The average price of a Jeep transmission repair cost will depend and vary based on your location, your specific model, the model year, the severity of the issue, and the detail needed to fix the root cause of the problem. Typically, you can expect to pay between $1,800 and $3,400 for a transmission replacement, while the Jeep transmission repair cost for one part may be less than $1,000.
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Jeep Cherokee
The Jeep Cherokee is a specific line of SUVs produced by Jeep spanning five generations over 40 model years. Produced by American Moors, Chrysler, DaimlerChrysler, Chrysler Group, and FCA, the Jeep is a long-standing staple in the car industry.
With various models like the Jeep Cherokee SJ, XJ, KJ, KK, KL, and ZJ, it has been a popular car worldwide for the entire five generations of production. With either rear, front, or four-wheel-drive, this car has favorable safety and performance ratings – but still suffers from an expensive Jeep transmission repair cost.
The worst model years of the Cherokee in terms of reliability and performance are the 2014 and 2015, with the 2014 having the most-reported issue of the car shifting roughly. The top three concerns across all model years for the Cherokee are the engine stalling and shutting down in 2014, the car shifting roughly in the same model year, and the engine sputtering in the 2015 Cherokee.
Regarding the least-reliable 2014 Jeep Cherokee, the top categories of concern are the transmission, engine, interior accessories, and fuel system. There is an excessive number of complaints regarding the transmission, with thousands of owners (and the NHTSA) citing that the entire mechanism fails at under 40,000 miles.
Owners state the car shifts roughly, the shifting is late, the transmission dies during use, the car loses power while driving, the transmission warning lights come on, the car stalls, the check engine light comes on, the car vibrates while accelerating, the car stalls at first gear, the vibrations occur while putting the car in reverse, and the car won’t downshift.
Fixing the car losing power while driving involves the owner updating the transmission control module and powertrain control module, both of which can lead to an expensive Jeep transmission repair cost. Furthermore, owners state that they may need to get an entirely new transmission or replace the valve body at around 3,000 miles.
In addition, fixing the rough shifting usually involves a software upgrade, replacing the transmission, or repairing parts in the transmission at around 16,000 miles, leading to a high Jeep transmission repair cost. Lastly, the transmission dying while driving forces owners to replace the transmission at below 30,000 miles, with owners stating that the Cherokee shows the ‘service transmission’ message very early on in the car’s projected lifespan.
Jeep Commander
The Jeep Commander is a mid-size SUV produced from 2005 until 2010 by the Jeep Division of Chrysler, spanning the 2006-2010 model years. Similar to the Jeep Liberty, Cherokee, Dodge Nitro, and Jeep Wrangler, the Commander was a popular car on the market for the entire lifespan.
Complete with either a 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged diesel, 3.7-liter PowerTech V6 gasoline, 4.7-liter PowerTech V8 gasoline, or 5.7-liter Hemi gasoline engine. The transmission options are the 5-speed W5A580 automatic or the 5-speed 545RFE automatic type. However, both of these transmissions can have a hefty Jeep transmission repair cost if the problems are not addressed before worsening over time.
The worst model year of the Jeep Commander is 2006, having the most-reported issue of the door handle breaking, the most severe issues, and the earliest onset of the problems at very low mileage. The top three problems across all model years focus on the engine stalling without any warning in the 2006 Commander, the door handle breaking in the same model year, and the engine stalling in the 2007 Commander.
The 2006 Jeep Commander’s top categories of concern focus on the interior accessories, engine, windows, windshield, electrical system, and transmission. Owners say the car has difficulty shifting, jumps out of gears, makes loud whining noises, gets stuck in gear, and stops working completely. Any, or all, of these reasons, could lead to a high Jeep transmission repair cost and lack of trust in this car model.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a mid-size SUV produced by Jeep, famous for the unibody chassis design and the popularity from 1993 until the present. Despite the fame achieved, this model still has a relatively expensive Jeep transmission repair cost in certain model years.
The worst years of the Grand Cherokee are the 2011, 2012, and 2014, with the 2011 having the most-reported issue of the TIPM failing and containing the most severe problems at an early mileage. Other concerning issues in different production years are the electronic shifting problems in the 2015 Cherokee and the leather dashboard cracking in the 2012.
Regarding the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the top categories of concern are the electrical system, the engine, interior accessories, fuel system, and transmission. Owners state that the transmission does not work properly, the transmission fluid leaks, and the car sticks while switching into a different gear.
Sometimes, fixing transmission issues can be relatively easy to fix, with replacing the PCM or transmission solenoids being the cure-all. In this case, the overall Jeep transmission repair cost is quite low, with the typical repair cost coming to just $100 to replace a transmission solenoid.
Jeep Liberty
The Jeep Liberty is a compact SUV produced between the 2002 and 2012 model years. Priced between the Wrangler and Cherokee, it was the smallest option out of the 4-door SUVs offered by Jeep, with the Liberty containing a rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive layout.
The worst model years of the Jeep Liberty are the 2004, 2006, and 2007, with the 2006 being the least reliable and containing the most-reported issue of the window regulator breaking during use. Although the most severe problem category in the 2006 Jeep Liberty is by far the windows and windshield concerns, the transmission does create some cause for concern.
A high Jeep transmission repair cost can be due to the car shifting roughly, high whining sounds from the transmission mechanism, and the shifter cable breaking in the 2006 Liberty. Unfortunately for Liberty owners, the rough shifting typically requires the owner to replace the transmission, replace the transfer case, or replace the output shaft and slinger, costing nearly $5,000 for the total fix.
Replacing the transmission at around 78,000 miles is one of the most expensive repairs you can have done in your vehicle, enhancing the overall Jeep transmission repair cost by thousands of dollars.
Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler is a series of compact and mid-size four-wheel drive SUVs, famous for being off-road vehicles that last a long time. Coming in either a compact SUV, mid-size SUV, or a 4-door model, the layout is a rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive option depending on your specific needs.
The Jeep Wrangler has earned many awards through its lifespan, earning the Best Resale VAlue Award from Kelley Blue Book in 2009, the Best Retained Value Award in the SUV category from 2011-2013, the Four-Wheeler of the Year Award in 2013, and earned the lowest depreciation value after five years in 2018.
Despite the Wrangler’s popularity and performance benefits, this car is still known for expensive repairs – such as a high Jeep transmission repair cost.
The worst model years of the Wrangler in terms of problem severity and repair costs include the 2007, 2012, and 2014, with the 2007 having the most-reported issue of a death wobble at around 73,000 miles, while the 2012 suffers from early TIPM failure and head gasket concerns.
Regarding the 2012 Jeep Wrangler, the top categories of concern focus on the electrical system, engine, AC and heater, and the transmission, with owners stating that the car does not shift into overdrive, the car jerks while shifting gears, and the car jumps out of gear to the Neutral position. All of these performance concerns can easily lead to an expensive Jeep transmission repair cost.
Jeep Recall
In the middle of 2020, Jeep was forced to recall almost 100,000 Jeep Cherokees due to transmission problems. Fiat Chrysler promised to install and update the new software into the specific model so that the malfunctions will not occur again – and if they do, the driver will immediately be alerted to the ongoing problem.
The affected Cherokee cars had a transmission concern that could potentially lead to a loss of power while driving, causing an increased risk of a crash and safety issues. The company issued a statement at the time of the recall, addressing the potential transmission slipping, loss of propulsion, and lack of transmission engagement.
The Jeep Cherokees in the recall were produced between the 2014 and 2017 model years, with the affected models having an extremely high Jeep transmission repair cost and safety concerns. The models are almost exclusively all-wheel-drive options between 2014-2-17, with a two-speed Power Transfer Unit.
The Bottom Line
The average Jeep transmission repair cost depends on the specific model and year of production, with some Jeep cars having easy fixes, and some cars requiring a complete transmission replacement. The average cost of a Jeep transmission replacement typically ranges between $1,800 and $3,400, with the total price depending on whether you choose a replacement, repair, or rebuild.