2018 Jeep Cherokee problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (253) · Engine (80) · Electrical System (57)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Jeep Cherokee model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
362 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (7)
Power Train 2025-01-16 · campaign 25V011000 · 63,130 vehicles
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.
Fix: 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 Underhood 2018-08-09 · campaign 18V524000 · 12,779 vehicles
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 o
Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 Shaft 2018-07-26 · campaign 18V494000 · 702 vehicles
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.
Fix: 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:software 2018-05-17 · campaign 18V332000 · 4,815,661 vehicles
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 c
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.
Fix: 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 transmissi
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings 2018-05-01 · campaign 18V282000 · 48,990 vehicles
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.
Fix: 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:engine 2017-10-24 · campaign 17V670000 · 357 vehicles
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.
Fix: 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:labels 2017-08-31 · campaign 17V543000 · 22,242 vehicles
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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (211)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-07-09 · 03-002-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
stop/start illuminated, 0x22 during fork wear routine technicians may experience the following: symptom: ● negative response 0x22 after recall 01c flash triggers one or more communication codes with controllers.
Power Train 2026-07-09 · 03-001-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
unable to complete 01c recall drive cycle c14a7-97 active technicians may experience the following: symptom: ● after performing recall 01c, the vehicle may get a 'service awd' message on the evic.
Structure:body 2026-06-26 · S2208000045 REV.D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
backup camera poor image quality inspection
Structure:body 2026-04-22 · S2523000003 REV.A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
door latch, handle and ajar additional service information.
Power Train 2026-04-11 · 21-027-26 REV. A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
two speed power transfer unit customers must experience a malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illumination and the vehicle must symptom: exhibit/set the following diagnostic trouble code (dtc): ? c1494-07 - ptu fork position-mechanincal failures. customers m
Power Train 2026-04-08 · 14082 · Warranty Program/Extension
(xx1) two speed power transfer unit (ptu) - select 2017 - 2019 jeep cherokee (kl)
Showing the 6 most recent of 211 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-21 · Power Train · 111,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 jeep cherokee. the contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the 4wd warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with ptu failure. the approximate failure mileage was 111,000.…”
2026-10-03 · Unknown Or Other“car indicating service 4wd message. i had a scan done on the vehicle and it was determined that it is a power transfer unit issue which there have been recalls for yet per my vin number, mine is not included. i have had this message every time i drive the vehicle and it has been present since 03/26.…”
2026-09-28 · Power Train“took my 2018 jeep cherokee to dealership for a service appointment, a service the 4wheel drive light came on. we have experience hard transmission shifting and popping. the dealership haved checked our jeep and told us that the replacement of the ptu had to be replaced. my wife is not driving the jeep due to the fear of locking up and causing an ac…”
2026-09-24 · Suspension · 90,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 jeep cherokee. the contact stated that while driving 5 mph, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle and the transmission failed to shift into gear properly. the contact stated that the vehicle nearly stalled. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with rear differential failure. t…”
2026-09-22 · Power Train · 84,400 mi“the contact owns a 2018 jeep cherokee. the contact stated that on a rainy day while driving 45 mph, the vehicle almost spun out of control due to a lack of traction. the message "4wd system service required" was displayed. the dealer was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with a power transfer unit failure. the dtc: c14a7-97, associated with tsb:…”
2026-09-03 · Unknown Or Other“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 re…”
2026-08-26 · Power Train“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 jee…”
2026-08-13 · Electrical System“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…”
2026-07-24 · Power Train · 117,270 mi“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. …”
2026-07-09 · Structure · 102,000 mi“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 vehic…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.