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, Jan 5, 2020
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I AM NOT GETTING ALL THE SPEEDS OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. AT 75 I'M A CLOSE TO 3,000 RPM, WHEN I PUT IT INTO MANUAL MODE TO SEE WHAT GEAR I AM AT IT WILL DISPLAY I'M CURRENTLY AT 6TH GEAR. WHERE IS 7,8,AND 9TH?
Power train, Jan 4, 2020
AFTER ROUGHLY 38,000 MILES THE VEHICLE WILL OCCASIONALLY DISPLAY A "SERVICE SHIFTER " WARNING. THE ERROR PERSISTS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED. I PLAN ON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AS SOON AS I AM ABLE AFTER READING OTHER OWNERS WITH THIS WARNING HAVE HAD SEVERE ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLE CHANGING GEARS WITHOUT THE DRIVERS INPUT.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 1, 2020
CAR STARTS TO STALL AFTER 1000 MILES DRIVEN IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. THIS STARTED AT 30000 MILES. IT STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. IT STALKS AT STOP SIGNS. THIS MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS FIRST CAR. IT IS NOT SAFE.
Power train, Engine, Dec 30, 2019
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UPSHIFT AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON. VEHICLE HAS 13,000 MILES. SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. FIRST TIME NO RESOLUTION AT 6500 MILES. PROBLEMS RELATED TO WIRING HARNESS THIS TIME ACCORDING TO DEALER, APPARENT COMMON PROBLEM BUT NO RECALLS..
Power train, Dec 27, 2019
A SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE GEARS (PDNR) LIGHT UP ALL RED. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS ALSO OCCURRED ON CHRISTMAS DAY WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY.
Power train, Electrical system, Dec 25, 2019
MESSAGE "SERVICE SHIFTER" POPS UP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND A SERIES OF RED ALERT LIGHTS APPEAR NEXT TO EVERY GEAR ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER LEVER. THIS PROBLEM IS RAMPANT AMONG 2017-2018 JEEP CHEROKEES!! THE DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM! THEY REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS, THEY REPLACE THE SHIFTERS THEMSELVES, THEY RESET THE COMPUTERS ' AND THE PROBLEM ALWAYS RETURNS! THE WEBSITE HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T68742_DS990296 ALONE CONTAINS THE STORIES OF OVER 80 JEEP CHEROKEE OWNERS WHO HAVE THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. IMAGINE HOW MANY JEEP OWNERS ACROSS AMERICA ARE SUFFERING WITH THIS ISSUE! JEEP REPLACED THE 2014 SHIFTERS THAT WERE RECALLED (THE ONES THAT KILLED STAR TREK ACTOR ANTON YELCHIN IN 2016) WITH THIS NEW SHIFTER - AND THIS ONE IS JUST AS BAD! THESE VEHICLES MUST BE RECALLED!!
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Dec 19, 2019
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP TO 7TH GEAR AND THAN DOWN TO6TH GEAR SOME TIMES ENGINE SHUTS OFF THAN RESTART WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS BUT ENGINE RED LINES BEFORE YOU GO IN GEAR.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Dec 18, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFTER FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON ANOTHER OCCASION AND THE SHIFTER WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.
Power train, Nov 30, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING APPEARED WHILE DRIVING. ALL GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS NEAR SHIFTER ILLUMINATED RED. THIS OCCURRED DURING TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY AROUND 30 MPH.
Power train, Nov 27, 2019
SERVICE GEAR SHIFTER MESSAGE WAS ON WHEN JEEP CHEROKEE WAS STARTED. 46K MILES, NO ISSUES WITH SHIFTER PRIOR. SHIFTER WAS LOCKED IN PARK UNTIL VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED; THEN MESSAGE WAS GONE, VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION.
Power train, Nov 26, 2019
"SERVICE SHIFTER IMMEDIATELY" NOTICE CAME ON, ALL LIGHTS ON SHIFTER LIT UP RED. UNABLE TO MOVE VEHICLE. PUT IN PARK AND RESTARTED, ALL LIGHTS OFF. HAS BEEN SHIFTING STRANGE THOUGH.
Power train, Engine, Nov 26, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAM ON FEB 2019 AND WAS REPLACED. 6 MONTHS LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED FOR A 2ND TIME. OCTOBER 2019 MY CAR WAS SPUTTERING AT AN IDLE AND NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY AND AN ENGINE COIL WAS REPLACED. NOV 2019 WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THERE WOULD BE A 15-20 SECOND LAG BEFORE IT WOULD JUMP INTO GEAR AND LUNG FORWARD. I ALSO START EXPERIENCING DELAYS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE IT WOULD LAG FOR ABOUT 10 SECOND BEFORE JERKING INTO GEAR AND LUNG FORWARD AT A HIGHER SPEED. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND CODE P0304 MISFIRE CYLINDER 4. DEALERSHIP REPLACED (UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY) BOOT KIT - IGNITION COIL, LUBRICANT - DIELECTRIC, TRANSMISSION MOUNT, REPLACED VALVE BODY AND TRANS RANGE SENSOR. CAR WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER OF 2017 WITH 12 MILES ON IT, CURRENT MILEAGE 55,989 WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE ON VEHICLE.
Power train, Electrical system, Nov 25, 2019
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE SERVICE 4WD LIGHT CAME ON AND A DAY LATER THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE ISSUES IVE BEEN HAVING WITH THE SERVICE AIR BAG AND THE SEAT BELT LIGHT THAT CONTANTLY STAYS ON.
Power train, Nov 22, 2019
SERVICE SHIFT STARTER WARNING COMES ON CONSTANTLY WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. HAVE TO TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON TO RESET.
Power train, Electrical system, Nov 21, 2019
I BOUGHT MY CAR 3/21/2017 AND I'VE LOVED IT UP UNTIL THE RECENT PROBLEMS. SINCE JUNE/2019 WHEN I MAKE A LEFT TURN ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON MY GEAR SHIFTER LIGHT UP AND A DISPLAY OF "SERVICE SHIFTER" POPS UP AND THE ONLY WAY TO CLEAR IT IS TO PULL OVER, TURN THE CAR OFF AND START IT UP. AT FIRST IT HAPPENED RANDOMLY, BUT NOW IT MORE FREQUENT. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, BUT NOW AN ADDITIONAL ISSUE HAS STARTED. SOMETIMES WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS APPEAR WHEN I'M MAKE A TURN OR GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY EVEN, I'VE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE NOW THE CAR WILL JUST SHUT OFF!! THIS IS SCARY AND UNSAFE, BUT IT IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND YES ALL OF MY REGULAR MAINTENANCE IS UP TO DATE AS WELL.
Power train, Nov 20, 2019
SHIFTER SHOWS SERVICE LIGHT ' I WENT TO START CAR AND ALL LIGHTS ARE ON SHIFTER ' IT SAYS SERVICE SHIFTER AND WILL NOT SHOW YOU THE ODEMETER
Power train, Electrical system, Nov 18, 2019
LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. D ON THE GEAR SHIFT WAS FLASHING. WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AND TRAVEL FOR ABOUT 300 FEET AND THEN LOST POWER AGAIN. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS. FINALLY RESTARTED AFTER SHOWING NO SIGNS THAT IT WAS GOING TO. WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT WHICH WAS LESS THAN A HALF MILE AWAY.
Steering, Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 18, 2019
CAR WILL SHUT OFF WHILE IN MOTION DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. BRAKES AND GAS WON'T WORK. POWER STEERING FUNCTION IS LOST. ERROR MESSAGE ON DASH READS SERVICE TRANSMISSION RESTART IN PARK WITH VEHICLE AT ZERO SPEED.
Power train, Electrical system, Nov 15, 2019
OUR LIGHTS ON SHIFTER HAVE ALL LIGHT UP AND SCREEN IN DASH TELLS UP SERVICE SHIFTER WHILE DRIVIN,IT DRIVES FINE BUT I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL LOCK WHEELS ON HIGHWAY WITH MY TWO LITTLE KIDS IN THE JEEP.WE HAVE TAKEN IT IN 3 TIMES AFTER IT HAPPENS AND ALL WE ARE TOLD IS THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE JEEP WHEN SHIFTER ACTS UP AND SERVICE SHIFTER IS ON SCREEN.ALSO HAVE HAD JEEP IN SERVICE ABOUT RADIO FREEZES UP NOTHING ON SCREEN OR STEERING WHEEL WORKS AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I AM SEEING BOTH PROBLEM WE ARE HAVING A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH TOO.I HAVE CALLED JEEP CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING AND WAS TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID MAYBE I NEED TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND JEEP CUSTOMER CARE CLOSED THE TICKET ON THE ISSUES.THIS DEALERSHIP IS LARRY H MILLER IN UTAH.I HAVE 6000 MILES LEFT ON WARRANTY AND I AM FEELING THAT THE DEALSHIP DOESN'T CARE TO FIX THE PROBLEMS. IT HAPPENED AT ROY, UTAH.
Power train, Engine, Nov 12, 2019
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS WHEN IT WANTS, GET STUCK IN GEARS AND SHIFTS HARD. HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS. HAVE TAKEN IT TO JEEP MULTIPLE TIMES- THEY HAVE ZERO ANSWERS FOR ME. MY CAR ISN'T RUNNING ANY ERROR CODES SO THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS ANY ISSUES.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Oct 31, 2019
WHEN STARTING OR DRIVING THE CAR, THE SERVICE SHIFTER AMONG MANY OTHER WARNINGS COME ON AND THE CAR DOES NOT FUNCTION NORMALLY AFTER THAT. IT IS VERY SLUGGISH AND JERKS WHILE ACCELERATING. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE STATIONARY AND WHILE IN MOTION. MULTIPLE TRIPS TO DEALERSHIPS AND TWO YEARS LATER THE PROBLEM IS STILL HAPPENING. I KNOW OF MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND THE MANUFACTURES ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. MY FAMILY AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS JEEP.
Power train, Oct 27, 2019
VEHICLE GIVES 'SERVICE SHIFTER" NOTICE AND ALL DRIVE COMPONENTS TURN RED. DOES NOT GO AWAY UNTIL CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THIS OCCURS WHILE PARKED AND WHILE THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING. WHEN RECEIVING THIS ERROR WHILE CAR IS OPERATING CAUSES ME TO HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN.
Power train, Oct 22, 2019
HAS I AM DRIVING MY SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COMES ON. IT WILL RESET AFTER I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF.
Power train, Oct 21, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING INDICATOR SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KAMAAINA MOTORS (400 E. KAWILI ST, HILO, HI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,451.
Power train, Oct 17, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER CONTINOUSLY COMES ON. SPOKE WITH DEALERSHIP THEY SAY JUST TO TURN OFF AND TURN BACK ON TO FIX. PROBLEM WILL REOCCUR EVERY 100 MILES.