2015 Jeep Cherokee Common Problems & Defect Telemetry
Authoritative defect intelligence synthesized from 1783 verified NHTSA owner complaints, 11 federal safety recalls, and interquartile failure mileage telemetry.
The 2015 Jeep Cherokee receives a 3.3/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 1783 verified NHTSA federal complaints and 11 safety recalls. The primary reported failure mode is Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports with a median failure point at 18,641 miles (IQR: 5,000 – 50,750 mi). Out-of-warranty repairs benchmark at $1,400 – $3,800 .
209.8 complaints / 10k sold
Verified US federal records
Crash, fire & stall audit
11 Active / Free Remedies
Top Reported Problem Clusters (7)
Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports
- Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse
- Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration
- Transmission slipping between gears
“While driving my 2015 Jeep Cherokee on an interstate trip, we began noticing a strong unusual odor inside the vehicle. At first, we thought we were simply driving past a paper mill or another external source of the smell. A short time later, we noticed other vehicles beginning...”
“The power transfer unit (transfer case) went out as I was driving. I wasn't able to drive it and had to towed it to a mechanic. We found that later, the transfer case actuator and seals also needed replaced. Because this went out on a whim while I was driving, I had to continu...”
“There has been multiple issues with the PTUs on these jeeps. Mine does not fall under the recall if there was one. I’m battling with the place I bought the jeep from for warranty and they are not covering it. I’ve talked to hundreds of people about it and they said this jeep s...”
Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports
- Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving
- Abnormal oil burning / consumption
- Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing
- Engine overheating / coolant loss
“Online is saying there is 0 recalls after a year of having the vehicle a recall was sent by mail. I got it fixed by jeep van nuys, the engine and the other equipment attached looks unsafe and it is completely overheating”
“Vehicle is overheating, have had issues right after purchasing from carmax burbank and issues after the recall was worked on at van nuys jeep dealership.”
“The Vehicle suddenly stopped and I was unable to brake or steer the wheel while driving (loss of power/limp mode). I took it to a shop who ran a diagnostic and it came back as DTC code. I now had to tow it out of pocket to the nearest dealership.”
Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports
- Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight
- Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts
- Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings
“Online is saying there is 0 recalls after a year of having the vehicle a recall was sent by mail. I got it fixed by jeep van nuys, the engine and the other equipment attached looks unsafe and it is completely overheating”
“My Jeep caught on fire in the area of the power lift gate control module . A fire department report was filed.”
“The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, the brake pedal became inoperable and felt spongy while attempting to stop the vehicle. The contact also stated that the steering wheel became difficult to operate, and a crunching sound was ...”
Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports
- Spongy or hard brake pedal travel
- ABS / Brake warning light illuminated
- Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration
“Online is saying there is 0 recalls after a year of having the vehicle a recall was sent by mail. I got it fixed by jeep van nuys, the engine and the other equipment attached looks unsafe and it is completely overheating”
“The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, the brake pedal became inoperable and felt spongy while attempting to stop the vehicle. The contact also stated that the steering wheel became difficult to operate, and a crunching sound was ...”
“Parking brake module went out and locked up the back end this has happened multiple times now while driving at different speeds!”
Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports
- Sudden loss of electric power steering assist
- Steering wheel pull or highway wander
- Clunking / knocking noise over bumps
“The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, the brake pedal became inoperable and felt spongy while attempting to stop the vehicle. The contact also stated that the steering wheel became difficult to operate, and a crunching sound was ...”
“The car continues to have an issue with the same recalls that were priorly fixed but continued to happen after a few years. The last repair for this recall only lasted six months and I now need to replace the exact same parts again. The vehicle is completely faulty. The comput...”
“The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25E003000 (POWERTRAIN). The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator ...”
Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports
- SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated
- Passenger occupant classification sensor failure
- Seat belt retractor lockup
“The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle, closing the door, and starting the vehicle, the passenger’s side rear-seat air bag unexpectedly deployed. The driver's side rear seat air bag deployed the following day. The air bag warn...”
“Electric parking brake light keeps coming on also the shifters light comes on a lot as well”
“Was involved in a frontal collision. Front end was crushed to include the radiator. None of the airbags deployed.”
Fuel Pump Pressure Loss & Fuel Delivery Defect Reports
- Sudden loss of propulsion power at highway speeds
- Extended engine cranking / failure to restart
- Fuel odor near fuel tank / engine bay
“We bought the car brand new at Lithia Motors in Roseburg Oregon. After just a few months of driving, there was a noticeable clunk in the transmission at approximately 30-40 mph that occurred at random and included a shudder. The problem seemed to occur about every 3 or 4 days....”
“The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from under the hood while reversing. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the thermos...”
“The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle vibrated abnormally and then stalled. The contact stated that the power steering and brakes lost proper functionality. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated....”
Official NHTSA Safety Recalls (11)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured January 4, 2013, to February 18, 2015 and equipped with a Power Liftgate option. In the affected vehicles, water may enter the Power Liftgate Control Module and cause a high resistance short circuit in the module.
EQUIPMENT
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
SEATS
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured July 29, 2013, to February 5, 2016. The seat fasteners on the first or second row seats may not have been tightened to the proper torque specification.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee and 2015 Chrysler 200, Jeep Renegade, RAM ProMaster, and 2016 Fiat 500X vehicles equipped with 9-speed automatic transmissions. The transmission sensor clusters may have insufficient crimps in the transmission wire harness, and as a result, the transmission may unexpectedly shift to neutral. On August 29, 2016 Chrysler added the 2016 Fiat 500X vehicles to this recall.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500, 2015 Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger, 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, and Dodge Durango, and 2013-2015 Dodge Viper vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with radios that have software vulnerabilities that can allow third-party access to certain networked vehicle control systems.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
Summary: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured January 1, 2013, to November 19, 2014. The affected vehicles may experience unintended side curtain and seat air bag deployment during vehicle operation.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 18, 2015, to September 10, 2015 and equipped with the power liftgate option. In the affected vehicles, water may leak into the Power Liftgate Control Module and result in a high resistance short circuit.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured October 1, 2014, to June 18, 2015. The affected vehicles may have a misrouted air conditioning suction/discharge hose.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a two-speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU). 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 transmission and the differential inside the PTU. If this occurs, power cannot be transferred between the front wheels and the transmission which results in a loss of drive while the vehicle is in motion and a loss of the Park function while stationary.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a power liftgate. An electrical short in the power liftgate module may lead to a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for 2015 Jeep Cherokee
Before purchasing a used 2015 Jeep Cherokee, perform the following targeted inspections based on reported federal defect patterns:
Scan the OBD-II port under the dash for pending freeze-frame codes (e.g. P0300 misfires, P0087 fuel rail pressure, P0420 catalytic efficiency).
Test vehicle at low-speed stop-and-go and highway merges. Check for delayed reverse engagement or gear shift shudder between 2nd and 3rd gears.
Verify that all 11 NHTSA safety recall campaigns have been performed by an authorized dealership using the VIN.
Ensure the instrument cluster, center screen, and auxiliary charging ports operate with stable 12.0V–14.4V alternator voltage.
Defect & Reliability Q&A: 2015 Jeep Cherokee
Is the 2015 Jeep Cherokee a reliable used car?
The 2015 Jeep Cherokee earns a 3.3/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 1783 federal owner reports. Vehicles maintained under factory service schedules exhibit strong longevity past 150,000 miles.
What is the most frequent defect reported on the 2015 Jeep Cherokee?
The leading complaint category is Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports, with a median failure point around 18,641 miles (IQR: 5,000 – 50,750 mi).
Are there free recall repairs available for the 2015 Jeep Cherokee?
Yes, the NHTSA records 11 safety recall campaign(s) for this model year. All safety recalls are performed 100% free of charge by authorized franchise dealerships regardless of vehicle warranty status.