Here in WA the speed limits don't allow me to exceed 70mph. In AZ (we're snowbirds and bought the Cherokee to tow behind our 40 ft motor home) the speed limits are 75 for I-8 and I-10. So far, our Cherokee has never seen 9th gear and "loves" 7th and/or 8th gear(s) with even a minor headwind. I-8 and I-10 are relatively flat.

We have had the TCM reprogrammed twice, and the PCM reprogrammed once. I was told by the Service Manager from the dealer that: " I needed to go down a long hill at 95mph to maybe get the car to shift into 9th. HA HA !" During a phone call from Jeep customer service the person I was talking to said: "She had no use for a 9 speed transmission." During one of my early calls to "Charlie" -- Case Manager/Customer Service (??) about my transmission problems, he told me: " I did didn't understand transmissions, since I had never driven a "big rig" before. During my college days, I used to drive new school buses from Richmond, IN to Moline, IL for the dealer. The buses, had a 5 speed manual plus overdrive. (10 speeds total) I also worked for Caterpillar as a Sales Engineer early in my career after college.

Needless to say, I am NOT happy with Jeep's response(s). I have also had the Occupant Restraint System (airbags) reprogrammed once. I'm seriously thinking about a Lemon Law suit and/or starting a class action suit against Chrysler/Jeep to get C/J's attention.

I also think the 4 cyl. engine does not have enough HP and/or torque to overcome the aerodynamic drag of the Cherokee. Although recently, I met a guy with a Chrysler 200 owner who also had never seen 9th gear either. Hope this helps. "Gman"

After purchasing this 2014 Jeep Trailhawk, we noticed it never achieved 9th gear and the shifting was not smooth. We were told it was a learned programming and it would smooth out . As far as the 9th gear, the salesmen and tech didn't know anything about the missing gear. They even took out another Jeep to see if it went into 9th gear.

After multiple trips to the dealer, reprogramming the transmission, the answer was, " we really have no solution except the 9speed transmission was designed for the European market where they achieve higher speeds". Since then, it still shifts rough, there is a delay in acceleration that is unexplainable accept to say it is part of the transmission and expected or they reprogram to try to fix, the steering wheel made noise, the sunroof squeaks constantly and there is no a jousting it so they are going to replace the whole thing, something in the front end pops occasionally? And there is an occasional whining noise all from a vehicle that is a little over 1 year old.

I do have 35,000 miles on it all highway, and wish I never would have purchased this vehicle. I traded in a 2007 Chrysler Aspen wanting something smaller, I wish I could go back in time. Would not recommend this vehicle to anyone.