Buyer Beware

Anyone who knows anyone with a 2014-2017 Jeep Cherokee, pass this along. My wife's Cherokee, two days ago, began clunking somewhat. I rushed it in to the dealership. They explained to me that there was an emergency recall and a software update was required as some vehicles had play in the PTU that could cause the gears to wear out prematurely. The software upgrade was applied to prevent possible catastrophic failure and to stop the vehicle from jumping out of park on its own.

After appealing to Fiat Chrylser, who allowed us to drive around in a vehicle with play in the PTU for five years and never addressing the problem, I have been denied, due to the powertrain warranty being over, yup 5 years or 160 km, our Jeep has 73000km. My cost, 4700 CDN at Saint Albert Dodge, claiming the recall has nothing to do with the failure. My question is why supply a software update to a known issue to prevent catastrophic failure rather than replace the affected PTUS? When it rains it pours, suck it up princess. Heads up to anyone with this model. Read closely to the description in the following article to understand my frustration. No lube at all!

Jeep Cherokee 2-Speed PTU Issue Addressed With Software Update

Recalls The Jeep brand has an impressive following, and it’s easy to understand why. What boggles the mind, however, is that Fiat Chrysler still hasn’t sorted out the gremlins in the Cherokee's automatic transmission.

Jeep Cherokee

83,000 units were recalled last year, and some of them are called back again for a related defect. Older models fitted with the two-speed Power Transfer Unit may exhibit “relative movement” between the differential input splines and the transmission output shaft according to the Italo-American automaker. To be more precise, we’re dealing with an estimate of 67,248 units.

Dressed up as a voluntary recall, the campaign doesn’t concern the hardware but… wait for it… the software that governs "the Drive Train Control Module and the Electric Parking Brake." Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is aware of a single accident related to this condition, but no injuries at the time of reporting.

The movement mentioned earlier can result in the teeth of the splines wearing off prematurely, leading to a loss of engagement between the transmission and differential inside the Power Transfer Unit. If the inevitable happens, the engine won’t be able to send torque to the front wheels.

But wait, there’s more! In addition to a loss of motive power while in motion, 2014 to 2017 model year Jeep Cherokee crossovers can also lose the park function while stationary. How will a software update resolve this issue?

According to Fiat Chrysler, new lines of code will trigger a malfunction indicator light to illuminate if the failure occurs. The software will engage the rear axle “to prevent a loss of motive power” as well as the electronic parking brake “when the vehicle is in park to prevent a loss of park function.”

The involved component – namely the PTU – is produced by a supplier called American Axle & Manufacturing. Headquartered in Detroit and preceded by Albion Motors, AAM was founded in 1994 after a group of investors bought the Final Drive and Forge Business Unit from General Motors.

Vehicles with the single-speed PTU are not affected, and as part of the campaign, FCA is recalling 2,669 two-speeders sold as replacement parts.