Thousands of Jeep Cherokee owners in the United States will have to pay attention to a new safety alert launched by the brand. Stellantis confirmed the recall of more than 61,000 units after detecting a mechanical problem that could directly affect the operation of the SUV's traction system.

Read also: BMW Alpina Vision Concept revives luxury with V8 engine

The situation set off alarm bells because the failure not only can leave the vehicle unable to move forward while driving, but there is also the possibility of it moving on its own even when parked. The problem was reported to the US road safety authorities and is already part of an official recall campaign.

You can read: Ferrari HC25, the most retro and radical one-off from Maranello

The measure involves units manufactured between 2019 and 2023 and puts the spotlight back on the Cherokee, a model that in the past had already undergone recalls linked to powertrain components.

The component that is causing the problem

According to the information provided by Jeep to the NHTSA, the origin of the failure is in the power transfer unit, known as PTU. It is a fundamental piece within the all-wheel drive system because it is responsible for distributing the engine's force to the wheels.

The problem appears when some internal components of that unit begin to wear out prematurely or directly suffer damage that affects its operation. If that happens, the vehicle may suddenly lose the ability to transmit power to the wheels.

In extreme situations, the driver could be left without throttle response while the SUV is moving, which is especially dangerous on the highway or at high speeds.

The years affected by the recall

The campaign includes exactly 61,711 units of the Jeep Cherokee corresponding to the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 model years.

Not all Cherokees produced in that period are part of the recall. Jeep clarified that versions equipped with a single-speed PTU unit and some vehicles manufactured outside the specific range indicated in the technical report are excluded.

The company estimates that only 0.5% of the included units actually have the defect. Even so, it decided to extend the recall to all potentially affected vehicles to avoid greater risks.

The signs that should not be ignored

One of the first symptoms that the driver may notice is the appearance of the “Service 4WD” message on the instrument panel. This could also include vibrations, strange noises or sudden changes in the vehicle's response.

The most delicate scenario occurs when the Cherokee completely loses the ability to move the wheels while driving. In addition, the fault could also prevent the parking system from keeping the SUV stationary when stopped.

This means that the vehicle could move on its own even when in position “P”, especially on slopes. For this reason, Jeep recommends always using the parking brake and going to the dealer as soon as possible if any traction-related warning appears.

What Jeep will do with the affected units

The brand has already notified its dealer network and will begin sending information letters to affected owners starting in June.

For now, Jeep continues to work on the definitive solution for the PTU failure. The repair will be performed at no cost to customers and will include adjustments, reinforcements or even component replacement if necessary.

Owners can check if their Cherokee is included in the recall using the VIN number on the official Jeep website or the NHTSA safety campaigns portal.