2014 Jeep Cherokee · symptom sheet
Transmission hesitates when accelerating
- 81owner reports
- 30,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Dec 17, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
81 of the 436 reports of transmission shudder on the 2014 Cherokee describe hesitation when accelerating.
Part of Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (436 reports) · also: jerking or hard shifts, transmission slipping
Tick what matches of 81 reports
Hesitation when accelerating 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, 2020, 2021, 2022.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside transmission shudder for a car that pauses before it goes. You press the gas, and for a beat nothing happens, or the engine revs and then the car catches up. What makes it distinct from the wider sheet is timing: the complaint isn't a rough shift at speed but a delay right when you need to move.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (51 reports) and the software (30 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 16,900 and 64,979 miles, from the 61 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Vehicle starts to hesitate and shake during acceleration and then the service gear shifter light come on and all the red lights on the gear shifter turns red.”
Filed Jun 3, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 81 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
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 273 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 169 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
- Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own 112 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