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, Aug 19, 2019
LOW PRESSURE OIL LIGHT COMES ON WHEN TURNING. ONCE THE CAR DID NOT START, I HAD TO GET IT TOWED, TO FIND OUT THE CAR WAS OUT OF OIL, THOUGH THE DISPLAY READ LOW OIL PRESSURE IS AT 53%. I GOT AN OIL CHANGE AND A LITTLE OVER A MONTH, THE LIGHT STARTED TO COME BACK ON.
Other or unspecified, Aug 18, 2019
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING SHUTTING ALL SYSTEMS DOWN. I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF MY LANE WITH KNOW MEANS OF MOVING MY VEHICLE TO A SAFE AREA. I CALLED TRIPLE A AND WAITED 1.5 HOURS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR A WRECKER. APPARENTLY MY VEHICLE WAS LOW ON OIL SO IT SHUTDOWN. HOWEVER I WAS NOT DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND MY OIL LIFE WAS AT 13%. MY VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT ALERT ME THAT I WAS LOW ON OIL. I MADE A COMPLAINT TO MY SERVICE PERSON AT CHARLIE'S IN AUGUSTA MAINE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT 8000 MILES AND IT WAS 2 QUARTS LOW. THEY TOLD ME IT'S COMMON FOR A VEHICLE TO USE THAT MUCH OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. THEY DID AN OIL CCONSUMPTION TEST AND SAID IT WAS NORMAL. JEEP SAYS YOU CAN USE A QUART EVERY 800 MILES. THAT IS 7.5 QUARTS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES IN A NEW VEHICLE. UNACCEPTABLE AND NOT SAFE FOR A VEHICLE TO SHUTDOWN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY WARNING. CONSUMER STATED THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS STALLED DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE. HOWEVER A FEW OIL CHANGES AGO CHARLIES DID AN OIL CHANGE AND TOLD ME MY OIL LEVELS WERE LOW. I THOUGHT THIS UNUSUAL AND THEY DID AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WITH NO FINDINGS. AT THIS TIME THEY DID NOT TELL ME THERE WAS AN OIL CONSUMPTION SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS VEHICLE. *JB
Engine, Aug 17, 2019
BURNING ONE QUART OF OIL EVERY 1,400 TO 1,500 MILES SINCE IT TURNED 30,000 MILES
Power train, Aug 17, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL GEARS LIT UP RED, PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THEN TURNED BACK ON. ALARM WENT AWAY, THIRD TIME.
Power train, Aug 14, 2019
AT 19500MILES SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE CAME ON AND RED LIGHTS APPEARED BY PARK, NEUTRAL, DRIVE, REVERSE ETC ON CAR SHIFTER, DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. STOPPED TURNED IT OFF AND LIGHT WENT OUT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND LOW MILEAGE.
Electrical system, Aug 13, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER RANDOMLY POPS UP AND ALL LIGHTS ON SHIFTER GO RED HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE AND GOES AWAY U FOUND HUNDREDS OF NOT THOUSANDS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM!
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 8, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE KEEPS APPEARING ON THE DASH AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER WILL TURN RED. HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT LEAST ONCE A DAY (SOMETIMES 4-5 TIMES) AND TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN I HIT A BUMP (NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR BIG). IT CAN ALSO SOMETIMES HAPPEN WHEN YOU TAP THE SIDE OF THE CONSOLE. FORUMS ONLINE SUGGEST THAT THE ISSUE IS HAPPENING BECAUSE THE WIRES FROM THE SHIFTER KEEP BUMPING INTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND SHORTING (HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T68742_DS990296). I AM STILL ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENS, BUT IT IS INCREDIBLY ANNOYING BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE DASHBOARD.
Electrical system, Aug 7, 2019
THE BATTERY CONSTANTLY DIES WITHOUT ANY REASONING. I WILL PARK IT, AFTER IT SITS OVERNIGHT, IT DIES. MY NEIGHBOR HAS THE SAME YEAR MODEL JEEP I HAVE AND HIS STARTED DOING THE SAME THING LAST WEEK. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE IT SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH 20Q7,2018 AND 2019 JEEP CHEROKEES.
Other or unspecified, Aug 6, 2019
7/12/19 - WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, MY JEEP SIGNALED A WARNING NOISE - WITH NO DIGITIZED WARNING AND THE D LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON MY GEAR SHIFT - THIS DISABLED MY VEHICLE. I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD - TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE - TURNED IT BACK ON AND CONTINUED DRIVING. 8/06/19 - I STARTED MY VEHICLE TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND THE SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING CAME ON MY DISPLAY AND ALL OF MY GEAR SHIFT LIGHTS (PRND) WERE ILLUMINATED. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 3/2018 BRAND NEW - IT HAS UNDER 23K MILES.
Power train, Aug 3, 2019
2018 CHEROKEE WITH UNDER 15K MILES. UPON START UP, WARNING FOR "SERVICE SHIFTER" APPEARS ALONG WITH ALL LIGHTS ARE LIT UP ON SHIFTER. TURNING OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTING WILL MAKE MESSAGE DISAPPEAR. MECHANICS NOT SURE WHAT TRUE ISSUE IS. ON GOING ISSUE WITH NO RESOLUTION. TODAY, MESSAGE WOULD NOT RESET. NO RECALL TO DATE.
Power train, Jul 31, 2019
FOR THE SECOND TIME WHILE DRIVING "SERVICE SHIFTER" MESSAGE CAME ON AND ALL LIGHTS ON GEAR BOX LIT UP. PULLED OVER AND CUT CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AND LIGHTS WENT OFF
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 29, 2019
"SERVICE SHIFTER" WARNING COMES ON AT RANDOM TIMES. LIGHTS ON SHIFTER ALL CAME ON. ONLY CAME ON WITH LEFT HAND TURNS. FIRST TIME IN HAPPENED I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE ON RAMP. HAS HAPPENED AT 5 MPH AND 70 MPH. PULL OVER PUT IN PARK, SHUT OFF ENGINE, WAIT A MINUTE, RESTART VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING IS FINE FOR A WHILE. IT CAN BE DAYS BETWEEN OR 3 TIMES IN A 5 MINUTE DRIVE. UP TO 9 TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED.
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 26, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING KEEPS COMING ON AND ALL PARK NUTURAL REV ALL LIGHT UP AT THE SAME TIME.TRANSMISSION BUCKS FEELS LIKE BEING REAR ENDED.BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES GOING TO KEEP GOING BACK WHILE IM STILL UNDER WARRANTY.HAPPENS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING MOSTLY ON THE FREEWAY WHERE YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER TURN OFF AND TRY TO LET IT RESET.A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Electrical system, Jul 22, 2019
I WAS DRIVING UP THE INTERSTATE AND I HEARD A DING. THE DISPLAY SAID " SERVICE SHIFTER" AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY GEAR SHIFT PNRD WERE ALL LIT UP RED. COULD NOT CLEAR DISPLAY. PARKED AND TURNED IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON AND IT CLEARED.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 20, 2019
WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET TO GET TO THE HIGHWAY ALMOST 5 HOURS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE MY DASH SCREEN POPPED UP WITH A WARNING SAYING THAT MY SHIFTER NEEDED SERVICED... WHEN I LOOKED AT THE GEAR SHIFTER ALL OF THE LIGHTS WERE LIT UP(P,R,N&D)...I FREAKED OUT AND PULLED OFF AT A GAS STATION PUT IT IN PARK TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WAITED A MINUTE... WHEN I STARTED THE CAR BACK UP ALL OF THE LIGHTS SHUT OFF AND IT WAS FINE... I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN IT LITERALLY HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE...
Other or unspecified, Jul 20, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH ON A COUNTY ROAD AND THE ERROR NOISE WENT OFF. ON THE DASH I GOT A 'SERVICE SHIFTER' NOTICE AND ALL LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER STAYED LIT RED ' P, R, N , D, AND THE - AND +'. I PULLED OVER, SHUT OFF THE CAR, WAITED A MINUTE AND TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND IT WENT AWAY.
Power train, Jul 18, 2019
'SERVICE SHIFTER' WARNING APPEARS WITHOUT WARNING AND ALL GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS TURN RED. IN MOTION. 65 MPH US 18 OR 218 WATERLOO IOWA. I'M TOLD A SHIFTER BEZEL AND WIRING HARNESS ARE NEEDED BUT NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Seats, Jul 18, 2019
THE 'SERVICE SHIFTER' WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER WERE ON. I HAD TO SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON TO MAKE THE LIGHTS GO OFF, BUT AFTER A FEW MILES THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THE DRIVER SEAT POWER SWITCH HAS STOPPED WORKING TWO TIMES. I HAD IT REPLACED THE FIRST TIME AND NOT EVEN A YEAR LATER IT STOPPED WORKING AGAIN.
Engine, Jul 16, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER
Power train, Jul 14, 2019
HAVE NOT OWNED VEHICLE FOR A YEAR YET, BOUGHT WITH ABOUT 1000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY SOMEBODY IN DEALERSHIP FROM WHAT WE WERE TOLD. AT 11,677 MILES THE "SERVICE SHIFTER" WARNING SHOWED UP AND SHIFTER PANEL LIT UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AND STAYED THAT WAY UNTIL I TURNED THE JEEP OFF A FEW MILES LATER. HASN'T SHOWN UP AGAIN AND I'M TAKING IT TO DEALER TOMORROW. IT'S BEEN THREE DAYS SINCE IT HAPPENED BUT I'M AFRAID WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN. I'VE READ ONLINE ABOUT MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE OVER THE YEARS FOR JEEP. WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR - THEY NEED TO FIX THIS!!! I'M GETTING THIS DOCUMENTED NOW!
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 12, 2019
"SERVICE SHIFTER" APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD. THE GEARS ALL WENT RED. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO MOVE AS NORMAL, BUT THE MESSAGE WAS STILL THERE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE MESSAGE WENT AWAY.
Steering, Electrical system, Service brakes, Jul 9, 2019, crash
I WAS COMPLETING A TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT COMPLETELY OFF CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CURB. VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS ADVISED THIS HAPPENED DUE TO A SAFETY FEATURE OF MY CAR . WHEN THE CAR IS LOW ON OIL WHEN YOU TURN IT THROWS OFF THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR SO THE ENGINE DOESN'T BLOW UP . MY LAST OIL CHANGE WAS IN FEB MY CAR IS COMPLETELY OUT OF OIL AND NO CHECK OIL LIGHT APPEARED .
Air bags, Jul 9, 2019, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, IT WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES. THE CONTACT, WHO WAS SEATED IN THE REAR DRIVER'S SEAT, SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AFTER HIS HEAD STRUCK THE SIDE WINDOW. THE WINDOW BROKE AND INFLICTED A CUT ON THE CONTACT'S NECK. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A LEG FRACTURE. THE OTHER TWO PASSENGERS WERE TRAUMATIZED. THE DRIVER AND THE REST OF THE PASSENGERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM VIA AN AMBULANCE FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CRASH, THE FUEL TANK LEAKED AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Jul 8, 2019
MY VEHICLE WS IN MOTION WHEN THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED ON BRIEFLY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS MY VEHICLE LOST POWER COMPLETELY. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER, BRAKE OR ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I USED MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE.*BF CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY HAVING THE ENGINE REPLACED BUT IT HAD AROUND 28,000 MILES ON IT. THE BATTERY LIGHT BRIEFLY BLINKED ON BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS ON MAY 26,2019. VIN IS INVALID.*JB
Other or unspecified, Jun 28, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON. WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE THE CAR CAN GO INTO GEAR NOW WITHOUT HAVING TO HIT THE BREAKS..