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Jeep Cherokee is one of the most popular SUVs with leading levels of capability and customization. It’s packed with V6 power, a trio of four-wheel-drive systems, towing capacity of up to 2,041 kg (4,500 lb), and runs smoothly in all weather conditions, in both on- and off-road settings.
However, many owners have reported trouble with their Jeep Cherokees. Jeep owners say the 2.4L Tigershark engine consumes a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. This heavy oil consumption makes its engine inefficient, irritating, and expensive and can be dangerous if the oil indicator system doesn’t even alert you when oil levels are low.
The engine has an oil capacity of 5.5 quarts. If your oil level is 3.5 quarts or below, the engine will stall without the oil indicator light kicking on.
Some owners reported that the light only turns on once the engine has stalled. Some owners have reported unwelcomed grinding, clunking, or scraping sounds from the rear of their vehicles, and some owners have reported trouble with the motorized tailgates on their Jeep Cherokees.
The 2.4L Tigershark engine consumes a quart of oil every 1000 miles.
Defective control rings allow oil to enter the combustion chamber.
The automaker has been sued after maintaining their stance that all the consumption levels are “normal,”
Design Defect Burns Off Oil
Jeep Cherokee may have design defects that burn off oil. Control rings at the top of the piston sidewall prevent oil from entering the combustion chamber but a defect in the Tigershark engine means the piston rings don’t work correctly with the cylinders. This allows oil to enter and burn off in the compression cycle.
Engine oil loss, excess heat, and friction will damage internal components. It causes the engine to stall and eventually seize up and fail.
Stellantis’ new normal?
Stellantis (formerly Fiat-Chrysler) has been accused of knowing about the problem since 2015 but misreporting that consumption levels are “normal” to avoid a recall.
If you are burning oil the rate of a quart every 1,000 miles irreversible damage to the engine will occur if you follow the owner’s manual. According to the owner’s manual, the oil should be changed “at 4,000 miles (6,500 km)” for normal conditions and even under “severe Operating Conditions” it can be around 3,500 miles since the last reset.
Which are the affected Models?
The 2.4L Tigershark MultiAir II can be found in the following Stellantis models.
Chrysler 200 Gen 2 (2015-2016)
Dodge Dart Gen 1 (2013-2016)
Jeep Cherokee Gen 5 (2014-2020)
Compass Gen 2 (2017-2020)
Renegade Gen 1 (2015-2020)
The Oil Consumption Lawsuit
A class-action lawsuit was filed against FCA in August of 2020.
The plaintiffs say that by continuing to call the consumption levels “normal,” FCA has avoided driver safety and the tremendous cost of recall and repair of affected vehicles. Instead, they’ve left owners to pick up the tab.
On September 30, 2021, the parties filed a stipulated order to stay the proceedings pending settlement discussions. The stay was to be through November 1, 2021, however, the docket does not have any entries after the Sept 30 stipulated order.
Final Thoughts
If you are an automobile owner and have manufacturing issues, you can contact us regarding your involvement in this or any potential class-action lawsuit. Serious vehicle problems require serious legal representation, especially when you are bringing a claim against a major automaker.
At the Lemon Firm, our experienced Attorneys have been able to successfully recover compensation for our clients who were sold a vehicle with manufacturer defects, and we can do the same for you. Call (833) Lemon-Firm to speak with a Lemon law expert today.