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moderate 179 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Of the 179 engine complaints filed for the 2019 Jeep Cherokee, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
Of the 8 model years of Jeep Cherokee we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 179.
Owners have filed 179 engine complaints against 1 active recall — roughly 179 complaints per campaign.
Cylinder damage or camshaft failure can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Buyer takeaway: Avoid this model if you cannot afford a $10,000+ engine replacement or tolerate the risk of sudden stalling. Excessive oil consumption and internal engine failures are well-documented issues dealers acknowledge as "known" but don't fix; the engine shutdown "safety feature" creates real danger during normal driving.
The 2019 Jeep Cherokee's engine troubles cluster around three main problem areas that owners describe as serious safety hazards.
First, there's widespread engine stalling during normal driving—often at low speeds, during turns, or while accelerating—with no warning whatsoever. The vehicle simply cuts off mid-motion, leaving drivers without power steering or braking. One owner had the car shut down at 80 mph while turning on a highway. Multiple owners report this stalling happens repeatedly, sometimes six to seven times over days, with some correlating it to low oil levels. Dealers tell owners it's a "safety feature," but owners reject this explanation since the stall itself creates the danger.
Second, excessive oil consumption is the common thread. Owners report burning through three quarts per 4,000–5,000 miles on brand-new vehicles. The dashboard oil-life indicator sometimes shows adequate oil when the dipstick reads low or near empty. No check-engine light alerts drivers before the stall occurs. When stalling incidents happen, dealers discover oil levels two to three quarts below full in a five-quart system.
Third, internal engine failures—misfire, compression loss, piston/valve damage, and coolant intrusion into cylinders—occur at various mileages, from under 3,000 miles to over 140,000 miles. Owners describe hearing pops, smoke billowing from under the hood, and loss of power during highway driving. Dealers report bent rods, cylinder scoring, failed pistons, and compromised compression. Engine replacement costs run $8,000–$14,000, often beyond warranty coverage.
Owners are frustrated that dealers acknowledge these are "known issues" but offer no solution, and that corporate refuses recalls despite the clear safety risk.
Same Jeep Cherokee engine reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2020
Vehicle shuts off without warning while driving at various speeds, during turns, slowing down, or accelerating. Often occurs at low speeds or during low-speed maneuvers. Owners report loss of power steering and braking. No check-engine light or dashboard warning precedes the failure.
When: Occurs throughout vehicle lifespan, from under 3,000 miles to 110,000+ miles; some owners report 6–7 episodes within days; timing is unpredictable
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine shutdown while in motion; Loss of power steering and power brakes; Battery warning light illuminated (sometimes only after stall); Vehicle requires restart; restart may be difficult or take multiple attempts; No advance warning light or chime; Occurs during turns, deceleration, acceleration, or highway driving
Codes mentioned: P0302 (cylinder 2 misfire), Battery/oil warning light (after failure)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers often suggest oil change or blame low oil level. Some owners report engine replacement. Multiple owners describe paying $8,000–$14,000 for engine replacement. One dealer replaced the engine; another replaced transmission twice before addressing engine.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers claim it is a 'safety feature' to protect the engine when oil is low. Chrysler declined buyback requests. Some owners report manufacturer offered to cover only 50% of engine replacement cost. No official recall issued for stalling episodes, though NHTSA Campaign 18V344000 mentioned in some narratives (Engine and Engine Cooling). No follow-up action taken in most cases.
Engine burns oil at abnormally high rates on brand-new vehicles. Owners report dipstick levels dropping significantly (from full to half or lower) within 2,000–5,000 miles of service, with no visible leaks. Oil-life indicator on dashboard often does not alert driver, even when oil is critically low.
When: Begins early in vehicle life; some owners notice within first 1,500 miles or by 4,000–6,000 miles. Persists throughout ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Oil level drops noticeably on dipstick despite no visible leaks under vehicle; Dashboard oil-life indicator shows adequate life when dipstick shows low oil; No check-engine light or oil-warning light illuminates; Owner must monitor oil manually and add 1–3 quarts every 4,000–5,000 miles; Dealers describe 2.4L engines as 'oil burners'; some admit burning 1 quart per 1,000 miles is 'common'
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers recommend oil changes every 3,000 miles instead of manufacturer's stated 5,000 miles. Oil consumption test performed by dealer; if test shows excessive consumption, engine replacement recommended. Owners cite repair costs of $8,000–$14,000 for engine replacement. No TSB or warranty coverage mentioned for oil consumption itself.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers claim excessive oil consumption is 'normal' for 2.4L engines and advise owners to monitor oil more frequently. One dealer told owner to read the owner's manual on oil maintenance. No recall issued. Manufacturer recommended checking oil every 800 miles in one case. Some owners report TSB 09-013-22 mentioned in context of oil consumption testing.
Engine suffers catastrophic internal damage, including piston failure, valve damage, cylinder scoring, compression loss, and coolant intrusion into cylinders. Failure may occur suddenly with warning signs (check-engine light, rough running, smoke) or with minimal warning. Often follows stalling episodes.
When: Occurs from under 3,000 miles to 140,000 miles; in some cases shortly after recall service; multiple episodes reported at 28,000, 60,800, 71,000, 86,000, and 140,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check-engine light illuminates (may flash or remain steady); Engine misfire, sputtering, rough running, or severe loss of power; Smoke billowing from under hood or rear of vehicle; Unusual engine noise (pop, bang, rattling, high-reving); Vehicle hesitates or loses motive power during acceleration; Engine vibrates or runs rough before stalling; Coolant leak observed underneath vehicle
Codes mentioned: P0302 (cylinder 2 misfire), Check-engine light (flashing or steady)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosis typically leads to full engine replacement. Owners report costs of $8,000–$14,000 for engine replacement. One owner paid $1,000 initially for 'cylinder pack' but was later told engine needed replacement. Insurance and warranty inspectors have confirmed blown motors. One owner reported rod part visible at bottom of engine compartment. Piston #2 failures noted in multiple cases. One owner cited $13,000 engine replacement cost; manufacturer offered only 50% coverage, leaving owner responsible for ~$6,500.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Engines deemed to require replacement. Warranty coverage is limited; one owner's 60,000-mile warranty expired at 60,800 miles and did not cover replacement. Manufacturer offered partial reimbursement (50%) in at least one case. Recall 01C (PTU) mentioned in one narrative but timing of failure shortly after service is noted as suspicious. NHTSA Campaign 18V344000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) referenced in several narratives but owner's VIN not always included. No systematic recall or remedy program identified.
Oil cooler leaks oil without warning. Owner notices burning smell when parking, followed by oil leak underneath vehicle. No dashboard alert indicates the problem. Dealer and Chrysler claim no defect, but independent mechanic confirms cooler failure and notes it is a 'very common' issue with Jeeps.
When: Early in vehicle life; owner noticed within first few months of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Burning smell when parking vehicle; Oil leak underneath vehicle within days of noticing smell; No warning light on dashboard; Oil-life indicator shows ~89% life remaining, suggesting no oil concern
Repairs/costs cited: Local mechanic replaced oil cooler. No cost provided by owner; done at independent shop. Dealer repair cost unknown.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership denied any defect with the part and suggested the independent shop that performs oil changes was responsible. No recall issued. Owner reports widespread internet documentation of the issue and Jeep's awareness of the faulty cooler design.
Vehicle fails to accelerate properly or loses power while driving at various speeds. Occurs with and without warning light. Multiple diagnostic and repair attempts do not resolve issue.
When: At 92,000 miles (reduced power during 50 mph driving); at 60,935 miles (hesitation at traffic light); at 38,000 miles (recent onset); after transmission and engine replacement in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Reduced motive power while depressing accelerator pedal; Vehicle hesitates or jerks into gear when shifted into drive; Vehicle stalls or nearly stalls at traffic signals or low speeds; Loss of power during acceleration at various speeds; Check-engine light may or may not be illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: One owner's vehicle was diagnosed with coolant leak requiring radiator replacement (under warranty), fuel pump replacement, and purge solenoid/hose replacement, but issue persisted. Another owner had transmission replaced twice and engine replaced but still experiences hesitation and loss of power at 38,000 miles. Third owner reported radiator replacement ordered; no final repair status given.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership performed diagnostic and repairs but one owner states 'no indication of PTU failure' noted. Manufacturer informed in some cases; Technical Team escalation mentioned for one owner. PTU recall 25V011000 referenced but parts not yet available at time of complaint.
Synthesized from 179 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
Jeep has a safety feature so they say that causes the car to turn off while driving if the oil in your brand new vehicle gets low. This happened many times once in the middle of an intersection. I called my dealer who told me its normal and to change my oil even though my onboard dash said I was fine no oil warning light just the car turns off while driving. Very dangerous and it is not easy…
The vehicle shuts off when approaching 3500 miles. This happens when the vehicle is in motion regardless of speed rendering the vehicle extremely difficult to maneuver. The Jeep was taken to dealer and the mechanic advised that this is a known issue with some of the new Jeep cherokees containing certain Fiat motors. The vehicles now have a Fiat motor that apparently burns the engines oil every…
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 179 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
Across the 114 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 4,100 and 45,000 miles, with the median around 17,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 4,100; a quarter make it past 45,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover engine issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.