2020 Jeep Cherokee · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 25owner reports
- 62,562median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 15, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
176 of the 305 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 25 of those describe transmission shudder.
Tick what matches of 25 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
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2020 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 fail.
All 3 recalls on the 2020 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 2020 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 50,000 and 70,000 miles, from the 13 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 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.
Flash: Drivetrain Control Module (DTCM) Updates Customers may experience the following: ● A moan noise or shudder feeling from the rear axle during low speed cornering, most notable in a parking lot or low speed maneuvering.
Gear Ratio DTC?s, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates This bulletin involves reprogramming the PCM with the latest available software.
What owners wrote
“Fwd service light is on and my jeep keeps jerking and at times acts like it doesnât want to go”
Filed Aug 12, 2026
“The message/warning light keeps coming on: Stop/start Unavailable - Service stop/start system. This feature is suppose to help reduce the amount of harmful emissions released into the air! Some times this causes the engine/transmission to clunk. Seems to maybe a common issue with the Jeeps. Save fuel from burning while the car is stationary. Such a great feature and is doesn't work!”
Filed Apr 29, 2025
“The Jeep was making noises and jerking some. Took it to the dealership and the Power Transfer Unit needs replaced and the cost would be 5800.00. The dealership said the vehicle could just stop at any time jeopardizing our safety. NO warning lamps came on. Apparently this has been an issue on models 2017-2019 and recalls were issued. Apparently the 2020 needs to be recalled as well before someone gets hurt.”
Filed Mar 20, 2025
“I was going 35 miles per hour the car as i was driving started acting abnormally driving in a lagging jerky way and then states 4wd unavailable service soon. I looked up the issue which seems like a ptu defective part and it seems to be a pretty common issue that jeep cars are experiencing and having difficulty with while driving.”
Filed Oct 27, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 25 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
- Service 4WD light or power transfer unit (PTU) failure 136 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 42 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 25 reports