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
1,334 reports, newest first.
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.
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.
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.
Power train, Oct 13, 2020
2017 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE SERVICE SHIFTER COMES CODE COMES ON DRIVER DASH PANEL DISPLAY. BROUGHT TO DEALER WITHIN 1ST TWO WEEKS OF PURCHASE OF OF A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE WITH UNDER 20,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP INITIALLY WASN'T ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE AND THEREFORE THE ISSUE WAS NOT ADDRESSED. WITHIN A FEW DAYS, ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN. BROUGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND THE ERROR CODE. HOWEVER, AFTER A FEW MORE WEEKS, THE ISSUE OCCURED AGAIN AND THEN THEY WERE ABLE TO FINALLY SAY IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD BE FIXED AND THAT IT WAS A SHIFTER ISSUE. NOW, MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR JUST STOPPED WITH A SHIFTER ERROR ON THE DASH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE AND RE-START THE VEHICLE AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS AND THE CODE IS NO LONGER THERE. WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND GARAGED THE CAR FOR ALMOST ONE WEEK UNTIL THE APPOINTMENT. " THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I AM NOW TOLD IT IS STILL A SHIFTER ISSUE AND THAT IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I AM NOT SURE HOW THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER A POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THE CAR LOST POWER WHILE WERE DRIVING. LUCKILY, WE WERE ONLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE SHIFTER IS FAULTY AND EVEN IF PAYING OUT OF POCKET WILL NOT RECTIFY THE ISSUE. THERE ARE LOTS OF SIMILAR REPORTS FILE HERE ON THE NHTSA SITE FOR THE 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE. I WOULD LIKE THIS DOCUMENTED HERE IN THE EVENT THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL OR FUTURE INCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CENTRAL IN NORWOOD, MA
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, 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.
Power train, Oct 9, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING CAME ON IN INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ALL RED LIGHTS ON GEAR PANEL WERE LIT UP AS I WAS SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE BACKING FROM MY DRIVEWAY.
Power train, Oct 8, 2020
ON 10/7/2020 THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER TURN RED AS I WAS GETTING ONTO INTERSTATE 88 IN ILLINOIS. ON 10 /8/2020 IT CAME ON AGAIN WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET. HAVE READ ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS AND CAUSING WRECKS.
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.
Power train, Oct 6, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE REMAINED ILLUMINATED. AFTER TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE MESSAGE DISAPPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER PARKWAY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM LOCATED AT 311 COMMERCIAL PKWY, DOVER, OH 44622, AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
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.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 3, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER AT 40000 MILES AND NOW AT 54000 MILES JEEP IS SPUTTERING WHEN ACCELERATING AND JEEP WILL NOT START. BATTER AND ALTERNATOR ARE GOOD.
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