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: other or unspecified
173 reports, newest first. Show all
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
Other or unspecified, Jan 20, 2021
KEEPS THROWING CODE SERVICE SHIFTER
Other or unspecified, Jan 9, 2021
I WAS IN DRIVE AND SITTING AT A LIGHT, I HEARD A DING AND SAW THE SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING HAD COME ON. WHEN I LOOKED DOWN AT THE SHIFTER ALL THE GEARS WERE LIT UP RED INSTEAD OF JUST THE GEAR I WAS IN.
Other or unspecified, Jan 2, 2021
AT 33050 SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING CAME UP ALL LIGHS ON THE SHIFTER WERE ON. TURNED CAR OFF SAT A MOMENT AND THE SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING WAS GONE. WE WERE ON A CITY STREET PUT THE JEEP IN REVERSE WHEN THIS HAPPENED VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY BEING PUT INT REVERSE
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.
Other or unspecified, Dec 26, 2020
AT 26,000 MILES ON MY 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE TRAILHAWK, THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Back over prevention, Dec 23, 2020, fire
ALL THE ENGINE OIL LEAKED OUT OF THE CAR AND STARTED TO SMOKE WHILE I WAS IN MOTION AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BUT WAS PERFECTLY FINE AT FIRST. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED BUT MY ENGINE IS NOW MESSING UP AND I ALMOST GOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT.
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.
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.
Other or unspecified, Dec 3, 2020
WHILE DRIVING THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE THE NOTICE WAS GONE BUT RETURNED SEVERAL DAYS LATER. WHEN I GOOGLE WHAT A SERVICE SHIFTER WAS I SAW ALOT OF COMPLAINTS BY OTHER JEEP OWNERS. I THOUGHT I SHOULD ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE LIST. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS ISSUE.
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.
Other or unspecified, Nov 17, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE APPEARED WHILE DRIVING TODAY AND GEAR SHIFT LIGHTS ARE ALL RED P, R, N, D. THE SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE WOULD NOT DISAPPEAR BLOCKING THE SPEEDOMETER READING.
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.
Other or unspecified, Sep 30, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER NOTIFICATION CAME ACROSS DASH AND ALL LIGHTS ON SHIFTER WERE LITE UP RED. THANKFULLY THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, AND NOT IN DRIVE. AS THE 2017S JEEP CHEROKEE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND NOW RECALL FOR SERVICE SHIFTER. SOMONES INCIDENT WAS THAT CAME ACROSS DASH, SERVICE SHIFTER AND WITHIN 10SECONDS THEIR FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THEY WRECKED ON THE HIGHWAY. I DONT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME !! OR ANYONE WITH A JEEP CHEROKEE.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Sep 28, 2020
AFTER GETTING MY JEEP WORKED ON AT CROWN JEEP OF CHATTANOOGA FOR MY DASH BOARD SAYING 'SHIFTER SERVICE' THEY REPLACED MY SHIFTER BEZEL CLAIMING THAT WAS ALL THAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. THIS IS AFTER MY JEEP THREE THE EBRAKE IN WHILE GOING 65 DOWN A HIGHWAY. TONIGHT 9/28/2020 WHILE BACKING OUT MY DRIVEWAY MY JEEP THREW THE EBRAKE ON ITSELF AGAIN. THEN DID IT WHILE GOING IN TOWARD AT 35 MPH. CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR MISTAKES IN THEIR CARS
Other or unspecified, Sep 21, 2020
THE SHIFTER HAS COME ON TWICE NOW AND ALL LIGHTS POP UP ON GEAR SHIFT. THIS IS ABOUT THE 4TH TOME IN 1 -1/2 YRS IN MOTION.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Sep 18, 2020
'SERVICE SHIFTER' LIGHT HAS COME ON THE DASH SEVERAL TIMES. STARTING AT 26,000 MILES. HAVE TAKEN IT SEVERAL TIME TO CROWN CHRYSLER DOGE JEEP IN CHATTANOOGA TENNESSEE FOR THEM TO TELL ME IT'S ONLY THE BATTERY. THIS BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THIS ISSUE IS STILL OCCURRING. TONIGHT, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020, MY JEEP CHEROKEE NOTIFIED SERVICE SHIFTER THE. SLAMMED THE EBRAKE ON WHILE GOING 55. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS STATING NOTHING IS WRONG. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH AFTER PUSHING THE 'BUSH TO START' BUTTON 'TO CUT THE CAR OFF,' THE BUTTON STATES THE CAR IS OFF, BUT YET THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. I NO LONGER WANT THIS 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE DUE TO IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 14, 2020
MY CHEROKEE IS 2018, I BOUGHT IT USED JAN OF 2020. IN SEPT OF 2020 MY STARTER BROKE, I PAID $550 TO GET IT FIXED. THIS MORNING, ABOUT 4 DAYS LATER THE STARTER IS BROKEN AGAIN. MY MECHANIC IS VERY GOOD, AND WARNED ME ABOUT MULTIPLE PEOPLE COMING IN WITH THIS ISSUE AND IT BREAKING AGAIN. HE TOLD ME TO GET A NEW CAR WHICH I PLANNED ON DOING BUT IT BROKE BEFORE I GOT THE CHANCE. I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND MULTIPLE PEOPLE LEFT REVIEWS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
Other or unspecified, Sep 11, 2020
I HAD A PROBLEM WITH SERVICE SHIFTER
Other or unspecified, Sep 11, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AT THE DASH WHEN DRIVING.ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS ON SHIFTER LIGHT UP. PULLED OVER AND TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND IT WAS GONE.
Other or unspecified, Sep 10, 2020
10 SEP 2020 AT 0745 MY JEEP CHEROKEE WITH 34,000 MILES HAD A DASH MESSAGE SAYING "SERVICE SHIFTER" AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER EMITTED RED. AFTER TURNING CAR OFF AND BACK ON THERE WAS NO MESSAGE OR ANYTHING.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 9, 2020
STARTED VEHICLE AND ALL LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER PANEL CAME ON AND A WARNING OF "SERVICE SHIFTER" CAME ON THE DASH. THIS HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES PER WEEK AND AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS AT GETTING THIS FIXED, THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO CLUE. IT IS NOW IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT WHEN THIS HAPPENS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 8, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER KEEPS APPEARING ON THE DASH OF THE JEEP. ALL OF THE LIGHTS BESIDE OF THE SHIFTER LIGHT UP RED AND STAY ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THE LIGHT WILL TURN ON WHEN IT IS PARKED OR RANDOM TIMES WHILE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.
Other or unspecified, Sep 8, 2020
I AM CONSISTENTLY GETTING A SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT ON MY 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE. IT HAS 30000 MILES ON IT. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND IT GOES OFF. I HAVE SEEN ANOTHER OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ON ONLINE FORUMS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE.