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Jeep Powertrain Recalls Address Clutch Overheating, Stalling, and Park Failure
Repeated clutch pressure plate overheating and fracture notices dominate the listed Wrangler and Gladiator powertrain problems. They cover manual-transmission Wrangler vehicles across 2018-2023 and Gladiator vehicles across 2020-2023, with different coverage and remedies in each notice. Cherokee problems cluster in 2018-2019: halfshaft bearing failure affects certain 2018 all-wheel-drive vehicles, while transmission weld and calibration problems appear in separate 2019 notices. Other listed issues include a leaking transmission cooler hose in the 2021 Cherokee, front differential gear wear in the 2019 Grand Cherokee, and parking mechanism failure in the 2022 Gladiator. Loss of drive and loss of Park recur across distinct defects.
Warning signs to watch for
- U43, incorrect park lock rod: the transmission may not shift into Park and prevent vehicle movement.
- UA9, Cherokee transmission calibration: the engine may stall.
- V95, Gladiator rear driveshaft: a fractured driveshaft may cause sudden loss of drive power.
- W22, Grand Cherokee front differential: sudden loss of power or loss of the Park function may occur.
- 92B, Wrangler and Gladiator powertrain software: the engine may stall, causing loss of drive power.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
None of the supplied Jeep powertrain notices carries a stop-driving or park-outside instruction. The March 2020, January 2021, and February 2023 clutch notices do not tell owners to stop driving. Neither do Y18, U43, U85, U78, UA9, V95, W22, Z84, or 92B. The January 2021 clutch notice states a stop-sale order for affected vehicles; it does not give owners a stop-driving instruction. The other listed notices also do not tell owners to stop driving.
What the free repair involves
Recall-specific free remedies include Y18 hose inspection and replacement, U43 park lock rod installation, U85 transmission replacement, U78 halfshaft replacement, and UA9 controller recalibration. V95 replaces the driveshaft; W22 replaces the differential; Z84 replaces the transmission. The January 2021 clutch notice adds torque-reduction software; 19A replaces the clutch assembly and updates software; 92B updates powertrain control module software.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 3 |
| high | 13 |
| medium | 1 |
Models affected most
Where owners report power train problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under power train for the Jeep models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Power train complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 Jeep Cherokee | 796 |
| 2018 Jeep Cherokee | 292 |
| 2018 Jeep Wrangler | 174 |
| 2020 Jeep Cherokee | 167 |
| 2021 Jeep Wrangler | 139 |
| 2021 Jeep Cherokee | 89 |
| 2019 Jeep Wrangler | 78 |
| 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 75 |
Every recall in this group
Common questions
Do the Wrangler and Gladiator clutch notices specify the same repair?
The March 2020 notice specifies harness rerouting, clutch inspection, and component replacement as needed. The January 2021 notice specifies torque-reduction software. Recall 19A specifies clutch assembly replacement and a software update. The latter two explicitly state free remedies.
Which listed Jeep powertrain defects can affect Park?
U43 concerns an incorrect park lock rod in certain 2018 Grand Cherokee and Wrangler vehicles. U78 concerns certain 2018 Cherokee all-wheel-drive halfshafts; W22 concerns certain 2019 Grand Cherokee front differentials. Z84 concerns the transmission parking mechanism in certain 2022 Gladiators.
What does the 2024 Wrangler and Gladiator software recall repair?
Recall 92B covers certain 2021 Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles previously remedied under NHTSA recall 23V-116. Its notice says powertrain control module software may cause an engine stall and loss of drive power. Dealers update that software free of charge.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.