2018 Jeep Cherokee

Above average

Owners filed 683 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 7 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
33,050 milesMedian miles at failure

358 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 20,00030,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train219
000
Electrical System150
010
Engine105
020
Unknown or Other104
121
Service Brakes33
200
Electronic Stability Control (esc)14
100
Air Bags13
506
Fuel/Propulsion System9
000
Steering8
100
Vehicle Speed Control6
000

7 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Power Train25V011000
Filed Apr 29, 202563,130 vehiclesChrysler (fca Us, Llc)

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Remedy. 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.

Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood18V524000
Filed Aug 9, 201812,779 vehiclesChrysler (fca Us Llc)

Defect. 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.

Risk. A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. 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.

Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft18V494000
Filed Jul 26, 2018702 vehiclesChrysler (fca Us Llc)

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Remedy. 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.

Electrical System › Software18V332000
Filed May 17, 20184,815,661 vehiclesChrysler (fca Us Llc)

Defect. 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.

Risk. If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy. 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.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings18V282000
Filed May 1, 201848,990 vehiclesChrysler (fca Us Llc)

Defect. 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.

Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy. 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.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine17V670000
Filed Oct 24, 2017357 vehiclesChrysler (fca Us Llc)

Defect. 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.

Risk. If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. 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.

Equipment › Other › Labels17V543000
Filed Aug 31, 201722,242 vehiclesChrysler (fca Us Llc)

Defect. 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."

Risk. The missing tire and rim designation information may lead to an incorrect combination being installed on the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 3, 2026CO

My 2018 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk is subject to FCA Recall 01C/NHTSA 25V-011 for two-speed PTU failure. I have experienced 3 serious drivetrain events requiring towing. In April 2024, before the recall was announced, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration while entering an interstate/on-ramp, with loud grinding/revving and jerking. An independent repair facility replaced the transmission. On May 18, 2026, another drivetrain failure occurred. An authorized Jeep dealer confirmed PTU failure and performed Recall 01C. Dealer records state the PTU had “MAJOR INTERNAL DAMAGE” and document damage at the PTU/transmission interface, including a transmission-side stub shaft and damage/scored gears attributed to the old PTU gear. The vehicle remained at the dealer until approximately August 7. About 2 weeks later, the Service 4WD warning appeared, followed by loud drivetrain noise, jerking and severe loss of propulsion. The vehicle also rolled backward while in PARK unless the parking brake was applied and required another tow. The dealer diagnosed a failed left-front CV axle/halfshaft and attributes it to progressive wear, unrelated to the PTU repair. I am not claiming the PTU caused the axle failure; I am asking NHTSA to evaluate the timing and repeated loss-of-propulsion/PARK events. Additionally, the dealer performed a multipoint inspection about one week before the axle failure that marked the CV drive axle category as passing. As of Sept. 2, 2026, BOTH NHTSA and FCA/Mopar systems st

Power Train
Filed Aug 26, 2026IN

Noticed that while going slow and turning heard popping from the rear end. Had 3 different certified shops give me different answers to the cause. Had to attempt to find my wife a way to work. As stated previous We started at Becks for estimate and diagnosis. Then Daver Taylor transmission. Then I called Jeep Customer Care. Also dropped off our Jeep at Dealership. The day we picked it up from Dave Taylor and went to the dealership the SVC4x4 light came on. We not have it all together again. However we retained every parts that they said was faulty and replaced. Started our own research. Found it odd that our jeep had the same mechanical issues as stated in the previous campaigns. NHTSA 20V343 / FCA W47 and NHTSA 23V302 / FCA 45A, NHTSA Campaign Number 26V290. To this day no one has ever given a clear definition of what the root cause was.

Electrical System
Filed Aug 13, 2026NY

I have a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The exact component causing the problem is UNKNOWN. While driving, a “Service Shifter” warning appeared on the dashboard and all of the gear indicator lights illuminated at the same time. After I turned the vehicle off and restarted it, the warning disappeared. On a separate occasion, a “4WD Service Unavailable” message appeared along with the SVC 4WD warning light. That warning also later disappeared. I am concerned about my safety because these warnings involve the vehicle’s shifter and four-wheel-drive system, and I do not know whether either system could malfunction while I am driving. The vehicle has not been inspected or diagnosed by a Jeep dealer or independent repair facility for this problem yet. I took the vehicle to Advance Auto Parts, where they connected a diagnostic scanner, but no codes were found with their scanner. The warnings have been intermittent and have disappeared after restarting the vehicle. There were no other symptoms that I noticed before the warnings appeared. The exact cause of the Service Shifter and SVC 4WD warnings is UNKNOWN.

Power Train
Filed Jul 24, 2026117,270 milesAZ

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel, and the transmission was shifting very roughly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the battery was replaced several times out of pocket; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,270.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jul 9, 2026102,000 milesKY

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 25–30 MPH on the highway, the brakes locked up, and the vehicle failed to move. The "Service Brakes" message illuminated on the instrument panel after the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V523000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the electronic brake module had failed due to water intrusion and corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.

Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Filed Jun 24, 2026143,790 milesNY

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear end of the vehicle was shaking abnormally, and the rear end of the vehicle was uncontrollable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with two fractured bolts on the rear passenger’s side wheel. The contact was informed that the two bolts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic where it was confirmed that the two bolts were fractured on the rear passenger's side wheel. The contact was informed that the two bolts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was informed that the two fractured bolts were severely damaged and had been damaged for a while. The contact stated that the dealer had performed an alignment on the vehicle the day before the failure occurred. The contact stated that the dealer failed to inform the contact of the issue. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,790.

Engine
Filed May 29, 2026118,000 milesKS

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle shut off as several warning lights appeared on the instrument panel. The contact made multiple attempts to restart the vehicle but to no avail. The police arrived at the scene and helped to place the vehicle into neutral(N) and moved the vehicle off to the side of the road. Due to the failure, the vehicle was initially towed to the contact's home and was then towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a failed alternator and PTU(Power Transfer Unit). The vehicle was towed back to the contact's home due to the cost of the repair. The contact called an independent mechanic who managed to replace the alternator. Although the contact managed to drive the vehicle once the alternator was replaced; the contact stated that the same warning lights including the 4WD warning message remained on the instrument panel. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000(Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be fully repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

Power Train
Filed May 29, 2026110,000 milesMO

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train), and the part was listed as available at the time. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed to have the PTU/full transmission failure as listed in the recall notice; however, the vehicle was not repaired due to the dealer not being able to remedy the part. The part was ordered. The contact stated while driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed on the highway, she attempted to accelerate but no power was given. She pulled off to the side, and authorities were called for traffic control. The vehicle was unable to move. When engaging into drive, the vehicle sounded like it was coming apart. The contact stated the vehicle was not able to engage its own brake. When the vehicle was towed, there was no evidence that the wheels were locked up. Shortly after that, the vehicle's PTU became fully inoperable, causing the vehicle to not be able to be placed in park or any other driver setting. The vehicle was towed to the dealer a second time. The tow company parked the vehicle at the dealer on a hill. With a failed transmission, this caused the vehicle's E-brake to disengage, causing it to roll off the hill and stopped rolling shortly after once on flat ground. The dealer declined to perform the recall repair and prompted the contact to fix the E-brake on her own, although the failure portrayed to the recall notice. The vehicle was not repaired. The

Power Train
Filed May 28, 202699,000 milesOR

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, all of the warning indicators on the instrument cluster panel illuminated. Additionally, the contact noted that the parking brake occasionally felt as though it had not engaged, and while driving, the parking brake would disengage on its own. The contact also stated that the vehicle hesitated during acceleration and failed to shift smoothly into the next gear. The contact referenced NHTSA ID Number: 25V011000 (Power Train) to be the cause of the issue however, the VIN was not included in the recall repair. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 99,000.

Power Train
Filed May 27, 2026OH

PTU failed. Service 4 WD Light is on. Jeep has a recall but my VIN isn't included. It is going to cost over $3000 to get it fixed.

Unknown or Other
Filed May 14, 2026CO

I am writing to escalate a safety and reimbursement concern regarding my 2018 Jeep Cherokee, VIN [Your VIN], which is subject to recall 01C / 25V‑011 (Power Transfer Unit Snap Ring Defect). Before the recall remedy was available, my vehicle experienced a sudden loss of drive power, grinding, and jerking, which led to a full transmission replacement. I was stranded on the side of an interstate ramp as a result of this loss of drive power. The PTU was not replaced and remains original. I now intermittently receive a “4WD won’t work” alert 65-80% of vehicle starts. I attempted to schedule my vehicle for the recall repair and spoke in length with the Jeep dealership in [XXX] on 2/23/26. The dealership has informed me that PTU replacement parts are unavailable and could take months to arrive. If the dealership detects a concern during inspection, they will not allow me to keep the vehicle, yet they cannot provide a loaner. This leaves me without transportation for an indefinite period, despite the recall being an active safety concern. It is important to note that the PTU is directly connected to the transmission and transfers power to the rear wheels; a PTU failure can place stress on or impair the transmission, which can cause symptoms identical to sudden transmission failure. I request escalation to a senior case manager or Tier 2 Top Car Specialist, review of my prior repair for reimbursement, and documentation of the ongoing 4WD alerts to support safety and claim review. Atta

Steering
Filed May 12, 2026OH

The steering rack failed about one week after I purchased the vehicle. The dealer replaced the steering rack once, but the same problem happened again about six months later. The vehicle has now been at the dealership for about one year waiting for another replacement steering rack. The dealer informed me the part is unavailable and must be specially manufactured. A loaner vehicle was provided while waiting. This repeated steering system failure is a serious safety concern.

Service Brakes
Filed May 11, 2026MA

While i was driving my vehicle put the parking brake on and then i was unable to get it deactivated at first, after a few seconds i got it and moved forward in traffic. after a few feet the vehicle put the parking brake on and i was unable to move once again. this was in the middle of traffic and i ended up blocking the single lane road. I called a family member who was near by and they came and some how got the parking brake off and drove me and the vehicle home. my safety and everyone one around safety was jeopardized because they had to go into oncoming traffics lane to pass me until i got moving. parking wouldn't engage when we got home and service parking brake light was on.

Power Train
Filed May 11, 2026NM

I am filing a safety complaint regarding Safety Recall 01C (NHTSA 25V-011) and the handling of my vehicle by both the dealership and Stellantis. My vehicle exhibited fault codes and conditions consistent with the defect described in Recall 01C, including: DTC C1477-4B (Transfer Case Clutch Over Temperature) DTC C1440-64 (Transfer Case Clutch Pressure Sensor) Documented drivetrain control module failure status (“TestFailed: True”) Excessive clutch temperature readings exceeding 400°F These are consistent with PTU-related failure conditions the recall is intended to detect and address. Despite this, the dealership concluded that the PTU was not the cause and instead replaced the rear differential. I repeatedly requested written documentation explaining how the PTU was ruled out and how the rear differential was determined to be the root cause. This was not clearly provided. Additionally, the recall remained marked as “incomplete” for over a month while the vehicle was in the dealership’s possession. Immediately after I escalated the issue to corporate, the recall was suddenly marked “complete,” without clear explanation or supporting documentation. I was also not clearly informed that the Drivetrain Control Module (DTCM) had been replaced. I do not know: When the DTCM was replaced relative to testing Whether recall testing was performed with a faulty DTCM Whether the new DTCM was properly updated under Recall 01C Whether testing was repeated after replacement If recall validati

Power Train
Filed May 7, 2026110,000 milesWY

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the 4WD warning light illuminated, rendering the 4WD inoperable. The vehicle automatically switched to the Rear Wheel Drive mode. The vehicle was taken to both an independent mechanic and the dealer, who determined that the PTU had failed and needed to be replaced, but the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

Power Train
Filed May 1, 202699,477 milesCO

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift properly when the accelerator was applied. The contact was unaware of any warning lights illuminated at the time of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the power transfer unit and drivetrain had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a reimbursement case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 99,477.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Apr 28, 2026CA

When the running lights and headlights are set to Auto, moving the lever to High Beam causes the lights to go out. I have been asking the dealer and trying to find a solution since buying the car new, but no recall had been issued for my VIN and the dealer will not correct the problem with a recall specific to my VIN and year/model. There is a known issue with the Smart Lighting Module that prevents the High Beam from activating and shuts off the headlight in the Auto position, and a software update has been issued for the newer models, but not for the 2018 Cherokee with the same software.

Power Train
Filed Apr 28, 2026CA

While driving, often at highway speeds, all of the lights on the shifter will light up and the dash will display "Service Transmission." I took it to the dealer several times and their response has been that it is a software issue that they do not have a fix for and that I should stop the car, turn the engine off, open and close the door and then restart the car. This does temporarily reset the display but doing this on the highway poses a safety problem in trying to get to the shoulder in traffic.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 14, 2026GA

Back up camera turns to static when going in reverse. Has been happening for years. No warnings. Just malfunctioning. Reported this in 2019 to Jeep.

Power Train
Filed Apr 12, 2026WA

The PTU has failed and caused damage to splines. This failure caused the engine light to come on intermittently and failure to shift. The problem has been confirmed by a dealership where the car is and has been sitting for repair for almost a year due to no repair parts available from Jeep.

20 of 683 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2014
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20265400Routine
20233100Routine
202250300Routine
2021162440Routine
2020296350Above average
20191,63911190Above average
2018 — this page683750Above average
20171,333660Above average
20161,4069140Above average
20151,78611280High concern
20142,64513160High concern
200617000Routine
20012298130Above average
20003697400High concern
19993668183Fatalities reported
19983991151Fatalities reported
19973901071Fatalities reported
199644710271Fatalities reported
19956081192Fatalities reported
19945199125Fatalities reported
19934187113Fatalities reported
1992113562Fatalities reported
1991233990Above average
19902709115Fatalities reported

Compare every Cherokee year →

Reading this record

Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 29, 2025. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.