2016 Jeep Cherokee · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 87owner reports
- 50,000median miles
- $1,000median quote
- 4involved a crash
Newest report Jun 25, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
629 of the 1,406 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 87 of those describe transmission shudder.
Narrower sheets: Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear (53 reports)
Tick what matches of 87 reports
Transmission shudder 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: 2021, 2022.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
4 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power or loss of park function.
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…
The left halfshaft may have been incorrectly manufactured causing it to fracture without warning.
The right halfshaft may have been incorrectly manufactured causing it to fracture without warning.
All 9 recalls on the 2016 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 2016 model year.
What owners paid
5 of the 87 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $375 to $2,700.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 20,000 and 84,000 miles, from the 60 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2016 Jeep Cherokee that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Gear Ratio DTC?s, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
What owners wrote
“The car is not shifting properly and will "jump" or "lunge" forward while driving. I have noticed that the RPM's will jump and bounce around, seemingly down shifting, then shift again, and then down shift again, which causes jerking motion.”
Filed May 14, 2025
“Since having the vehicle in for recall 45A/NHTSA 23V-302, there is a loss of drive and a clunking sound when accelerating from approximately 25-30 mph. This does not occur all the time, however when it does and there is traffic behind me, the vehicle behind me will close up quickly almost hitting me.”
Filed May 7, 2025
“Vehicle losing power, causing transmission to slip. Shifts out of park by itself occasionally. Took to dealership and they said that the PTU would need to be replaced”
Filed Jan 19, 2024
“Car hesitation to accelerate and jerks when driving from a start . Took it to the dealer and they couldnât get a code from issues. The issue happens sporadically but will be taking car back again to see if they can figure it out after next incident.”
Filed Aug 30, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 4 of 87 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
- "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 269 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 258 reports
- Service 4WD light or power transfer unit (PTU) failure 224 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 107 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 93 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 90 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 81 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 62 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 51 reports
- Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems 48 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 46 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 31 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 30 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 25 reports