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, Jul 18, 2020
MANY TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS A GOOD SHARP BUMP IN THE ROAD OR I BUMP THE SHIFTER SHARPLY, THE DISPLAY IMMEDIATELY GIVES A SERVICE SHIFTER FAULT ALERT ON THE COMMUNICATION PANEL AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS P, R, N, F AND THE MANUAL LIGHTS ILLUMINATE ON THE SHIFTER. THE VEHICLE CAN BE MOVING OR AT REST AND THE IGNITION ON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I HAVE REPORTED THE INCIDENTS AT EACH OF THE OIL SERVICE CHECKUPS AT THE DEALER, HOWEVER WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE IT NEVER GETS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT WAS EVEN MENTIONED OR THE MECHANIC THAT WORKS ON TRANSMISSIONS COULD NOT GET TO IT THAT DAY.
Power train, Jul 17, 2020
WHEN MY VEHICLE ACCELERATES THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING OR NOT FULLY ENGAGING. THE RPMS WILL SPIKE TO ABOUT 4,000 BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT, AND WHEN IT SHIFTS THE WHOLE VEHICLE WILL SHUDDER LIKE IT'S BEEN HIT BY A SLEDGEHAMMER WIELDED BY THOR HIMSELF. TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING MY VEHICLE I HAVE TO SLOWLY ACCELERATE AND KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER 3,000 RPMS. THIS ONLY SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ON A HIGHWAY OR ROADWAY THAT IS 55MPH OR HIGHER.
Electrical system, Jul 14, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND BLOCKS OUT ALL OTHER DIGITAL READ OUT UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS PARKED TURNED OFF AND BACK OF. ISSUE CONTINUES TO REOCCUR
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.
Electrical system, Jul 9, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON, ALL LIGHT ON SHIFTER LIGHT UP.
Electrical system, Jul 3, 2020
WHEN SHIFTING TO PARK, INTERMITTENTLY WONT STAY INDICATING P AND REST OF SHIFT POSITIONS ILLUMINATE WITH "SERVICE SHIFTER" DISPLAYING ON STATUS SCREEN. TO FIX IT, PUSH SHIFTER UP HARDER TO PARK POSITION ENSURING P ILLUMINATES, TURN VEHICLE OFF THEN START AND VERIFY NO SERVICE MESSAGE. SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING BUT USUALLY AFTER BEING PARKED AND RESTARTED. SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE PREVENTS SPEED SCREEN FROM DISPLAYING WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Power train, Jun 29, 2020
THE SERVICE SHIFTER NOTIFICATION CAME UP ON THE DASHBOARD SCREEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY, UNABLE TO BE CLEARED, AND ALL RED LIGHTS ON SHIFTER WERE LIT UP. (PRND) AFTER STOPPING, TURNING OFF VEHICLE AND RESTARTING CLEARED THE MESSAGE, HOWEVER, VEHICLE ALSO CONTINUES TO JERK IN BETWEEN GEARS.
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
Power train, Jun 24, 2020
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 18001 - VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND JUST STARTED SO I CAN DRIVE IT - HAD BEEN SITTING FOR OVER A DAY SO ENGINE WAS COLD. DISPLAY IN CENTER OF PANEL READ "SERVICE SHIFTER". THE NEXT DAY THE MESSAGE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WERE GONE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP SINCE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID IT NEEDS A NEW WIRING HARNESS AND NEW SHIFTER. BEEN ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP AND INTERNET RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WANTED TO ADD MY JEEP TO THE LIST TO ASSIST IN GETTING THIS ITEM RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR
Electrical system, Jun 23, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE BATTERY POWER SENSOR WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 18V524000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Power train, Jun 22, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COMES ON AND REMAINS ON WITH ALL SHIFTER LIGHTS ON AT THE SAME TIME. MENU FOR CAR IS NO ACCESSIBLE DASH PANEL IS LOCKED. PERIODICALLY AND RANDOMLY COMES ON AND GOES OFF WHEN DRIVING OR STATIONARY. CALLED DEALER AND THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF IT. *TR
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
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jun 18, 2020
AS DRIVING VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN LOOSE ALL CONTROL. MESSAGE POPS UP THAT SAYS. APPLY BRAKE AND PUT IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Engine, Jun 16, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AN AUDIBLE CHIME WAS HEARD PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. ZIMMER CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (1086 BURLINGTON PIKE, FLORENCE, KY 41042), WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RECEIVED FOUR OIL CHANGES WITHIN 24 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000.
Electrical system, Jun 15, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING LIGHT. *TR
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jun 13, 2020
THE MESSAGE SERVICE SHIFTER APPEARS, AND ALL OF THE GEARS ON THE GEAR SHIFT LIGHT UP. THERE IS NO SPECIFIC REASON THIS HAPPENS. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, SOMETIMES WHILE IN MOTION AND BRAKING, SOMETIMES WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED. IT STARTED WHEN MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER THE 32,000 MILE WARRANTY AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS SEEMS TO BE A POPULAR ISSUE AFTER I RESEARCHED IT. *TR
Power train, Jun 7, 2020
THE 'SERVICE SHIFTER' COMES ON AND ALL OF THE GEARS LIGHT UP. THE CAR HAS A SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE BUT NO INDICATION OF THE CAR RUNNING HOT. THE WARNING GOES AWAY AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION
Electrical system, Jun 7, 2020
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT IS ON AT 39K MILES. IT WAS ON WHILE STATIONARY, IN PARK, AND WHILE IN MOTION, IN DRIVE.
Power train, May 31, 2020
MY SERVICE SHIFT LIGHTS UP ON DASH AND ALL THE LIGHTS FOR P,R,N,D ALL LIGHT UP. THIS NEEDS A RECALL I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF ISSUES WITH THIS AND SOME ARE GETTING ATTORNEYS. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED MY JEEP ONLY HAS 48000 MILES. AND IF I'M SERIOUSLY INJURED I'LL BE SUING ALSO. YOU CAN'T LET THIS CONTINUE THESE DEALERSHIPS NEEDS TO HANDLE THIS AS A RECALL!
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
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
Electrical system, Engine, Apr 26, 2020
TURNED ON JUST FINE, PULLED OUT TO THE STREET FROM THE STORE GRADUALLY. SLOWED DOWN FOR THE RED LIGHT AND BEFORE I STOPPED ALL THE RED LIGHTS TURNED ON ON THE SHIFTER AND THEN ON MY SCREEN IT SAID SERVICE SHIFTER. I'VE ONLY OWN THIS CAR FOR A MONTH AND DOESN'T EVEN HAVE PLATES ON IT YET. 43000 MILES WHEN BOUGHT AND I'M NOT A HAPPY PERSON
Power train, Electrical system, Apr 18, 2020
THE SERVICE SHIFTER ERROR HAS REPEATEDLY COMING ON DESPITE THE SHIFTER HARNESS BEING REPLACED TWICE, THE HARNESS BEING REPLACED AND COMPUTER UPDATES. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER TURN RED. THE CAR RANDOMLY JUMPS TO 5000 RPMS AND WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WILL HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER JEEP ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE YEAR AND HAS RECENTLY BEEN IN THERE FOR A MONTH. *TR
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
Electrical system, Apr 7, 2020
UPON ENTERING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN IN MOTION, VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND DISPLAYS A MESSAGE SAYING THE VEHICLE MUST BE STOPPED TO SHIFT. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IT TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO GET THE CAR STARTED. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO MYSELF, AND ONCE TO MY WIFE WHOM IS PREGNANT AND WAS IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN IT OCCURRED. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE DAYS.