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: power train
295 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Sep 17, 2021
After backing out of a parking spot, I received a "service shifter" warning on my instrument panel and all the indicator lights on my shifter illuminated. After turning the car off and back on, the warning went away but reappeared mid-drive a day later. Concerned that my car may not be fully in gear, or that it might slip out of gear, I made an appointment with my dealership. After inspection, they confirmed that there was an intermittent short in the shifter and it would need to be replaced. Through my own independent research, I found countless reports of the same issue in this vehicle, which the dealership confirmed to me that it is a common problem they are aware of. If this is a common problem, and consumers are forced to spend thousands to repair the issue on relatively low mileage vehicles, it seems to me that a recall may be in order.
Power train, Sep 17, 2021
I keep getting a service shifter warning.
Power train, Aug 27, 2021
Service shifter and all lights on gear shifter light up
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 10, 2021
All lights on shifter console light up red and light which says "Service Shifter" shows up on dash. Reviews of this problem online is showing it to be a common problem.
Power train, Electrical system, Jun 9, 2021
I was getting a service shifter light and called the dealer and the said it was a recall it needed a system reboot to bring it in. I did. But that did not fix the problem the light is still on and after doing research it really is the wiring for the shifter. Which can cause the vehicle to not signal what gear it is in. My car had failed to to indicate which gear it has been in multiply times.
Power train, May 12, 2021
POWER TRANSFER UNIT FAILED , 2014-2017 MODELS THE SAME AS MINE HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS VERY TYPE OF FAILURE. MY 2018 WAS BUILD WITH EXACT SAME PTU ASSEMBLY. I THINK MINE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL WAS DRIVING TO STORE ON HWY 26 8 MILES WEST OF SWAN VALLEY IDAHO, CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 MPH , LOUD BANG, LOST ALL FORWARD MOTION,COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD, PUT IN PARK AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO DIRT ON SIDE OF HWY, BRAKED AND SET PARK BRAKE, CALLED TOW TRUCK AND VEHICLE IS AT LOCAL JEEP DEALERSHIP, COULD HAVE KILLED ME IF CONDITIONS WERE DIFFERENT.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 22, 2021
AT RANDOM TIMES THE MESSAGE "SERVICE SHIFTER" APPEARS, AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER TURN RED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT A DOZEN TIME AND HAS HAPPENED WHEN IN DRIVE(ON HIGHWAY AND STREETS) AND WHEN IN PARK. IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON THE MESSAGE DISAPPEARS. FROM ALL THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE IT APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING TO A LOT OF JEEP (2014-2019) OWNERS. SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS!!!
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.
Power train, Engine, Apr 12, 2021
VEHICLE IS STALLING DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION.....NO OIL INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. BUT VEHICLE EVEN WHEN OIL INDICATOR GAGE SAYS THERE IS OIL....THE OIL IS LOW AND CAUSES STALLING. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. STALLS WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY IN TRAFFIC. BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AND TO CHANGE OIL EVERY 3000. THUIS DOES NOT FIX THE UNDERLYING ISSUE. READING ONLINE THERE SEEMS TO BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AND DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT HELPFUL WITH THIS ISSUE. NERVOUS TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCE ESPECIALLY WHEN NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATE TO LET YOU KNOW YOU ARE LOW ON OIL.
Power train, Apr 10, 2021
MY 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE HAS LESS THAN 18,000 MILES ON IT AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THE SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD AND THE TREE LIGHTS WERE ALL LIT UP. I PARKED THE CAR, TURNED IT OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TURNED IT BACK ON. LIGHTS AND MESSAGE WAS GONE. THIS HAPPENED ONCE AFTER THAT - ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER - AND SAME THING, I WAS ABLE TO RESET IT BY TURNING IT OFF AND ON. TODAY THE MESSAGE APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD AND WOULD NOT GO AWAY. I DROVE STRAIGHT HOME (ABOUT 3 MILES), PULLED IN TO MY DRIVEWAY AND IT WOULD NOT GO IN TO PARK OR NEUTRAL - IT STAYED IN DRIVE. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF BUT NOT EXTRACT THE KEY NOR COULD I START THE CAR AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING EVERY TIME THE WARNING LIGHT AND TREE LIGHTS CAME ON. TODAY THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET MY KEY OUT WAS TO USE THE MANUAL SHIFTER AND TRY TO REMEMBER THE SHIFTING PATTERN! I EVENTUALLY FIGURED IT OUT AND WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE DEALER CAN'T TELL ME IF MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERS IT BUT WANTS ME TO DRIVE IT OVER TO THEM ABOUT 15 MILES AWAY. I AM READING THAT COST IS ANYWHERE BETWEEN $400-$1,000 AND DAYS WITHOUT A VEHICLE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF POSTS CITING THE SAME ISSUE ON CARGURU'S WEBSITE. THIS REALLY NEEDS INVESTIGATED FOR A RECALL. THERE IS NO WAY THIS IS SAFE!! THIS IS MY ONE AND ONLY DAILY DRIVER AND I CANNOT BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE! CHECK OUT THE COMPLAINTS HERE: HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T68742_DS990296
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.
Steering, Power train, Engine, Mar 19, 2021
ON MARCH 14TH WHILE SLOWING AND TURNING RIGHT ON A STATE MAINTAINED COUNTRY ROAD, THE VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED AND POWER STEERING WAS OUT WITH THE BATTERY LIGHT ON.. VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS AFTER PUTTING IT BACK INTO PARK. ON MARCH 16TH WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AT A STOP LIGHT IN THE SAME MANNER DESCRIBED ABOVE ON US HWY 421. IT TOOK 4 ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT RECREATE THE STALL AND WILL BE SENDING US ON OUR WAY WITH THIS VEHICLE UNREPAIRED. MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FOUND IN A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND WILL POSSIBLE CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS.
Power train, Mar 18, 2021
'SERVICE SHIFTER' MESSAGE APPEARS ON SCREEN AND ALL LIGHTS ON SHIFTER LIGHT UP. GOES AWAY AFTER TURNING OFF CAR AND TURNING BACK ON. WHEN MESSAGE APPEARS, CANNOT VIEW DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER OR OTHER CAR DIAGNOSTICS. DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS.
Power train, Mar 17, 2021
MESSAGE "SERVICE SHIFTER" DISPLAYS ON SCREEN AND RED LIGHTS LIGHT-UP ALONG THE SHIFTER... OCCURS WHEN JEEP IS STATIONARY, IN DRIVEWAY OR PARKING LOTS - MULTIPLE TIMES. DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS NOT PART OF THE POWER TRAIN...? AND SUPPOSEDLY NEVER HEARD OF THIS MESSAGE....? THE CAR IS NOT SAFE AS WHEN THIS MESSAGE COMES UP YOU CANNOT MANUALLY SELECT GEARS, AND NEITHER CAN YOU ACCESS KEY INFORMATION LIKE TIRE PRESSURE, COOLANT/OIL/TRANSMISSION TEMPS, OIL LIFE, BATTERY VOLTAGE, FUEL ECONOMY, TRIP INFO. IT ALSO DISABLES THE ABILITY TO GET TO SCREEN SETUP,.
Power train, Mar 5, 2021
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING ON DASH. I'VE ALREADY HAD THIS SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ONCE AND THE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING BACK ON AGAIN. EVIDENTLY, THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FROM WHAT I'M SEEING AND IT WOULD BE NICE IF JEEP OWNERS DIDN'T HAVE TO CONTINUE TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE MANUFACTURER'S SHORT COMINGS. THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS. JUST HAD TO HAVE MY OIL RECALL ADDRESSED BECAUSE THEY CLEARLY CAN'T BUILD CARS PROPERLY. A RECALL WOULD BE FABULOUS SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP FORKING OUT MONEY ON THINGS WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO.
Power train, Feb 13, 2021
THE "SERVICE SHIFTER" DISPLAY COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY DURING STARTUP AND WHEN PULLING IN TO A PARKING AREA. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE PLACED IN PARK, SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED AND NO ODB CODE SHOWN IN MEMORY AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE BY OWNERS BUT DEALERS CLAIM TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM.
Power train, Feb 10, 2021
THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON AT 74,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 77,000 MILES WHILE IN MOTION.
Power train, Jan 23, 2021
SERVICE SHIFTER ILLUMINATES ON DASH AND ALL AUTO TRANSMISSION GEARS ON SHIFTER ILLUMINATE. OCCURS WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION. HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES IN PAST WEEK. SEARCH OF INTERNET SHOWS THIS IS VERY COMMON AMONG THESES VEHICLES
Power train, Jan 22, 2021
DISPLAY INDICATES "SERVICE SHIFTER" AND ALL LIGHTS ON GEAR SELECTOR ARE LIT (PRND). THIS OCCURRED AT 30,000 MILES (CODE U1465 AND P1C86-1D) AND WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER. DEALER REPLACED THE SHIFTER. ISSUE IS REOCCURRING AT 50,000 MILES.
Power train, Jan 21, 2021
I HAVE A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE SERVICE SHIFTER KEEPS COMING ON AND ALL THE GEAR SHIFT LIGHTS ARE LIT UP. THE CAR WILL STALL OR COMPLETELY STOP OPERATING WHEN THIS OCCURS. IT OCCURS WHEN I AM DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC, HIGHWAY TRAFFIC OR STATIONARY.
Power train, Jan 16, 2021
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING COMES ON VERY OFTEN WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE.
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.
Power train, Dec 22, 2020
THE SHIFTER KEEP SAYING THAT IT NEEDS TO BE SERVICED THE CAR ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT . I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER JEEP OWNERS AND THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE HAS THE SAME ISSUE
Power train, Dec 17, 2020
WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH, MY JEEP GAVE "SERVICE SHIFTER" AND REDUCED POWER. ALL SHIFTER LIFTS WHERE LITE. I PULLED OVER AND CALL MY DEALER, THEY ADVISED ME TO TURN OFF ENGINE FOR 2 MINUTES AND RESTART MY JEEP, THIS SHOULD CLEAR IT. THIS WAS AT 34,000. IT DID CLEAR IT. IT HAPPEN AGAIN AT 35,900 MILES AND I DID WHAT I WAS TOLD THE FIRST TIME.. HAPPEN AGAIN AT 37,500 MILES, FINALLY GOT DEALER TO LOOK AT IT AND NOW THEY SAY I NEED A NEW BEZELS, HARNESS AND SHIFTER. I HAVE READ THIS HAS HAPPEN TO 1,000S OF OTHERS.
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!