2014 Jeep Cherokee · symptom sheet
Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own
- 112owner reports
- 51,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 17, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
1344 of the 2,427 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 112 of those describe drops into neutral.
Tick what matches of 112 reports
Drops into neutral on other Cherokee years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022.
What this problem usually is
This sheet covers a transmission that drops into neutral or downshifts hard with nobody asking it to. Owners describe losing power at highway speed, or a sudden slam into first or second gear that can lock the rear wheels.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the control module (13 reports), the valve body, solenoid or lead frame (5 reports) and the transmission (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2014 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
Relative movement in the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) between the differential input splines and the transmission output shaft may cause some input spline teeth to wear off, which may eventually cause a loss of engagement between the…
In the event that a clutch becomes stuck in the transmission, the transmission software may shift the transmission to neutral.
The transmission sensor clusters may have insufficient crimps in the transmission wire harness, and as a result, the transmission may unexpectedly shift to neutral.
All 13 recalls on the 2014 Jeep Cherokee, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Cherokee
Sudden acceleration. Closed sep 10, 2002.
Driveshaft/univ.joint fail. Closed nov 25, 1994.
Driveshaft/univ.joint fail. Closed oct 29, 1993.
Fires caused by cltch lk. Closed jan 28, 1988.
None of these investigations covers the 2014 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 27,000 and 84,000 miles, from the 85 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“While driving, the vehicle shifts itself into neutral and goes into a limp mode with no power. Almost caused a serious accident going 70 mph when it shifted itself into neutral”
Filed Nov 30, 2025
“When swapping from park to drive my TCM code came up and vehicle went into neutral/limp mode”
Filed Apr 30, 2025
“When trying to turn through an intersection, transmission slipped into neutral and would not shift back into drive for several minutes, while I was stuck in the middle of the intersection. After finally shifting into drive, I returned the vehicle home, only 1/2 mile, and it did the same thing 4 more times.”
Filed Feb 17, 2024
“I was pulling out into a busy road and the clutch stuck and caused the transmission to drop into neutral. I couldnât move or get the car in gear for 30 seconds while traffic was coming my way. I had to turn the car on and put it back in drive and it slowly pulled away”
Filed Nov 25, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 112 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 562 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 436 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 273 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 168 reports
- Service 4WD light or power transfer unit (PTU) failure 155 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 127 reports
- "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 121 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 118 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 86 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 75 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 70 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 66 reports
- Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems 56 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 50 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 46 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 45 reports
- Steering wheel shakes or the "death wobble" 37 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 31 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 29 reports
- Engine leaks oil 29 reports
- Fuel pump failure 28 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 26 reports