Used car safety, rank #82 of 181
Jeep Cherokee 4WD Safety Rating (2017-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2017-20 Jeep Cherokee 4WD, a midsize SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2017-20 Jeep Cherokee 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 34 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize SUVs average of 24.9, which is 37% above the class average. That places it #82 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 55.8/100.
What the Jeep Cherokee death rate means
At 34 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Jeep Cherokee 4WD is 37% worse than the midsize SUVs average of 24.9. The 95% confidence interval is 22 to 46, which overlaps the class average, so some of the gap may be chance.
The other-driver death rate of 37 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Jeep Cherokee. It is higher than the Jeep Cherokee's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used SUVs
The safest midsize SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Jeep Cherokee 4WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Nissan Pathfinder 2WD at a death rate of 0.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Pathfinder 2WD | 2018-20 | 0 (0 to 22) | 93.2 | 3.5/5 | $16,000 to $26,000 |
| Nissan Murano 2WD | 2018-20 | 4 (0 to 12) | 90.8 | 3.5/5 | $16,000 to $25,000 |
| Chevrolet Traverse 4WD | 2018-20 | 6 (0 to 13) | 88.1 | 3.0/5 | $18,000 to $30,000 |
| Subaru Ascent | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 16) | 88.1 | n/a | $22,000 to $32,000 |
| Ford Edge 4WD | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 15) | 88.1 | 3.5/5 | $17,000 to $28,000 |
| Honda Pilot 2WD | 2019-20 | 7 (0 to 20) | 84.2 | 3.5/5 | $20,000 to $32,000 |
| GMC Acadia 2WD | 2017-20 | 10 (2 to 19) | 81.9 | 3.0/5 | n/a |
| GMC Acadia 4WD | 2017-20 | 11 (3 to 20) | 81.1 | 3.0/5 | n/a |
| Jeep Cherokee 4WD (this page) | 2017-20 | 34 (22 to 46) | 55.8 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize SUVs: 24.9 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
Safety recalls for the Jeep Cherokee 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
3 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering power train, back over prevention, steering.
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Power train
Risk: A failed PTU may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: The remedy is currently under development. Interim
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Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
Risk: The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020.
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Steering: rack and pinion, rack
Risk: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Jeep Cherokee 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Jeep Cherokee 4WD a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 34 per million registered vehicle years for the 2017-20 Jeep Cherokee 4WD, 37% above the class average (24.9 for midsize SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 55.8 out of 100 and rank #82 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Jeep Cherokee 4WD driver death rate?
34 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 22 to 46. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Jeep Cherokee died at a rate of 37 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2017-20 models.
How does the Jeep Cherokee 4WD compare with other midsize SUVs?
The midsize SUVs class averages 24.9 driver deaths per million; the Jeep Cherokee 4WD sits at 34. Among the 9 midsize SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the Nissan Pathfinder 2WD with a death rate of 0.