2017 Jeep Cherokee
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 1,334 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 12 Cherokee model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 24 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 27 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power trainApr 29, 2025
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power and/or loss of park function.
A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway, which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will update the drivetrain control module and PTU software and replace the PTU, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning February 19, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 01C.
Campaign 25V011000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionApr 27, 2023
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power or loss of park function.
A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 11, 2023. Owners may contact FCA USA LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 45A. This recall expands previous recall number 20V-343.
Campaign 23V302000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, driveline, differential unitJun 11, 2020
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a two-speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU). Relative movement in the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) between the differential input splines and the transmission output shaft may cause some input spline teeth to wear off, which may eventually cause a loss of engagement between the transmission and the differential inside the PTU. If this occurs, power cannot be transferred between the front wheels and the transmission which results in a loss of drive while the vehicle is in motion and a loss of the Park function while stationary.
A loss of drive can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning. A loss of the Park function can cause unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update that will maintain vehicle propulsion by engaging rear wheel drive and prevent rolling in Park by activating the electronic parking brake if a failed input spline occurs. This recall began July 14, 2020. Owners may contact FCA USA LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is W47.
Campaign 20V343000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringMay 17, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
Campaign 18V332000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsAug 31, 2017
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The tire and rim size information required to be on the Certification label was omitted during manufacturing, which may result in an incorrect tire and rim combination being installed on the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
The missing tire and rim designation information may lead to an incorrect combination being installed on the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners and will provide a corrected certification label, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T53.
Campaign 17V543000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, knee bolsterNov 2, 2016
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2017 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured October 13, 2016, to October 17, 2016. Improper welds on the driver's knee air bag inflator may prevent the air bag from properly inflating.
If the driver's knee air bag does not properly inflate, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's knee air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S84.
Campaign 16V799000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
342 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Sep 5, 2019
WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION ON SEVERAL OCCASION NOW FOR 2 MONTHS, THE SHIFTER LIGHTS WILL ALL COME ON, THEN I GET A MESSAGE TO SERVICE SHIFTER SOON. WHEN I COME TO A STOP AND PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURN ENGINE OFF, USUALLY WAIT APPROX 2-3 MIN AND RESTART ENGINE THE SHIFTER LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF AND MESSAGE IS GONE.
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 27, 2019
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN I START MY VEHICLE THE ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER LIGHT UP. THE DASH WILL THEN SAY THE MESSAGE "SERVICE SHIFTER NOW". THE ONLY WAY TO CLEAR THE MESSAGE IS TO SHUT MY CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. SOMETIMES 3 OR 4 TIMES IN A ROW. LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I HOOKED UP A TESTER TO SEE IF IT GAVE A CODE. IT GAVE CODE U0164 "LOST COMMUNICATION WITH HVAC CONTROL MODULE". I SHUT IT OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE DASH SAID "NO BUS" AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY FRONT WINDOWS, RADIO, TOUCH SCREEN OR HVAC. MY HEATER WAS ON HIGH AND SO WAS THE FAN. I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO CHANGE IT. AFTER I SHUT IT OFF FOR APX. 15 MINUTES OR SO IT CORRECTED ITSELF. SPEEDS VARIED FROM 0 MPH UP TO 60 MPH. SOMETIMES HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE MESSAGE BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T GO AWAY AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES.
Electrical system, Aug 17, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER DIAGNOSED A BEZEL KITSHIFT AND WIRING SHIFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PARTS ARE ON A ONE MONTH BACKORDER INDICATING HUGE DEMAND FOR PARTS. SURPRISED IT WAS NOT RECALLED.
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 16, 2019
THE 'SERVICE SHIFTER' WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING LOCKS UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE AND THE SHIFTER CONTROL MODULE AND WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 10 MONTHS SINCE THAT SERVICE. CHRYSLER HAS A WARNING NOTED BUT IT'S NOT A RECALL.
Electrical system, Aug 16, 2019
DEALER REPLACED SHIFTER ASSSY BUT STILL GETTING FREQUENT 'SERVICE SHIFTER ERROR MESSAGES. DEALER ALSO COMPLETED ANY RECALLS AND NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. STILL GETTING THE ERROR MESSAGE.
Power train, Electrical system, Aug 7, 2019
'SERVICE SHIFTER' MESSAGE AS WELL AS 4WD SYSTEM UNAVAILABLE' ALL LIGHTS ON SHIFTER ILLUMINATE AS WELL.
Electrical system, Jul 26, 2019
THE "SERVICE SHIFTER" LIGHT IS RANDOMLY COMING ON - SOMETIMES IN PARK AND SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING. WHEN THE WARNING COMES ON WHILE DRIVING I CAN NOT SEE MY SPEED OR SPEEDOMETER. SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING IT MAKE THE ISSUE GO AWAY - UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT COMES ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 2-3 WEEKS. I LOOKED THIS UP AND IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH 2016-2017 JEEP CHEROKEES.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 25, 2019
TODAY WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I GET INTO MY CAR AND TURN IT ON AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY SHIFTER ARE LIT UP RED AND THE SERVICE SHIFTER DISPLAY COMES ON. I TURN OFF MY CAR AND RESTART IT AND THE LIGHTS GO OFF. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE WHEN I GOT I TO MY VEHICLE TO START IT.
Electrical system, Jul 23, 2019
THE DASH LIGHTED UP WITH THE SHIFTER SERVICE LIGHT AND THEN ALL LIGHTS LEFT OF THE SHIFTER TURNED ON ( P,N,D). IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SO FAR WHILE THE CAR IS HEADING DOWN THE ROAD. EACH TIME WE PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF, THEN WHEN WE TURN THE CAR ON IT GOES AWAY; AFRAID THAT THIS WILL AFFECT CAR PERFORMANCE SOONER OR LATER. GOT ON INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BEING EXPERIENCED BY MANY JEEP CHEROKEE OWNERS. IT IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 22, 2019
"SERVICE SHIFTER" MESSAGE APPEARED ON SCREEN, ALL LIGHTS ON PNRD TURNED RED, COULD NOT SEE WHAT GEAR VEHICLE WAS IN. HAD TO TURN CAR OFF TO GET MESSAGE TO LEAVE.HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES NOW.. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, ON BOTH CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY.
Power train, Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Jul 21, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKING AFTER TAKING NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE AND PARKED. SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT ON AT 18,000 MILES WHEN STARTED. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGH 1ST-3RD GEAR. ENGINE HAS ALSO RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHEN STARTED AND WILL NOT START BACK UP.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 14, 2019
MY VEHICLE IS 2 YEARS OLD, IT HAS JUST POPPED UP WITH A "SERVICE SHIFTER" MESSAGE. IT IS NOT ABLE TO BE REBOOTED. ALSO, WHEN THE COMPUTER IS TESTED NOTHING POPS UP TO FIX. VERY FRUSTRATING AND SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A LOT OF SIMILAR CASES.
Electrical system, Jul 11, 2019
THE "SERVICE SHIFTER" WARNING LIGHT HAS APPEARED TWICE IN TWO DAYS. ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON NEXT TO THE SHIFTER MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHAT THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO. ALSO, THIS "SERVICE SHIFTER" LIGHT STAYS ON UNTIL YOU RESTART THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANY OTHER GAUGES WHILE THIS WARNING IS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE IS 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 32,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE FOUND MANY SIMILAR POSTS ONLINE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE, AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN DECLARED FOR CORRECTING THIS.
Electrical system, Wheels, Other or unspecified, Jul 3, 2019
CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP NUMEROUS TIME SHIFTER SERVICE 3 TIMES ALTERNATOR ENGINE 4 TIMES, NEW TIRES NEEDED AT 20,000 MILES ETC. STOPS WORKING SHUTS OFF NUMEROUS TIMES ON HIGHWAY IN MOTION!!!
Electrical system, Jun 26, 2019
WHILE DRIVING (45-50 MPH) DASHBOARD NOTICE STATES "SERVICE SHIFTER" AND THE INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER (P,R,N,D) ARE ALL LITE UP. HAD TO STOP, SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTART. AT THIS POINT ALL LIGHTS AND NOTICE WAS REMOVED. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED 3 TIMES WITHIN THE SAME DAY (AT VARIOUS SPEEDS FROM 5 MPH TO 60 MPH). REPORTED INFORMATION INDICATES A WIRE HARNESS IS FAULTY AT THE SHIFTER POINT. ADDITIONALLY, THE JEEP IS LOOSING POWER, LIGHTS COME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLS. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE IT CAN BE RESTARTED, BUT AN INDICATOR NOISE ALERTS TO SOMETHING NOT WORKING CORRECTLY.
Electrical system, Engine, Jun 24, 2019
CAR WILL NOT START,HAS TO BE TOWED FOR SERVICE. FOURTH TIME FOR SAME PROBLEM. THEY INSTALLED NEW BATTERY BUT AFTER APPROX 30 DAYS IT HAPPENS AGAIN. DIED ONE MORNING BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY INTO STREET WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO DEALER. HAPPENED AGAIN FRIDAY MORNING AT DEALER NOW.
Electrical system, Air bags, Seat belts, Jun 22, 2019
FIRST MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID SERVICE AIR BAG SYSTEM. NEXT THE SEAT BELT LIGHT IS ON AND DINGS WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT EVEN THE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLED. NOW MY TPMS LIGHT IS ON WITHOUT ANY ISSUES WITH THE AIR IN THE TIRES. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THEY CANT RESOLVE.
Electrical system, Jun 21, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT HAS COME ON TWICE NOW AND WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 5/17/19. IT IS A 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE TRAILHAWK WITH ABOUT 42,000 MILES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS EVERYTHING LOCKS UP. ALL THE LIGHTS BY THE SHIFTER WHERE PARK, REVERSE, ETC ARE THOSE LIGHT S LIGHT UP IN RED. YOU CAN NOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER SO YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. THIS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OF COURSE, NOT SAFE AT ALL!! THIS HAPPENED LITERALLY DAYS AFTER PURCHASE.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 20, 2019
DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING, TURN INTO A BUSY ROAD AND MY LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASH AND SAID THAT YOU CAN'T SHIFT GEARS WHILE IN MOTION.. OBVIOUSLY I HADN'T DONE THAT.. TOOK 3 MINS JUST TO GET THE CAR TO TURN OFF SINCE EVERYTHING WAS LOCKED UP.. LET IT SIT ONCE OFF, DIDN'T WANT TO START.. DID IT AGAIN AND FINALLY IT STARTED AND THE LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER LIT UP! DO THE RECALL ALREADY! OBVIOUSLY WITH ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS IT'S A JEEP ISSUE, NOT AN OPERATOR ISSUE..
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 16, 2019
"SERVICE SHIFTER" AUTOMATICALLY POPPED ON WHILE DRIVING ON A PUBLIC STREET. WENT HOME WAS ABLE TO REVERSE AND PARK . TURNED OFF CAR LET IT SIT FOR 2-3 MINS AND IT NO LONGER POPPED ON. DONT THINK IT'S UNDER WARRANTY
Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 16, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER CAME ON ONE EVENING AND WENT OFF UPON SHUTTING THE VEHICLE DOWN AND RESTARTING IT. THE NEXT DAY WOTH NO WARNING I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY THREE KIDS. SUDDENLY DASH FLASHED 4X4, TRACTION CONTROL, ERS, AUTO STOP ALL UNAVAILABLE AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I WAS IN THE FAST LANE DOING 70 MPH AND HAD NO POWER WHAT SO EVER. THE RPMS WENT UP AND I HAD NO ACCELERATION WITH THE GAS PEDAL DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SLOW LANE BUT NOT WITHOUT CAUSING A RIFT IN TRAFFIC, THANKFULLY OTHER DRIVERS WERE ALERT AROUND ME AND LET ME OVER ONCE I HIT MY FLASHERS. THE VEHICLE WAS ACTING AS IF IT WAS STUCK BETWEEN GEARS. OT WOULD ENGAGE IN R, N AND P BUT NOTHING WHEN I PUT IT IN D. CALLED A ROLLBACK AND PER DEALERSHIP EVERY CODE THAT COULD THROW HAS THROWN AND AT MY EXPENSE WE ARE STARTING WITH ENTIRE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY TO THE TUNE OF $900 PARTS AND LABOR. 5 DAYS TO GET PARTS IN! PER SERVICE MANAGER, SERVICE WRITER AND THE MECHANIC WORKING ON MY CAR THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH CHEROKEES & BETTER YET JEEP IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND DOESN'T FIND A NEED FOR A RECALL.
Electrical system, Jun 4, 2019
THE "SERVICE SHIFTER" LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON THEN OFF. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN AND HAD IT FIXED AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN. LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 3, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER INDICATOR CAME ON WITH ALL LIGHTS ON THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHTING IN RED. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF, THINGS RETURNED TO NORMAL BUT WILL PROBABLY OCCUR AGAIN BASED ON OTHER INTERNET COMMENTS ABOUT THIS JEEP PROBLEM WITH THEIR WIRING HARNESS.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 3, 2019
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITH OUT WARNING. START IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR 30-45 SECONDS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND NO DRIVABILITY ISSUES BEFORE OR AFTER VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 29, 2019
FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE "SERVICE SHIFTER" MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BLOCKING MOST OTHER ACTIVE DRIVING INFORMATION AND ALL DOTS ON THE SHIFTER HOUSING BECOME RED. SEE PICS. THIS HAS OCCURRED COUNTLESS TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2018, BUT DOES NOT APPEAR TO AFFECT IT'S DRIVING CAPABILITY. I HAVE COMBED THROUGH COUNTLESS JEEP FORUMS ON THE INTERNET AND WOULD SAY IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM HOWEVER WITH NO CLEAR SOLUTION. JEEP HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS THIS ONGOING ISSUE AND I AM UNCERTAIN OF THE POTENTIAL RISK I AM TAKING BY CONTINUED DRIVING OF THIS VEHICLE AND WHAT EFFECT THIS ACTUALLY HAS ON THE VEHICLE AND ITS FUTURE DRIVABILITY