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, Jun 20, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER. DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME 1200.00 TO REPAIR. WAS TOLD IT WAS A SHIFTING MODULE IN WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE PROGRAMMED AFTER REPAIR. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE ON THESE CARS. THIS VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD, AND I WAS TOLD THIS COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL WITHOUT A DOUBT.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 20, 2019
DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING, TURN INTO A BUSY ROAD AND MY LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASH AND SAID THAT YOU CAN'T SHIFT GEARS WHILE IN MOTION.. OBVIOUSLY I HADN'T DONE THAT.. TOOK 3 MINS JUST TO GET THE CAR TO TURN OFF SINCE EVERYTHING WAS LOCKED UP.. LET IT SIT ONCE OFF, DIDN'T WANT TO START.. DID IT AGAIN AND FINALLY IT STARTED AND THE LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER LIT UP! DO THE RECALL ALREADY! OBVIOUSLY WITH ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS IT'S A JEEP ISSUE, NOT AN OPERATOR ISSUE..
Power train, Jun 18, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE APPEARED ON DASH AND ALL THE PRND LIGHTS TURNED RED WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT IN THE GARAGE. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND ON WITH NO CHANGE. DROVE IT 40 MILES TO WORK AND WHEN I LEFT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE MESSAGE WAS GONE AND ALL THE LIGHTS WERE BACK TO NORMAL.
Other or unspecified, Jun 18, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING, SHIFTER LIGHTS FROM PRND, WHILE IN DRIVE
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 16, 2019
"SERVICE SHIFTER" AUTOMATICALLY POPPED ON WHILE DRIVING ON A PUBLIC STREET. WENT HOME WAS ABLE TO REVERSE AND PARK . TURNED OFF CAR LET IT SIT FOR 2-3 MINS AND IT NO LONGER POPPED ON. DONT THINK IT'S UNDER WARRANTY
Power train, Jun 16, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER PROMPT CAME ON AT 26,000 MILES. SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE MAIN CULPRITS FOR THIS MODEL.
Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 16, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER CAME ON ONE EVENING AND WENT OFF UPON SHUTTING THE VEHICLE DOWN AND RESTARTING IT. THE NEXT DAY WOTH NO WARNING I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY THREE KIDS. SUDDENLY DASH FLASHED 4X4, TRACTION CONTROL, ERS, AUTO STOP ALL UNAVAILABLE AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I WAS IN THE FAST LANE DOING 70 MPH AND HAD NO POWER WHAT SO EVER. THE RPMS WENT UP AND I HAD NO ACCELERATION WITH THE GAS PEDAL DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SLOW LANE BUT NOT WITHOUT CAUSING A RIFT IN TRAFFIC, THANKFULLY OTHER DRIVERS WERE ALERT AROUND ME AND LET ME OVER ONCE I HIT MY FLASHERS. THE VEHICLE WAS ACTING AS IF IT WAS STUCK BETWEEN GEARS. OT WOULD ENGAGE IN R, N AND P BUT NOTHING WHEN I PUT IT IN D. CALLED A ROLLBACK AND PER DEALERSHIP EVERY CODE THAT COULD THROW HAS THROWN AND AT MY EXPENSE WE ARE STARTING WITH ENTIRE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY TO THE TUNE OF $900 PARTS AND LABOR. 5 DAYS TO GET PARTS IN! PER SERVICE MANAGER, SERVICE WRITER AND THE MECHANIC WORKING ON MY CAR THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH CHEROKEES & BETTER YET JEEP IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND DOESN'T FIND A NEED FOR A RECALL.
Power train, Jun 13, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE HAS APPEARED MORE THAN ONCE. AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING ALL IS FINE FOR 1200-1500 MILES THEN IT COMES ON AGAIN.
Other or unspecified, Jun 12, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL RED LIGHTS ON BY MY GEAR SHIFT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. WHEN I STOP THE CAR AND RESTART IT EVERYTHING IS NORMAL FOR ABOUT 30 MILES THEN IT DOES THIS AGAIN. I HAVE READ LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS. IT NEEDS TO BE A RECALL.
Power train, Jun 9, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER INDICATOR DASH LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING. ALL SHIFTER POSITION INDICATORS ON CONSOLE ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE FAILS TO SHIFT PROPERLY.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jun 9, 2019
I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY JEEP SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP. MY CAR DISPLAY FLASHED THE BATTERY SYMBOL AS WELL AS THE OIL LIFE SYMBOL (OIL LIFE WAS AT 55% ACCORDING TO VEHICLE DISPLAY). IT TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE MY JEEP WOULD START AGAIN. I AM UNSURE IF THE EXACT CAUSE BUT I WOULD ASSUME THAT IT IS A SAFETY FEATURE TO PROTECT THE ENGINE, HOWEVER IT PUT ME IN A SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE EASILY COST ME MY LIFE.
Other or unspecified, Jun 9, 2019
TAKATA RECALL MY JEEP IS A 2017 AND HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE THERMOSTAT SENSOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FEELING LIKE IT CAN'T EVEN SUPPORT THE VEHICLE TO MY RPM GOING ALL THE WAY UP TO 6000 WHEN GOING UP HILL THAT MAKES MY CAR SOUND LIKE IT'S GOING TO BLOW UP NOW MY SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT IS ON. EVERY TIME I TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY RUN 'UPDATES' THIS DOES NOTHING AT ALL.
Other or unspecified, Jun 8, 2019
WHILE DRIVING I HEAR A NOTIFICATION BING AND THE DASH SAYS 'SERVICE SHIFTER' AND ALL THE SHIFTER'S INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE SOLID RED. APPARENTLY THIS HAPPENS A LOT AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE ONLY TEMPORARILY RESETS THE COMPUTER TO ACCEPTABLE.
Air bags, Seat belts, Jun 6, 2019, crash
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE INVOLVED IN A 4 CAR PILE UP ON THE 3 LANE HIGHWAY. TRAFFIC ABRUPTLY STOPPED SEVERAL CARS IN FRONT OF US ON THE HIGHWAY AND CARS WERE SWERVING TO MISS THE TRAFFIC STOPPED. THE 2 CARS IN FRONT OF US AND OUR CAR WERE ALL ABLE TO GET STOPPED WITHOUT HITTING EACH OTHER. WE WERE STATIONARY (STOPPED) WHEN WE HEARD SQUEALING TIRES AND WERE REAR ENDED BY A F250 HAULING A TRAILER FULL OF FIREWOOD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THIS TRUCK THEN PUSHED US FORWARD INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. WHICH THEN PUSHED THAT CAR INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. SO, OUR VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND THEN IN THE FRONT. THERE IS SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, AND IT HAS BEEN DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE. MY CONCERN IS THAT NOT ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYED DURING THIS ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK PROPERLY. IT WAS PULLED ALMOST ALL THE WAY OUT AND THEN LOCKED. MY HUSBAND IS NOT A BIG GUY SO IT SHOULD OF LOCKED RATHER QUICKLY AND NOT AT THE END OF THE BELT. AS A RESULT, OF THE MALFUNCTIONING EQUIPMENT MY HUSBAND FLEW FORWARD HITTING HIS FACE AND CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL. HE DID SUSTAIN INJURIES TO HIS FACE AND BODY FROM THE ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT ISSUED BE LOOKED AT. IT DOES APPEAR THAT SOME OTHER JEEP MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR HAVE SOME RECALLS FOR AIR BAG ISSUES. I HAVE INCLUDED PICTURES OF MY DAMAGED VEHICLE AND THE SEATBELT. *BF 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB
Other or unspecified, Jun 5, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON WHEN DRIVING G HOME, I CAN'T SEE MY SPEED.
Engine, Jun 5, 2019
I HAVE A FEW PROBLEMS THAT IS GOING ON WITH MY JEEP. ONE, THERE HAS BEEN A FEW OCCASIONS WHERE I AM DRIVING MY JEEP, AT A SLOW SPEED, AND IT WILL DING AND LOCK UP. THEN IT WILL SHUT OFF. I WILL HAVE TO SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL ALLOW ME TO CRANK IT AGAIN. I HAVE ALSO HAD AN ISSUE WHERE WHEN DRIVING MY JEEP TO MY DESTINATION, IT DOES FINE. BUT ONCE I PARK, THE CAR WILL NOT START AGAIN UNLESS JUMPED OFF. I REPLACED THE BATTERY EXPECTING THAT TO FIX IT, BUT IT DID NOT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES AND NO ONE CAN FIND A PROBLEM. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT THROWING A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE CODE SAYS THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. WHEN I TAKE IT SOMEWHERE, THEY SAY THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR IS FINE. I JUST WANT MY CAR TO BE SAFE FOR ME AND EVERYONE AROUND ME. MY CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON MANY OCCASIONS, AND IT IS UNRELIABLE. I AM SCARED TO TAKE MY CAR ANYWHERE EXCEPT WORK AND HOME DUE TO THE FACT I DON'T TRUST IT.
Engine, Jun 5, 2019
AT 26,600 MILES (3 MONTHS AGO) MY JEEP STALLED UPON EXECUTING A LEFT TURN. NO PRIOR INDICATION. THE ENGINE JUST STALLED. TOOK 5 TIMES TO RESTART. APPARENTLY, MY OIL WAS EXTREMELY LOW WITHOUT VEHICLE INDICATION. OIL CHANGE PRIOR TO THIS FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT 21,676 MILES. NOW AT 28,900 MILES, AND MY VEHICLE STALLED THIS MORNING UPON EXECUTING A LEFT TURN AT 2 SEPARATE TIMES EN ROUTE TO WORK, IN AN INTERSECTION. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE STALLS, THE IN CAB WARNING "DING" OCCURED, ENGINE STALLS, AND THE ENGINE AND BATTERY DASHBOARD INDICATORS ILLUMINATE. IT TAKES PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND 3-5 ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. NO PRIOR DRIVER WARNINGS LEADING UP TO THE STALL.
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 5, 2019
"SHIFTER SERVICE" LIGHT THAT APPEARED ON MY DASH AND THE PRND LIGHTS ALL TURNING RED WHILE IN MOTION. PULLED OVER AND TURN CAR OFF AND RESTART LIGHTS WENT OUT. I GOOGLED ON INTERNET IS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. CAR HAS ONLY 50K MILES ON IT.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 5, 2019
GEAR SHIFT LIGHT IS COMING ON FOR SHIFTER!
Power train, Jun 4, 2019
2017 JEEP CHEROKEE 80K MILES, AFTER SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE THE TO DRIVE, SERVICE SHIFTER INDICATOR MESSAGE ON SCREEN AS WELL AS ALL LIGHTS ON SHIFT PANEL P-R-D LIGHT UP RED. STOPPED VEHICLE, TURNED OFF, RESTARTED, LIGHTS WENT OFF. HAPPENED AGAIN TWICE WHILE PARKING AND ONCE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH. MULTIPLE REPORTED ISSUES WITH OTHER CHEROKEE'S EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM. NO RECALL NOTICE OR BULLETIN AT DEALER, MAKING ME RESPONSIBLE FOR DIAGNOSTIC
Electrical system, Jun 4, 2019
THE "SERVICE SHIFTER" LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON THEN OFF. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN AND HAD IT FIXED AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN. LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE.
Engine, Jun 4, 2019
I AM HAVING A MAJOR ISSUE WITH MY 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE AND ITS SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS ISSUE IS RUNNING RAMPANT NATION WIDE. FURTHERMORE IT SEEMS AS THOUGH FIAT-CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT IT AND IS DOING NOTHING. MY 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE 2.4L WAS PURCHASED FROM DAN ON 7/17/2017. SINCE THEN, IT HAS BEEN HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS. . IN DOING SO, IT APPARENTLY GETS SO LOW THAT THE ENGINE CUTS OFF MID DRIVING AND I LOSE ALL POWER, STEERING INCLUDED. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE MY 4 AND 2 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR WITH ME AND THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THIS STARTED HAPPENING WHEN THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 25,000 MILES ON IT. THERE ARE COUNTLESS FORUMS ONLINE THAT DISCUSS THIS ISSUE WITH JEEP CHEROKEES. CAR IS RUNNING DRIVING AT APPROX 30MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WARNING INDICATORS COME ON AND THE CAR STALLS OUT LOSING ALL POWER INCLUDING STEERING. DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NO OIL IN THE CAR. WHILE REVIEWING THE ABOVE JEEP FORUMS ONLINE EVERYONE IS PLAGUED BY THIS. THE CAR BURNS ALL THE OIL! NEW CARS SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS ESPECIALLY TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE IS NONE LEFT IN IT!!! I PARK THE CAR IN THE GARAGE SAME SPOT EVERY NIGHT. NOT A DROP ON THE FLOOR
Air bags, Jun 3, 2019
I HAVE A SERVICE LIGHT ON THE READS, SERVICE AIR BAG SYSTEM
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 3, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER INDICATOR CAME ON WITH ALL LIGHTS ON THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHTING IN RED. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF, THINGS RETURNED TO NORMAL BUT WILL PROBABLY OCCUR AGAIN BASED ON OTHER INTERNET COMMENTS ABOUT THIS JEEP PROBLEM WITH THEIR WIRING HARNESS.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Jun 3, 2019
'SERVICE SHIFTER' MESSAGE WHILE DRIVING. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER COME ON; PRND. MESSAGE GOES AWAY ONCE THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING BUT COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE.