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, Jun 17, 2025
The dealership diagnosed a failing PTU (power transfer unit) with metal shavings in the oil and a severe fluid leak onto the exhaust system, which presents a clear fire hazard. I’ve been told not to drive it due to the safety risk, but I rely on this vehicle to work and I have no alternative transportation. This issue is part of Recall #01C, but I was informed that Chrysler has no replacement parts available at this time. In addition to the fire risk, this issue is also causing noticeable power loss, drivetrain instability, and worsening mechanical symptoms. I am requesting immediate assistance — either a loaner vehicle or rental support — until the recall repair can be completed. Please escalate this to Chrysler Recall Support and respond promptly. I am not in a position to purchase or rent another vehicle for a defect that Chrysler is already aware of and has recalled.
Power train, Jun 16, 2025
The contact’s husband owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact’s husband received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Power train, Jun 15, 2025
After my husband started my Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk today he shifted into 'DRIVE' and pulled the vehicle out of our garage. While in 'DRIVE' and with his foot on the brake waiting for the garage door to close, he noticed that a 'Service Shifter' message had appeared in the center of the dash screen. A few seconds later we both noticed that all of the red lights were lit on the gear selector console. Typically, only the light next to the letter 'D' would be lit when the Jeep is in 'DRIVE'. This is the first time that this problem has occurred on our Jeep. As we made our way to the graduation party we were attending, I did some research re this message on my phone while my husband drove. A few miles later, we pulled off the road, shut the engine off, and 30 seconds later re-started the vehicle. This cleared the message and also all of the red lights on the shifter console. When he shifted into 'DRIVE' only the light next to the 'D' was lit. The problem did not show up again today but I wanted to file this report after reading online that this same problem has been occurring for many years on various JEEP models.
Power train, Jun 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving approximately 25-35 MPH, the vehicle was jerking abnormally. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop sign, the rear end of the vehicle was jerking hard. The vehicle shifted to high gear, and the driver's side rear swayed. The failure progressed over time. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the PTU was the cause of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
Power train, Jun 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the vehicle would roll away while parked on an incline and required that the vehicle be parked on level ground. The contact stated that the electric parking brake was inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal humming and vibrating sound. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the humming sound was coming from the transfer case. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not repaired and was parked in the garage. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided rental assistance for 30 days. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Power train, Jun 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the highway. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to start and was towed to the mother-in-law's residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with PTU failure. The contact was informed that the PTU needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 320,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Other or unspecified, May 27, 2025
We received the warning light "Service 4WD" on May 21, 2025. Our mechanic scanned it on May 27, 2025 and got code C14A7-97 which is for the PTU. This problem has been recalled on certain 2017-2019 Jeep Cherokee's but our 2018 vehicle is not included in the recall, even though we are experiencing the exact same issue as the recalled vehicles. According to reports this issue can cause a loss of power and cause the vehicle to crash without warning. The NHTSA recall number is 25V011000.
Power train, May 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Power train, Engine, May 5, 2025
Service 4wd came on. Has been on. Jeep dealership said the switch was bad, replaced and still on. Since then it has turned off while driving 6 times. Now all the time in traffic and when I try to park it will say service shifter. I contacted stellantis directly about this and the supposed recall they announced, but has no fix. They said it isn't their problem it is on the dealer. Not acceptable to make a car that I have to force myself daily not to be in an accident with. Most recent was today. Car died and stuttered to a stop in someone's yard. Power assist stearing goes away! And it is 2wd now.
Power train, May 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact drove the vehicle to the shoulder of the road and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to restart. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving on a major highway. The contact stated that the vehicle was at an unsafe location and the local authorities towed the vehicle to a safe location. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,231.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 29, 2025
While driving my vehicle, the vehicle suddenly stopped accelerating. I pulled over and when I put it into park it felt like it was the transmission. However, I had the transmission inspected and there were no issues. Prior to the happening the "service 4WD" light kept coming on. After the incident, the vehicle could not be driven over 45mph, the steering was so stiff I could hardly turn it, and every time I put the vehicle into drive or park it would feel like the transmission was about to drop.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light and upon taking her foot off of the brake pedal, a message appeared on the instrument panel that stated "shift to park or neutral plus brake plus select a gear". No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was forced to restart the vehicle in order to continue driving. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,899.
Power train, Apr 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Apr 8, 2025
Jeeps are currently recalled for PTU for 2017-2019 models. Symptoms in clude "Service 4WD" message on the dashboard, unusual noises, vibrations, or changes in how vehicle drive. My Jeep is a 2018. I am not sure why my VIN is registering as 0 recalls. My Jeep is stopping in mid drive. It has stopped on the expressway and street. This is dangerous.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the contact smelled a burning odor. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with oil filter housing cooler unit failure. The vehicle was repaired by a mobile independent mechanic with a part that the contact had purchased on Amazon. The contact stated that recently the vehicle was taken for maintenance, and the vehicle was diagnosed with oil filter housing cooler unit failure. The vehicle was not repaired for the most recent failure. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.
Other or unspecified, Apr 4, 2025
At this time, the manufacture is unable to remedy the recall issues for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee that could affect the safety of the vehicle.
Power train, Apr 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Power train, Mar 31, 2025
The oil filter housing on this vehicle is dumping oil from the back. I have had an issue with it not wanting to go over 35MPH and sounds like a misfire in my car it has had sort of an odd sound when turned on I have had to park it to avoid having any further issues but was informed that the particular part always malfunctions in Chrysler vehicles and yet no recall has been issued it seems sort of strange when the part and labor could cost over $800 to fix
Other or unspecified, Mar 17, 2025
I started noticing a knocking, vibrating sound as I accelerated. I took it to several places, and they couldn’t figure it out. Then, last Saturday, I was driving on the interstate, and completely lost power. I was stranded with no shoulder to go to. I tried to put it in park, and it almost rolled away. I took it to a Jeep dealer, and they told me it was the ptu, which they can’t do anything with because there is no fix. I am stranded with no vehicle. I offered to pay out of pocket for the repair, but there is no repair.
Electrical system, Mar 15, 2025
I have had the service shifter warning light come on after I start the vehicle. The most recent incident is today. Sometimes it comes on and I cannot start the vehicle. I have also had it come on and then my vehicle dies. The I have taken it in and been told no code comes up so nothing is wrong. But clearly something is wrong.
Power train, Mar 7, 2025
Power Transfer Unit is bad. Vehicle 4WD light came one and after getting it diagnosed at Jeep Dealership, they determined that my PTU had a code C14A7-97 | Stored. PTU Motor-Component or System Operation Obstructed or Blocked. The PTU part alone costs close to $2,000 alone. With labor at the dealer I’m at approximately $2,500. Vehicle is not safe to drive due to 4WD system stalling when attempting to accelerate and kicks.
Power train, Mar 4, 2025
Manufacture can replace whole PTU unit and not just the snap ring. Issue the recall based on shaft and snap ring incompatibility engineering intolerances resulted in complete PTU unit being replaced. There is a remedy if you replaced the whole PTU unit. Car comes out of gear and rolls freely. Park does not work properly!
Electrical system, Air bags, Engine, Mar 1, 2025
Constant overheating , I have replace the cooling system 3 times
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle shut off unintendedly. The contact stated that while at a traffic light or while slowing down, the vehicle shut off unintendedly. The contact stated that after ten minutes, the vehicle was restarted but shut off while approaching a stop. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the failure was due to the battery. The battery was replaced, but the failure recurred. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.
Power train, Feb 23, 2025
The SERVICE 4wd light came on at 206,000 miles in February . Had mechanic put code reader on and stated that the PTU is faulty. Then the service shifter light is on as well in February at 206,000 miles. It is a 2018 jeep Cherokee latitude. When checking recall my vehicle has no recall on it.