2018 Jeep Cherokee
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 686 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 12 Cherokee model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 11 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 7 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
Electrical system, wiring, front underhoodAug 9, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
Campaign 18V524000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, axle assembly, axle shaftJul 26, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee all-wheel-drive vehicles. The bearing cage for the right front halfshaft assembly may not have been properly heat treated, possibly resulting in the bearing cage breaking and a potential halfshaft assembly failure.
If the halfshaft bearing cage breaks, the halfshaft may not be able to transmit engine power, causing a loss of drive or it can allow the vehicle to move while in the "Park" position. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front right halfshaft assemblies, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U78.
Campaign 18V494000 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
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsMay 1, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a 2.4L engine. These vehicles may have been manufactured with a fuel tube that may leak fuel into the engine compartment.
A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tube, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U39.
Campaign 18V282000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineOct 24, 2017
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee and Compass vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.
If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the oil pump, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 5, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T65.
Campaign 17V670000 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
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
190 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, May 6, 2021
'SERVICE SHIFTER' COMES ON. DEALER SAYS THERE'S NO ISSUE. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE I'M DRIVING AND AT IGNITION START UP.
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 22, 2021
DURING TRANSIT DOWN THE STREET AND ONCE THE CAR TURNED ON IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE SHIFTER COLUMN LIGHTS ARE LIT UP IN RED, THE DASH READS SERVICE SHIFTER. PLEASE HELP US AND OTHERS RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AS IT IS A HIT AND MISS WITH THE DEALERSHIPS AND JEEP STATING THAT IT IS NOT AN ISSUE ENOUGH TO CALL IT A RECALL WHEN THERE ARE DOZENS IF NOT HUNDREDS WITH THE SAME ISSUE.
Suspension, Electrical system, Service brakes, Apr 4, 2021
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE PARKING BREAK CAME ON AND WOULD NOT RELEASE.
Electrical system, Apr 1, 2021
AT VARIOUS TIMES, EITHER STARTING THE CAR OR RESTARTING THE CAR, NOT ALL THE TIME, THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT WILL ILLIMUNATE ON THE SCREEN BLOCKING OUT THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER AND LIGHTING UP THE SHIFTER TO ALL RED. AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR AND RESTARTING (SOMETIMES) THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT AND THE CAR WILL RUN FINE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE IT IS NOT COVERED BY EITHER THE BASIC WARRANTY OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE RESOLUTION IS TO CHANGE THE WHOLE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF OVER $600.00.
Power train, Electrical system, Mar 30, 2021
MY VEHICLE TOLD ME TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND THEN PARK WHILE I WAS AT A RED LIGHT. I DID THAT AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. I LEFT IT IN PARK AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF BUT IT WOULD NOT RESTART. I SAT AT THE LIGHT WITH MY HAZARDS ON FOR ABOUT 2 MIN, I TRIED TO TURN IT ON AGAIN AND IT STRUGGLED BUT IT ENDED UP TURNING ON. 3 DAYS LATER AT THE SAME LIGHT ON MY WAY TO WORK THE BATTERY LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND BEEPING, MY ENGINE LIGHT TURNED, AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TURNED ON. IT WOULDN'T LET ME DRIVE BUT 5 MPH. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. LATER THAT DAY WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP NONE OF THOSE LIGHTS WERE ON AND I WAS TOLD "THERE'S NOTHING WRONG" WITH MY JEEP. I'M SO FRUSTRATED BECAUSE CLEARLY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 13, 2021
BOUGHT IT 6WEEKS AGO THE NEXT DAY THE SERVICE GEAR SHIFTER LIGHT CANE ON PULLING OUT MY DRIVEWAY AT 6 AM LATER THAT EVENING IT CAME ON AGAIN DRIVING TO THE GROCERY STORE .. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER IT CAME ON AGAIN .. IT COMES ON RANDOMLY AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE GEAR SHIFT ARE LIT UP RED .. I HAVE TO TURN MY JEEP OFF AND ON TO MAKE THE LIGHTS TO GO BACK TO NORMAL AND TAKE THE SERVICE GEAR SHIFTER NOTIFICATION OFF .. IT EVEN COMES ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY
Steering, Electrical system, Service brakes, Feb 24, 2021
WHILE DRIVING ABS, CHECK ENGINE, PARKING BRAKE LIGHT UP. BRAKES START TO SHAKE LIKE IF A TIRE IS SLIPPING BUT ITS NOT. STEERING WHEEL GETS STIFF. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD, ALL SYMPTOMS GO AWAY IF THE CAR IS WARM SOMETIMES. ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHEN IT WILL START DOING ALL OF THESE SYMPTOMS AT ONCE. WE HAVE NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE UP TO HIGH SPEEDS UNTIL WE TAKE IT TO GET CHECKED OUT BY THE DEALER.
Electrical system, Engine, Lane departure, Feb 10, 2021
MY SENSORS ONLY WORK SOMETIMES, MY KEY FOB ONLY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS. IT'S STARTING TO HAVE ISSUES. MY JEEP STOPPED WORKING ON THE HIGHWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN
Electrical system, Jan 11, 2021
ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE ELECTRONIC RANGE SELECT (ERS) WHILE DRIVING. IMMEDIATELY, ALL OF THE PRNDL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED RED AND THE DASH DISPLAYED THE MESSAGE "SHIFTER SERVICE". MOVING THE SHIFTER BACK TO FULLY AUTOMATIC DID NOT CLEAR THE ERROR OR THE PRNDL LIGHTS. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE, TURNED IT OFF, THEN RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND THE ERROR CLEARED.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 5, 2021
ON 12/15/20 I DROVE LESS THAN 1 MI. DOWNHILL, STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN & THE ENGINE QUIT & BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE RESTARTED ABOUT 5 MIN. I WAS LOW ON GAS, SO GAS WAS ADDED & I FILLED TANK. THE ENGINE QUIT THE NEXT DAY AT THE SAME SPOT. IT RESTARTED AFTER A FEW TRIES. THE BATTERY INDICATOR SHOWED IT HAD A CHARGE & OIL WAS GOOD. REPEAT STALLING AT SAME SPOT ON 12/24/20 AND ON 1/2/2021. VERY CONCERNING AS I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND COULD EASILY BE HIT. I HAD 27,000 & CURRENTLY HAVE 35693 MILES. THIS VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BEFORE I GOT IT AND IS TOO NEW TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jan 2, 2021
AFTER OWNING MY BRAND NEW 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE FOR A FEW MONTHS, I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING CAME ON IN MY DASH AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY SHIFTER LIT UP. I CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN, SO I TOOK IT AND WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF, THE MESSAGE NO LONGER APPEARED. THE DEALERSHIP TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND IT SAID IT CAME BACK FINE. UPON GETTING MY CAR BACK, IT WAS RANDOMLY SHOWING THE SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE AGAIN SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWO MORE TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND SO NOTHING WAS FIXED. I HAVE NOW OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE STILL APPEARING ISSUE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS BUT I FEAR THAT WHATEVER IS CAUSING THE WARNING TO APPEAR MAY CAUSE ISSUES. I HAVE READ THAT MANY MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND THE DEALERSHIP WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. ALL THREE TIMES I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN, IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Dec 23, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT, R,P,N,D, ALL LIGHTS TURN RED. HAPPENED MONTHS AGO AT 36,300 MILES, DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR A MONTH THEN CAME BACK. NOW COMES ON EVERY COUPLE WEEKS, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES IN A ROW. TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON THE LIGHTS GO OFF. HAPPENS AT INTIAL START UP AND WHILE DRIVING.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 22, 2020
WE WERE TRAVELING IN OUR 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE LATITUDE AND AT A RED LIGHT, THE CAR JUST TURNED OFF. WE HAD TO SIT FOR AWHILE AND THEN RESTART IT BY PUTTING ON THE BRAKE AND SOME OTHER THING. WE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT RAN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. THEN, IT STOPPED WHILE WE WERE AT A RED LIGHT AGAIN! IT ONLY RESTARTED AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY TWICE. WE AREN'T SPENDING MONEY ON A NEW BATTERY UNTIL WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S WRONG.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 18, 2020
I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TWO TIMES FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT HAVE REPLACED THE BLOWER THE FILTERS AND SO ON. EVERY TIME THE AC OR HEAT COMES ON THE CAR STARTS SHAKING AND JERKING WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING BACK IN TO POST THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING WHILE IN MOTION AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE SPENT A TILE OF ABOUT 700-800$ ON THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT FIX.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Dec 16, 2020
MY CAR WENT DEAD WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO THE SHOP AND SAID THERE WAS A "SOFTWARE UPDATE/RECALL" THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO USE MORE OIL THAN NORMAL AND I WAS DRIVING WITH NO OIL!!!!! THIS "RECALL" UPDATE HAD BEEN RELEASED "6 DAYS AGO" PER MY DODGE/CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. WHY IS THIS RECALL NOT HERE? SOUNDS VERY STRANGE TO ME.
Power train, Electrical system, Dec 7, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON ON DASH AFTER I STARTED MY JEEP, ALSO ALL THE RED LIGHTS NEXT TO THE SHIFTER WERE LIT UP. WOULD NOT TURN OFF UNTIL RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. HAVE READ MANY JEEP OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR CHEROKEES. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY JEEP!
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 6, 2020
I CONTINUE TO GET A SERVICE SHIFTER ISSUE. VEHICLE HAS 13,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ACROSS MULTIPLE YEARS OF CHEROKEES. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A BATTERY PROBLEM BUT AFTER A NEW BATTERY, I STILL RECEIVE THE WARNING. WARNING CAME ON WHILE PARKED, JUST AFTER STARTUP.
Electrical system, Dec 4, 2020
MY CAR IS SHOWING "CHECK SHIFTER" MESSAGE AFTER ONLY 11,000 MILES. ALL THE SHIFTER LIGHTS TURN ON RED. IT HAPPENED WHEN I TURNED ON MY CAR TO PUT IN GEAR AND HAS BEEN COMING ON MORE AND MORE LATELY. USUALLY STAYS ON WHEN I FIRST START AND DOESNT SHUT OFF UNTIL I TURN OFF AND RESTART VEHICLE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 25, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER ALARM, ALL LIGHTS ON GEAR SHIFTER LIGHT UP. GOES AWAY WHEN VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. CAME BACK ON LESS THAN A WEEK LATER.
Electrical system, Nov 20, 2020
WAS DRIVING AND VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING. PULLED OVER AND SERVICE ELECTRICAL THROTTLE CONTROL CAME ON. FINALLY GOT THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON NOW.
Electrical system, Nov 16, 2020
ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON- THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES, ONCE WHILD DRIVING AND TWICE WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND IT WAS IN PARK.
Electrical system, Nov 12, 2020
'SERVICE SHIFTER' ERROR CODE STARTED APPEARING ON DASHBOARD WITH ALL GEAR LIGHTS LIT UP NEXT TO THE SHIFTER. PROBLEM RESOLVED ITSELF AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. MILEAGE AT APPROX 37K MILES, IDENTIFIED AS 'TRANSMISSION SHIFT ELECTRICAL FAILURE' BY JEEP DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED FOR AROUND $700
Electrical system, Nov 6, 2020
THIS IS THE SECOND SINCE AUGUST 2018 THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. FIRST TIME IT GAVE ME A WARNING LIGHT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH AUTO START. THEN JUST NEVER WOULD START AGAIN. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE CAR WAS IN PARK, SHUT OFF AND WOULDN'T RESTART. BATTERY TESTED AT DEALER AND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. THE BATTERY SAYS IT HAS A 36 MONTH WARRANTY BUT DEALER SAYS I HAVE TO PAY FULL PRICE FOR NEW BECAUSE IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE AUTO START THAT FRIES THE BATTERY!
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 27, 2020
AFTER OWNING THIS VEHICLE FOR ONE WEEK THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL THE LIGHTS BY THE SHIFTER CAME ON. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY SHUT CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. LIGHTS WERE OFF CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME . LIGHT HAS COME ON AGAIN , ALWAYS GOES OFF AFTER RESTARTING. AFTER READING ALL COMPLAINTS OF OWNERS ONLINE I AM CONCERNED THAT I WILL HAVE SHIFTING PROBLEMS GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I CAN'T BELIEVE WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THIS CAR. I HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SATISFACTION.!PLEASE , LET SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 7, 2020
FIRST INCIDENT, VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HENCE STATIONARY. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER AND A A CLICKING NOISE WOULD BE HEARD WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS JUMP STARTED AND LET IT RUN FOR A WHILE, THEN I SHUT IT OFF TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS OK AND IT DID NOT START AGAIN. SAME FLICKERING LIGHTS AND CLICKING NOISE. GOT IT JUMP STARTED AGAIN. DROVE TO AUTOZONE TO HAVE BATTERY CHECKED, WHILE TRYING TO PARK, VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF WITH CAR ON DRIVE. AUTOZONE EMPLOYEE TRIED TO JUMP START VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. AUTOMATIC LOCKS WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. AS OF RIGHT NOW, UNKNOWN CAUSE OF VEHICLE INCIDENT.