Head-to-head reliability
JEEP Cherokee vs FORD F 150
How the JEEP Cherokee and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
JEEP Cherokee vs FORD F 150: The Cherokee averages 732.8 complaints per year, with powertrain issues like hard jolts and rolling backward. The F-150 averages 1131.1 complaints, mainly transmission hard shifts. The F-150 has 145 recalls, while the Cherokee has 58. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the JEEP Cherokee or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
JEEP Cherokee
The Jeep Cherokee, in ownership terms, is a compact SUV that has been plagued by a high volume of complaints, averaging over 700 per year. The dominant issue is with the powertrain, where owners report jarring jolts, sudden loss of power, and even rolling backward, which can be alarming and dangerous. Engine problems also surface, with reports of decreased fuel economy and excessive soot, hinting at potential mechanical issues. Electrical gremlins are common too, causing unexpected shutdowns and battery failures, making the Cherokee feel unreliable for daily use.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, a full-size pickup, also has a significant complaint rate, averaging over 1,100 per year, but its issues are more concentrated in the transmission. Owners frequently describe hard, jerky shifts, especially between certain gears, and occasional complete power loss, which can be startling. Electrical problems are also notable, with camera and pre-collision warnings appearing regularly. While the F-150 has more complaints overall, its issues are more predictable and often relate to the 10-speed automatic transmission, which may be a known weak point.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | JEEP Cherokee | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 7,328 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 58 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 180 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 732.8 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 153 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
JEEP Cherokee
- 01POWER TRAIN3,635
- 02ENGINE1,617
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,556
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,403
- 05SERVICE BRAKES463
Owners report sudden, hard jolts when accelerating from a stop, sometimes so severe they think they've been rear-ended. There are also instances of the vehicle rolling backward on an incline, indicating transmission or clutch engagement problems.
Fuel economy drops noticeably (from 27-29 mpg to 22-24 mpg) and tailpipes accumulate soot, suggesting incomplete combustion or engine management issues. This can lead to costly repairs and reduced performance.
The vehicle can suddenly stop while driving, accompanied by a brief alarm and flashing warning lights, which is a serious safety hazard. Battery drain is also reported, with batteries dying after only a few days of being parked, even after replacement.
“on May 3 at approx. 4:00 pm I was sitting at a stop light and when it turned green I started to accelerate the jolt was so hard that I thought the car behind me had hit me.When I went to go again it started rolling backwards and I applied the brakes.I could n…”
“On [XXX], we were traveling from Seattle to Portland on [XXX] in my 2022 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk with the cruise control set at around 75 mph. Suddenly the emergency collision braking system applied and all of the lights on my vehicle lit up. While the brakin…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with hard and delayed shifts, particularly between 7th and 8th gears. Some owners report a complete loss of power while driving, followed by a hard jerk when it restarts, which is dangerous in traffic.
Frequent dashboard warnings for 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' appear on startup, indicating issues with the camera system or its calibration. These warnings can be persistent and may disable safety features.
While less frequent than transmission issues, engine problems exist, though specific details are limited in the provided data. Owners should be aware that engine-related complaints are part of the overall picture.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
JEEP Cherokee — 58 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
The risk: A failed PTU may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: The remedy is currently under development. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk are expected to be mailed June 25, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy becomes available. Owners may contact F…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The turn signal self-canceling feature may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equ…
The risk: Turn signals that do not function properly may fail to indicate the driver's intention to change vehicle direction, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering column control module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2024. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recal…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2026 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The brake system control module may fail to operate properly, which can cause a loss of anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC).
The risk: A loss of anti-lock brakes or electronic stability control increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the brake system control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 29D. Vehicle Id…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
The risk: A failed PTU may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: The remedy is currently under development. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk are expected to be mailed June 25, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy becomes available. Owners may contact F…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
JEEP Cherokee or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Jeep Cherokee has fewer complaints per year (732.8) compared to the Ford F-150 (1131.1), but its issues are more varied and include dangerous sudden stops and engine problems. The F-150's higher complaint rate is largely due to transmission issues, which, while annoying, may be more predictable. In practice, the Cherokee may feel less reliable overall due to the breadth of problems, while the F-150's issues are more concentrated in one area.
Key differences
- The Cherokee has a higher proportion of engine complaints (1617) compared to the F-150 (847), suggesting more frequent engine-related problems.
- The F-150 has more electrical complaints (2071) than the Cherokee (1556), but many are related to camera and sensor warnings, not necessarily critical failures.
- The Cherokee's powertrain complaints (3635) are slightly higher than the F-150's (3553), but the F-150's are more focused on transmission shifting issues.
- The F-150 has more recalls (145) than the Cherokee (58), indicating a higher number of factory-identified defects.
- Test the transmission for any hesitation or hard shifts, especially when accelerating from a stop or on an incline, as owners report jolts and rolling backward.
- Check for any warning lights related to the electrical system, and ask about battery condition and any history of sudden shutdowns.
- Pay close attention to transmission behavior, especially shifts between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears, and listen for clunks or jerks.
- Look for any persistent dashboard warnings about the front camera or pre-collision assist, as these may indicate a faulty sensor.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on the specific VIN.
- Take the vehicle for an extended test drive that includes stop-and-go traffic and highway speeds to feel for transmission issues.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission and electrical systems.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and any electrical repairs.
- Research common issues for the specific model year you're considering, as some years may have more problems than others.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | JEEP Cherokee | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 24 |
| 2023 | 3 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 48 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 155 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 288 | 33 |
| 2019 | 1625 | 36 |
| 2018 | 683 | 56 |
| 2017 | 1332 | 43 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific JEEP Cherokee or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- JEEP Cherokee vs FORD F 150
- JEEP Cherokee total complaints
- 7,328
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- JEEP Cherokee total recalls
- 58
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- JEEP Cherokee avg complaints/year
- 732.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- JEEP Cherokee
- JEEP Cherokee top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN