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, Apr 18, 2019
MY JEEP KEEPS ILLUMINATING ALL DRIVE TRAINS AND TELLING ME TO SERVICE SHIFTER. I'VE HAD THE WHOLE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED A MONTH AGO WITH 10,000 MILES AND NOW IT IS DOING IT AGAIN! I HAVE TO KILL THE ENGINE AND TURN IT BACK ON. MOST TIMES SERVICE SHIFTER STILL REMAINS ON THE SCREEN.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 16, 2019
MY JEEP CHEROKEE HAS BEEN SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP, KEFFER CHRYSLER JEEP IN CHARLOTTE, NC, HAS NOT RETURNED ANY OF MY CALLS ABOUT THIS ISSUE SO I'VE HAD TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. I HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS BUT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE LAST TIME IT SHUT DOWN I WAS ON A MAIN HIGHWAY AND WAS ALMOST HIT. *DT*JB CONSUMER STATED CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGN, WHICH CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS.*JB
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 15, 2019
WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN I95 - THE GEARSHIFT FROZE UP AND THE ENTIRE GEARSHAFT TURNED RED. I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN / COME TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF AN EXIT ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF TWO TIMES ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS - ONCE THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THEY FIXED THE ISSUE.
Service brakes, Apr 4, 2019
FRONT RIGHT BRAKE PAD/ROTOR FAILURE WHEN STOPPING VEHICLE. APPEARANCE OF SIGNIFICANT LOCALIZED BRAKE PAD MATERIAL IS CEMENTED TO THE ROTOR IN ONE LOCATION CAUSING FAILURE OF RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO BRAKE PROPERLY. VEHICLE DELIVERED AFTER PURCHASE WITH 272 MILES, NOTICED ON FIRST TRIP THAT THE SYSTEM "PULSATED" WHEN STOPPING. INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE REQUIRED FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS. INSPECTION OF ASSEMBLY SHOWS APPROXIMATELY 2" CIRCULAR RUSTED RING ON ROTOR, INDICATING FAILURE OCCURRED WITH LESS THAN 272 MILES ON VEHICLE.
Engine, Apr 2, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, IT LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ROGER WILLIAMS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (1102 WASHINGTON DR, WEATHERFORD, TX 76086, (817) 458-4091) DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Engine, Mar 26, 2019
CAR STALLS WHEN DRIVING IT WITHOUT WARNING. *DT CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP. *JB
Power train, Mar 19, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING CAME ON WHEN PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 12K MILES
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 16, 2019
VEHICLE WILL STALL DEALERSHIP CLAIMS BATTERY IS NOT CHARGING COMPUTER CHECK SHOWS MULTIPLE LOW VOLTAGE CODES
Engine, Mar 6, 2019
VEHICLE WHILE DRIVEN MADE AN ALERT PING WHEN MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT HAND TURNS WITH NO OTHER INDICATOR. FOLLOWING DAY VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 55 MPH WITH OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS MULTIPLE ERRORS ABOUT PLACING VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND SHIFTING (ALTHOUGH VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC). DEALERSHIP CONTACTED AND VEHICLE BROUGHT IN FOR INSPECTION. DEALER CONCLUDED THAT ENGINE HAD NO OIL, ALTHOUGH INTERNAL INDICATORS FAILED TO ADVISE AND SHOWED VEHICLE HAD 17% OIL LIFE REMAINING AND 300 MILES UNTIL SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. DEALER ADVISED THAT VEHICLE IS KNOWN TO BURN OIL AT A RATE OF 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES, HOWEVER, THIS WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHEN THE PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE HAD OCCURRED, WHEN ASKED WHY VEHICLE BURNS OIL AT SUCH A RATE, WAS ADVISED IT IS NORMAL AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED AND REACTION FROM DEALERSHIP VARIED FROM IT WAS NORMAL TO MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE.
Power train, Engine, Mar 4, 2019
VECHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND VECHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED AND SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. VECHICLE THEN RESTARTED AND DID THE SAME THING A SECOND TIME.
Other or unspecified, Mar 1, 2019
THE AUTOMOBILE SHUTS OFF (WHILE IN MOTION) WHEN IT'S TIME FOR AN OIL CHANGE (AROUND 3000 MILES). IT MOSTLY SHUTS OFF DURING TURNS BUT IT HAS SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY BEFORE. THE OIL LIGHT NEVER COMES ON, THE BATTERY LIGHT DOES ALTHOUGH THERE ISN'T AN ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES, IT'S POSSIBLE TO START THE AUTOMOBLIE AGAIN WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF A BOOST.
Engine, Mar 1, 2019
ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO I WAS MAKING A UTURN ON A CITY STREET AND THE CAR CHIMED. THE CAR NOW CHIMES EVERY TIME I MAKE ANY TYPE OF TURN. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT THE ENGINE IS BURNING THE OIL THEREFORE I HAD NO OIL IN MY CAR. THEY TOLD ME I NOW HAVE TO BRING THE CAR IN EVERY 500 MILES TO DO A TEST AND IF THE ENGINE IS STILL BURNING THE OIL THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED.
Other or unspecified, Feb 26, 2019
STATIONARY BATTERY NOT STARTING AFTER SITTING UP A DAY OR TWO
Power train, Feb 24, 2019
A WARNING LIGHT "SERVICE SHIFTER" COMES ON WITHOUT WARNING. ALL THE LIGHTS AT THE SHIFTER ILLUMINATE AND WON'T SHUT OFF UNLESS THE CAR IS RE-STARTED
Other or unspecified, Feb 24, 2019
THE CAR VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY WHEN THE SUNROOF IS OPEN. ONCE YOU ALSO OPEN THE WINDOWS, THE VIBRATION SUBSIDES BUT NEVER GOES COMPLETELY AWAY
Power train, Feb 19, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH OR MORE, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE "VEHICLE NOT IN PARK" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP CITY (4395 US-130, BURLINGTON, NJ 08016, (855) 242-0015) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,000. *DT*JB
Other or unspecified, Feb 18, 2019
WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION A 'SERVICE SHIFTER' LIGHT ELIMINATED AND ALL OF THE GEAR LIGHTS WERE ON WHILE THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE. ONCE I STOPPED THE CAR, PARKED, AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE CAR, THE LIGHTS WERE GONE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN ONE WEEK THIS HAS HAPPENED.
Electrical system, Feb 6, 2019
RADIO CUTS IN AND OUT SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. DEALERS SAY THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.
Steering, Feb 6, 2019
FRONT END WOBBLE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEEDS.
Power train, Feb 6, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE KEEPS COMING UP WHICH MAKES THE VEHICLE STUCK IN GEAR AND WON'T SHIFT. ALL DRIVE INDICATOR LIGHTS LIGHT UP AND OR FLASH I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES NOW FOR THIS ISSUE AND STILL NOT FIXED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.
Wheels, Feb 5, 2019
REAR BRAKES WERE VIBRATING UPON FIRM BRAKING PRESSURE AT SPEED OF 55-60. DEALER REPLACED REAR ROTORS UPON VERIFYING VIBRATION. "NEW REAR ROTORS" HAD SAME VIBRATIONS AND ARE NOW RUSTING AT AREAS OTHER THEN BRAKE SURFACES. PLEASE SEE PHOTOS
Other or unspecified, Jan 29, 2019, crash
I BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND STOPPED THE CAR TO BRING IN THE RECYCLING BIN. I SHIFTED INTO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS PARK, RELEASED THE BREAK, AND EXITED THE CAR. AFTER I HAD EXITED, THE CAR BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARD THE OPEN GARAGE. I ATTEMPTED TO JUMP BACK INTO THE CAR IN ORDER TO STOP IT AND SUSTAINED A SERIOUS HAND INJURY AS THE JEEP'S DOOR SLAMMED INTO THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE AND CLOSED BACK UPON ME. SIMILAR RUNAWAY CAR EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED TO ME IN THIS CAR (WITH LESS DRAMATIC CONSEQUENCES) TWICE PRIOR, BUT NEVER IN 25 YEARS BEFORE I PURCHASED THIS 2018 GRAND CHEROKEE. SOME 2018 JEEPS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR FAULTY PARK LOCK RODS, SO MY CONCERN IS THAT THE EVENTS I EXPERIENCED HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE INABILITY TO ACHIEVE PARK. EVEN IF I ERRONEOUSLY PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT SHOULD TYPICALLY HAVE STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD AS SOON AS I RELEASED THE BREAK, ALERTING ME THAT THE CAR WAS IN GEAR. INSTEAD, NOTHING HAPPENED FOR 3 SECONDS - THIS PROVIDED A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY THAT THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND WORSE, GAVE ME ENOUGH OPPORTUNITY TO EXIT. THIS DELAY CAN BE REPRODUCED WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. LASTLY, WHEN THE DOOR IN THE GRAND CHEROKEE IS OPENED WHILE THE CAR IS IN GEAR, IT SIMPLY BEEPS ONCE - A VERY MINIMAL AND INADEQUATE ALERT SYSTEM.
Engine, Jan 23, 2019
IN NOVEMBER CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, HAVING NO STEERING AND HARD BREAKING. TOOK CAR IN FOR THIS ALONG WITH AN OIL CHANGE DEALERSHIP STATED THIS WAS A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THEY PERFORMED THE UPDATE BUT FAILED TO TELL ME ANYTHING ELSE. LAST WEEK CAR DID THE SAME EXACT THING, CALLED DEALERSHIP SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE INFORMED ME THAT CHRYSLER HAD DESIGNED THE CAR TO SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS AT ALL. THE ISSUE HE SAID WAS THE MOTOR USING OIL AT APPROXIMATELY 21,589 MILES. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS WITH HIM AND ALSO CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY AGAIN TOLD ME THE EXACT THING THAT IT IS NOT SUPPOSE TO GIVE YOU A WARNING IT WAS MADE WHEN THE OIL GETS LOW THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF. MY CONCERNS IS ME OR SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO BE SEVERELY HURT OR EVEN KILLED. WHEN I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL IN MY CAR IT BARELY REACHED THE END OF THE DIP STICK. LUCKILY I WAS ON THE STREET I LIVED ON WHEN THIS TOOK PLACE. I RESEARCHED THE COMPLAINT ON LINE AND THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE 2017.
Electrical system, Jan 15, 2019
ALL SERVICE LIGHTS ARE FLASHING WHEN CAR IS STARTED.
Engine, Dec 20, 2018
WHILE COMPANY EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND ALSO IN TOWN IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. THE JEEP DEALER SAID IT NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE, BUT THE OIL LIFE MONITOR SAYS THERE IS STILL 56% OIL LIFE REMAINING. AFTER THE OIL CHANGE, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GO AWAY FOR A WHILE. AFTER RESEARCHING, IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE VEHICLES HYDRAULICALLY DRIVEN VARIABLE VALVE TIMING. JEEP SAYS THE VEHICLE IS LOW ON OIL, THAT'S WHY THE OIL CHANGE FIXES THE PROBLEM, BUT NO OIL LIGHT OR ANY OTHER WARNING EVER COMES ON. THE VEHICLE JUST DIES AND THEN RESTARTS AFTER COASTING OFF THE ROAD OR STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.