Showing the 2020 Cherokee Longitude. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
About every 2020 Cherokee
The 2020 Jeep Cherokee has 325 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, most of them about transmission and drivetrain (190). Combined fuel economy is 21 to 26 mpg, and the 5-year fuel cost is $12,490 to $15,470 at U.S. average prices. NHTSA gives it 4 overall stars. Its 3 recall campaigns may apply to this car, covering transmission and drivetrain, backup camera, and steering.
Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.
Fuel economy
21–26 mpgcombined; city 18–23, highway 24–31; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$12,490–$15,470U.S. average; Ohio $11,160–$13,820 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2020 Cherokee. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 325 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Cherokee. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Power train
190
0
0
0
Engine
46
0
6
0
Unknown or other
37
1
1
1
Electrical system
35
0
0
0
Service brakes
25
1
0
0
Steering
22
2
0
1
Forward collision avoidance
10
1
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
10
0
1
0
Vehicle speed control
8
0
0
0
Air bags
7
5
0
7
Suspension
7
0
0
0
Wheels
5
0
0
0
14 more parts
Engine and engine cooling
4
0
0
0
Parking brake
3
0
0
0
Structure
3
0
0
0
Back over prevention
2
0
0
0
Lane departure
2
0
0
0
Seats
2
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
2
0
0
0
Tires
2
0
0
0
Visibility
2
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
2
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
1
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
1
0
0
0
Traction control system
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2020 Cherokee over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
Risk: A failed PTU may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Drivetrain Control Drivetrain Control Module, PTU, and Electronic Park Brake software, and replace the PTU, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk were mailed June 25, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy becomes available. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 40D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 14, 2026.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 8.4" or 12" radio displays. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Risk: The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W30-W37.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The steering rack gear may break, possibly causing a loss of steering control.
Risk: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V99.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 388 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2020 Cherokee, the latest on Jun 26, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (143), equipment (122), power train (56), structure (55), engine and engine cooling (43).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2020 Cherokee.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: small sport utility vehicle. EPA greenhouse gas score: 4–5 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Cherokee Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic 9-spd
Regular Gasoline
23 / 31 / 26
Cherokee Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 9-spd
Regular Gasoline
22 / 31 / 25
Cherokee All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic 9-spd
Regular Gasoline
21 / 29 / 24
Cherokee All-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 9-spd
Regular Gasoline
21 / 29 / 24
Cherokee Front-Wheel Drive
3.2 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 9-spd
Regular Gasoline
20 / 29 / 23
Cherokee All-Wheel Drive
3.2 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 9-spd
Regular Gasoline
19 / 27 / 22
Cherokee Active Drive II All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic 9-spd
Regular Gasoline
20 / 27 / 23
Cherokee Active Drive II All-Wheel Drive
3.2 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 9-spd
Regular Gasoline
18 / 26 / 21
Cherokee Trailhawk All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic 9-spd
Regular Gasoline
20 / 26 / 22
Cherokee Trailhawk All-Wheel Drive
3.2 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 9-spd
Regular Gasoline
18 / 24 / 21
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data