Jeep recalls 61,711 Cherokee SUVs over PTU failure

jeep is recalling 61,711 Cherokee SUVs from the 2019 through 2023 model years after documents said an internal failure in the two-speed power transfer unit could cause an unexpected and unrecoverable loss of drive power. The recalled vehicles may also roll while in park if the failure happens.

Drivers may see a “Service 4WD” message on the dashboard, along with noise, vibration or a change in drive quality. Jeep sent notification letters to dealers and plans to send interim owner notification letters in late June.

NHTSA documents on Cherokees

NHTSA documents said the PTU failure can happen in a subset of Cherokee SUVs built during the 2019-2023 model years. Jeep said an estimated 0.5 percent of the recalled population is expected to be defective.

The recall does not cover every Cherokee from those years. Vehicles outside the recalled group either do not have a PTU, use a different PTU design or were built outside that period.

Jeep repair timeline

Jeep said it is still working on a permanent remedy and did not offer a timeline for when the fix could become available. For owners, the practical step now is to watch for the dashboard warning, changes in drive quality or unusual noise and vibration, then wait for the interim notice that Jeep plans to send in late June.

The recall reaches a broad set of Cherokee owners, but the defect rate Jeep expects is low. The larger issue for affected drivers is not the percentage alone; it is the failure mode described in the documents, which can take away drive power while the vehicle is being used and can leave it able to roll in park.