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
686 reports, newest first.
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
Suspension, Electrical system, Service brakes, Apr 4, 2021
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE PARKING BREAK CAME ON AND WOULD NOT RELEASE.
Electrical system, Apr 1, 2021
AT VARIOUS TIMES, EITHER STARTING THE CAR OR RESTARTING THE CAR, NOT ALL THE TIME, THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT WILL ILLIMUNATE ON THE SCREEN BLOCKING OUT THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER AND LIGHTING UP THE SHIFTER TO ALL RED. AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR AND RESTARTING (SOMETIMES) THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT AND THE CAR WILL RUN FINE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE IT IS NOT COVERED BY EITHER THE BASIC WARRANTY OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE RESOLUTION IS TO CHANGE THE WHOLE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF OVER $600.00.
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.
Engine, Mar 30, 2021
OIL CONSUMPTION ON VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 50K MILES. 3 TO 4 QUARTS LOW AT EVERY 5000 MILE OIL CHANGE. CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET. NO WARNING LIGHT TO INFORM YOU OF LOW OIL.
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,.
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
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.
Engine, Mar 1, 2021
I HAVE OIL LEAKING FROM BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND CYLINDER HEAD WHICH HAS LEAKED ENOUGH TO COAT THE ENGINE BLOCK AND IS ALSO LOSING COOLANT. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS A SEEPAGE SAYS IS NORMAL AND SAYS CHRYSLER WON'T FIX IT. SO ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER YOUR 2.4 ENGINE IS SUPPOSED TO LEAK AND BURN OIL. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD.
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.
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.
Engine, Feb 11, 2021
CAR TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. NO MAINTENANCE INDICATION ON DASH. I CHECK THE OIL AND THERE IS NO OIL EVEN AFTER A RECENT OIL CHANGE. ALL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN WITH THE SAME DEALERSHIP CAR SERVICE. THIS HAS OCURRED 5 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. CAR SERVICE TEAM HAS CHANGED MAINTENANCE FREQUENCY TO EVERY 1300 MILES TO MONITOR OIL CONSUMPTION BUT HAVE NOT DETERMINED ROOT CAUSE. AGAIN, THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING (ALL 5 TIMES) ON CITY STREETS.
Power train, Feb 10, 2021
THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON AT 74,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 77,000 MILES WHILE IN MOTION.
Electrical system, Engine, Lane departure, Feb 10, 2021
MY SENSORS ONLY WORK SOMETIMES, MY KEY FOB ONLY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS. IT'S STARTING TO HAVE ISSUES. MY JEEP STOPPED WORKING ON THE HIGHWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN
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.
Engine, Jan 21, 2021
SINCE WE BOUGHT IT NEW, IT HAS STALLED WHEN TURNING (USUALLY LEFT) WHEN THE OIL LEVEL GETS LOW. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PUT OIL IN IT FREQUENTLY AND THAT THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF IS A SAFETY MECHANISM. THE PROBLEM IS, THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE OIL LEVEL IS LOW. SO UNLESS I KEEP TRACK OF HOW MANY MILES I HAVE DRIVEN, THE JEEP WILL JUST QUIT ON ME. I HAVE DEALT WITH THE ISSUE UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN I CAME WITHIN INCHES OF GETTING SLAMMED ON MY PASSENGER DOOR BECAUSE I STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IF A LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON, I WOULD OBVIOUSLY HAVE MORE OIL PUT IN, BUT I GET NO WARNING AT ALL. IT JUST QUITS. USUALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE ENCLOSED PICTURES ARE OF WHEN I HAD TO PUT OIL IN IT IN NOVEMBER. THE LAST EPISODE OF ALMOST GETTING HIT HAPPENED ON JAN 16.
Other or unspecified, Jan 20, 2021
KEEPS THROWING CODE SERVICE SHIFTER
Power train, Jan 16, 2021
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING COMES ON VERY OFTEN WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE.
Electrical system, Jan 11, 2021
ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE ELECTRONIC RANGE SELECT (ERS) WHILE DRIVING. IMMEDIATELY, ALL OF THE PRNDL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED RED AND THE DASH DISPLAYED THE MESSAGE "SHIFTER SERVICE". MOVING THE SHIFTER BACK TO FULLY AUTOMATIC DID NOT CLEAR THE ERROR OR THE PRNDL LIGHTS. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE, TURNED IT OFF, THEN RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND THE ERROR CLEARED.
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.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 5, 2021
ON 12/15/20 I DROVE LESS THAN 1 MI. DOWNHILL, STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN & THE ENGINE QUIT & BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE RESTARTED ABOUT 5 MIN. I WAS LOW ON GAS, SO GAS WAS ADDED & I FILLED TANK. THE ENGINE QUIT THE NEXT DAY AT THE SAME SPOT. IT RESTARTED AFTER A FEW TRIES. THE BATTERY INDICATOR SHOWED IT HAD A CHARGE & OIL WAS GOOD. REPEAT STALLING AT SAME SPOT ON 12/24/20 AND ON 1/2/2021. VERY CONCERNING AS I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND COULD EASILY BE HIT. I HAD 27,000 & CURRENTLY HAVE 35693 MILES. THIS VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BEFORE I GOT IT AND IS TOO NEW TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS.