The 2023 Jeep Cherokee is the last model year of the compact KL generation (production ended February 24, 2023

The 2023 Jeep Cherokee is the last model year of the compact KL generation (production ended February 24, 2023). It is not the Grand Cherokee. Many websites mix the two names and inflate recall/complaint counts. Official year-specific complaint volume for the 2023 Cherokee is low compared with 2014–2019 KL years, but several platform issues from earlier KL years still apply, and one major safety recall now covers 2019–2023 vehicles.

Always check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls and recalls.mopar.com. Recall applicability is VIN-specific.

2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee (two-row WL):

Snapshot

Item	What owners should know
Platform	2014–2023 Cherokee KL; 2023 trims were trimmed to Altitude Lux and Trailhawk
Engines commonly discussed	2.4L Tigershark I4; 2.0L turbo I4 (GME-T4); earlier years also used 3.2L V6
Transmission	ZF 9-speed automatic (9HP)

Official 2023 complaint volume	Very small in NHTSA-style tallies (a few reports in some snapshots; aggregator sites that list hundreds often mix Grand Cherokee)
Highest-priority safety item	Two-speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) recall on a subset of 2019–2023 Cherokees

Common problems and complaints

These are the issues that show up most often in owner reports, TSBs, and law-firm investigations for late KL Cherokees, including 2023.

1. Power transfer unit (PTU) — highest safety concern

On 4x4/Active Drive vehicles with the two-speed PTU, internal failure can cause:

• sudden, unrecoverable loss of drive power at any speed
• the vehicle rolling while in PARK

Stellantis/FCA reported warranty claims, field reports, and at least one accident and one injury in the related population before the 2026 campaign. Symptoms owners and shops associate with PTU trouble include a pop/clunk, 4WD warning messages, and codes such as C14A7-97 and C1494.

2. ZF 9-speed transmission behavior

The 9-speed is the defining drivability complaint of the KL generation. Later years (including 2021–2023) are generally better than 2014–2018 after many software updates, but owners still report:

• harsh or delayed shifts (especially 2–3 and 4–5)
• lurching at parking-lot speeds
• hesitation
• occasional “neutral” or limp-mode events

This is more a calibration/hardware-wear issue than a 2023-only defect. Software flashes (TCM/DTCM/PCM) are the first dealer response.

3. Electrical system and Uconnect

Aggregator summaries and owner narratives for late Cherokees mention:

• infotainment screen going black, pixelating, or rebooting while driving
• backup-camera / display interruptions
• no-crank / no-start, limp mode, multiple warning lights
• battery drain related to stop-start / modules

These are typical Stellantis electrical complaints; several 2023 TSBs address related modules rather than a single “bad radio” recall for Cherokee.

4. 2.0L turbo engine (Trailhawk / optional earlier years)

Reported and investigated issues:

• coolant loss, coolant-in-oil risk from fittings/housing leaks
• turbo oil-feed/return leaks and bearing wear
• misfires (P0300 / cylinder-specific codes)
• alleged loss of cylinder compression and premature engine failure; a plaintiff firm is investigating 2019–2023 turbo Cherokees (investigation, not a certified class)

Short-trip use and long oil intervals are hard on this GDI turbo. Premium fuel and conservative oil-change intervals are commonly recommended by independent shops.

5. 2.4L Tigershark oil consumption

This is the KL Cherokee's most famous engine defect, but the large class settlement covers 2014–2019 Cherokees built before July 2018, not 2023. If a 2023 Altitude Lux has the 2.4L, still watch oil level between changes; it is not the same certified class as the earlier Tigershark case.

6. Other reported items

• coolant leaks / low-coolant warning (TSBs exist)
• rear-axle moan/shudder in low-speed turns on Active Drive II (DTCM software)
• loose front door interior trim
• parking-brake / EPB complaints (small official count)
• isolated airbag-deployment complaint in NHTSA-style records
• ADAS (forward collision warning) “unavailable” messages

Recalls (2023 Cherokee specifically)

Confirm by VIN. Year/make/model lists are incomplete.

Primary campaign that includes 2023 Cherokee

NHTSA 26V290000 / FCA 40D — Power Transfer Unit may fail

• Vehicles: certain 2019–2023 Jeep Cherokee
• Population: 61,711
• Build window cited: Dec. 12, 2018 – Feb. 24, 2023
• Not every 2023 Cherokee is included. Vehicles without a PTU, with a different PTU design, or built outside the suspect window are excluded.
• Risk: loss of motive power or rollaway in Park; crash/injury risk
• Remedy: under development as of the May 2026 filing. Interim owner letters were expected around June 25, 2026; a second letter when the fix is ready.
• Owner contact: FCA 1-800-853-1403

Official Part 573 report: NHTSA document for 26V290.

What is not a 2023 Cherokee recall

Many 2023 “Jeep” headlines are Grand Cherokee / Grand Cherokee L / 4xe / Wrangler:

• rear coil springs detaching
• 4xe battery fire campaigns
• blower-motor defroster FMVSS 103
• some camera/ORC/seatbelt campaigns

The 2021–2022 Cherokee SABIC connector recall (24V-516) is not listed as a 2023 Cherokee campaign.

Older Cherokee fire recalls (power liftgate module) covered 2014–2016, not 2023.

Technical service bulletins (selected, 2023 KL)

TSBs are not recalls. They tell dealers how to diagnose or repair known conditions and are often done under warranty if the vehicle still qualifies.

Examples tied to 2023 Cherokee in TSB indexes:

TSB / comm	Subject
18-075-23	PCM flash; MIL / P219A air-fuel imbalance (2.4L Zero-Evap / ESS)
08-120-23 and later DTCM flashes	Transfer-case / PTU sensor codes (e.g. C1403, C14AA)
08-220-24	DTCM flash; rear-axle moan/shudder, low-speed cornering (Active Drive II / DK4)
S1721000016	Service 4WD light; C14A7-97 PTU motor obstructed
9100444 / 9100445	Do not automatically replace entire PTU; updated diagnostics may point to smart actuator
07-005-23	Engine coolant leak / low-coolant warning
07-007-23	Coolant mix / water quality
23-026-23A	Loose/gapped front door interior trim
S2308000032	Intermittent no-crank / no-start, limp home, multiple DTCs
Backup-camera quality inspection bulletins	Poor image quality diagnosis

CarComplaints indexes dozens of 2023 Cherokee manufacturer communications (on the order of 60+), many of them software flashes.

Class actions and investigations

Certified / settled cases that generally do not cover 2023 Cherokee

• Wood et al. v. FCA US LLC (Tigershark oil consumption): class vehicles include 2014–2019 Jeep Cherokee manufactured before July 2018, plus other FCA 2.4L models. Settlement benefits included powertrain warranty extension, reimbursements, and related relief. 2023 is outside that class definition. Settlement site historically: fcatigersharksettlement.com.

Investigations / potential actions that may touch 2019–2023 Cherokee

• PTU failure — Sauder Schelkopf investigated 2019–2022 Cherokee PTU failures and out-of-pocket replacements (filed as investigation; the later federal recall 26V290 now covers part of that population through 2023).
• 2.0L turbo cylinder/compression failure — same firm investigating 2019–2023 turbo Cherokees for alleged lost compression, misfire codes, and warranty denials. Not a certified class as of the public investigation page.

Do not confuse with other Jeep classes

• Wrangler/Gladiator manual clutch / fire recalls
• Wrangler and Grand Cherokee 4xe FORM (fuel/oil refresh mode) and battery-fire litigation
• Wrangler “death wobble” settlements

Those are different vehicles.

Laws and processes that can actually resolve issues

1. Federal safety recall (fastest free fix for listed defects)

Under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, manufacturers must remedy safety defects and FMVSS noncompliances at no charge.

• Book the dealer; cite 26V290 / 40D if your VIN is flagged.
• If you already paid for a PTU/actuator repair that later became a recall, ask FCA for reimbursement (FCA states it has a policy of reimbursing owners who paid for a repair later covered by a field action).
• File a complaint at NHTSA if the dealer cannot get parts or the vehicle is unsafe: nhtsa.gov or 1-888-327-4236.

A recall does not automatically make the vehicle a lemon, but an incomplete remedy, repeat failure, or long downtime supports other claims.

2. New-vehicle limited warranty + implied warranties

Typical FCA new-vehicle coverage is 3 years / 36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper and a longer powertrain term (check the warranty booklet for the exact 2023 schedule).
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq., requires the warrantor to honor written warranties and, if they fail after a reasonable number of attempts, can support a federal lawsuit. Prevailing consumers may recover attorney's fees under § 2310(d)(2). FCA's booklet also points owners to its NCDS Customer Arbitration Process before some Magnuson-Moss court claims.

State UCC Article 2 implied warranty of merchantability can apply to defects that make the vehicle unfit for ordinary use, subject to each state's notice and used-vehicle rules.

3. State lemon laws (repurchase / replacement)

Every state has a motor-vehicle warranty statute. Common pattern (exact numbers vary):

• Substantial impairment of use, value, or safety
• Defect first reported during the lemon-law period (often first 12–24 months or 12,000–24,000 miles; some states longer)
• Reasonable repair attempts (often 3–4 for the same defect, 1–2 if the defect is a serious safety risk) or 30+ cumulative days out of service

Safety defects such as loss of drive power or rollaway in Park are the kind of condition many states treat with a lower attempt threshold.

Examples:

• California Song-Beverly Act, Cal. Civ. Code § 1790 et seq. / § 1793.2 — repair within 30 days; replacement or refund after a reasonable number of attempts; presumption often 2 attempts for a deadly/serious safety defect or 4 attempts / 30 days in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles; possible civil penalty up to 2× damages for willful violations (§ 1794(c)).
• Texas, Tex. Occ. Code §§ 2301.601–613 — typically 4 attempts or 30 days in 24 months / 24,000 miles; claims often filed with the Texas DMV Lemon Law Section.
• Other states: New York GBL § 198-a, Florida § 681.10 et seq., etc.

FCA's owner materials say some states require written notice to the manufacturer before lemon-law remedies. Keep that letter.

4. Practical claim path that works

1. VIN-check recalls and complete 26V290 if applicable.
2. Put every complaint in writing to the selling/servicing dealer and to FCA Customer Assistance (Jeep: 1-877-426-5337; P.O. Box 21-8004, Auburn Hills, MI 48321).
3. Keep all RO/invoices, DTCs, rental/tow receipts, and a log of days out of service.
4. If the same defect returns after repairs, or the PTU remedy is delayed and the vehicle is unsafe, demand a written statement of what was done.
5. Use NCDS arbitration if required by the warranty booklet.
6. Consult a consumer/lemon-law attorney in the state of purchase or registration. Many take these cases on contingency because Magnuson-Moss and some state statutes shift fees.
7. File an NHTSA complaint even if you also sue; complaint volume is how ODI sees patterns.
8. Do not sign a broad release at the dealer without reading it; some “goodwill” payments waive lemon-law rights.

What this means for a 2023 owner

The 2023 Cherokee is a low-volume final year of a platform that had a rough first half-decade. Transmission and electrical complaints are milder than 2014–2018 in most data sets, but the two-speed PTU recall is a real safety campaign, the 2.0T has emerging engine/turbo concerns, and software-only “fixes” have a long history of coming back.

If the vehicle loses drive, will not stay in Park, repeatedly sets PTU/4WD codes, or spends weeks at the dealer waiting for a remedy that is “under development,” document it and treat it as both a recall and a potential lemon / Magnuson-Moss matter rather than only a maintenance item.

This is general information, not legal advice. Eligibility depends on VIN, trim, drivetrain, repair history, and the law of your state.