Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Jeep Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated when she was reversing (R) out of the parking space, when she straightened the vehicle and shifted to drive (D) the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact stated that the vehicle crossed over several parking lot barriers and crashed into the front end of a parked vehicle. The contact stated that the acceleration happened so fast she was not able to depress the brake pedal and she did not notice how fast she was moving. It was unknown if any lights illuminated. The vehicle crashed into the front end of the parked vehicle. The contact's driver's side hood and grill were crushed, and her driver's side wheels well and fender were also crushed and damaged. The driver's side door was badly damaged and could not be opened. The contact was transported by ambulance to a hospital. …
This vehicle had multiple reprograms for transmission control module and still had same issue I have only had the vehicle 1 year and driven it 7k and I take. It to Jim Browne jeep dealership they said they transmission control module needs replacement the jeep when I brake jumps forward and speeds up its unpredictable and unsafe it also does not shift into gear it slips and I did a search and see. This has been a reoccurring issue .As well as my back up camera appears while I am driving and parked ,or screen just says jeep or goes blue unable to change dash supply control at all ,this vehicle is a lemon and we were not told of any of these issues
The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving and attempting to accelerate, there was an abnormal pop and a clunking sound detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the bolts on the power transfer unit had been stripped. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to Manufacturer Communication Number: 21-014-23 (Power Train). The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at approximately 50-60 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. While driving 75 MPH and decelerating to 55 MPH, there was a thumping sound detected, and the vehicle started shuddering. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000. The VIN was not available.
Upon trying to enter a slightly inclined parking space in a parking garage, as I was lightly pressing on the accelerator, the car suddenly accelerated (tires screeching) and hit the concrete half wall. No time to even brake properly as it happened so fast. I had noticed a lack in acceleration that morning driving to my destination. Thankfully no injuries.
The service parking brake warning pops up on start up (P)!, along with the engine light and the traction control light. A warning that says service parking brake appears, around with a service transmission warning, and occasionally another message saying 4wd unavailable at the moment. Another message says restart car in park at zero speed, which the car is already in park & not moving. The car is not drivable when all of these are on. If I attempt to change gears, the gear light flashes & when the car shifts gears it is very loud. It is also hard to turn the wheel. The emergency park has also come on, in it's own, while driving. Almost killed me on the highway. Had also done it in my driveway, when starting to pull out. Also when the engine auto shifts, it makes like a whining noise. The engine sounds to go in overdrive whenever going down hills or up hills. Down is worse though. …
On 05/30/2026 approximately 12:15. My Jeep radio screen prompted "service needed, no phone connected" and a few other words I did not have an opportunity to memorize. The check engine light came on and he oil light appeared. This all happened within a minute. It was very quick and scared both of us. As my mother was driving, she smelled heat, then the radio quit working, the air conditioning shut off and heat turned on without assistance, my mother attempted to open the electronic windows without success, the power steering stopped worked and locked up, then the entire vehicle shut off. She struggled to maintain control of the vehicle in order to guide us to a safe place off the side of the road. We were in imamate danger due to NOT having any control of the vehicle. The hood, driver and passenger doors, front and back were able to be accessed, however we could not open the hatch. …
While driving the vehicle on September 22, 2021, the 4 wheel drive light flashed on then stopped, and then began to flash consistently. The vehicle began to shift out of gear on its own accord and lose speed without warning while driving on the interstate. The vehicle was taken directly to Landmark Jeep on September 22, 2021. The dealer diagnosed a Faulty PTU in the transfer case, due to a computer glitch. I was told that they could not fix the glitch without replacing the whole unit at a cost of $4,100. I was told that my jeep was not under your recall. Jeeps of the same year that have this fault are currently covered under recall NHTSA 20V343 and NHTSA 20E037. My VIN has the same exact safety issue and your recall should be expanded to include all affected vehicles. My vehicle is available for inspection.
I have a 2014 Jeep Cherokee that i have had since 2019. Since I have owned it, there have been several transmission recalls. I am currently dealing with a new transmission issue, where it is jerky and fails to go when pressing the gas after being at a stop. I am also dealing with the second oil filter housing leaking. Apparently this is a known issue, due to a plastic housing that cracks and warps easily. This causes significant oil and coolant leaks. This can potentially cause engine failure as well as the possibility of oil causing a fire due to hot oil on the exhaust. I previously paid over $1000 to have this repaired a few years ago and its now doing the same thing! This is highly frustrating. I will not be able to drive my car until this is fixed to the safety hazard of driving with such a bad oil leak.
I honestly have no idea what system failed but I was doing 80 on the interstate and my car shifted into nuetral . All of the lights came on parking brake , brake and then my car would not drive any longer , luckily I was able to coast onto the shoulder but I literally could have been killed. I had just passed road construction that went from 4 lanes to 2 barracaded lanes. i waited 30 minutes and my car restarted like nothing . So I thought maybe it was a glitch until I was driving again and it did it again. I had to keep putting my car in park and then shifting it back to drive . It has not been inspected yet as i'm trying to get it to the dealership without it cutting off .
Acceleration complaints in other Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2014 Jeep Cherokee?
NHTSA has 185 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee, 7% of the model year's 2,650 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2014 Jeep Cherokee acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2014 Jeep Cherokee, though it has 13 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2014 Jeep Cherokee acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 26,000 miles, and 47% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.