Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Jeep Cherokee body problems
moderate Owners of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee have filed 40 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 19,000 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
40
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Cherokee (this page) | 40 |
| 2015 Cherokee | 32 |
| 2016 Cherokee | 18 |
| 2017 Cherokee | 5 |
1fire
What stands out
Of the 5 model years of Jeep Cherokee we track for body problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 40.
Owners have filed 40 body complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates. NOTE: Verify current warranty policy to determine if digital imaging pre-authorization is required or pre-approval is required from the Regional Office; depending on market. This bulletin involves inspecting and if necessary removing corrosion and refinishing the suspect aluminum panels on the vehicle, hood, door, fenders, hinges, swing gates or liftgate panels."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates. NOTE: **Verify current warranty policy to determine if digital imaging pre authorization is required or Pre Approval is required from Regional Office depending on market.** This bulletin involves inspecting and if necessary removing corrosion and refinishing the suspect aluminum panels on the vehicle, hood, door, fenders, hinges, swing gates or liftgate panels.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Water leaks into the cabin and trunk through separating body seams, door gaps, and liftgate seals—especially after rain or car washes. Owners report pooling water in floorboards, door panels, and trunk areas where the spare tire sits. This water ruins carpeting, triggers mold growth, and damages wiring and electronics. The power liftgate control module, located in the trunk, absorbs water and fails catastrophically: the parking brake engages automatically and locks the vehicle with no manual override, requiring towing and $1,500–$1,800 in repairs including module replacement and reprogramming. One owner reported water causing arcing and fire in the trunk module.
Sunroofs also leak and seals melt or tear repeatedly. Several owners report sunroof glass breaking spontaneously at highway speed with no external impact.
The plastic skid plate under the front loosens from minor impacts and vibrates loudly or drags on the road at speeds above 45 mph.
Most critically, owners report violent death wobble when flat towing the vehicle behind motorhomes—shaking severe enough to bend tow bars and tear the front of the vehicle from the coupling at speeds as low as 55 mph. The dealer reportedly told one owner the vehicle needed an add-on tow package that wasn't mentioned at purchase.
Recall notifications (NHTSA 15V393000 and 15V509000) were issued but many owners couldn't get repairs completed because parts were unavailable for months with no delivery estimate.
Same Jeep Cherokee body reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Water intrusion through body seams and gaps
Water leaks into the cabin and trunk through separating body seams, door gaps, sunroof seals, and gaps around the rear liftgate. Water accumulates in flooring, door panels, and trunk areas, causing mold, mildew, and electrical damage.
When: Occurs during rain, car wash, or when moisture is present; reported at various mileages including 20,430 miles, 125,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Water pooling in front and rear floorboards; Water in trunk under spare tire; Water in door panels; Mold and mildew growth inside vehicle; Electrical damage from water exposure; Sunroof seal degradation and tearing
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report body seam repair costs around $1,200–$1,800; replacement of power liftgate control module and headliner; ECU replacement due to water damage; repair of water-damaged wiring
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V393000 (Structure) issued; some owners reported parts unavailable for extended periods; manufacturer stated prior recall repairs completed in some cases
Electronic parking brake malfunction due to water damage
Water damage to the parking brake control module (located in trunk near spare tire) causes the electronic parking brake to engage spontaneously and lock the vehicle, with no manual override available. Module becomes inoperable and must be replaced and reprogrammed.
When: Typically after rainfall or water intrusion; reported at mileages including 22 days in shop and up to 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Parking brake engages automatically while parked; Parking brake engages at traffic lights; Parking brake cannot be disengaged without dealer intervention; Vehicle becomes non-functional; Brake switch burns out after replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report repair costs of approximately $1,500–$1,800 including module replacement, reprogramming, and caliper replacement; vehicle requires flatbed towing; repairs take multiple weeks
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V393000 referenced; no specific TSB or recall directly addressing parking brake module water damage found in narratives
Power liftgate control module fire and failure
Water accumulation in the trunk causes arcing and fire in the power liftgate control module located near the spare tire. Module shorts out, preventing liftgate operation and creating fire hazard.
When: Reported at 40,000 miles; occurs after water intrusion
Symptoms owners cite: Liftgate will not open via key fob or button; Smoke and flames visible inside trunk; Water accumulation in trunk; Liftgate inoperable
Repairs/costs cited: Owner extinguished fire; dealer inspection done but vehicle not repaired per narrative
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V393000 (Structure) cited; manufacturer determined vehicle already repaired under recall and declined further responsibility
Plastic skid plate loosening and vibration
Front plastic skid plate secured with plastic bolts becomes loose from minor impacts, then vibrates or drags on road at highway speeds, creating noise and potentially dragging damage.
When: First incident from hitting puddle; recurred multiple times between Feb 2015 and June 2015 at approximately 7,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Skid plate edge pulls loose; Loud vibration noise at speeds above 45 mph; Skid plate flips underneath vehicle and drags on ground
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership repairs with plastic bolts (30-minute fix); owner reports subsequent failures despite dealer repair attempts; metal screws installed on third repair attempt
Sunroof spontaneous failure and glass breakage
Sunroof glass spontaneously breaks or pops open while driving at highway speeds without external impact. Glass pushed upward indicates internal pressure buildup rather than external projectile damage.
When: Occurred while driving on highway; sunroof seals also report melting and tearing repeatedly
Symptoms owners cite: Loud gunshot noise; Glass scattered inside vehicle; Sunroof pushed upward (not inward); No external rock or debris impact; Sunroof seal melts and rips off repeatedly
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to Jeep for investigation; owner reports seals replaced multiple times while under warranty, continues to fail after warranty expires
Rear liftgate spontaneous opening and unintended closing
Power liftgate opens on its own while vehicle is driving and latched, or closes unexpectedly on occupants without button activation. No warning beeps or lights precede the failure.
When: Occurs while vehicle is in motion or stationary; reported at 18,000–20,000 miles for opening failures
Symptoms owners cite: Liftgate opens without input while vehicle moving and latched; Liftgate closes without button activation; No warning beeps or indicator lights before failure; Liftgate button fails to open liftgate when pressed
Repairs/costs cited: Manual opening required when button fails; one owner's 35-pound dog was ejected from vehicle when liftgate opened on highway
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V393000 (Structure) and 15V509000 (Visibility) referenced; parts unavailable for extended periods delayed recall repairs
Rear door handle detachment
Rear door handle falls off during normal operation, preventing entry into the vehicle. Owner reports this is a common complaint online.
When: Occurs during normal door operation
Symptoms owners cite: Door handle falls off when attempting to open door; Door entry prevented
Frame fracture
Vehicle frame fractures without warning or known impact. Frame requires replacement or repair but subsequent repairs result in abnormal wobbling.
When: Reported at approximately 19,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Frame fracture without warning; Abnormal wobbling after repair
Repairs/costs cited: Frame replacement or repair required; independent mechanic repair resulted in continued wobbling
Death wobble during flat towing
Violent shaking or wobbling occurs while flat towing the vehicle behind a motorhome, both at slow speeds and at highway speeds. Shaking is severe enough to cause physical damage to tow equipment and vehicle front end.
When: Occurs at low speeds (under 45 mph) and at highway speeds (55–65 mph); reported at 18,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking while towing behind motorhome; Wobbling on turns and straight bumpy roads; Shaking while passing trucks; Tow bar bent from force of shaking; Front of vehicle severely damaged from tow connection
Repairs/costs cited: Tow bar bent; front end severely damaged; owner reports tow bar appeared to be failing attachment point. Dealer diagnosed missing flat tow wiring kit (one case); one repair used flat tow wiring kit installation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer indicated add-on tow package needed; vehicle marketed as ground towable but lacked proper equipment
Recall parts shortage and extended delays
Owners receive recall notifications (NHTSA 15V393000 Structure and 15V509000 Visibility) but cannot schedule repairs because required parts are unavailable from dealers for extended periods, with manufacturers unable to provide estimated delivery dates.
When: Recall notices issued in 2015; parts shortages continued for months
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received; Parts listed as unavailable; No estimated delivery date provided by manufacturer or dealer; Unable to schedule recall repair
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple owners report waiting months without repair completion
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V393000 (Structure) and 15V509000 (Visibility) issued but parts supply chain disconnect resulted in inability to complete recalls
Synthesized from 40 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2014 Jeep Cherokee?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2014 Jeep Cherokee?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 40 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 18,000 and 40,000 miles, with the median around 19,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 18,000; a quarter make it past 40,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Jeep/Cherokee.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.