Jeep Recalls More Than 61,000 Cherokee SUVs Over Serious Transfer Unit Problem

Jeep has announced a recall affecting 61,711 Cherokee SUVs after discovering a potentially serious defect inside the transmission’s two-speed power transfer unit.

The recall impacts certain Cherokee models built between the 2019 and 2023 model years. Internal documents tied to the campaign estimate that roughly 0.5 percent of the affected vehicles may actually contain the defect.

According to filings released through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , the issue involves an internal failure inside the PTU system. If the component breaks down, drivers could suddenly lose all drive power while the vehicle is moving, regardless of speed.

In some cases, the SUVs may even begin rolling while parked.

Owners may notice warning signs before a failure occurs. Jeep says drivers could see a “Service 4WD” message appear on the dashboard, while others might hear unusual noises, feel vibrations, or experence changes in overall driving quality.

The recall only affects a specific group of Cherokee SUVs from those production years. Vehicles not included either use a different PTU design, were built outside the affected production window, or don’t use the two-speed transfer unit at all.

Jeep has already informed dealerships about the problem and plans to mail interim notificaton letters to owners later in June. At the moment, the automaker is still developing a permanent repair and has not provided a timeline for when the final fix wil become available.

Drivers who believe their Cherokee may be included in the recall can verify their vehicle information through the official NHTSA recall database.