The 2020 Jeep Cherokee didn’t receive many changes due to the upgrades received in the previous year’s model. The reputation of the Jeep brand seemed to be enough to stay competitive with other compact crossovers in its class. With decent towing capabilities, the Cherokee appeared to be a solid choice for off road enthusiasts. 

Unfortunately, many owners of the 2020 Jeep Cherokee have not been pleased with their purchase. They have been experiencing troublesome engine problems before the new car smell dissipates.

Common complaints about the 2020 Jeep Cherokee

Owners of the 2020 Jeep Cherokee are not happy to already be experiencing engine problems with their new vehicles. According to Car Complaints, the average consumer starts to see issues around 1,028 miles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has started compiling data to determine which areas are most complained about in the Cherokee.

Consumers are reporting vehicles stalling after seeing a warning alert indicating low oil pressure. Dealerships claim this is a safety feature in place to avoid further engine problems.

Drivers need to frequently check their oil, most often having to add more on a regular basis. Some owners report having to use up to a quart a week in their brand-new Jeep Cherokee SUVs. Excessive oil consumption is a well-known issue that needs to be addressed soon by Chrysler before more damage occurs.

Current owner complaints

Owners are frustrated with the need for repeated service appointments to take care of problems that never seem to go away. Engine light warnings and computer code errors are a frequent occurrence for many annoyed consumers.

A driver reported that his Jeep Cherokee had only 500 miles on it when the check engine light came on as he was driving in heavy traffic conditions. A throttle issue warning light began to flash, and he explains that he suddenly experienced “a drastic loss of power causing an unsafe driving condition for myself and other motorists.”

The owner of the newly purchased Jeep reported having a 2.4-liter engine with a 4×4 automatic powertrain. The dealership had no knowledge of frequent issues with this model, but the consumer found a recall from 2019 that replicated the exact problem.

Vehicles affected in the 2019 recall had 2.4-liter engines that were experiencing a problem with improper transmission calibration. The issue was causing the Jeeps to stall, similar to what is occurring with the 2020 models. To correct the problem, Chrysler had dealers reflash the controller to recalibrate the transmission.

This information is causing current owners to wonder if another recall is on the horizon to rectify this dangerous engine issue.

Overall impression of the 2020 Jeep Cherokee

Starting at $25,840, the five-passenger 2020 Jeep Cherokee comes equipped with a standard 180-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. An optional 3.2-liter V6 is available, with an increased power potential of 271 hp. There is also an all-new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that off puts a similar 270 hp.

The Jeep Cherokee powertrains are paired with a standard nine-speed automatic transmission. FWD is standard, with an option for AWD or 4WD systems. Towing capacity maxes out at 4,500 pounds with the V6 engine.

Car and Driver weren’t impressed with the Cherokee’s fuel economy ratings, saying it was the worst in the compact-crossover segment. Combined with limited cargo space, this renders the Jeep an SUV that doesn’t offer comparable value. They noted, “Unless you’re looking to tow or go off-roading, there are many other choices in the segment.”

MotorTrend said the “base engine offers unimpressive performance,” and there were signs of “obvious cost-cutting in lower-trim level cabins.”

These negative reviews, combined with customer complaints, might be good enough reason to look elsewhere for an SUV that offers not only better value but better reliability as well.