Jeep is recalling 61,711 Cherokee SUVs over a problem in some two-speed power transfer units that can cause an unexpected and unrecoverable loss of drive power. The affected vehicles can lose power at any speed, and if the PTU fails, they may also roll while in park.
Drivers may first see a Service 4WD message on the dashboard, or notice noise, vibration or a change in drive quality before the failure happens. Jeep said an estimated 0.5 percent of the recalled population is expected to be defective.
The recall covers a subset of Cherokee SUVs from the 2019–2023 model years. Jeep said Cherokees from that span that were not included in the recall either do not have a PTU, use a different PTU design or were built outside the relevant period.
The PTU is part of the transmission system, and the defect involves an internal failure inside that component. Jeep has already sent notification letters to dealers and plans to send interim owner notification letters in late June, but it has not offered a timeline for when a permanent fix could be available.
That leaves owners with a recall notice and no repair schedule, even as the company moves to warn drivers before a faulty PTU turns a warning light or a small change in how the Cherokee feels on the road into a sudden loss of power. For now, Jeep has identified the problem, counted the vehicles and begun the notices. The remedy is still being worked out.
