complaints involve fires?
Yes, NHTSA data shows 6 fires reported among the 52 engine complaints for the 2020 model year, with no associated crashes or injuries.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.