The current Jeep Cherokee (the KL platform, 2014 to 2023) is a comfortable, trail-capable crossover that can be a great value used. The catch is that the first three model years were rushed, and one component, the ZF-derived 9-speed automatic, drives the entire reputation problem. Below you will find the years to avoid ranked, the specific failures that define each one, and the repair costs you should budget for if you are shopping a high-mileage example.
📊 Worst Years Ranked
If you are weighing a used purchase, here is how the worst years for the Jeep Cherokee stack up, from most problematic to least, alongside the failure that defines each one.
| Year | Risk | Defining Failure | Typical Fix Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Worst | 9-speed hard shifts, hesitation, stalling; multiple software recalls | $150-$5,500 |
| 2015 | High | Transmission glitches persist; PCM and electrical gremlins | $300-$4,500 |
| 2016 | High | Power transfer unit (PTU) wear, transmission shudder | $500-$4,000 |
| 2017 | Moderate | Fewer trans issues; some oil consumption on 2.4L Tigershark | $200-$3,000 |
| 2018 | Low-Moderate | Mostly minor electronics, late KL refresh transition year | $150-$1,500 |
Cost ranges reflect everything from a simple software reflash on the low end to a full transmission replacement on the high end. A proper diagnosis is what separates a $300 day from a $4,000 one.
⚙️ Why the 9-Speed Transmission Defines These Years
The single biggest reason the 2014 to 2016 Cherokees land on the avoid list is the 948TE 9-speed automatic. When the KL launched, the transmission control software was not dialed in, and the result was a long list of drivability complaints: hesitation from a stop, harsh 1-2 shifts, downshift clunks, and occasional limp-mode stalls in traffic. Jeep issued several software updates over the first couple of years to smooth it out.
The good news is that many of these symptoms are software, not hardware. A current reflash often transforms the way the car drives, and it is cheap. The bad news is that years of harsh shifting can wear the valve body, solenoids, and clutch packs, which is where the four-figure repair bills come from. If you feel a shudder, a flare in RPM between gears, or a hard bang on downshifts, read up on what a slipping transmission actually means before you panic, because the fix is frequently far cheaper than a full rebuild.
Watch for stored codes too. A P0700 transmission control fault is the umbrella code that points you toward the specific solenoid or pressure issue behind the symptom.
🚨 The Other Failures to Watch
The transmission gets the headlines, but the worst-year Cherokees have a few other recurring weak points worth knowing.
- Power Transfer Unit (PTU): On 4x4 models, the PTU can wear early, especially on 2014-2016 cars, leading to whining, leaks, and eventual replacement around $1,200-$2,000.
- Electrical and PCM gremlins: Early KLs are known for random warning lights, infotainment freezes, and occasional no-start conditions traced to software or the powertrain control module.
- 2.4L Tigershark oil consumption: The four-cylinder can burn oil on some units. If you are seeing the level drop between changes, check our guide on burning oil smell and consumption to gauge severity.
- Stalling at speed: A handful of early cars had recall-level stalling tied to wiring and software. Always verify recall work was completed by VIN before purchase.
✅ The Better Years to Buy Instead
You do not have to avoid the Cherokee altogether. By the time the 2019 mid-cycle refresh arrived, Jeep had years of transmission software refinement behind it and added the smoother, torquier 2.0L turbo engine option. The 2019 through 2023 models post far fewer transmission and electrical complaints.
| Tier | Years | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best | 2019-2023 | Refined 9-speed software, 2.0L turbo option, fewest complaints |
| Decent | 2017-2018 | Transmission largely sorted, occasional minor electronics |
| Avoid | 2014-2016 | Unsorted 9-speed, PTU wear, electrical gremlins |
If a 2014-2016 is the only one in your budget, it can still work, but only if the price reflects the risk and the transmission already has current software plus a documented service history.
🧮 How to Vet a Used Cherokee Before You Buy
- Check the year first. Lean toward 2019+. Treat any 2014-2016 as guilty until proven innocent.
- Drive it cold and hot. Many transmission symptoms only appear on the first few shifts or after the car has warmed up in traffic.
- Scan for codes. A cheap OBD-II reader or our diagnosis tool will surface stored faults the dash light may have reset.
- Confirm software and recalls. Ask for proof the transmission reflash and any open recalls were completed by VIN.
- Price-check any quote. If a seller or shop says it needs transmission work, run the estimate through our repair quote checker before agreeing to anything.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
📝 TL;DR
The worst years for the Jeep Cherokee are 2014, 2015, and 2016, with 2014 the clear bottom of the list because of an unrefined 9-speed transmission, PTU wear, and electrical gremlins. Most transmission symptoms start as cheap software issues but can escalate into $3,500-plus repairs if ignored. Want a smooth, reliable Cherokee? Buy 2019 or newer, and run a diagnosis on any car before you hand over money.