2014 Cherokee recalled again by Jeep owing to ZF nine-speed transmission problems

Fiat Chrysler, which has Jeep in its portfolio, is again recalling 2014 Cherokee for the persistent transmission issues with the ZF nine-speed gearbox. The problems continue to irk owners of this six years old car, which is reflected in the plethora of complaints lodged with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The issues with the transmission include random drops to neutral, rough gear shifts, stalling, and several safety concerns.

2014 Cherokee is Fiat Chrysler’s first model year of this nameplate and is based on the KL platform. The ongoing recall follows the 2016 recall that affected 329,540 cars, and also included four other models that feature the same ZF nine-speed transmission. However, the latest recall is for only those 2014 Cherokee models that house the 3.2-litre V-6 engine.

The transmission issues remained affixed with the car since its launch in 2013. Even at that time, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles delayed the launch for weeks in order to fix the transmission calibration problems. Three years later in 2016, the company had also pushed a total of 11 software updates for the same. The updates were meant to resolve poor throttle response, delayed downshifting, stuck gears, surging, rough coasting, etc. A series of software updates were also provided in 2015 and continued until the month of February of the same year. FCA then advised its dealers to replace one of the clutches. During the same time, Jeep dealers were reportedly replacing over dozen transmission every week.

The issue became so rampant that in March 2016, the company allowed dealers for ordering replacement transmissions without the need to have prior factory approvals. Besides Cherokee, a number of Jeep Renegade, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Ram ProMaster City, Fiat 500X, Acura TLX, Honda Pilot, and Range Rover Evoque models with the same nine-speed transmission also reported similar issues.