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, Feb 6, 2019
FRONT END WOBBLE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEEDS.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Oct 28, 2018
WHILE IN MOTION WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 MPH THE TRANSMISSION JERKED TWICE AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL, STAYED THAT WAY AS IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. I HIT MY BRAKES BECAUSE WE WAS LOSING SPEED AND WHEN STOPPED I TRIED TO PUT IN PARK BUT IT SOUNDED AS IF GEARS WAS GRI. DING I HAD TO SHUT OFF THE JEEP TO MAKE IT STOP REVVING. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 4 LANE AND COULD ONLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND ROW BACKWARDS INTO THE MEDIAN. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT BACK IN DRIVE WITH PUT GEARS GRINDING. I HAD BEEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MINS AT A SPEED OF 60-70 WHEN THIS HAPPENED. NO WARNING LIGHTS AND NOTHING ON THE DASH AT TIME OF ISSUE.
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 22, 2018
AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY FOR THE LAST 2DAYS, I GET ABOUT 1/2 MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND AN INDICATOR COMES ON TELLING ME THAT SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING CAN'T BE DONE. THE CAR SHUTS COMPLETELY DOWN AND I HAVE TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP TO TURN THE KEY OFF. THE STEERINGWHEEL LOCKS UP MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF THE ROAD. WHEN I TRY TO RESTART, IT ACTS LIKE STARTER IS FIGHTING TO TURN ON. I HAVE TO GIVE IT FUEL TO GET IT TO START. THEN I DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS THE REST OF THE DAY
Steering, Suspension, Other or unspecified, Oct 16, 2018
WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS THERE IS A VIBRATION BETWEEN 60 AND 80 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES REPLACED, RIMS REPLACED AND NO CHANGE IN VIBRATION. IT HAS STARTED SINCE I OWNED THE VEHICLE WITH 7 MILES ON THE ODOMETER TILL TODAY WITH 9000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NORMAL THROUGHOUT THE LINE OF CHEROKEES AND IS JUST "ROAD VIBRATION" BUT TALKING WITH OTHER OWNERS THIS IS NOT THE CASE AND THEY DO NOT EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING. IT DOES TEND TO FADE AWAY DURING LONG LEFT TURNS ON THE FREEWAY BUT APPEARS AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE STRAIGHTENS. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THIS HAS RESULTED IN NO HEADWAY AS THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NORMAL.
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 26, 2018
MONDAY‎, ‎AUGUST‎ ‎13‎, ‎2018 THE JEEP CHEROKEE WAS IN FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE. MINUTES AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE OIL CHANGE AND DRIVING OFF THE DEALER LOT AT 10:07 AM RECEIVED THE CHARGING/BATTERY INDICATOR ALONG WITH THE AUTO START/STOP ERROR INDICATOR. SECONDS LATER WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE JEEP BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT A BUNCH OF SMOKE. WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE SERVICE CENTER AT THE DEALER, IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT A FAULTY O-RING ON THE OIL FILTER CAUSED THE LOSS OF 2 QUARTS OF OIL. SMOLICH MOTORS SERVICE CENTER FAILED TO NOTE THE AUTO START STOP ERROR AND NO ERROR WAS PRESENT AFTER THE LOSS OF OIL WAS REPLENISHED AND WE RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK DESPITE BEING SHOWN THE PICTURE OF THE ERROR. THEY DID NOTE THE O-RING FAILURE AND THE LOSS OF 2 QUARTS OF OIL ON THE SERVICE ORDER RECEIPT. THURSDAY‎, ‎SEPTEMBER‎ ‎6‎, ‎2018 9:28 AM WHILE TURNING FROM BADGER ST ON TO THE BEND PARKWAY THE CHARGING/BATTERY LIGHT APPEARED WITH THE MESSAGE TO SERVICE THROTTLE CONTROL AND AGAIN EXPERIENCED DIFFICULT STEERING WHILE NARROWLY AVOIDING A COLLISION WITH A SEMI TRUCK.