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: other or unspecified
343 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Jan 29, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE HAS COME ON 3 TIMES. OCCURANCES 1. DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 2. STARTING CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY 3. STARTING CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 24, 2020
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN SAID SERVICE SHIFTER AND ALL OF MY LIGHTS ON MY SHIFTER LIT UP AS WELL. LIGHT WOULD NOT GO AWAY, NO OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON, HOWEVER WHEN BROUGHT TO BE LOOKED AT, NOTHING TO BE FOUND ON DIAGNOSTICS. THE LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND NOT DRIVING, HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS. ALSO HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY, THE LIGHT ISN'T CONSTANTLY ON, BUT COMES ON SPORADICALLY, TURNS OFF WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF.
Other or unspecified, Jan 24, 2020
THE 'SERVICE SHIFTER' LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES AWAY, BUT DEALERS ARE SAYING THEY NEVER HEARD OF IT AND NO PROBLEM DETECTED BECAUSE IT GOES AWAY. THIS IS HAPPENING TO MULTIPLE OF OTHER JEEP CHEROKEES.
Other or unspecified, Jan 21, 2020
ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO MY 2017 JEEP SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN AUTOMATIC MODE. A NOTIFICATION POPPED UP SAYING I NEEDED OT BE IN PARK TO SHIFT. MY CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND I NEEDED TO SHUT IT OFF, WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON FOR IT TO RESTART. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND MY DEALERSHIP COULD NOT SEE ME FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK. ONE OF THE TIMES IT HAPPENED, MY CAR WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON AND I REQUIRED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO TOW MY CAR. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY LOOKE AT IT, THEY SAW NOTHING WRONG EXCEPT MAYBE I NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THEY DID THE UPDATE AND MY CAR WAS FINE UNTIL RECENTLY. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH A LINE OF CARS BEHIND ME. MY DEALERSHIP CANNOT SEE ME FOR ANOTHER WEEK AND A HALF. I TOOK MY CAR TO AN AUTOSHOP AND THEY SAW NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND NOTICED THE SOFTWARE MAY NOT BE ALIGNED PROPERLY MEANING THE COMMUNICATION IS OFF. I AM FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND THERE ARE NO WARNINGS WHEN THIS IS ABOUT OT HAPPEN. I FIRST GOT THIS CAR BECAUSE I WAS EXPECTING A BABY. I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE SAFE AND RELIABLE. I AM TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CHILD TO DAYCARE IN CASE THIS HAPPENS AGAIN AND SOMEONE HITS US FROM BEHIND. I WILL NEVER GET A JEEP AGAIN.
Other or unspecified, Jan 21, 2020
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, A SERVICE SHIFTER ALERT ON DASHBOARD. ALL LIGHTS SURROUNDING SHIFTER LIT UP. I PULLED OVER, TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND WHEN I TURNED THE BAR BACK ON, THE ALERTS WERE GONE.
Other or unspecified, Jan 20, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING CAME ON AND ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE SHIFTER LIGHT UP. WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE ROAD IN TOWN GOING APPROX 25 MILES PER HOUR. WARNING NOTICE AND SHIFTER LIGHTS WENT OFF WHEN I PULLED OVER AND SHUT VEHICLE OFF.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Jan 16, 2020
CAR STOPPED ON ME AND KEEPS DOING IT BEFORE IT DOES IT SAYS SERVICE SHIFTER I HAVE CONTACTED JEEP , I HAVE WENT TO A DEALERSHIP. BUT NO ONE HAS HELPED AND MY 2 YEAR OLD WAS IN THE CAR YESTERDAY WHEN I LOCKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING
Other or unspecified, Jan 15, 2020
MY 2017 JEEP SERVICE SHIFTER KEEPS ON TURNING ON I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY HAVE 'RE PROGRAMMED IT' AND 'FIXED WIRING' AND IT STILL KEEPS ON TURNING ON.
Other or unspecified, Jan 7, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, A "SERVICE SHIFTER" MESSAGED APPEARED ON THE DASH. THE PRND+- ALL LIT UP RED AS WELL. I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND RESTARTED MY CAR. THE MESSAGE DISAPPEARED AFTER THAT.
Other or unspecified, Jan 6, 2020
2017 44K MILES JUST BOUGHT 3 DAYS AGO AND SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COMES ON WHILE IN PARK AND THE PRND ALL LIGHT UP RED. ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT GO AWAY IS TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON. HAPPENED AGAIN LATER THAT DAY. THIS WAS DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY (01/04/2020).
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 30, 2019
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON. WE JUST BOUGHT THIS ON 12/28/2019 WITH 46198 MILES. SIFTER ISSUES. LIGHT CAME ON AS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEED.
Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 25, 2019
IF IT IS BELOW FREEZING OUTSIDE, MY GAS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. WHEN I PRESS THE OPEN BUTTON INSIDE MY CAR, IT MAKES A SOUND AS IF IT IS TRYING TO OPEN, BUT WILL NOT BUDGE. EVEN WHEN I TRY TO OPEN IT MANUALLY, IT WON'T OPEN WITHOUT EXTREME FORCE AND SEVERAL MINUTES OF TRYING. MY GAS DOOR HAS POPPED OFF TWICE DUE TO THIS ISSUE AND TRYING TO GET IT OPEN.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 8, 2019
THERE IS A SHIFTER ERROR THAT COMES UP ON DASHBOARD AND ALL LIGHTS COME UP ON THE SHIFTER STICK WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE OVER ONE NIGHT WHILE I DRIVING AND I AM CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE. SEE LINKS BELOW. HTTPS://WWW.NHTSA.GOV/VEHICLE/2017/JEEP/CHEROKEE/SUV/4WD HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T68742_DS990296 HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T68742_DS947921 HTTPS://WWW.JEEPFORUM.COM/FORUM/F309/SERVICE-SHIFTER-MIL-15-DIESEL-3768705/
Other or unspecified, Dec 7, 2019
MY 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE TRAILHAWK KEEPS GIVING ME A "SERVICE SHIFTER" LIGHT/WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THE LIGHTS OR WARNING GOES AWAY WHEN I TURN MY JEEP OFF AND I RESTART IT. I CALLED AND WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO TAKE THE JEEP WHEN THE WARNING COMES UP BUT IT IS HARD TO GET IT THERE AS IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM NOT NEAR THE DEALERSHIP. THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED WHILE IN PARK, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ON CITY STREETS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY DON'T COVER FIXING THE ISSUE.
Other or unspecified, Dec 3, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER NOTIFICATION POPPED UP ON THE DASHBOARD. READING FORUMS IT SEEMS LIKE A COMMON ISSUE WITH JEEPS. THIS ISSUE CAN BE FATAL AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. JEEP DEALERSHIPS REPLACE THE SHIFTER BUT THAT OFTEN DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE, BUT COSTS THE OWNER MONEY.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 2, 2019
WHEN DRIVING, AN ERROR MESSAGE POPPED UP AND SAID "SERVICE SHIFTER". ON THE GEAR SHIFT, ALL OF THE LIGHTS LIT UP RED (PARKING, NEUTRAL, 1ST, 2ND, DRIVE, AND REVERSE). I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. AFTER I RESTARTED THE CAR, IT WENT AWAY. I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF COMPLAINTS. MANY OF WHICH, JEEP HAD NO IDEA HOW TO FIX. MOST COMPLAINTS ALSO STATED THAT IT WENT AWAY, ONLY TO COME BACK AFTER ANOTHER 1000 MILES OR SO. IF THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS, AND JEEP IS OBVIOUSLY HAVING A PROBLEM IDENTIFYING WHY, SHOULDN'T THIS BE A RECALL? THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A FAULT IN THEIR PRODUCT OR WIRING. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND/OR LAWSUITS. PLEASE HELP.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 2, 2019
MY GEAR SHIFT PRND LETTERS WILL RANDOMLY LIGHT UP WITH A WARNING BEING DISPLAYED SAYING SERVICE SHIFTER. THE LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE PARKED. THE LIGHT SHUTS OFF WHEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF AND TURNED BACK ON BUT COMES ON RANDOMLY AGAIN PERIODICALLY.
Other or unspecified, Nov 30, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COMES ON AND SHIFTER LIGHTS ALL TURN RED. INITIALLY WOULD RESET AFTER RESTART, NOW STAYS ON. STARTED AT 20,000 MILES, NOW AT 32,800.
Other or unspecified, Nov 24, 2019
DASH INDICATES SERVICE SHIFTER, ALL P-R-N-D GEAR LIGHT COMES RED. SECOND TIME IN A MONTH NOW.
Other or unspecified, Nov 20, 2019
IT KEEPS SAYING SWIFT SHIFTER. ALL OF THE LIGHTS COME ON WHERE I SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE
Other or unspecified, Nov 12, 2019
WHILE IN MOTION- CAR CHIMES, ALL LIGHTS ON SHIFTER ILLUMINATE, DASH READS "SERVICE SHIFTER" HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE MARCH 2019 AND AS RECENTLY AS NOVEMBER 2019. TAKING CAR IN TO BE CHECKED ON 11/20/2019.
Other or unspecified, Nov 9, 2019
VEHICLE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS ROTTEN EGG SMELL. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO JEEP DEALER 34 TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX CAR.
Other or unspecified, Nov 1, 2019
THE SHIFTER IS GOING OUT WITH 47000 MILES IN IT AND NO RECALL OR ANYTHING .SO ONE DAY IT WILL NOT GO IN GEAR .
Other or unspecified, Oct 27, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. RESETS WHEN VEHICLE IS RESTARTED
Other or unspecified, Oct 21, 2019
ALTERNATOR IS DEAD ON 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE AT ROUGHLY 50K MILES. WAS BRAND NEW WHEN PURCHASED IN MARCH 2017 & HAVE HAD SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE POP UP SEVERAL TIMES. CAR HAS TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING. AND NOW ALTERNATOR HAS DIED. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP EVERY TIME VEHICLE HAD AN ISSUE. DEALERSHIP DID A SOFTWARE UPDATE. COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHY CAR KEPT TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING. NOW AT ALMOST 3 YEARS OLD & 50K MILES THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW ALTERNATOR.