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
Other or unspecified, Sep 7, 2020
MY JEEP KEPT GIVING THE SERVICE SHIFTER BUT WHEN I CALLED THE DODGE HOUSE IN ODESSA TEXAS THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR IT. SO I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BUT STILL TOOK ALMOST 3WEEKS JUST FOR THEM TO GET THE PART BECAUSE THEY WHERE IN BACK ORDER
Other or unspecified, Aug 31, 2020
MY CAR ONLY HAS 41,000 MILES AND RECENTLY JUST PURCHASED IT 2 MONTHS AGO AND IT STARTED SAYING 'SERVICE SHIFTER' AND THE SHIFTS ALL LIGHT UP RED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, A LOT OF JEEP OWNERS EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE WITH JEEPS. AN ISSUE THAT NEVER SEEMS TO GO AWAY REGARDLESS OF TAKING IT TO A SHOP
Other or unspecified, Aug 29, 2020
I HAVE A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE AND A COUPLE OF TIMES THE SHIFT SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON AND PRND ALL LIGHT UP...LOOKED IT UP ON LONG AND A LOT OF JEEPS HAVE THIS PROBLEM...THAT'S WHY I BOUGHT A NEW CAR SO I WOULD BE SAFE AND NOW I'M SCARED THAT I WILL WRECK IF IT GOES OUT...WHEN THIS HAPPENED YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN GEAR AND CUT YOUR CAR OFF...BUT WHAT IF IT DOES IT WHILE I'M DRIVING
Other or unspecified, Aug 27, 2020
EVERY NOW AND THEN WHEN I START THE VEHICLE OR WHILE I AM DRIVING IT A MESSAGE WILL POP UP ON MY DASHBOARD THAT SAYS 'SERVICE SHIFTER.' THE SHIFTER LIGHTS FLASH RED AND I GENERALLY HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONCE. THE SHIFTER APPEARS TO FUNCTION PERFECTLY FINE, SO IT IS PUZZLING THAT I GET THIS REOCCURRING NOTIFICATION EVERY FEW THOUSAND MILES.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 17, 2020
ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE GEAR BOX TURN ON AND SAYS "SERVICE SHIFTER". HAPPENED ONCE A MONTH AND IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT.
Suspension, Power train, Other or unspecified, Aug 11, 2020
I HAVE 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE WITH 85353 MILES IT HAD SERVICE SHIFTER TWICE WHEN I WAS DRIVING SO I HAD TO PULL OVER ON HIGHWAY AND TURN OFF ENGINE AND TURN ON ENGINE SHIFT TO PARK THEN TO DRIVE
Power train, Other or unspecified, Jul 27, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER DASH WARNING COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. AT THE SAME TIME, THE PRND LIGHTS ON THE GEAR SELECTOR LIGHT UP. THE NOTIFICATION CLEARS AND THE LIGHTS TURN OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE NOTIFICATION WILL APPEAR AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THIS ISSUE THREE TIMES AND WILL GO IN FOR ANOTHER SERVICE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 29. AS OF NOW, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE WARNING LIGHT STILL COMES ON.
Other or unspecified, Jul 14, 2020
CAR WAS SITTING STILL, HAD NOT BEEN RUNNING (IN OVER 36 HOURS)L UNDER THE CARPORT. WE WENT TO GET INTO THE CAR AND THEN NOTICED, THE BACK GLASS HAD BUSTED IN THE SAME PLACE (THE HEATER CONNECTOR) ON BOTH SIDES. THE GLASS BUSTED OUT WARDS. HUSBANDS VEHICLE WAS RIGHT BESIDE THIS ONE, AND THERE WAS NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF VANDALIZM.
Other or unspecified, Jun 26, 2020
I'VE HAVE MY 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE SINCE NOVEMBER 1,2017 AND IN EARLY 2019 A 'SERVICE SHIFTER' MESSAGE SHOWED UP ON THE DASHBOARD. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND WAITED 30 SECONDS AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT SHOWED UP AGAIN SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP CLOSED TO MY HOUSE THEY FIXED IT. AFTER I GOT IT FIXED THE SAME MESSAGE HAS SHOWED UP 6-8 MORE TIMES AND I REPEATED THE SAME PROCESS WHERE I TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN AND THE MESSAGE GOES AWAY BUT THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER IT SHOWS UP AGAIN. ALSO IT WILL SHOW UP SOMETIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR EVEN JUST DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. *TR
Other or unspecified, May 25, 2020
WHEN DRIVING A SHIFTER SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON. ALL ON THE RED LIGHT INDICATORS COME ON BY SHIFTER. *BF*JB
Other or unspecified, Apr 15, 2020
SHIFTER SERVICE WARNING STATING NEEDS SERVICES APPEARS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER ARE LITE UP RED. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL WHEN I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF THE SHIFTER SERVICE LIGHT GOES AWAY HOWEVER COMES BACK IN A FEW DAYS TO A WEEK OR SO LATER. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4-5 FIVES NOW IN LAST 2 MONTHS
Other or unspecified, Mar 9, 2020
VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN FOR NO APPARENT REASON, GAS PEDAL DOES NOT WORK, BRAKE DOES ... DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE
Other or unspecified, Feb 12, 2020
ALL OF A SUDDEN "SERVICE SHIFTER" WITH THE SHIFTER LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATED RED. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS THING SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THE TRANSMISSION IS SPANKED. MY CAR WILL SHUT OFF IN MOTION AND NOT START BACK UP WHEN IT DOES THIS. I HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT FOR HOURS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHINCLE. I CURRENTLY HAVE A 2018 THIS SHOULD NOT BE GIVING ME THESE ISSUES
Power train, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 10, 2020
RIGHT WHEN MY VEHICLE HIT 25,000 MILES, I NOTICED THAT ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN MOTION THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON AND GEAR SHIFT LIGHTS ALL IN RED, P,R,N,D. YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND ALL TURN OFF THEN WHEN YOU START DRIVING AGAIN THEY'LL DO THE SAME. IT'LL STOP FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN START AGAIN. FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IT ENDED UP BEGIN WIRES AND A SHIFTER HARNESS. A LOT OF JEEP CHEROKEE 2017-2019 OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING RIGHT AROUND THE SAME MILES. THIS NEEDS TO BECOME A RECALL.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 4, 2020
CAR STALLED AND THE PANEL STATED SHIFT TO PARK ON PANEL AND WOULD NOT CRANK BACK. TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAD A LONG HARD CRANK AND ENGINE FINALLY CAUGHT UP AND CRANKED. SHIFTED INTO PARK AND WENT ABOUT 1000 - 1500 FEET AND IT DIED AGAIN. WAITED AND TRIED TO CRANK AGAIN AND WENT TO HARD CRANK AGAIN BEFORE STARTING. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED LOW OIL. THIS IS THE REASON FOR GOING DEAD. STATED I NEEDED OIL CHANGES EVERY 5K AFTER I WAS TOLD INITIALLY 10 K THEN AT 1ST OIL CHANGE TOLD 7500K AND THEN AT THIS PROBLEM THEY STATED NO IT WAS DEFINATELY 5 K. THIS TIME, PANEL LIGHTS UP AND SAYS SERVICE SHIFTER SOON. ALL LIGHTS ON DRIVE SHIFTER LIGHTS UP. NOT JUST ON PARK OR REVERSE OR DRIVE. ALL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THEY COME AND GO. I ALSO HAVE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING THE LAST DAY OR SO AS WELL. COULD NOT CONFIRM YET. I WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH OUT FOR THIS. 1ST DATE 12/4/19 AND SERVICED AT DEALER ON 12/5/19 MILEAGE 31146 AND NOW THIS IS 2/4/20 MILEAGE TODAY IS 34116
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Jan 31, 2020
THE JEEP COMES WITH THE FEATURE OF WHEN U COME TO A STOP SIGN OR STOP FOR ANY TIME THE MOTOR SHUTS OFF AND RESUMES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED. MY WIFE VEHICLE'S HAD A EXCLAMATION POINT LIGHT COME ON SO SHE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PUT IT ON A COMPUTER AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THAT'S SAME VERY NIGHT SHE WAS DRIVING AND SUDDENLY HER MOTOR JUST SHUTS OFF AL.OST CAUSING A ACCIDENT. SHE HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND AFTER MULTIPLE TRIES OF TURNING THE KEY ON AND OFF IT FINALLY RESTARTED
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 8, 2020
MY GEAR SHIFTER LIGHTS ALL LIGHT UP AND THE DISPLAY ON MY DASH BOARD SAID SERVICE SHIFTER THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 18, 2019
"SERVICE SHIFTER" LIGHTS UP.
Other or unspecified, Dec 18, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON SHIFTER CAME ON AND WON'T GO OFF. P R N D, ETC. WAS DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE, TOOK EXIT AND WHEN I WAS COMING TO STOP AT STOP SIGN A WARNING BEEP SOUNDED AND LIGHTS CAME ON SHIFTER AND DASH SAYING SERVICE SHIFTER. CANNOT FIND ANYTHING ABOUT SERVICING A SHIFTER.
Other or unspecified, Dec 14, 2019
2018 CHEROKEE 24,834 MILES. PUT IN REVERSE WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVE. SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT APPEARED AND ALL GEAR LIGHT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED RED.
Other or unspecified, Dec 12, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, A "SERVICE SHIFTER" NOTICE COMES UP ON MY SH. ALL THE LIGHTS NEXT TO EACH GEAR LIGHT UP ON MY SHIFTER. THE NOTICE WON'T GO AWAY UNLESS I TURN THE CAR OFF FOR AT LEAST 5 MINUTES. IT COMES BACK ANYWHERE BETWEEN IMMEDIATELY AND 10 DAYS LATER. USUALLY DAILY. DEALER SAYS THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT BUT THERE ARE REPORTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. SOME WAY THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY STALL OR YOU CANNOT PUT IT IN PARK.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 9, 2019
THE CAR STOPPED WORKING WHILE IN MOTION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WHILE TURNING TOWARDS MY APARTMENT COMPLEX. I HAD MY DAUGHTER INSIDE THE CAR WITH ME AND I WAS AFRAID CARS WILL COME SINCE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WERE CARS PASS BY TO ENTER THE APARTMENT COMPLEX. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR AFTER CALLING MY DAD WHO HELPED ME TAKE IT TO A SAFE SPOT AND JUMP START THE CAR. THE CAR WORKED AFTER DOING A JUMP START AND I WAS ABLE TO PARK IT AT MY PARKING SPOT. THE NEXT DAY I WAS LEAVING TO DROP OFF MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL AND SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS INSIDE THE CAR COMING OUT (IN MOTION) AND THE CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY AND WOULDN'T TURN. I CALLED ROAD ASSISTANCE THIS TIME. THEY SENT ME A TOWING COMPANY TO TAKE IT TO THE CLOSEST JEEP DEALERSHIP. SINCE THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN ON AT ALL, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO TAKE IT. THEY SAID THE CAR NEED IT A FLAT BED TOW TRUCK SINCE IT DIDN'T START AT ALL. THEY WERE ABLE TO TOW THE CAR 3 DAYS LATER ON SATURDAY 12/07/19 BY A TOWING COMPANY THAT HAD A FLAT BED TOW TRUCK AND TOOK IT TO THE CLOSEST JEEP DEALERSHIP. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT ORLANDO DODGE JEEP DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE WIN MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THE BATTERY NEEDS TO BE RECHARGE AND GET NEW KEYS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW WITH 0 MILEAGES FROM JEEP DEALERSHIP ONLY 1 YEAR AND 6 MONTHS OLD. I DECIDED TO BUY A NEW CAR IN ORDER TO AVOID RISKS LIKE THESE ONE OF BEING LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET/ROAD WITH MY DAUGHTER INSIDE THE CAR. THANKFULLY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF ROUTE I-4 WERE I NORMALLY DRIVE.
Other or unspecified, Dec 3, 2019
UNDER 30,000 MILES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOTIFY TO "SERVICE SHIFTER" BUT WOULD STILL ACCELERATE/BREAK/STOP. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THE INITIAL TIME. THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE TURNED OFF AND THEN STARTED BACK UP AGAIN IN ORDER TO GET RID OF THE CODE. EVERYTIME THIS HAS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN MOTION, AT THE SPEED LIMIT.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 2, 2019
ON 11/24/19 @ APPROXIMATELY 5:30PM LIGHTS ILLUMINATED SAYING SERVICE SERVICE SHIFT ADJUSTOR. THEN ON 11/29/19 WENT TO DRIVE THE CAR MADE IT A BLOCK FROM THE HOUSE AND CAR TURNED OFF. DRIVING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY (12/2) WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY HALF MILE AWAY DIED TWICE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT STARTS AGAIN.
Other or unspecified, Nov 25, 2019
I HAVE A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE LATITUDE WITH 36,000 MILES ON IT. I CRANKED IT UP AND NOTICED THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT ON AND ALL THE LIGHTS BESIDE MY SHIFTER ACTUALLY LIT UP! THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT HAD MY DASH LOCKED AT THAT AND WOULDN'T GO OFF TIL I TURNED MY JEEP OFF AND CRANKED IT BACK UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES! I HAVE MY JEEP AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW AND THEY ARE TRYING TO CHARGE ME TO HAVE IT FIXED. THIS SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY OR A RECALL SHOULD BE IN PLACE. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET! I PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS JEEP AND I'M NOT HAPPY AT ALL! PLEASE PLEASE FIX THIS!