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: steering
30 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, May 12, 2026
The steering rack failed about one week after I purchased the vehicle. The dealer replaced the steering rack once, but the same problem happened again about six months later. The vehicle has now been at the dealership for about one year waiting for another replacement steering rack. The dealer informed me the part is unavailable and must be specially manufactured. A loaner vehicle was provided while waiting. This repeated steering system failure is a serious safety concern.
Steering, Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 14, 2026
My Jeep veers left and right sharply while I drive. It does not take off pulling into traffic-I have to wait for total total clearance-there is no take off. My gas tank was filled three days ago and it is already below 50%. I drive 7 miles to and from work Monday-Friday, nowhere else. I have avoided several accidents due to these problems. These problems happen everyday. I have take it in to my jeep Dealership-Hendricks at least four times over the years and they drive it, say they find nothing and return it to me to bring back if the problems arise again. HELP before this car kills me.
Steering, Power train, Other or unspecified, Sep 24, 2025
Regarding Recall Transport Canada Recall 2025-012, also known as Safety Recall 01C and NHTSA ID Number: 25V011000 My Jeep has the service 4WD message displayed on the dash along with the noise/vibration/grinding as described in the same recall for other Jeeps for my model year. I'm not sure if this recall needs to be expanded but I'm curious to know what the process looks like as my problem is identical to the other Jeeps effected by this recall but my Jeep isn't listed.
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 11, 2024
I keep getting a “service shifter” message and all gears light up red. This has now happened about 15 times. I asked a dealership about it, but they said they would have to correct all of the wiring. I saw that many other jeep cherokee owners also experience this same issue and it does not go away.
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Feb 22, 2024
At exactly 37000 miles my service “shifter light” comes on every 4-5 days. I’ve noticed in the warmer months it comes on more frequently. During the cold winter it came on twice. It’s becoming warmer again and it’s popping up often. My husband has a 2017 jeep Cherokee with the same exact issue. Our dealership gave us no answer to this problem. Not sure why, i just hope this doesn’t cause a major issue or hopefully a recall soon to fix this!
Steering, Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Sep 11, 2023
Turn into our street, windshield whippers came on. Fuse blown, take out still stay on. Kept changing them, Fuse kept blowning. Replace mod with turn single, wheel part. Pic sent. Worked two weeks, did it again. Now they are saying it's the radio is pulling to much, relay needs to be replace the radio. Which mileage, radio, back up camera, whatever else is connected together causing the problem. This safety problem because back up could hit someone or something, whippers just coming on scared, hurting window, windshield whippers it self if dry out. This should be recall and concern. I don't understand why this not. Jow it's taken so long figure out problems at car place. They took the suv apart still cant figure problem out. Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Steering, Suspension, Electrical system, Apr 17, 2023, crash
This vehicle is designed to be a flat tow vehicle for a class a motorhome. No one made me aware of the death wobble and this caused an accident which could have been deadly. We did 13,000 dollars in damages to my motorhome and jeep. After hours of research i found this to be a common problem from Jeep. i contacted the local jeep service department and they were not aware of this. Come to find out there is a jeep part to correct the problem, at a cost of $286.39 and a labor charge of $460.00 to install. If jeep is aware of this problem, why are they not advising the public to not flat tow this jeep until the necessary parts are installed. There is nothing in the manuals regarding this problem!
Steering, Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 22, 2022
1) Engine turns off while driving the vehicle and the dash tells me to shift it into park. After the car is stopped and shifted into park it makes a starting noise as if you are trying to start the vehicle as if it is flooded, but it will eventually start after approximately 30 seconds. After approximately 30 seconds the vehicle starts sometimes without even pushing the start button. 2) The vehicle dies often when turning, driving over small amounts of snow, backing up, or exerting the engine at all. It usually does not shut off while driving straight down the road without exerting any energy unless there is snow causing the engine to exert any energy. This has caused safety risks to me and others in the following manner: a) It has caused me to stall while turning onto the highway from side streets which I have narrowly avoided being t-boned and side impacted. This can cause injury or death to myself, my passengers, pedestrians, and traffic. b) It has caused my vehicle to stall while on the roadway when it exerts energy due to snow and causes me to spin the vehicle out of control in traffic which can cause injury or death to myself, my passengers, pedestrians, and traffic. c) It has cause me to stall while backing out, or pulling out of parallel parking with traffic which can cause injury or death to myself, my passengers, pedestrians, and traffic.
Steering, Jul 27, 2022
while driving about 50 mph, I suddenly lost steering and many alarm lights came on. the car was very difficult to steer and I had a difficult time to return home
Steering, Power train, Other or unspecified, Dec 6, 2021
Car shuts down after seeing "service shifter"
Steering, Power train, Engine, Nov 26, 2021
Coming to a stop at a stop sign and the dash made a ding followed by the engine light coming on, the shifter went into park on its own, the display stated “Shift to park and then select desired gear”, lights flashed on the shifter console. Unable to drive I had to restart more than once. Car barely restarted before I was able to shift again and continue home.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 29, 2021
Made a right turn onto a street and heard a single ding(the same ding it makes if seatbelt is off) then the car turned off, the red battery light briefly came on and then turned off. I rolled out of traffics way onto the shoulder and placed my car in park and tried to restart it. Car would not restart initially. After 3 tries the vehicle restarted and I was able to make it back onto the road. - the engine shut off and the power steering went out. these are available for inspection upon request. -The vehicle stalled in the middle of traffic so not only my safety but the safety of other drivers was at risk as my vehicle was turning a corner and not able to accelerate as other drivers came up behind me causing them to swerve. -the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center however my wife and I have experience the same issue at two different times. -The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership where the vehicle was purchased brand new and they were not able to provide an answer to the problem. -There were no warning lamps or other symptoms prior to the failure.
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.
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.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Dec 31, 2020
PURCHASED MY 2018 CHEROKEE IN FEB 2018 AND IN OCTOBER 2019 HAD VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL. DEALER SAID I HAD 4 WARPPED ROTORS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. IT SEEMED ODD AT ONLY 18 MONTHS OF NORMAL DRIVING, MOSTLY HIGHWAY.
Steering, Power train, Engine, Nov 20, 2020
THE CAR RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS AT A LIGHT. IT HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. IT WAS IN MOTION ONCE AND THE WHEEL LOCKED UP. BUT IT WAS A VERY SLOW MOTION. SECOND TIME I WAS TAKING OFF FROM A STOP
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 14, 2020
ALL LIGHTS ON SHIFTER COME ON RANDOMLY WHEN TURNING ON VEHICLE. YOU CAN'T PUT IN DRIVE WHILE LIGHTS ARE ON. YOU HAVE TO TURN CAR ON MULTIPLE TIMES OR UNTIL LIGHTS GO OFF. ON DASH BOARD IT READS SERVICE GEAR SHIFT LIGHTS
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Jun 19, 2020
MY CAR LOST ALL POWER WHILE IN MOTION IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY STREET INTERSECTION WITH A SHIFTER ERROR CODE. WOULD NOW ACCELERATE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AND DID IT INSTANTLY AGAIN. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 2 MONTHS AGO. *TR
Steering, Power train, Engine, May 28, 2020
BOUGHT MY VEHICLE 12/21/2017. HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS EVER SINCE. TOOK MY CAR TO [XXX] IN AUSTIN WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES. I WAS ALWAYS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. IN NOVEMBER 2019 MY CAR BROKE DOWN AND I PAID TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN SA SINCE THAT IS WHERE I WAS RELOCATED TO FOR WORK. BLAMED IT ON MY OIL WHICH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY MY VEHICLE IT WAS EVEN LOW. ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN ACTING RIGHT SINCE. 5/21/2020 I WENT ON A TRIP BUT ONLY MADE IT TO WACO. VEHICLE SHUT OFF GOING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND I ALMOST GOT HIT BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT VEHICLES BECAUSE OF IT. 5/26/2020 DEALERSHIP CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW I WAS GETTING A NEW ENGINE SINCE MINE WAS COMPROMISED BY THE OIL IT WAS CONSUMING. NOW I AM BEING TOLD THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE IT AND TEST IT BEFORE THEY WILL REPLACE IT. HAVE DONE AN INTENSIVE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH AND THIS IS A HUGE LIABILITY TO PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER FOR A TEST THEY NEED FOR THE COMPANY. CALLED THE LOCATION I PURCHASED IT AT AND SURPRISE THEY WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF IT. NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING TO MAKE IT RIGHT.*DT*JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Feb 15, 2020
DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A MAIN STREET AT ABOUT 45 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT TURNING RIGHT. AFTER SHIFTING BACK TO PARK AND STRUGGLE TO TURN OVER AND RESTART, ABLE TO GET BACK HOME WITH SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING 2 MORE TIMES. REPLICATED THE ISSUE AGAIN PARKED AT THE HOUSE WITH A VERY HARD STRUGGLE TO START. STEERING AND ENGINE POWER COMPLETELY GONE.
Steering, Jan 3, 2020
RACK AND PINION COMPLETELY BROKE WITH ONLY 37,000 MILES
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Dec 27, 2019, crash
I HAVE A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE WITH UNDER 30,000 MILES ON IT. MY CAR'S STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE TAKING A RIGHT TURN. MY BRAKES AND STEERING WERE LOCKED, CAUSING ME TO DRIFT UP ON TO A CURB AND HIT A SIGN. NO WARNING OR INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE CAR PRIOR TO THIS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I AM LEASING THE CAR FROM. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH JEEPS, THAT THE CAR WILL BURN THROUGH OIL VERY QUICKLY, THAT NO LOW OIL INDICATOR LIGHT WILL COME ON, AND THAT THE ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN AS A 'SAFETY FEATURE.' I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO PROTECT MYSELF BEYOND GETTING OIL CHANGES EVERY 3K MILES AND THAT IT 'SHOULD' BE FINE. AGAIN, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN OR THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE PRIOR TO IT TURNING OFF WHILE IN MOTION. THE CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE IN MOTION WAS REFERRED TO AS A SAFETY FEATURE BY THE DEALERSHIP WHO WOULD ONLY OFFER ME AN OIL CHANGE AS A FIX.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 20, 2019
WE PURCHASED A USED 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE LATITUDE (LESS THAN 13,000 MILES) FROM A DEALERSHIP IN COLORADO SPRINGS ON 10/17. ON THE WAY HOME, ABOUT 100 MILES, THE STOP /START WARNING LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON ABOUT 8 MILES FROM HOME GOING APPROX. 50 MPH. WE DECIDED TO GET IT HOME. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVEWAY, WE PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE AND NOTICED THAT POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. WE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND AT RESTART, THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE RESET. WE NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AND THEY RECOMMENDED CHANGING OUT BATTERY. WE DROVE ABOUT 15 MILES TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT THE BEST BATTERY THEY HAD FOR THAT VEHICLE. WE DID NOT USE THE JEEP FOR THE NEXT DAY (FRIDAY). SATURDAY 10/19 WE DROVE IT DOWN TO DENVER (ABOUT 60 MILES) WITH NO PROBLEM. ON THE WAY HOME, AGAIN THE STOP /START WARNING LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON GOING APPROX. 60 MPH. WE DROVE TO A PARKING LOT AND MADE A TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT. AT THAT POINT POWER STEERING WAS OPERABLE. I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND THEN IN REVERSE AND THEN NOTICED NO POWER STEERING, I PLACED THE CAR IN DRIVE AND AGAIN NO POWER STEERING. WE STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE RESET. ABOUT 2 MINUTES LATER WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER AND REAR DEFROST HAD BOTH BEEN SWITCHED ON AUTOMATICALLY.
Steering, Electrical system, Service brakes, Jul 9, 2019, crash
I WAS COMPLETING A TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT COMPLETELY OFF CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CURB. VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS ADVISED THIS HAPPENED DUE TO A SAFETY FEATURE OF MY CAR . WHEN THE CAR IS LOW ON OIL WHEN YOU TURN IT THROWS OFF THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR SO THE ENGINE DOESN'T BLOW UP . MY LAST OIL CHANGE WAS IN FEB MY CAR IS COMPLETELY OUT OF OIL AND NO CHECK OIL LIGHT APPEARED .
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Jul 8, 2019
MY VEHICLE WS IN MOTION WHEN THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED ON BRIEFLY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS MY VEHICLE LOST POWER COMPLETELY. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER, BRAKE OR ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I USED MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE.*BF CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY HAVING THE ENGINE REPLACED BUT IT HAD AROUND 28,000 MILES ON IT. THE BATTERY LIGHT BRIEFLY BLINKED ON BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS ON MAY 26,2019. VIN IS INVALID.*JB