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.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 13, 2019, crash
SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE COMING UP, ALL LIGHTS ON SHIFTER TURNING RED AND CAR NOT DRIVING PROPERLY. HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES TO MAKE IT GO AWAY.
Power train, Oct 29, 2019
THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, I HAVE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT TO MAKE IT GO OUT, THEN IT COMES BACK ON.
Other or unspecified, Oct 24, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING CAME ON DASHBOARD AND ALL GEAR SHIFT LIGHTS WERE LIT RED. (PRNDL). THIS IS SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN 5 MONTHS. 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE UNDER 14,000 MILES!!! GOT IN MY VEHICLE STARTED IT AND THEN THE WARNING AND LIGHTS CAME ON. TURNED VEHICLE OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED AND NO MORE WARNING!! THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING TO A NEW VEHICLE AND THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO HAVE IT RECALLED!!
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 20, 2019
WE PURCHASED A USED 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE LATITUDE (LESS THAN 13,000 MILES) FROM A DEALERSHIP IN COLORADO SPRINGS ON 10/17. ON THE WAY HOME, ABOUT 100 MILES, THE STOP /START WARNING LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON ABOUT 8 MILES FROM HOME GOING APPROX. 50 MPH. WE DECIDED TO GET IT HOME. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVEWAY, WE PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE AND NOTICED THAT POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. WE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND AT RESTART, THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE RESET. WE NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AND THEY RECOMMENDED CHANGING OUT BATTERY. WE DROVE ABOUT 15 MILES TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT THE BEST BATTERY THEY HAD FOR THAT VEHICLE. WE DID NOT USE THE JEEP FOR THE NEXT DAY (FRIDAY). SATURDAY 10/19 WE DROVE IT DOWN TO DENVER (ABOUT 60 MILES) WITH NO PROBLEM. ON THE WAY HOME, AGAIN THE STOP /START WARNING LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON GOING APPROX. 60 MPH. WE DROVE TO A PARKING LOT AND MADE A TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT. AT THAT POINT POWER STEERING WAS OPERABLE. I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND THEN IN REVERSE AND THEN NOTICED NO POWER STEERING, I PLACED THE CAR IN DRIVE AND AGAIN NO POWER STEERING. WE STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE RESET. ABOUT 2 MINUTES LATER WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER AND REAR DEFROST HAD BOTH BEEN SWITCHED ON AUTOMATICALLY.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Oct 19, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT ALWAYS ON IN MOTION AND IN PARK. BURNS 1 QT OF OIL EVERY 2000 MILES VEHICLES JERKS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE IN MOTION
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 17, 2019
WHILE DRIVING MY 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH 'SERVICE SHIFTER' ALL LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER THEN LIGHT UP RED THE 'PRNDL' THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT HAS BEEN CHECKED BY THE DEALER AND THE SHIFTER/ WIRING HARNESS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS INFORMED THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH MOST JEEPS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND NO RECALL HAS YET BEEN MADE, I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 7 MONTHS AND AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THUS FAR. THIS BEING AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT JEEP IS AWARE OF I FEEL THAT SOME ACTION SHOULD BE MADE FOR THE CUSTOMER. I AM A LOYAL JEEP CUSTOMER BUT AFTER THIS ISSUE NOT BEING RESOLVED FOR YEARS I MAY NOT CONTINUE TO BE A LOYAL CUSTOMER AND GO ELSEWHERE TO PURCHASE MY NEXT VEHICLE. THIS FIRST OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 25,2019 AND HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THE FIRST OCCURRENCE.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 15, 2019
STARTING ISSUES BATTERY WILL NOT STAY CHARGED NO HELP FROM DEALERSHIP .OR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
Power train, Oct 14, 2019
AFTER LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD GETTING A SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE ON START UP. IT WOULD GO AWAY WHEN I TURNED ENGINE OFF AND ON BUT NOTE WON'T DO AWAY. CARE LESS THAN A YEAR OLD BUT JUST OUT OF WENT DUE TO MILAGE.
Other or unspecified, Oct 13, 2019
I HAVE A LITTLE OVER 13300 MILES ON MY JEEP AS I WENT TO PARK MY CAR I NOTICED THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT WAS ON AS WELL AS PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, AND DRIVE WERE ALL LIT UP ON THE SHIFTER WHEN I LOOKED THIS UP ON GOOGLE THERE WHERE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINS MY JEEP IS STILL BRAND NEW I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM! I DID NOT TURN IT BACK ON TO SEE IF IT WENT AWAY I PLAN ON TAKING IT TO A DEALERSHIP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. I ALSO BOUGHT IT WHEN IT ONLY HAD 5 MILES ON IT NO REASON AT ALL FOR THIS TO HAPPEN THEREFORE SHOULD BE A RECALL!
Air bags, Oct 12, 2019, crash
MY VEHICLE WAS HIT WITH DIRECT IMPACT ON FRONT OF VEHICLE AND DRIVERS SIDE AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. BOTH VEHICLES INVOLVED WHERE IN MOTION
Power train, Oct 10, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE GEAR SELECTORS ILLUMINATED RED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GOSSETT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (1901 COVINGTON PIKE, MEMPHIS, TN 38128, (901) 388-8989) WHERE THE BEZEL WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Power train, Seat belts, Engine, Oct 9, 2019
STARTING AT 25K MILES, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO BURN THROUGH OIL EVEN BEFORE THE NEXT OIL CHANGE. THE MANUAL STATES TO GO OFF THE OIL SYSTEM LIGHT, DEALERS SAY DIFFERENT. OIL HAD 14% LEFT, BUT THE CAR KEPT SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WENT TO DEALER, CAR BURNED THROUGH ALL THE OIL. THEY REFUSED TO CHECK FOR ENGINE DAMAGE AND FORCE ME TO PAY FOR A FULL OIL CHANGE. STATED BY THE DEALER, ITS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH JEEP AND THERE IS NO FIX FOR IT. NOW AT 33K, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CYLINDER 4 MISFIRE. COIL PACK NEEDS REPLACED. THIS IS A TSB THAT WAS POSTED AT DEALERS BUT NOT GIVEN TO CONSUMERS. ALSO AIRBAG CONNECTION UNDER DRIVER SEAT COMES LOOSE AND CAUSES WARNING LIGHTS TO SERVICE AIRBAG. 10K MILES. DEALER SAID TO PLUG BACK IN AND JUST KEEP DEALING WITH IT.
Electrical system, Oct 6, 2019
THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT HAS GONE OFF TURNING ON ALL LIGHTS ON THE GEAR RED. EVER SINCE IT CAME UP IT WILL KEEP COMING UP.
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 30, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER ON CAR DISPLAY
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 26, 2019
STARTED CAR AND PUT INTO DRIVE. STARTED DRIVING SERVICE SHIFTER CAME UP. ALL THE LIGHTS IN MY SHIFTER LIT UP.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Sep 24, 2019
SINCE ABOUT 18K MILES ON VEHICLE I HAVE BEEN REPORTING ISSUES WITH THE SHIFTING, TRANSMISSION. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY THEY SUDDENLY THINK THEY KNOW WHAT WILL FIX IT. BUT I NOW HAVE TO PAY ALMOST $800 TO GET IT FIXED.
Electrical system, Sep 20, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE ONLY HAD 9 MILES WHEN PURCHASED... THIS HAPPENED WHEN SITTING IN DRIVE THRU AT DUNKIN' DONUTS THIS MORNING
Other or unspecified, Sep 18, 2019
THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON.
Power train, Engine, Sep 18, 2019
MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE CITY STREET AND SUDDENLY A MEAASGE APPEARED ON MY SCREEN 'SERVICE SHIFTER' AND THE JEEP BEGAN TO JERK. THE LIGHTS ON EACH GEAR TURNED RED. WHEN I GOT TO A PLACE TO PARK. I CUT THE JEEP OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON. I THEN RECEIVED A MESSAGE WHEN I PUT THE JEEP IN DRIVE TO VERIFY IF IT WOULD DRIVE AND I RECEIVED ANOTHER MESSAGE STATING 'SHIFT TO PARK'. THE JEEP BEGAN TO JERK AGAIN. I'VE HAD THIS JEEP FOR ONE YEAR EXACTLY BOUGHT IT WITH ONLY ABOUT 3,000 MILES ON IT AND WITHIN 3 MONTHS IT COMPLETELY STOPPED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE AT ALL. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEARLERSHIP WHERE IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE AND OIL THAT HAD TO BE FIXED AND TOOK ALMOST 2 WEEKS. THIS JEEP HAS ALL TYPE OF PROBLEMS AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED
Power train, Electrical system, Service brakes, Sep 16, 2019
DRIVING DOWN A CITY HIGHWAY THE SERVICE SHIFTER ALERT CAME ON. ALL OF THE LIGHTS NEXT TO THE INDICATORS ON THE SHIFTER LIT UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SO FAR TODAY. THE PARKING BRAKE HAS ALSO BEEN TURNING ITSELF ON AS SOON AS THE JEEP IS PUT IN GEAR AND THE FOOT IS LET OFF OF THE BRAKE.
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 12, 2019
2018 JEEP 22000 MILES, HAS CONTINUED AND WORSENING SHIFTIER OR TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH RED LIGHTS, NEEDS SERVICE AND LOCKS OUT TRANSMISSION CHANGES TO REGULATE SPEED. THIS HAS BEEN AT THE TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS WITH AN ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE. I AM A RETIRED NICB SPECIAL AGENT AND HAVE WORKED AUTO THEFT.
Engine, Sep 10, 2019
25,000 MILES WAS TURNING RIGHT ONTO RAMP TO ENTER HIGHWAY WHEN BATTERY CAME ON AND ENGINE STALLED RIGHT WHEN I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY INITIATED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. 1,000 MILES INTO OIL CONSUMPTION TEST ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. CAR WAS ONLY 1/2 QUART LOW ON OIL AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF A CONTROLLED OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. HAVE READ AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF REPORTS OF 2018 CHEROKEES WITH THE SAME 2.4L ENGINE STALLING WHILE THE DRIVERS IS ACTIVELY DRIVING VEHICLE ANYWHERE FROM 25 MPH TO 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY.
Power train, Electrical system, Aug 22, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHTS AND WARNING COME ON RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVING. WHEN THE ERROR MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED, THERE IS NO WAY TO GET RID OF IT EXCEPT TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND ON. THE ERROR MESSAGE TAKES UP THE ENTIRE IN DASH SCREEN AND DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER TO BE SHOWN. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PATTERN AS TO WHEN THIS OCCURS, HAS HAPPENED WHEN STARTING UP AND JUST RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING (NOT SPECIFICALLY LINKED WITH A SPEED, DIRECTION, OR TURN).
Power train, Electrical system, Aug 21, 2019
THE "SERVICE SHIFTER" WARNING MESSAGE APPEARS IN THE "MESSAGE SCREEN" & YOU CANNOT CLEAR IT SO THE MPH & OTHER NEEDED DRIVING DATA IS UNAVAILABLE. ALSO ALL OF THE SHIFTER LIGHTS BECOME ILLUMINATED SO YOU CANNOT SEE WHAT GEAR THE TRANSMISSION IS IN. "CARGURUS.COM" HAS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE. CAR IS IN MOTION & STATIONARY;.THE SHIFTER SERVICE MESSAGE APPEARS. IT 1ST OCCURRED YESTERDAY; 8/19/2019 TO ME. THIS IS A SAFET ISSUE BECAUSE MY MPH ETC IS UNAVAILABLE & I CANNOT VERIFY GEAR I AM IN. (DRIVE/REVERSE ETC)
Other or unspecified, Aug 20, 2019
"SERVICE SHIFTER" LIGHT POPS UP ON SCREEN AND THE P,R,N,D ALL LIGHT UP AT ONCE WHILE DRIVING.