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, Jun 28, 2019
I WAS DRIVING AROUND 35 MPH WHEN GOT WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR STOP LIGHT AND IT JUST SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I SAT FOR A MINUTE WITH HAZARDS ON AND THEN TRIED TO START IT, IT WAS TURNING OVER BUT NOT STARTING SO I HAD TO GIVE IT GAS WHILE TRYING TO START IT. GOT HOME AND WENT BACK OUT LATER TO TEST IT AND STARTED UP. IT SHUTS TOTALLY DOWN WITH NO WARNING
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jun 27, 2019
I HAVE A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE LATITUDE. PURCHASED APRIL 2018 WITH 17 MILES ON IT. IN NOVEMBER 2018 THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS "FIXED." JUNE 26, 2019 (28,670 MILES ON MY CAR) I WAS DRIVING TO WORK GOING 35 MPH WHEN MY ENGINE SHUT OFF AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THIS HAPPENED I HAD BEEN HEARING A DINGING NOISE, LIKE WHEN YOUR SEATBELT IS OFF (JUST ONE DING THOUGH) AND SOMETHING WOULD FLASH ON MY DASH. IT WAS SO QUICK I WAS UNABLE TO SEE WHAT IT SAID. I STARTED VIDEOING MY DASH TO TRY TO CATCH THE ALERT. I HAVE VIDEO OF MY DASH AS THE ENGINE STOPPED AND ME TRYING TO RESTART MY CAR. (UPLOADED PICTURES OF THE SERVICE SHIFTER BUT IT WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO UPLOAD THE VIDEO) IT TOOK ME 10-15 MINUTES TO GET IT STARTED BACK UP. DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THAT MY JEEP WAS A QUART LOW ON OIL AND THAT IT WAS A "SAFETY FEATURE" THAT IF YOU'RE LOW ON OIL YOUR ENGINE WILL JUST SHUT OFF....NO MATTER IF YOU'RE PARKED OR DRIVING 70 MPH! THAT IS INSANE!! HOW ABOUT AN "OIL LOW LIGHT" MY OIL LIFE PERCENTAGE STILL SHOWED 20% REMAINING AND I WAS SCHEDULING AN OIL CHANGE THE NEXT WEEK. AFTER READING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS, JUST LIKE MINE, I REQUESTED THAT THEY CHECK THE SHIFTER AGAIN. THEY SAID THAT THE SHIFTER WAS FINE. I PICKED UP MY JEEP FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND DROVE 30 MILES HOME. I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WITH THE PRND LIGHTS ALL LIT UP. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN THIS MORNING, 06/27/2019 AND JUST GOT A CALL THAT THEY REPLACED THE SHIFTER BEZEL AND WIRING AND DID AN UPDATE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS EXACTLY LIKE MINE. THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED NOW BEFORE SOMEONE GETS IN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. I DRIVE THE INTERSTATE EVERY SINGLE DAY. IF MY ENGINE SHUTS OFF GOING 70 MPH, IT WILL NOT BE A GOOD SITUATION.
Engine, Jun 21, 2019
WHILE IN MOTION, MY CAR CONTINUED TO STALL, 3 TIMES. ONCE ALSO THE WEEK BEFORE. THE CAR INDICATED THAT MY VEHICLE NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE. AFTER A VERY SCARY RIDE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE CAR NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE. THERE WAS BARELY NO OIL .. ACCORDING TO OIL DIPSTICK. THE MESSAGE DID NOT INDICATE OIL WAS LOW. WRONG MESSAGE TO THE OWNER. I COULD HAVE SEIZED MY ENGINE. NEEDING AN OIL CHANGE IS NOT THE SAME ALERTING THE DRIVER THERE IS NO OIL LEFT. THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED TO INDICATE LOW OIL LEVEL !!! THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN CAR IN MOTION AND IT STALLS OUT. DEALERSHIP TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY. SHOULD THIS BE A RECALL ISSUE. DANGEROUS SITUATION!!!
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jun 19, 2019
THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AT AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, I PRESSED THE GAS AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. WHEN IT DID RESPOND THE VEHICLE JERKED INTO GEAR AND RPM'S ROSE QUICKLY.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Jun 18, 2019
DURING THE COURSE OF TRAVELING ON JUNE 18TH 2019 I RECEIVED A MESSAGE VIA THE DISPLAY THAT SAID "SERVICE SHIFTER". IN ADDITION THE GEAR SHIFT PANEL (PARK, REVERSE, DRIVE) COLLECTIVELY ILLUMINATED IN RED. THE ISSUE GAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE TRANSMISSION OR GEARS COULD CEASE FROM WORKING WHILE IN MOTION.
Power train, Jun 10, 2019
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. SCREEN DISPLAYS SERVICE SHIFTER. ALL LIGHTS ON THE PRNDL NEXT TO THE SHIFRER ARE LIT SIMULTANEOUSLY.
Electrical system, Jun 7, 2019
MY SHIFTER CAME ON WHILE IN PARK WITH THE PARK, REVERSE, NUETRAL, AND DRIVE ALL LIGHTING UP. HAVE SEEN THIS AS AN ISSUE IN OTHER LATER YEARS BUT, I BELIEVE THERE IS A MALFUNCTION SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL OR SOMETHING. MY CAR IS NEW WITH LOW MILES THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 5, 2019
RECIEVED A "SERVICE SHIFTER" MESSAGE AND ALL THE LIGHTS NEAR THE SHIFTER WERE LUMINATED RED
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 3, 2019
THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COMES ON AND ALL GEARS ARE SHOWING UP IN RED WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF THEN BACK ON SETS THE GEAR BACK TO NORMAL FOR ONLY A FEW MINUETS, THEN SERVICE INDICATOR LIGHT COMES BACK ON WITH ALL GEARS ILLUMINATED IN RED. THE JEEP HAS THE TENDENCY TO JERK FORWARD WHEN PLACED INTO PARK AND ALSO DURING ACCELARATION THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO LAG CAUSING A JERKING MOTION IN MY JEEP.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 3, 2019
- 2.4L EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION - NEW ENGINE AT 8K MILES - EMISSIONS ISSUES TRIPPING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT - AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT - COMPUTER/ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH DASH AND INTERIOR - TRANSMISSION STALLING IN TRAFFIC. - CANNOT MAINTAIN SPEED WITH CRUISE CONTROL - ONCE PARTS ARE REMOVED FOR REPAIR THEY CANNOT BE REPLACED PROPERLY AND END UP FALLING OFF. FCA AMERICA KNOW ABOUT ALL THESE ISSUES AND CONTINUES TO PRODUCE THESE CARS AT A PRICE WAY ABOVE THEIR VALUE. BOTTOM LINE THEY ARE A FRAUDULENT BUSINESS THAT IS PRODUCING CRAPPY VEHICLES.
Other or unspecified, May 31, 2019
MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING 'SERVICE SHIFTER' DISPLAYS ON DASH. ALL LIGHT OF THE SHIFTER ARE LIT RED. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEEDS, HIGH SPEEDS AND WHOLE IDLING.
Fuel/propulsion system, May 29, 2019
THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT THREE TIMES WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, THE DEALER SAID WHEN THE OIL GETS LOW IT SHUTS OFF. THERE WAS NO OIL SHOWING THE OIL STICK AT ALL AND I HAVE ONLY 2,008 MILES ON IT. IT SHOULD NOT COMPLETELY USE ALL THE OIL IN 2,000 MILES.
Power train, May 21, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING.
Electrical system, May 18, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON AT 11,450 MILES.
Engine, May 16, 2019
VEHICLE STARTED STALLING RANDOMLY. IT START WITH A CHIME ON TURNS AND PROGRESSED TO THIS. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS LOW IN OIL JUST HAD OIL CHANGED 3 MONTHS PRIOR. THEY FOUND OFF VALVE WAS BAD REPLACED. VEHICLE THEN STARTED BURNING GAS 20 MILES AND HALF TANK. TOOK BACK TO SEWER FOR OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. PROBLEM WITH STALLING STARTED AGAIN. DEALER COULDN'T REPLICATE ISSUE. *DT*JB
Power train, May 11, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING APPEARS IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AREA AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON SHIFTER LIGHT UP SOLID RED AND STAY ILLUMANATED.
Structure, May 9, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COSMETIC PANEL ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR THAT WENT FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP OF THE WINDOW, FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LANDERS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM OF NORMAN DEALER (405-321-8228, 481 N INTERSTATE DR, NORMAN, OK 73069) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Other or unspecified, May 8, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING COMES ON BUT CAN'T BE FIXED
Other or unspecified, May 7, 2019
VEHICLE STOPPING AND SHUTTING OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING (IN MOTION) EACH AND EVERY TIME ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. FIRST TIME IT SHUT OFF, DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS DUE TO OIL CHANGE.SECOND TIME DEALERSHIP SAID A RECALL ON THE SHIFT GEAR IN WHICH I WASN'T NOTIFIED ABOUT THE RECALL. THIRD TIME IT SHUT OFF, DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS AN OIL LEAKAGE. FOURTH TIME IT STOPPED, DEALERSHIP SAYS IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO FIX IT. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, CHRYSLER RESPONSE WAS TAKE IT HOME AND DRIVE IT AGAIN AND BRING IT BACK IF IT SHUTS OFF AND MAYBE THEN WE WILL FIX IT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN THE LAST TIME DUE TO IT NOT STARTING AND SMOKING IN THE TAIL PIPE. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE RADIO CUT OFF COMPLETELY, SCREEN JUST WENT BLACK. MY CAR IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING ON APPROVAL FROM CHRYSLER TO GET FIXED. THIS JEEP IS VERY UNSAFE, DANGEROUS,AND A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MY SON AND I. IT HAS PUT ME AND MY SONS LIFE IN DANGER ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE EVEN IF THEY CAN FIX IT BECAUSE ITS NOT A GUARANTEE THAT I WILL NOT HAVE THESE ISSUES AGAIN AND NEXT TIME IT COULD COST US OUR LIVES.
Other or unspecified, May 7, 2019
THIS VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY IS 1 QUART LOW ON OIL DURING EACH OIL CHANGE, AND THERE IS NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK, DESPITE THE FACT I GET MY OIL CHANGED PRIOR TO THE RECOMMENDED MILEAGE, AND LESS THAN EVERY 3 MONTHS. I AM USING SYNTHETIC OIL IN THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP, THEN AN OIL CHANGE SHOP TWICE, AND THEN ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE. THE LAST DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME THEY WOULD DO AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND THAT I NEEDED TO CHECK MY OIL DIPSTICK FREQUENTLY AS THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF IF THE OIL GETS TOO LOW. NO INDICATOR LIGHT HAS EVER DISPLAYED INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH THE LOW OIL OR OIL PRESSURE. MANY TIMES THE DISPLAY SHOWS I HAVE 40% OR MORE OIL LIFE LEFT, DESPITE THE FACT THE CAR WILL BE 1 QUART LOW ON OIL, WITH NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK. THE CAR HAS 26500 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST TIME THE ISSUE WAS NOTED WAS WHEN MY CAR DID SHUT OFF IN DRIVE, AND I PULLED IT INTO AN OIL CHANGE PLACE WHO ADVISED ME THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAD JUST HIT THE MILEAGE MARK TO BE CHANGED. THIS OCCURRED IN THE FALL OF 2018.
Other or unspecified, May 7, 2019
THE "SERVICE SHIFTER" LIGHT WILL TURN ON. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE, THE FIRST TIME AT LESS THAN TEN MILES PER HOUR IN A PARKING LOT AND THE SECOND TIME ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 70 MPH. WHEN THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT TURNS ON, IT ILLUMINATES THE PRND LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER TO ALL RED. SINCE THEY ARE ALL RED, YOU CANNOT TELL IF YOU ARE IN PARK COMPLETELY. THERE IS 26,650 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. IT IS CURRENTLY GETTING SERVICED, THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM SAID IT ONLY NEEDED FLASHED WITH THE COMPUTER, HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP THAT IS CLOSEST TO MY HOME (AND THE ONE WHO IS CURRENTLY REPLACING THE GEAR SHIFTER) TOLD ME THE GEAR SHIFTER HAD TO BE REPLACED AND FLASHING WITH THE COMPUTER WOULD NOT FIX THE ISSUE, AS THIS WAS A FREQUENT ISSUE THEY HAVE SEEN. IF THERE IS A FREQUENT ISSUE WITH THE SHIFTER IN THESE VEHICLES, THEY NEED TO BE RECALLED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY TO NOT HAVE ANY WAY OF KNOWING IF YOU ARE IN PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL OR DRIVE.
Other or unspecified, Apr 26, 2019, fire
CAR CAUGHT FIRE. MANUFACTURER DID NOT INVESTIGATE. DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS TOWED TAMPERED WITH EVIDENCE
Engine, Apr 23, 2019
MY 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE LATITUDE STALLS WHILE IN MOTION. SO FAR IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS. I HAVE 36,500 MILES ON IT. *DT CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON APRIL 27TH,2019 FOR OIL CHANGE, THEY DID NOT MENTION LOW OIL BUT DID SAY MAY HAVE LOW ON COOLANT BUT WASN'T POSITIVE.*JB
Other or unspecified, Apr 22, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LITE UP AS WELL AS ALL GEARS. I WAS CURRENTLY IN PARK WHEN IT HAPPENED. READ SEVERAL JEEP OWNER INQUIRES UPON GOOGLING THE ISSUE. DOESN'T SOUND GOOD!
Other or unspecified, Apr 19, 2019
WHILE DRIVING THE WORDS "SERVICE SHIFTER" APPEAR ON THE CAR'S CONSOLE AND THE LETTERS ON THE GEAR SHIFTER (D, N, R) ALL LIGHT UP SIMULTANEOUSLY AND STAY LIT.