In the compact SUV segment, Jeep Cherokee’s entry came as a surprise. Slotted in a similar ballpark as the Jeep Compass, the Cherokee has lived up to its expectations. Its performance in terms of refinement, off-roading capabilities, and trustworthiness has been top-notch. While the SUV’s initial iterations have lacked dependability, the more recent options, including the 2020 Cherokee, have shown considerable improvement and promise. It has 37 complaints registered to its name and has been called back twice by the brand. However, if the general consensus is to be believed, the vehicle promises a relatively hassle-free ownership experience. It competes with the likes of the 2020 Honda CR-V, the 2020 Ford Escape, and the 2020 Mazda CX-5. So, let us have a closer look at Cherokee’s reliability to understand its potential against its adversaries.
2020 Jeep Cherokee User Complaints and Problems
Safety Complaints
- Non-deployment of airbags: In three distinct cases, buyers of the 2020 Jeep Cherokee have reported the malfunctioning of the airbag system. Complainants have recorded the non-deployment of airbags in case of a crash, which has resulted in injuries to the occupants. In one case, the driver had to be hospitalized due to the gravity of the injuries.
Electrical System Complaints
- Freezing of climate control functionality: Among the list of problems with Jeep Cherokee, buyers have reported the climate control settings freezing, which makes them inoperable. As a result, users have no control over the climate functionality, and cannot adjust the temperature settings as per requirement.
- Variegated electrical concerns: The 2020 Jeep Cherokee’s electric problems consist of various minor niggles as well. These include the activation of the emergency brake without any prior symptom, erratic functioning of the radio system, and also cause the illumination of several warning lights, including the check engine light.
Mechanical Complaints
- Low oil levels: In more than a couple of cases, buyers of the 2020 Jeep Cherokee have reported the oil levels to be lower than recommended, which can have a bearing on the performance of the vehicle. While there are no symptoms to denote the occurrence of the issue, in some instances, it can result in the stalling of the vehicle.
- Vehicle catches fire: Among the 2020 Jeep Cherokee issues, buyers have reported the vehicle to catch fire in three different cases. In all the recurrences, the fire has initiated from the engine bay and the vehicle has been deemed as a total loss. While there have been no fatalities, Jeep should address the issue at hand.
- Problems with the steering system: The steering radius of the 2020 Jeep Cherokee is bigger than usual, which causes an oversteer that requires correction. It results in rough movement of the vehicle, and in one case, it has also led to the failure of the steering system.
Structural Complaints
- Structural Deficiencies: The 2020 Jeep Cherokee’s structural problems have two main causes. While a couple of buyers have reported the windshield to crack without incidence or impact, in one case, a complainant had reported the rear windshield to explode. This, however, is not a new issue for the SUV and has been reported by the buyers of the previous iterations as well.
2020 Jeep Cherokee Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
2nd Apr 2020 |
20V191000 |
Malfunctioning rearview camera |
Due to an error in the software, the rearview camera might not display the image and a similar setting might remain in action, the next time the camera is used. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with federal laws. |
Dealers will update the radio software, free of cost. The recall began on 27th April 2020. |
|
2. |
Failure of steering rack gear |
The steering rack gear may get damaged, which can result in the loss of steering control. |
Dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. |
Should you buy the 2020 Jeep Cherokee?
With a restricted number of 2020 Jeep Cherokee problems, the compact SUV is a jack of all trades. It sports an opulent interior, an intuitive infotainment system, and resonates with an ergonomic aura. Even on the outside, it looks novel and enticing, and despite being in its first generation, it can compete with its newer rivals as well. While its performance has improved over the years and safety features and ratings have seen an improvement, there are still some consistent carryover issues. So, CarHP recommends buyers conduct due diligence when making a buying option.
