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, Nov 23, 2020
THE HVAC MODULE STOPPED WORKING OUT OF NOWHERE. MY MILEAGE KEEPS FLASHING AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGN OF IT GETTING BAD IT JUST WOULDN'T COME ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAG IT AND FOUND OUT WHAT IT WAS.
Electrical system, Engine, Nov 8, 2020
THE CAR STARTED OFF BY PROBLEMS WITH THE CHIP TO COMPUTE THAT IT NEEDED TO OPEN THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL VALVE. SO WITH THAT CAME THE INABILITY FOR ME TO START THE CAR BY BEING OUTSIDE OF IT AND ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THEN OUR GEARS WOULD LIGHT UP AS IF THE CAR WAS IN EVER POSITION POSSIBLE. WE WOULD PARK CUT THE CAR OFF AND RESUME TO DRIVE. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTED FOR A WEEK OR SO WENT AWAY AND EVENTUALLY CAME BACK. NOW THE ENGINE FEELS AS IF IT'S GIVING OUT IT DOESN'T ACCELERATE WELL, I KNOW IT'S A V4 BUT IT SHOULD HAVE MAINTAINED THE GET UP THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT AND IS WELL MAINTAINED WITH FREQUENT OIL CHANGES WITH THE BEST OIL. CAR IS NEVER DRIVEN ON E OR ANYTHING I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE CAR IS FAILING THIS EARLY. I HEARD JEEP'S HAVE BEEN VERY DEPENDABLE CARS.
Electrical system, Nov 4, 2020
"SERVICE SHIFTER" KEEPS COMING ON AND READING OTHER REVIEWS ONLINE TELLS ME THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE AND THAT THE VEHICLE WILL GO INTO PARK RANDOMLY NO MATTER WHAT SPEED YOU'RE DRIVING AT. ONLY 64K MILES!!!
Power train, Electrical system, Nov 1, 2020
THE SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING CAME UP WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. THE VEHICLE HAS ROUGHLY 45000. NOTHING HAPPENED THIS TIME BUT I HAVE SEEN THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF IN MOTION.
Power train, Electrical system, Oct 26, 2020
EVERY TIME I START MY CAR AFTER A FEW MILES IT SAYS SERVICE SHIFTER BUT EVERYTHING IS IN SPEC. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER LIGHT UP. BUT THERE IS NO ISSUE SHIFTING
Electrical system, Oct 21, 2020
ON OCTOBER 20, 2020, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE JEEP DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED IN RESPONSE TO A 'SERVICE SHIFTER' WARNING INDICATOR. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE 'SHIFTER BEZEL AND WIRING HARNESS' WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND COMPLETED THE REPAIR EARLIER TODAY AT A COST OF $325.88. DESPITE HAVING PURCHASED A SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICE PROTECTION PLAN THROUGH ASC, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY CLAIM HAD BEEN DENIED AS THE 'AGREEMENT DOES NOT HAVE COVERAGE ON WIRING OR WIRING HARNESSES' AND THAT 'THE BEZEL IS CONSIDERED A BODY PART BY THE MANUFACTURER WHICH IS NOT COVERABLE.' MOST DISTURBING, BASED UPON A REVIEW OF COMPLAINTS GENERATED FOLLOWING A GOOGLE SEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAS AFFECTED A NUMBER OF JEEPS SINCE AT LEAST 2014. I'M AT A LOSS AS TO WHY THIS IS BEING TREATED LIKE A COSMETIC REPAIR WHEN THIS COMPONENT IS CRITICAL TO THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND HAS BEEN A RECURRENT ISSUE FOR OVER FIVE YEARS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN HOW THIS ISSUE IS BEING ADDRESSED BY JEEP'BOTH IN TERMS OF COVERING THESE REPAIRS AND CORRECTING THE UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT ARE CAUSING THE PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Oct 11, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COMES ON AND ALL THE SHIFTER LIGHTS LIGHT UP AND TURN RED
Electrical system, Oct 9, 2020
RANDOM AND INCONSISTENT SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE. SOMETIMES DISAPPEARS FOR MONTHS(THOUSANDS OF MILES). HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN TOTAL. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. PURCHASED BRAND NEW. ALWAYS WHILE DRIVING. NEVER WHILE IN PARK. SHIFTER INDICATOR LIGHTS UP READ AND ERROR DISPLAYED ON DASHBOARD.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 6, 2020
VEHICLE WON'T START NO CLICK OR CRANK ALL LIGHTS ARE ON AND DASH READS ENGINE TOO HOT , VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS TODAY.
Electrical system, Oct 5, 2020
RANDOMLY, FROM TIME TO TIME WHILE DRIVING, MY SHIFTER LIGHTS ALL TURN RED AND MY MESSAGE CENTER READS SERVICE SHIFTER. I PARK MY JEEP, TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON, AND THE MESSAGE GOES AWAY. IT BEGAN DOING THIS WITH ONLY 29,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.
Electrical system, Oct 1, 2020
"SERVICE SHIFTER" WARNING LIGHT STARTED COMING ON ON THE DRIVER DISPLAY THIS SUMMER, ACCOMPANIED WITH A WARNING CHIME. AT FIRST INTERMITTENTLY, NOW IT IS ON PRETTY MUCH FULL TIME AFTER MOVING INTO GEAR. I AM UNABLE TO USE 4WD, SEE ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER, GAS CONSUMPTION GAUGES OR OTHER INFORMATION ON VEHICLE DUE TO THE ERROR MESSAGE. TOOK TO WYLER EASTGATE JEEP ON 7/16, THEY INFORMED ME THE BEZEL ON THE SHIFTER NEEDED REPLACEMENT, AND THE PART WOULD BE IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK. I HAD THEM KEEP THE CAR FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK. THE FOLLOWING WEEK THEY NOTIFIED ME IT WAS POSSIBLE THE PART WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE END OF THE JULY, BUT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO IT WOULDN'T COST ME ANYTHING. I HAVE SINCE FOLLOWED UP IN AUGUST AND AGAIN LAST WEEK AS THE DEALER NEVER CALLED BACK ON THE STATUS. THE LATEST CALL WAS ON 9/29 (ALMOST 3 MONTHS SINCE FIRST APPOINTMENT), AND THE PARTS DEPARTMENT CONTACT TOLD ME THAT OF THE TWO PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR, ONE WAS PLACED ON "INCREASED BACKORDER STATUS" FROM JEEP, MEANING THAT THE DEALERSHIPS WERE "BLOCKED" FROM ORDERING IT OR IT EVEN BEING SENT OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE NOW UNAWARE OF WHEN THE PART MIGHT BECOME AVAILABLE AGAIN. FROM THIS EXPERIENCE AND THE COMMENTS, IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THE PART IS FAULTY, HENCE IT WON'T BE USED ON A REPAIR. SOUNDS LIKE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED IF THE PART IS FAULTY AND THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS IS SO WIDESPREAD, AND JEEP HASN'T ADDRESSED IT TO CONSUMERS OR DEALERS. MY 2017 CHEROKEE HAS 28,000 MILES.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 29, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COMES ON AND ALL GEARS LIGHT UP. CAR MAKES LOUD CLUNK NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AND HAS A HARD TIME SWITCHING GEARS. WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT ELECTRONIC SHIFTER BEZEL AND PIGTAIL NEED TO BE REPLACED. KNOWN PROBLEM OF THE JEEP CHEROKEE.
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 28, 2020
OUR BRAND NEW VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR MAINTENANCE SEVERAL TIMES, DUE TO SERVICE SHIFTER AND SERVICE 4X4. THIS IS ALL DUE TO A FAULTY SHIFTER BEZEL AND FAULTY WIRING TO THE SHIFTER BEZEL. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND WELL KNOWN IF YOU DO GOOGLE SEARCHES ON THIS VEHICLE. CAN THIS BE LOOKED INTO? ITS NOT FAIR FOR THE CUSTOMER AND DEFINITELY AN ISSUE IF THE DEALER KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUE IS BEFORE RECEIVING THE CAR. MAKE THIS A RECALL ALREADY. WHY IS THIS AN ISSUE? BECAUSE IT PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM BEING THROWN INTO 4X4 AND ALSO CAUSES SOME VEHICLES TO LOOSE CONTROL FROM WHAT I AM READING. IN MY CASE, MY VEHICLE CAN NOT GO INTO 4X4.
Electrical system, Sep 28, 2020
WHILE DRIVING MY JEEP THE SCREEN LIGHTS UP AND FLASHES SERVICE SHIFTER, IT THEN LIGHTS UP THE WHOLE PANEL PRND IN RED AND MAKES IT HARD TO STEER ONE I STOP AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IT GOES AWAY BUT WILL POP UP RANDOMLY
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Sep 26, 2020
'SERVICE SHIFTER' NOTIFICATION AFTER STARTING CAR, STAYED ON DURING ENTIRE DRIVE UNTIL CAR WAS POWERED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN WHEN THE NOTIFICATION DISAPPEARED. WHILE NOTIFICATION WAS ON DASHBOARD, ALL RED LIGHTS (INDICATING PARK, NEUTRAL, REVERSE, DRIVE) WERE LIT UP RED ON SHIFTER. NOTIFICATION APPEARED INITIALLY WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND DID NOT DISAPPEAR THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DRIVE (0-70MPH) UNTIL VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF.
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 25, 2020
THE SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE HAS BEEN COMING ON AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER COME ON AS WELL. THE PAST 10 DAYS THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN (NO POWER) WHILE DRIVING. THEN WHEN I TRY TO RESTART IT HAS TAKEN A BIT BEFORE IT WILL START. I HAVE HAD TO TURN HAZARD LIGHTS ON IN MIDDLE OF ROAD WHERE I AM STOPPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 10 DAYS. DRY WEATHER, GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 MPH. NO RECALL BUT I SEE MANY OF THESE SAME ISSUES ONLINE IN BLOGS.
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 22, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON. 2017 CHEROKEE HAS BEEN HAPENNING SINCE 20,000 - NOW HAVE 30,000 . HAVE SEEN AND HEARD HORROR STORIES. DEALER SAYS NO ISSUES. WANTS TO CHARGE FOR REPAIRS.
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 21, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COMES ON & ALL LIGHTS IN GEAR SELECT COME ON. THIS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I CAN ONLY FIND INVOICES FOR TWO TIMES. EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.
Electrical system, Sep 19, 2020
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TODAY(SEPT 19,2020), THE CAR BEEPED GIVING ME A WARNING ON THE SCREEN TO SERVICE SHIFTER, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE LIT UP RED. I PULLED THE CAR OVER, SHUT.IT OFF FOR 30 MIN. WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP THE WARNING WENT OFF SO FAR BUT HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT AGAIN YET.
Electrical system, Sep 15, 2020
THE "SERVICE SHIFTER" WARNING COMES UP ON THE SCREEN SOMETIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST TURNED ON AND OTHER TIMES IT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK IT DO THE DEALER AND THEY SCANNED CODES AND THE CODE FOR A PROBLEM DETECTED WITH THE ELECTRONIC SHIFT MODULE CAME UP. THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER REPLACED THE SHIFTER BEZEL AND THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THAT PART. THIS WAS DONE JULY 19, 2019. WITHIN THE LAST 2 MONTHS, THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING AGAIN; SO NOW THE PART AND WIRING HARNESS NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN.
Electrical system, Sep 14, 2020
THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHTS ALL CAME ON, A SERVICE SHIFTER ERROR CODE. I HAD TO PULL OVER PUT IT IN PARK AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON AND IT RESET ITSELF. IN FEBRUARY 2019, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND THEY FIXED THE ISSUE . THE PARTS WERE WARRANTIED FOR 2 YEARS OR 24,000 MILES ACCORDING TO WESTGATE JEEP IN RALEIGH NORTH CAROLINA. A WEEK OR LATER THE GEAR SHIFT ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN AND THEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AT WESTGATE IN RALEIGH.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 14, 2020
ALL OF A SUDDEN "SERVICE SHIFTER" COME ON SCREEN WITH THE SHIFTER LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATED RED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THIS MORNING THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE WIRES IN THE GEARSHIFT AND A PLASTIC PIECE HAVE TO BE REPLACED. BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED AT 38,103 MILES IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY ANYMORE, HAD IT HAPPENED UNDER 36,000 MILES IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED
Electrical system, Sep 11, 2020
I'VE HAD THE SERVICE SHIFTER COME UP ON MY DASHBOARD, 2 TIMES THIS YEAR. 1ST HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2020, AND ON SEPTEMBER 9,2020. AND THEN THE SHIFTER LIGHTS UP RED ON EVERY GEAR. THE 1ST TIME THIS WENT OFF, I WAS LEAVING WORK AND JUST STARTED MY VEHICLE. THE 2ND TIME ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 IT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF PEOPLE VEHICLES IN ACCIDENTS, AFTER THIS HAPPENED. THEY STATE THAT THE VEHICLE GOES INTO PARK ALL BY ITSELF. THOSE SCARES ME TO DEATH, THIS VEHICLE NEEDS RECALLED!
Electrical system, Sep 8, 2020
SEVERAL TIMES NOW WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING COMES ON ON THE DASH AND ALL OF THE RED LIGHTS FOR THE PARK REVERSE NEUTRAL AND DRIVE ALL COME ON ON THE SHIFT COLUMN. AFTER PULLING OVER AND SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND TURNING IT BACK ON EVERYTHING RESETS ONLY TO DO IT AGAIN RANDOMLY FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD .
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 8, 2020
WHILE DRIVING MY JEEP A WARNING POPPED ON THE DASH STATING TO SERVICE SHIFTER. MY CAR DECIDED TO HAVE THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND DASH SHOWED CAR WAS IN PARK WHILE THE SHIFTER CLEARLY SHOWED IT WAS IN DRIVE. THANK GOD I WAS NOT GOING MORE THAN 15MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED AS WE HAD JUST PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE. MY 5 YEAR OLD WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME. WE OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT!