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.
Electrical system, Jul 11, 2019
THE "SERVICE SHIFTER" WARNING LIGHT HAS APPEARED TWICE IN TWO DAYS. ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON NEXT TO THE SHIFTER MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHAT THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO. ALSO, THIS "SERVICE SHIFTER" LIGHT STAYS ON UNTIL YOU RESTART THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANY OTHER GAUGES WHILE THIS WARNING IS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE IS 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 32,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE FOUND MANY SIMILAR POSTS ONLINE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE, AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN DECLARED FOR CORRECTING THIS.
Power train, Jul 11, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT
Vehicle speed control, Jul 10, 2019
THE SPEED CONTROL IN MY CAR WENT WACKO A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. SPED UP FROM 45MPH TO 56MPH. IN THE SHORT SPACE OF TIME IT TOOK FOR THIS TO HAPPEN (1-2 SECONDS, NOT SURE AS I WAS FREAKING OUT...), I APPLIED THE BRAKE - TOO NO AVAIL, THEN I PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND THAT WORKED; WHICH WAS GOOD BECAUSE I ALMOST PLOWED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME (ON A NARROW SINGLE LANE ROAD ON A HILL GOING DOWNHILL SO, THERE WAS NO OPTION TO BAIL OUT, IF THERE HAD BEEN TIME TO DO THAT - WHICH THERE WAS NOT. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR 12 DAYS NOW AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIX IT. *DT *DT*JB
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 9, 2019
THE SERVICE SHIFT LIGHT HAS COME ON SEVERAL TIMES ON MY CAR. JUST BROUGHT IT IN FOR AN UPDATE AT THE JEEP DEALERSHIP, AND STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. CAR RUNS FINE ONCE IT IS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. HOWEVER, PROBLEM CONTINUES TO HAPPEN.
Other or unspecified, Jul 8, 2019
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY CAR DISPLAYED SERVICE SHIFTER AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY SHIFTER WERE LIT UP.
Power train, Jul 7, 2019
WHILE MOVING ON A CITY STREET, THE MESSAGE "SERVICE SHIFTER" APPEARED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ALL GEAR LIGHTS ON SHIFT CONSOLE ILLUMINATED RED. CONDITION REMAINED UNTIL VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND TURNED OFF, THEN BACK ON.
Other or unspecified, Jul 6, 2019
THE REAR BACK UP CAMERA CUTS OUT WHILE BACKING UP AND GOES TO STATIC.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 5, 2019
VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY SAY 'SERVICE SHIFTER' THEN ALL THE LIGHTS ON GEAR SHIFT WILL LIGHT UP.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 3, 2019
LOW OIL INDICATOR NEVER CAME ON.THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY SHUTS DOWN, WHEN THE OIL IS TO LOW WITHOUT ANY INDICATION LIGHT COMING ON THAT THE OIL IS LOW. THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM TO THE POINT WHERE THE DEALERS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUE IS. MY VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHEN TURNING RIGHT AND INDICATED THAT I NEEDED TO PUT IT IN PARK AND RESTART IT. I CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS ALMOST DRY! I ADDED OIL AND WILL BE TAKING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP! THIS JEEP ONLY HAS 25K MILES ON IT
Electrical system, Wheels, Other or unspecified, Jul 3, 2019
CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP NUMEROUS TIME SHIFTER SERVICE 3 TIMES ALTERNATOR ENGINE 4 TIMES, NEW TIRES NEEDED AT 20,000 MILES ETC. STOPS WORKING SHUTS OFF NUMEROUS TIMES ON HIGHWAY IN MOTION!!!
Other or unspecified, Jul 3, 2019
2017 CHEROKEE HAD A "SERVICE SHIFTER" ALERT POP UP AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER LIT UP RED. HAVE 33,700 MILES. ALERT CAME ON DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET. I WASN'T FAR FROM WORK , SO AS SOON AS I PULLED IN I PUT IT IN PARK TURNED OFF THE ENGINE WAITED A FEW MINUTES KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND RESTARTED IT TO MAKE SURE IT HAD GONE INTO PARK. (LIGHTS WERE ALL RED, SO WHILE I KNEW I HAD IT IN POSITION I WANTED TO BE SURE) I ALSO PLACED MY PARKING BRAKE TO BE ON SAFE SIDE.
Power train, Jul 2, 2019
TURNED VEHICLE ON, WARNING SOUNDED. ON DASH READ 'SERVICE SHIFTER' AND ALL LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER WERE LIT UP. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. WHEN RE-STARTED, THE WARNING LIGHT DISAPPEARED.
Engine, Jul 1, 2019
VEHICLE OUT OF OIL TWICE BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE. IT IS NOT LEAKING OUT ... VEHICLE MUST JUST BE USING TOO MUCH OIL??
Power train, Jul 1, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE SERVICE SHIFTER ERROR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE FOR THE INDICATOR TO DISAPPEAR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,300. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Other or unspecified, Jun 28, 2019
SHIFTER KEEPS COMING UP WITH ERROR AND SHOWS ON SCREEN AND ALL LIGHTS LIGHT UP ON SHIFTING PANEL WHILE MOVING OR SITTING STILL. IF YOU STOP CAR AND TURN OFF, THEN TURN BACK ON SEEMS TO RESET.
Other or unspecified, Jun 27, 2019
I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN DECEMBER OF 2016. IT IS A 2017 VEHICLE THAT JUST HAS 37K MILES ON IT AND THE PRNDL SHIFTER AND CONNECTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.IT ALSO NEEDS A NUMBER 2 IGNITION COIL. THIS IS A NEW CAR....IT SHOULD NOT BE HAVING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR JUST STARTED SHAKING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I COULD HEAR A KNOCK IN THE ENGINE WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. WHY HASN'T THIS CAR BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS??
Power train, Other or unspecified, Jun 27, 2019
WHILE DRIVING THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COMES ON AND EVERY LIGHT ON THE GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS UP. DEALER SAYS THEY DO NOT KNOW. AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF IT WENT AWAY. DEALER TOLD ME WE ARE FINE TO DRIVE IF IT DOESNT COME BACK
Electrical system, Jun 26, 2019
WHILE DRIVING (45-50 MPH) DASHBOARD NOTICE STATES "SERVICE SHIFTER" AND THE INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER (P,R,N,D) ARE ALL LITE UP. HAD TO STOP, SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTART. AT THIS POINT ALL LIGHTS AND NOTICE WAS REMOVED. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED 3 TIMES WITHIN THE SAME DAY (AT VARIOUS SPEEDS FROM 5 MPH TO 60 MPH). REPORTED INFORMATION INDICATES A WIRE HARNESS IS FAULTY AT THE SHIFTER POINT. ADDITIONALLY, THE JEEP IS LOOSING POWER, LIGHTS COME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLS. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE IT CAN BE RESTARTED, BUT AN INDICATOR NOISE ALERTS TO SOMETHING NOT WORKING CORRECTLY.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 26, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE KEEPS COMING UP AND ALL LIGHTS ON GEARS TURN RED AND I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS MODEL JEEP. IT HAPPENS WHEN SWITCHING GEAR, PARKING, DRIVING. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 25, 2019
SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE PRND LIGHTS
Electrical system, Engine, Jun 24, 2019
CAR WILL NOT START,HAS TO BE TOWED FOR SERVICE. FOURTH TIME FOR SAME PROBLEM. THEY INSTALLED NEW BATTERY BUT AFTER APPROX 30 DAYS IT HAPPENS AGAIN. DIED ONE MORNING BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY INTO STREET WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO DEALER. HAPPENED AGAIN FRIDAY MORNING AT DEALER NOW.
Power train, Jun 22, 2019
I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A MAJOR STREET WHEN THE MESSAGE SERVICE SHIFTER POPPED UP ON MY DASHBOARD. THE LIGHTS TURNED RED ON ALL GEARS. I COULD NOT SEE MY SPEED OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION. MY MILEAGE HAD JUST READ 19141 I BELIEVE PRIOR TO THE SCREEN GOING TO SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. I PLACED THE GEAR INTO PARK. I THEN GOOGLED THE MESSAGE, MAKE, AND MODEL TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION. I FOUND FORUM ON CARGURUS.COM STATING TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTART. I WAITED 10 MINUTES BEFORE TURNING ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TURNED ON THE VEHICLE.THE MESSAGE DISAPPEARED AND THE RED GEAR LIGHTS TURNED OFF.
Electrical system, Air bags, Seat belts, Jun 22, 2019
FIRST MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID SERVICE AIR BAG SYSTEM. NEXT THE SEAT BELT LIGHT IS ON AND DINGS WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT EVEN THE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLED. NOW MY TPMS LIGHT IS ON WITHOUT ANY ISSUES WITH THE AIR IN THE TIRES. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THEY CANT RESOLVE.
Electrical system, Jun 21, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT HAS COME ON TWICE NOW AND WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 5/17/19. IT IS A 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE TRAILHAWK WITH ABOUT 42,000 MILES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS EVERYTHING LOCKS UP. ALL THE LIGHTS BY THE SHIFTER WHERE PARK, REVERSE, ETC ARE THOSE LIGHT S LIGHT UP IN RED. YOU CAN NOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER SO YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. THIS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OF COURSE, NOT SAFE AT ALL!! THIS HAPPENED LITERALLY DAYS AFTER PURCHASE.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 20, 2019
MESSAGE ON DASH CAME UP SAYING SERVICE SHIFTER. ALL LIGHTS ON AROUND THE SHIFT STICK. CALLED DEALER N THEY SAY IT'S A 'COMMON PROBLEM WITH JEEPS' AND I NEED A SHIFTER MODULE N WIRING. I LOOKED IT UP ON INTERNET N THERE ARE MANY GROUPS WITH THIS COMPLAINT. SOME SAY THEIR AUTO DIED WHILE DRIVING OR GEARS WON'T SHIFT RIGHT. WHY NO RECALL?? APPARENTLY IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR FEW YEARS. THEY NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM! I WAS DRIVING AND WHEN WARNING COMES ON THE MPH N STUFF DOESN'T SHOW ON DASH N LIGHTS ARE LIT UP ON GEAR. VERY DISTRACTING!