CarComplaints.com Notes: How many transmission complaints can a new vehicle really receive? You'd be surprised. Unless you're a 2015 Cherokee owner, then I bet you're not surprised at all.

8.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
7,300 miles
Total Complaints:
9 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (6 reports)
  2. replace transmission (2 reports)
  3. nothing fixed and forced to trade before this car kills me o (1 reports)
2015 Jeep Cherokee transmission problems

transmission problem

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2015 Jeep Cherokee Owner Comments

problem #9

Jan 162017

Cherokee Limited 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 9,321 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

on dirait quand je fait un stop que quelqu,un me pousse et de la 1er a la 2em on dirait qu'il y a un vide

- jean-luc, Repentigny, QC, Canada

problem #8

Apr 202015

Cherokee Latitude 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,234 miles

Transmission will not downshift to 1st gear unless at a complete dead stop. If coming to a stop sign or light, if car is still rolling (very slowly)and accelerating from stop sign or traffic light, transmission will start in 3rd gear, or it will start in 3rd gear then suddenly downshift to 1st gear and chirp tires.

- Larry S., Lakeville, MN, US

problem #7

Nov 172015

Cherokee Latitude 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,498 miles

Same problem as posted previously. Transmission will not downshift to 1st gear unless at a complete standstill. It starts out in 3rd gear at a stop sign of traffic light if car is still rolling, and then will suddenly downshift into 1st gear chirping tires.

- Larry S., Lakeville, MN, US

problem #6

Jun 012015

Cherokee Trailhawk 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When coming to a stop, but continuing to roll at 2-10 mph, the transmission stays in 3rd gear instead of downshifting to 2 or 1. When attempting to accelerate from this low speed in 3rd gear, there is no torque, which requires me to press the pedal harder to get going. The car then downshifts, but awkwardly jerks into the gear, which is not comfortable to all passengers in the car. It basically feels like a slipping transmission. I have had multiple transmission flashes with no improvement.

This issue can also be dangerous on the highway when trying to accelerate while changing lanes. The car does not downshift quick enough if cars are coming up in the lane. I have to allow ample time in my lane to allow the car to downshift before attempting the lane change to ensure enough speed to pass.

- Kevin M., Whitestone, NY, US

problem #5

Jun 252016

Cherokee Limited V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,000 miles

Noticed skittishness to shifting from 1st to 3rd about 20 miles into a 500 mile road trip. Kept an eye on it and "babied" the car as to not get stranded in the middle of nowhere. On the way back home, 140 miles out on the highway, the transmission made a horrible metal-to-metal sound and was essentially stuck now in the highest gear. Service Transmission light came on. Luckily, no hills on the way home and was able to basically coast as much as I could the rest of the way. Turned off the car and back on when at home, the transmission was better, but much worse than when I started the trip. End result: Need a new transmission.

Normally not one to voice complaints as this, however, I had 16K miles on my Jeep and its a bit ridiculous to me that this occurred. Fortunately, I have a great dealership nearby that was able to get me in next day, while most service centers were booked 3 weeks in advance.

Be very, very cautious with these Jeep Cherokees and expect to have transmission issues with this. Go ahead and get it done/request the software upgrade to the TCM and PCM. I cannot guarantee this will fix future issues but will stave off the immediate issues. Hindsight, I would have chose a different vehicle from the beginning.

- Michael P., INDIANAPOLIS, IN, US

problem #4

Apr 102015

Cherokee Limited 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,300 miles

It sure is scarey to step on the gas to enter a busy, fast moving, highway and only have enough acceleration to limp into a lane of traffic only to hesitate for 3-5 seconds while oncoming traffic is bearing down on you. Multiple trips to the dealer have yielded no results "The techs that have been involved think that the vehicle is operating normally. I'm embarrassed to have a passenger ride with me....the vehicle runs like a junker. If I can't get this problem solved, I will have to sell this vehicle prematurely.

- Michael B., Minneapolis, MN, US

problem #3

Apr 032015

Cherokee Trailhawk V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This car ran fine until I did the RO1 software recall. After that, it won't shift and 4 trips to the dealer later, they finally level with me that the new software disables second gear and limits downshifting. Now I have a car that is always in the wrong gear causing constant lurching, lagging and surging. Car is very unsafe in hilly terrain.

Update from Aug 3, 2015: Nothing has changed despite several more service appointments at two different dealers. The only garage that gave me the truth was an independent garage. They duplicated every one of my complaints. FCA could not fix any of the problems such as ridiculous poor shifting, 4WD and Cruise disabling, and rear hatch intermittent. Customer Care eventually told me there was nothing else to be done and the Trailhawk was just not designed to go on the beach.

- John S., Wilmington, NC, US

problem #2

Feb 142015

Cherokee Trailhawk

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,222 miles

Driving from Decatur, IN, to Indianapolis to catch a flight to go to Colorado and see my kids and grandkids. Just as I approach Indy this service transmission light comes on. I had noticed the last 2 or 3 weeks that the transmission seemed to shift rough when there was no reason to and wouldn't idle down when slowing to turn or come to a stop and it would randomly lunge when slowing down.

Super long story short, I had to reschedule my flight and pay for a hotel, a taxi, etc. My Jeep is still in the shop in Indy awaiting a new updated transmission from the factory. Will have to make the 2 hours one-way drive when it's ready to pick it up. The transmission is covered under warranty (I assume) but I've incurred hundreds of dollars out of pocket and hours of precious time that I can never get back, down the drain. Plus they didn't give me a rental car. Really? My husband had to make the 4 hour round trip to retrieve me. Unbelievable.

- mrs_simonson, Decatur, IN, US

problem #1

Oct 202014

Cherokee Latitude 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 192 miles

We test drove a new 2015 Jeep Cherokee and it didn't take long before we decide that we wanted it. The day we pick it up and drove it off the lot we notice that there was a shimmy in the front end. I was going to go on vacation the following week and I had my daughter bring into the dealership to get it repaired and found out that there was a computer update recall for the problem, is what they told me, and I thought, OK problem solved.

When I got back from vacation me and my wife got home late and wanted to go out and get something to eat. As I drove it more I notice that the transmission, when I was coming to a complete stop, would not downshift and wanted to keep going. I almost hit a car in front of me at a traffic light. Then when I tried to take off it would not go and pushed down on the gas pedal some more and it took off with me spinning the tires. I then called back to the dealership the next day and they said to bring it in again. So I did and told them what was a small issue turned into a big issue and I wanted it fixed! They said that there was another update recall again and they would do the update and that should fix my problem and that give it 10 days for it to learn your driving. I gave it the 10 days and by then me and my wife went from fighting who was going to drive the new Jeep to I don't want to drive anymore.

The Jeep was making my wife sick from the stopping and going, I had to take her to work, she told me that she was not going to drive it anymore. It was my Jeep. With that being said I again, for the 3rd time, brought the Jeep back telling them that you are going to give me a loaner and I don't want the Jeep back until it is completely fixed and when you call me to come and pick it up I am going to take it for a test drive and if it's doing the same thing I am giving it back. I made myself really clear to them. I went from really happy to being PISSED!! OFF really quick! I told the dealerships that a new Jeep should not do that. Well, they gave me a loaner vehicle, a Dodge Journey, and so far the transmission on this one works like it's suppose to. Time will tell what they find out and what is going to happen with this story but, right now I am very disappointed and very unhappy.

- grrrowl, Zeeland, MI, US

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