Anyone with neutral problems on 2019 Cherokee Trailhawk?

[DariusB]

I have a 2019 Trailhawk. I have flat towed this thing for many thousands of miles with no problems.On a trip to Quartzite last week the transmission fell out of neutral when I performed the last step in the checklist which is put it in park. The wife drove it the rest of the way as this happened at an overnite stop on the way. The Jeep drove and performed well even 4 wheeling out in the desert. As I was driving on a maintained gravel road it fell out of gear ( I was in normal drive mode not any 4 wheel selected) and the engine went full throttle and the only way I could stop it was to shut it off. Net result is dealer says the transmission is toast and needs replacing. Good news is I still have 4 months on factory warranty, bad news is the transmission is backordered nationwide with no delivery date more bad news is my Jeep is sitting 600 miles away.
Just wondering if anyone else has had problems with this neutral/flat towable transmission?

[Gormleys]

Ouch! I feel your pain! This is the first that I have heard of any problems like this, but you might try searching/posting on JeepCherokeeClub.com to see what they say. They know EVERYTHING about +2014 Cherokees.

[Shadow5501]

I flat tow a 2020 Cherokee. No problems so far. Only 20k miles on the odometer and perhaps 15k additional being towed.

I don’t understand “fell out of neutral.” My experience when shifting the transfer case(s) to neutral is either it works or it doesn’t. I do vaguely recall the owners manual describing that the shift sometimes may not work and the car should be rocked a few inches forward or back to change the alignment of gears inside the case and then attempt again. It sounds like that is perhaps what occurred?

I have found the software to be quite finicky and if you don’t properly genuflect to Auburn Hills it will set the electronic parking brake and refuse to release its grip.

Based on what you pave written I tend to think you’ve experienced an unfortunate transmission failure unrelated to flat towing.