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.
Engine, Aug 7, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. ADDITIONAL OIL WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TURNERSVILLE CHRYSLER JEEP (3100 ROUTE 42, SICKLERVILLE, NJ 08081) AND LILLISTON CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP (1501 N 2ND ST #47, MILLVILLE, NJ 08332, (856) 825-1937) WHERE AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS PERFORMED AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Power train, Electrical system, Aug 7, 2019
'SERVICE SHIFTER' MESSAGE AS WELL AS 4WD SYSTEM UNAVAILABLE' ALL LIGHTS ON SHIFTER ILLUMINATE AS WELL.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Aug 6, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER NOTIFICATION CAME ON AGAIN. I HAD IT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 33704 MILES. CAME ON AGAIN APPROXIMATELY 50,000. CALLED DEALERSHIP, NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. LOOKED ONLINE, THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH CHEROKEE'S AND FGA WILL NOT DO A RECALL. **THIS NOTIFICATION CAMES UP ON THE HUD AND CANNOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT SERVICE, THUS MAKING MY DISPLAY USELESS.**
Other or unspecified, Jul 31, 2019
MY "SHIFTER NEEDS SERVICE" LIGHT COMES ON, ALONG WITH ALL OF THE OTHER LIGHTS AND I AM FORCED TO STOP MY CAR, TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHT TO GO AWAY. I HAVE IT SCHEDULED FOR SERVICE BUT THEY WILL NEED IT A MINIMUM OF 2 DAYS. IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF OTHER JEEP CHEROKEE OWNERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES YET THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS. WONDERING WHY NOT?
Engine, Jul 29, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL. NAPLETON'S RIVER OAKS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (17225 TORRENCE AVE, LANSING, IL 60438, (708) 782-4768) PERFORMED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE. WHEN THE CONTACT WENT ON A SHORT ROAD TRIP, HE NOTICED THAT THE OIL LEVEL WAS CLOSE TO TWO QUARTS LOW. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER AND ASSIGNED A CASE MANAGER TO CALL HIM BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY UNDER A THREE YEAR WARRANTY. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER KNEW OF THE FAILURE PRIOR TO SELLING HIM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,485.
Power train, Jul 28, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON MORE THAN SEVERAL OCCASIONS A MESSAGE "SERVICE SHIFTER" IS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY AND ALL LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED ON THE TRANSMISSION PANEL. WHEN THIS OCCURS IT CAN'T BE TAKEN OFF UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, SHUT OFF, AND THEN RESTARTED. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE TO FIX THE ISSUE TWICE IN TWO YEARS. IT IS SCHEDULED TO GO BACK IN THIS COMING WEEK FOR ADDITIONAL WORK. THE FIRST "REPAIR" CONSISTED OF REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER. THE SECOND REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS. THE THIRD WILL BE A BEZEL AND ANOTHER TRANSMISSION ACCESSORY.
Power train, Jul 28, 2019, crash
WHILE DRIVING MY 2017 CHEROKEE LATITUDE ON THE INTERSTATE, A "SERVICE SHFTER" WARNING APPEARED AND ALL THE RED LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER (P, R, N &D) ALL ILLUMINATED. I WAS ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM A CUSTOMER, SO I PULLED IN AND PUT THE JEEP IN PARK. HOWEVER, WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE JEEP WENT FORWARD HITTING MY CUSTOMERS FENCE
Power train, Jul 27, 2019
EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE LIMITED MY SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COMES ON LOCKING OUT ANY SHIFTER CONTROLS. I WAS INSTRUCTED IN ORDER TO RESET TO PULL OVER TO A SAFE PLACE SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESET THE IGNITION. AS THIS HAPPENS NEARLY EVERY SINGLE TIME I DRIVE MY VEHICLE IT IS NOT A FEASIBLE SOLUTION. CALLING CHRYSLER I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO OPEN ISSUES RECALLS OR WARRANTY FOR ANY SUCH ISSUE. LOOKING ONLINE I FOUND THOUSANDS OF REPORTED ISSUES OF THE SAME THING.
Power train, Jul 27, 2019
IN JANUARY 2019, MY JEEP BEGAN JERKING DURING ACCELERATION. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED ME THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DURING REMOVAL OF THE ENGINE, THE ALTERNATOR WAS DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. TWO MONTHS LATER I RECEIVED MY VEHICLE BACK AND 10 MILES LATER THE SAME JERK OCCURRED. AFTER IMMEDIATELY RETURNING TO THE DEALERSHIP AND A RIDE ALONG WITH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. THIS REPAIR TOOK ANOTHER TWO WEEKS. AT WHICH TIME THE FCC REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THEY COULD DO. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN EVEN MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. NOW, THREE MONTHS LATER, THE SHIFTER LIGHT HAS COME ON UPON CRANKING THE VEHICLE. WHICH IS ALSO TRANSMISSION RELATED. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE FOR CONSUMERS?
Electrical system, Jul 26, 2019
THE "SERVICE SHIFTER" LIGHT IS RANDOMLY COMING ON - SOMETIMES IN PARK AND SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING. WHEN THE WARNING COMES ON WHILE DRIVING I CAN NOT SEE MY SPEED OR SPEEDOMETER. SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING IT MAKE THE ISSUE GO AWAY - UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT COMES ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 2-3 WEEKS. I LOOKED THIS UP AND IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH 2016-2017 JEEP CHEROKEES.
Other or unspecified, Jul 26, 2019
2017 JEEP CHEROKEE LIMITED - 36,600 MILES. STARTED MY CAR, PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THE SHIFTER SERVICER MESSAGE APPEARED ON MY DASH AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS WHERE MY SHIFTER IS LOCATED TURNED RED. TURNED THE CAR OFF, RESTARTED IT AND THE MESSAGE WAS GONE AND LIGHTS WERE OFF. EXACTLY THE SAME THING HAPPENED YESTERDAY AFTER ANOTHER 50 MILES. TURNED THE CAR OFF, RESTARTED, SAME RESULTS. IT SCARES ME. I GOOGLED SERVICE SHIFTER JEEP AND SUDDENLY THERE WERE TONS OF COMPLAINTS FOR MULTIPLE MODEL YEARS FOR THE SAME THING. IS THIS CAR SAFE?
Vehicle speed control, Jul 25, 2019
I DEACTIVATED CRUISE CONTROL AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO PASS SOMEONE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER I HAD RELEASED THE GAS PEDAL AND SO I PRESSED THE CANCEL CRUISE CONTROL MULTIPLE TIMES AND TAPPED ON THE GAS AND THEN THE BRAKE AFTER THAT MY CAR JERKED AND IT STOPPED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN.
Other or unspecified, Jul 25, 2019
AS I TOOK A LEFT HAND TURN MY 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE LATITUDE 4 CY 4WD JUST SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, I JUST HAD MY OIL CHANGED 5000 MILES AGO BUT YET, THERE WAS BARELY ANY OIL IN MY VEHICLE. I WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, CAR COULD HAVE REAR ENDED ME.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 25, 2019
TODAY WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I GET INTO MY CAR AND TURN IT ON AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY SHIFTER ARE LIT UP RED AND THE SERVICE SHIFTER DISPLAY COMES ON. I TURN OFF MY CAR AND RESTART IT AND THE LIGHTS GO OFF. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE WHEN I GOT I TO MY VEHICLE TO START IT.
Electrical system, Jul 23, 2019
THE DASH LIGHTED UP WITH THE SHIFTER SERVICE LIGHT AND THEN ALL LIGHTS LEFT OF THE SHIFTER TURNED ON ( P,N,D). IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SO FAR WHILE THE CAR IS HEADING DOWN THE ROAD. EACH TIME WE PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF, THEN WHEN WE TURN THE CAR ON IT GOES AWAY; AFRAID THAT THIS WILL AFFECT CAR PERFORMANCE SOONER OR LATER. GOT ON INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BEING EXPERIENCED BY MANY JEEP CHEROKEE OWNERS. IT IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 22, 2019
"SERVICE SHIFTER" MESSAGE APPEARED ON SCREEN, ALL LIGHTS ON PNRD TURNED RED, COULD NOT SEE WHAT GEAR VEHICLE WAS IN. HAD TO TURN CAR OFF TO GET MESSAGE TO LEAVE.HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES NOW.. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, ON BOTH CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY.
Other or unspecified, Jul 22, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER NOTIFICATION
Other or unspecified, Jul 21, 2019
WHILE I WAS DRIVING A 'SERVICE SHIFTER' LIGHT SUDDENLY APPEARED IN MY CENTER DISPLAY AND ALL THE RED LIGHTS NEXT TO THE SHIFTER WERE LIT UP. NOT SURE WHY OR WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.
Power train, Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Jul 21, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKING AFTER TAKING NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE AND PARKED. SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT ON AT 18,000 MILES WHEN STARTED. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGH 1ST-3RD GEAR. ENGINE HAS ALSO RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHEN STARTED AND WILL NOT START BACK UP.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Jul 20, 2019
THE SHIFTER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE ON THE VEHICLE; THE FIRST TIME IN WARRANTY (2018) AND THE SECOND TIME THIS WEEKEND WHERE I NEEDED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. (JUNE 2019) AT RANDOM TIMES, THE SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE APPEARS AND THE ENTIRE SHIFTIER PANEL LIGHTS UP. THE CAR ACCELERATES BY ITSELF AND SOMETIMES THE CAR JERKS FORWARD ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK OR I AM ON THE BRAKES.IN RUSH HOUR HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC OR LOCAL TRAFFIC SAME THING. I CAN BE DOING 20 MPH OR 75 MPH AND THE ERROR MESSAGE APPEARS. I REPORTED THIS TO MY RICK HENDRICKS JEEP DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY SEEN IT BEFORE AS WELL AS NAPLETON IN FLORIDA. I ALSO LOOKED ONLINE AND SEE THAT MULTIPLE 2016 -2018 JEEP OWNERS REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE ONCE THE CAR IS MORE THAN 10,000 MILES. THE CAR CHANGES GEAR BY ITSELF.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 18, 2019
THE FAR-LEFT BACKUP SENSOR 'JUST FELL OUT' AT SOME POINT, UNKNOWN IF THE CAR WAS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. THERE ARE NO SCRATCHES OR DAMAGE AROUND THE BUMPER THAT I CAN SEE WHICH WOULD INDICATE IT HAVING BEEN KNOCKED LOOSE OR PRIED OUT.
Other or unspecified, Jul 17, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AN INDICATOR LIGHT IN THE DASH CAME ON THAT STATED "SERVICE SHIFTER". THEN NEXT TO THE ACTUAL SHIFTER ALL OF THE PRND LIGHTS LIT UP AND STAYED LIT FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE DRIVE.
Parking brake, Power train, Jul 17, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE SERVICE GEAR SHIFTER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE PARKING BRAKE INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, SHIFTED INTO PARK, AND THEN PLACED INTO DRIVE. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. LANDMARK DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AT (816) 836-0100 (LOCATED AT 1900 S NOLAND RD, INDEPENDENCE, MO 64055) AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 59323175. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Other or unspecified, Jul 16, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHTS APPEARS ON DASHBOARD AND SHIFTER GEAR LIGHTS ARE ALL IN RED. THE ONLY 'FIX' I HAVE READ ABOUT IS TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN TO 'RESET' THE CAR COMPUTER. THE LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE A CITY STREET. JEEP APPARENTLY DOES NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OR A PERMANENT FIX.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 14, 2019
MY VEHICLE IS 2 YEARS OLD, IT HAS JUST POPPED UP WITH A "SERVICE SHIFTER" MESSAGE. IT IS NOT ABLE TO BE REBOOTED. ALSO, WHEN THE COMPUTER IS TESTED NOTHING POPS UP TO FIX. VERY FRUSTRATING AND SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A LOT OF SIMILAR CASES.