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, Back over prevention, Nov 18, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE FROM PARK POSITION
Other or unspecified, Nov 6, 2020
I HADNT HAD MY CAR SIX MONTHS AND THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON. ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE GEAR SHIFTER CAME ON. TOOK HAD FIXED AT DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME IT JUST NEEDED TO BE RESET. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN A LITTLE WHILE LATER TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED THE SHIFTER. NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. I HAV READ SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL PEOPLE CANT KEEP FIXING THIS OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
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.
Other or unspecified, Oct 19, 2020
WHILE DRIVING SERVICE SHIFTER COMES UP ON DASHBOARD AND ALL GEAR LIGHTS ARE LIT UP. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE ABOUT 6MONTHS INTO OWNING CAR. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S NOT A PROBLEM BUT NOW MY CAR WONT START.
Other or unspecified, Oct 19, 2020
THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON WITH ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE PANEL STAYING LIGHT. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE SPACE OF TWO DAYS, BUT SHUT OFF WHEN THE CAR TURNED OFF. YESTERDAY ALL THE LIGHTS STAYED ON AND THE SCREEN WOULD ONLY SHOW SERVICE SHIFTER. JUST WENT OVER 17K MILES ON MY 2017 CHEROKEE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE MECHANIC WAS A BIT NONCHALANT. " DON'T WORRY. WE SEE A LOT OF THIS. IT COULD BE A WIRE OR A FUSE OR A PIN OR I MIGHT HAVE TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC AND THE GEAR SHIFTER." LEFT IT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX, PROBABLY TAKE A WEEK OR TWO TO FIX ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC. I WAS LOOKING AT THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS PAGE AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE NUMEROUS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. WONDERING WHY IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 13, 2020
JAN. 2020 THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. NOW 4 TIMES SEPT. 2020 SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT HAS COME ON. JULY 2020 AIR CONDITION HAD TO BR REPLACED.
Other or unspecified, Oct 12, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT APPEARS AND ALL LIGHTS GO RED ON GEAR SHIFTER.
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.
Other or unspecified, Oct 6, 2020
WHEN STARTING MY CAR THE 'SERVICE SHIFTER' WARNING IS DISPLAYED AND ALL RED LIGHTS COME ON FOR PNRD. THIS WILL SOMETIMES GO AWAY AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND TURNED BACK ON AGAIN. IT MAY ALSO APPEAR WHILE ALREADY DRIVING ON CITY STREET OR FREEWAY.
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.
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.
Other or unspecified, Sep 25, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTIER GOING OFF WHILE ON EXPRESSWAY!
Other or unspecified, Sep 23, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER KEEPS POPPING ON MY DASHBOARD. CAR CAN BE TURNED OFF, KEY REMOVED FROM IGNITION, THEN WHEN STARTED AGAIN THE MESSAGE WILL GO AWAY. MESSAGE WILL REAPPEAR AFTER ABOUT 100 MILES OF DRIVING. MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN!
Other or unspecified, Sep 22, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING LIGHT COMES ON REGULARLY. THE CAR NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED MANY TIMES TO CLEAR THE FAULT. MANY CASES OF THIS ISSUE HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A SYSTEMATIC ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE TYPES REQUIRING A RECALL
Other or unspecified, Sep 18, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER POPS UP WHEN STARTING VEHICLE
Other or unspecified, Sep 18, 2020
I HAVE ERROR MESSAGES THAT DISPLAY SAYING SERVICE GEAR SHIFTER NOW AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE UNAVILABLE. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT CASE GENERALLY WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE SERVICE GEAR SHIFTER LIGHTS COME ON ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY GEAR SHIFTER LIGHT UP AS WELL. THIS ONLY HAPPENS ABOUT 1X A MONTH. I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD I THINK I KNWO WHAT COULD BE CASING IT BUT WE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND IF WE CANNOT GET THE CODE WE CANNOT FIX IT. UNFORTUNITLY WE WILL EITHER HAVE TO HAVE IT BROUGHT IN WHILE ITS DOING IT OR IT MAY HAVE TO COMPLETELY BREAK BEFORE WE CAN FIX IT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR OTEHR JEEPS SAME MAKE AND MODEL BUT NOT MY VIN. I ASKED IF THIS WAS UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY TWO YOUNG DAUGHTR AND WAS TOLD I DONT THINK SO. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH SINCE AND FOUND PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAVE ALMOST DIED. I HAVE RECORDS SHOWING THEY WERE ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN IT OCCURED AND THERE JEEP LOCKED UP CASUING THEM TO BE HIT BY A SIMI TRUCK. THE JEEP WAS MANGLED. I HAVE INCLUDED PICTURES THE 1ST 4 OUR NOT MINE THE LAST IS AND I HAVE ONE OF ALL THE LIGHTS IN ON MY GEAR SHIFTER AS WELL BUT IT WOULD NOT ALLOW ANOTHER PICTURE.
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
Other or unspecified, Sep 12, 2020
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AS I'M DRIVING MY 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE THE SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING CAME UP ON THE DISPLAY SCREEN THE FRONT TIRES LOCK UP AND WON'T MOVE I'VE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWO DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY TELL ME NOTHINGS WRONG WITH IT AND TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO KEEP DRIVING IT UNTIL THEY COULD RE-CREATE THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Sep 9, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COMES ON. NEED TO TURN OFF VEHICLE AND RESTART. IF LIGHT IS ON AND VEHICLE RUNNING THE SHIFTING IS HARD AND STEERING IS LOOSE
Other or unspecified, Sep 9, 2020
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE TWO WEEKS AGO FROM A CERTIFIED USED CAR DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS 54000 MILES ON IT. FROM DAY ONE, IT HAS HAD AN INTERMEDIATE LONG START. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO STATED IT NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. REPLACED THE BATTERY, DID NOT FIX THE LONG START. NEW PROBLEM OCCURRED YESTERDAY (2 DAYS AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY), THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE WHILE DRIVING!!!! LUCKILY THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS PAYING ATTENTION AND DID NOT REAR-END ME. NO WARNING, JUST STOPPED. THE DASH FLASHED "SHIFT TO DRIVE". I WAS ALREADY IN GEAR. AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS OF TRYING TO START THE CAR, THE CAR STARTED BACK. IT TOOK AN ADDITIONAL 10-15 SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO ACTUALLY MOVE EVEN THOUGH I WAS PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. THE OIL WAS CHANGED 1000 MILES AGO. NO STORED CODES, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO WARNING BEFORE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED....NOTHING!!! I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND READ MULTIPLE FORUMS WITH NO RESULT BEING FOUND. THE CAR GOES TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY BUT I WAS TOLD IF THE CAR IS NOT THROWING ANY FAULTS, IT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO DIAGNOSE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AS IT IS GOING TO CAUSE A WRECK.
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!
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 8, 2020
MY SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE HAS BEEN STAYING ON. WHEN IT FIRST STARTED GIVING THE MESSAGE IT WOULD GO OFF WHEN I CUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND I WOULDN'T GET THE MESSAGE AGAIN FOR A WHILE BUT NOW IT IS STAYING ON. I'VE ALSO BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING REALLY HARD SOMETIMES BUT ONLY WHEN I GET THE SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE.
Other or unspecified, Sep 7, 2020
MY CAR WILL READ 'SERVICE SHIFTER' AND ALL THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT GEARS. SOMEONE I KNOW HAS THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/AND YEAR OF MY CAR AND THERE CAR DID THIS AND THEN WHEN SHE WAS GOING 70MPH HER CAR SLAMMED BY IT'S SELF INTO PARK AT NO WARNING. THIS TERRIFIES ME TO DRIVE THIS CAR. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I AM GETTING THE SAME 'SERVICE SHIFTER' NOTIFICATION. SHE ENDED OF WRECKING THE CAR AND ALMOST HITTING A SEMI ON THE HIGHWAY, I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME.
Other or unspecified, Sep 7, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER 8/14/2020 SEP 4, 2020
Other or unspecified, Sep 7, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COMES ON AT RANDOM TIMES. WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE.