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, Electrical system, Apr 23, 2018
I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE NEW ON MARCH 30. ON SUNDAY, APRIL 1 THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY WENT INTO PARK ASSIST MODE WITHOUT THE BUTTON BEING PUSHED. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT BACK TO DRIVE. WE HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE TO GET THE CAR TO GO IN DRIVE AGAIN. LUCKILY WE WERE IN AN OUTSIDE LANE AND COULD PULL OVER TO THE EDGE OF THE HIGHWAY. IT IS SCARY TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD WE BEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE. *TT *TR
Other or unspecified, Apr 1, 2018
TRANSMISSION LURCHES WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP ALSO WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND SOMETIMES GOING INTO REVERSE. IT'S A HARD LURCH SO STOPPING FOR PEDESTRIANS HAS TO HAPPEN EARLY AS I'M CONCERNED THE CAR COULD HIT SOMEONE. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY.
Engine, Mar 26, 2018
I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2018 JEEP LATITUDE AND AT 4300 MILES IT STARTED ACTING UP AND SHUT DOWN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD I WAS TRAVELING. I HAD TO USE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAVE IT TOWED.JEEP STATED THAT IT WAS BURNING A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES STATED IT WAS 4 QUARTS OF OIL LOW. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE IT WAS BURNING FROM EITHER. TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT 1000 MILES AND BRING IT BACK. I DON'T EVEN HAVE A WARNING THAT MY OIL WAS LOW IT JUST SHUT DOWN. *TT *CN *JS
Engine, Mar 18, 2018
PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM SOUTHERN JEEP GREENBRIER VA. MARCH 17, 2018, AFTER TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, 854 MILES ON VEHICLE. DROVE THE VEHICLE 22 MILES HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. LEFT HOME 0800 MARCH 18, 2018 AND DROVE LESS THAN 2 MILES AND AT 55 MPH THE ENGINE QUIT WITHOUT WARNING (NO WARNING LIGHTS UNTIL THE ENGINE CUT OFF) ON THE KINGS HIGHWAY STATE RT. 125. THIS ROAD HAS LIMITED SHOULDERS AS IT TRAVELS THROUGH A SWAMP SO THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE ROAD PRESENTING A SAFETY HAZARD. CALLED GOOD SAMS ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO SOUTHERN JEEP GREENBRIER. TWO MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURES TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WITHIN A WEEK WITH HALF THAT TIME UNDERGOING REPAIRS. FAULT CODES DISPLAYED IN THE DASHBOARD WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING: ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING, ENGINE CHECK/MALFUNCTION, ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROL, ELECTRONIC PARK BRAKE, AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIME TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITH NO SUCCESS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THIS VEHICLE. *TT *JS
Power train, Mar 16, 2018
ENTERING I 264 VA, PRESSED ACCELERATOR RESULTING IN A LURCHING MOTION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE CAUSING OTHER VEHICLES TO SWERVE TO AVOID REAR ENDING OUR 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE LATITUDE. IT REPEATED THIS ACTION MANY TIMES AS WE LIMPED HOME UNDER 40 MPH. WE WERE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND CALLED THE DEALER (SOUTHERN CHRYSLER JEEP AT GREENBRIER). THE DEALER AUTHORIZED TOWING THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE CALLED US AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC AUTHORIZED ORDERING A NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR.
Power train, Mar 15, 2018
TRANSMISSION RANDOMLY DOES NOT WANT TO GO IN THE RIGHT GEAR. THE VEHICLE THEN FEELS LIKE IT IS ALMOST STOPPING AND JERKING HARD WHILE THE VEHICLE THEN FINDS THE CORRECT GEAR AND STARTS WORKING PROPERLY AGAIN A WEIRD NOISE ALSO SEEMS TO RANDOMLY COME FOR THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A TRIGGER OR WHAT MAKES THE TRANSMISSION DO THIS, IT SEEMS COMPLETELY RANDOM. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND BOTH SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME I TOOK IT IN THEY TOOK IT ON A TEST DRIVE SAID THEY HEARD THE NOISE AND KEPT MY VEHICLE OVERNIGHT, THE NEXT DAY HE CALLED AND SAID NOTHING IS WRONG DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. AS WE WERE LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP ANOTHER SERVICE ADVISOR CAME UP AND STATED THAT THEY HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE SO THEY ARE ALL ADVISED TO STATE THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THAT PEOPLE DO NOT START RETURNING THEIR CARS. HE ALSO STATED TO FILE A COMPLIANT SO THAT CHRYSLER WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS
Suspension, Wheels, Feb 16, 2018
I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE. LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND ALL SUDDEN MY CAR MY PASSENGER SIDE RIM JUST SHATTERED AND POP 4 HOLES IN MY TIRE. THE TIRE WAS NOT MISSING ANY RUBBER. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY WHEN I JUST THE CAR IN NOV. I HAVE CONTACTED JEEP AND THE DEALERSHIP AND I GET THE SAME THING. YES MY TIRES AND RIMS ARE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY PLAN BUT NOT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL ISN'T UNDER WARRANTY UNLESS IT WAS A DEFECT. HOW CAN A RIM COMPLETELY EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE? SEE PHOTOS ATTACHED
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Feb 14, 2018
GOING 65 IN THE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE, THE PARK ASSIST SUDDENLY KICKED IN WITHOUT WARNING AND SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. AFTER DRIFTING TO THE SHOULDER, THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE AGAIN. THE CAR IS LESS THAN A MONTH OLD.
Other or unspecified, Jan 17, 2018
THIS COMPLAINT IS NOT SPECIFIC TO MY CURRENT VEHICLE. THE HEAD RESTS IN ALL NEWER VEHICLES ARE MAKING THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT OVERWEIGHT AND HAVE GOOD POSTURE SIT IN AN AWKWARD POSITION WITH OUR HEADS PUSHED FORWARD. THIS IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND WE CAN'T TURN THE HEAD RESTS AROUND BECAUSE THEN THE SAFETY MEASURES DON'T WORK. PLEASE STOP MAKING THE HEAD RESTS LEAN FORWARD.
Engine, Dec 14, 2017
PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT
Power train, Nov 16, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AND EMERGENCY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (HAWK CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP, 7911 ROOSEVELT RD, FOREST PARK, IL 60130) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PMC MODULE NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO HAWK CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 535. *BF UPDATED 8/21/18*JB