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: power train
647 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Jan 8, 2021
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT ENGAGES AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. ALL LIGHTS ON SHIFTER ILLUMINATE A D VEHICLE REFUSES TO GIVE FULL POWER WHEN IN MOTION
Power train, Dec 22, 2020
AT 54,00 MILES SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COMES ON CONTROL PANELS AND RED LIGHT ON ALL SHIFTING GEARS WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. TURNED CAR OFF THEN TURN CAR BACK ON --SERVICE SHIFTER WAS GONE OFF PANEL 12/17/20202 HAPPEN AGAIN 12/21 SAME THING HAPPEN , TURN CAR OFF AND TURN CAR BACK ON
Power train, Dec 18, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COMES ON HAVING ALL THE LIGHTS ON SHIFTER GO RED LOCKING YOUR CAR. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR 1 WEEK ONLY THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THE DEALER SAYS IT CAN THROW YOUR CAR INTO PARK WHILE DRIVING!!! THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I HAVE 16 YEAR OLD THAT DRIVES THIS CAR. HOW AWFUL OF HE GOT INTO A WRECK DUE TO THIS. DEALER SAYS CAN NOT FIX IF LIGHT IS OFF WHICH IT IS BY THE TIME YOU BRING IT IN!! THE SHIFTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED UNDER A RECALL
Power train, Forward collision avoidance, Dec 17, 2020
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON RANDOMLY WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND STAYED ON UNTIL THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT, PARK ASSIST UNAVAILABLE AND SERVICE EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY BUT SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING LIGHT STILL COMES ON RANDOMLY WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND STAYS ON UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO THEN REPLACED THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON RANDOMLY WHEN TURNING ON THE CAR AND STAYS ON UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF.
Power train, Dec 17, 2020
I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE AND ON THE SCREEN APPEARED "SERVICE SHIFTER." ALL LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER WERE LIT (INSTEAD OF JUST THE GEAR THAT THE CAR IS IN BEING LIT). THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO OPERATE WITHOUT ANY ISSUES BUT I ONLY DROVE IT A SHORT DISTANCE. WHEN I PARKED, I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURNED IT BACK ON. THE PROBLEM DID NOT HAPPEN THIS TIME.
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 11, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE POPS UP CONSTANTLY AND HAS THE LAST TWO YEARS. IT'S RANDOM AND SOMETIMES IT'S WHILE I'M DRIVING. WHICH JUST HAPPENED ON MY WAY TO A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. IF IT COMES ON RIGHT WHEN I START THE ENGINE I CANNOT PUT MY CAR INTO ANY GEAR. I HAVE TO TURN MY CAR ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY FOR IT TO CLEAR. AFTER WHICH THE FIRST TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING IS ROUGH AND THE CAR SHIFTS BADLY. SOMETIMES ACCELERATION IS POOR AFTER. ALL LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER TURN RED. VERY DANGEROUS
Power train, Electrical system, Dec 8, 2020
I HAVE HAD A THE VEHICLE LESS THAN 60 DAYS, AND THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE, I DROVE HOME TURNED IT OFF AND THEN WHEN I RESTATED THE VEHICLE IT IS NO LONGER ON. DEALER IS UNAWARE OF ANY ISSUES AND HAS NEVER HEAD OF THIS, SO NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND ALL THE PARTS AND I DO HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THIS IS NOT COVERED BY POWERTRAIN. THERE ARE OVER 600 COMPLAINTS FOR THIS ISSUE, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.
Power train, Dec 7, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT FIRST CAME ON AFTER I BOUGHT MY 2017 JEEP. THE WARRANTY TOOK CARE OF THE FIRST ISSUE THEN IT CAME ON AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THAT. IT WENT AWAY AFTER I WOULD RESTART THE CAR. I ADDRESS THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NO RECALLS. IT HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES BUT IT WOULD ALWAYS GO AWAY. TODAY MY JEEP AS I WAS PULLING INTO A STREET, THE JEEP STARTED STALLING AND THE DASHLIGHT SAID TO "STEP ON BRAKE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE", THEN THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON. IT STALLED OUT AND I COULD NOT START IT. AFTER I SAT THERE A WHILE, I TRIED IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED. (35 DEGREES).
Power train, Electrical system, Dec 6, 2020
WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING RIGHT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR TO NEUTRAL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ACTIVATED. ALSO, THE SERVICE AIR BAG, SERVICE SHIFTER AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. FURTHERMORE, ALL THE SHIFTER LIGHTS CAME ON. WHILE SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON TO RESET IT, THEN I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE 5 MILES AWAY. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE A SCHEDULED DIAGNOSIS WITH MY DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE CENTER IN SEVEN DAYS. I MADE THE APPOINTMENT WHEN THE FIRST TIME THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON. THEY DID NOT ADVISE ME NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. BUT, AFTER THE LAST INCIDENT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.
Power train, Dec 2, 2020
UPON STARTING JEEP RECEIVED MESSAGE "SERVICE SHIFTER" AND ALL THE GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE LIT AND MESSAGE CENTER IS INOPERATIVE EXCEPT FOR THAT MESSAGE. SHUTTING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING RESETS, ONLY TO COME BACK AFTER A FEW STARTS. JEEP DEALERSHIP CHARGES $145 TO TELL YOU WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT IS NOT SURE IF THAT WILL FIX PROBLEM. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH 2016-2018 JEEP CHEROKEE'S BUT CAR IS PAST 36 MONTH WARRANTY PERIOD EVEN THOUGH IT ONLY HAS 14,500 MILES ON IT, JEEP WILL NOT REPAIR AT N/C. WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ FOR SAME ISSUE, WHY ISN'T A RECALL IN ORDER ? APPARENTLY, IF YOU DON'T GET IT FIXED, SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE MAY BECOME INOPERABLE, OR WILL NOT SHIFT TO PARK. THE TEMPORARY FIX APPEARS TO BE , SHUT THE CAR OFF, AND RESTART. NOT A VERY GOOD THING.
Power train, Dec 1, 2020
WAS ON THE WAY OUT OF TOWN FOR THE WEEKEND DRIVING AT 65MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHTS UP ON MY CONSOLE AND ALL LIGHTS (GEARS) ON THE ACTUAL SHIFTER CONSOLE LIGHT UP AS WELL. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PLACED IN PARK, STILL ALL LIGHTS REMAINED ON LEAVING ME PUZZLED. I PROCEEDED ON CAUTIOUSLY AWARE OFF WHAT WAS OCCURRING, AFTER REACHING MY DESTINATION TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF.. FINDING THAT RESTARTING THE VEHICLE EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. UNFORTUNATELY IT KEEPS REPEATING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER FOR AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES NOW. BESIDES THE ONGOING PROBLEM IT ALSO IS UNSAFE AS IT ACTUALLY STARTLES YOU WHEN IN TRAFFIC WHEN IT DINGS AND EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP ! APPARENTLY ITS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH JEEP WITH MULTIPLE OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR A PERMANENT FIX TO THIS UN SAFE ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SEVERELY INJURED OR A LIFE IS LOST.....
Power train, Nov 30, 2020
I WAS MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT, SORT OF FAST- BETWEEN 10-15 MPH. AFTER I MADE THE SHARP LEFT TURN AND STARTED TO TURN RIGHT TO GO STRAIGHT AND PARK, THE SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK JUST FINE. I INSTANTLY TURNED MY CAR OFF WAITED A FEW SECONDS AND STARTED MY CAR AGAIN AND THE WARNING WAS GONE. HASN'T COME BACK ON SINCE. THIS HAPPENED LAST NIGHT.
Power train, Nov 17, 2020
AT SLOW SPEED WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ABRUPTLY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK. IN ADDITION THERE IS A LOUD CRUNCH. BANG OR CLUNK NOISE THAT MADE ME FEEL LIKE ANOTHER CAR HAD REAR ENDED ME. THE DEALER UPDATED THE COMPUTER BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE.
Power train, Nov 16, 2020
WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT TURNED ON AS WELL AS ALL THE LIGHTS DENOTING P-R-N-D ON THE SHIFTER BEZEL ITSELF. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTED FROM D TO P AND BACK TO D. VEHICLE OPERATION DID NOT FALTER AND WAS ABLE TO ARRIVE HOME WITH NO NOTED MECHANICAL ISSUE.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Nov 12, 2020
GAS PEDAL WILL STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING NOT ALLOWING ME TO ACCELERATE THE JEEP. I HAVE TO PULL OVER, POWER OFF THE JEEP, AND WAIT ABOUT 5 MINUTES. AFTER WAITING, I HAVE TO HOLD THE KEY IN THE START POSITION UNTIL THE JEEP TURNS ON WHICH RANGES ANYWHERE FROM 30-190 SECONDS TO DO. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE BUT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. I BELIEVE THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED AS IT DOES NOT FULLY COVER THE VEHICLES AFFECTED. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED 6 TIMES OVER THE LAST 2 MONTHS.
Power train, Nov 9, 2020
LIGHT ON DASH: SERVICE SHIFTER. ALL LIGHTS ON SHIFTER ON SUCH AS:P, R, N, D, OD. LIGHTS ON IN MOTION AND STOPPED.
Power train, Nov 6, 2020
THE NOTICE FOR SERVICE SHIFTER COME'S ON, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE GEAR SELECTOR LIGHT UP. YOU CAN'T TELL WHICH GEAR THE CAR IS IN. THIS NOTICE SHOWS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, WHERE THE SPEED ODOMETER IS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AND OFF FOR 6 TO 8 MONTHS, THE DEALERSHIP FOUND NOTHING. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND JUST STARTING THE VEHICLE.
Power train, Nov 2, 2020
MY CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING WHILE DRIVING AND ACTED LIKE I SHIFTED IT TO NEUTRAL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND WAS TOLD I NEED A TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE UPDATE. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT THING BUT MY VEHICLE WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. ALSO, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER IT SO I HAD TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET ALONG WITH THE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE. NO CODES SHOWED UP EVEN THOUGH A LIGHT CAME ON WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME TWICE THAT SAID VEHICLE MUST BE STOPPED TO SHIFT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED.
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, Oct 27, 2020
I'VE HAD THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COME AND OFF SINCE I BOUGHT IT USED 15 MONTHS AGO. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. TWO DAYS AGO, I WAS DRIVING 40 MPH AND THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING AND A LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID CAR MUST BE STOPPED TO SHIFT. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, I PUT IT IN PARK AND BACK TO DRIVE BUT THE ENGINE JUST REVVED SO I TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON BEFORE I COULD GET IT TO GO. THE NIGHT BEFORE I DROVE ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WON'T EVEN LOOK AT IT FOR A WEEK. I'M SCARED TO DEATH DRIVING IT. THEY WON'T GIVE ME A LOANER ALTHOUGH I BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I STARTED RESEARCHING AND SAW MANY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT AND TO COME HERE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. I WANT JEEP TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. I COULDN'T TRADE THIS SOON WITHOUT LOSING MONEY. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR TO HAVE A SAFE VEHICLE AND NOW I'M AFRAID OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT UNLESS THIS CAN BE FIXED.
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
Power train, Other or unspecified, Oct 22, 2020
AFTER STARTING CAR IN MORNING, THE SHIFTER WAS PUT INTO DRIVE. WHILE SHIFTER WAS IN DRIVE THE LIGHT BESIDE SHIFTER WAS BLINKING. THEN A MESSAGE POPPED UP ON THE DASH SAYING TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL OR PARK. VEHICLE WAS PUT IN PARK, THEN BACK IN DRIVE AND A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE WAS U0001 FOR A CAN C BUS. WHEN PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE CAR WAS LAGGING AND DID NOT SEEM TO RESPOND THE SAME AS IT USUALLY WOULD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE ROOT CAUSE. THEY CLEARED THE CODE AND LET ME LEAVE.
Power train, Oct 22, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING LIGHTS COME ON WHEN STARTING AND DRIVING
Power train, Oct 22, 2020
WHILE IN MOTION, LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER COME ON A SAY SERVICE SHIFTER. PREVIOUSLY, WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF.
Power train, Oct 21, 2020
BACKING UP MY JEEP AND THE SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE APPEARED IN THE DASH AND RED LIGHTS CAME ON THE BY THE SHIFTER. I PUT IT BACK IN PARK AND RESTARTED MY JEEP. LIGHTS AND ERROR MESSAGE WENT AWAY.