NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls and 688 owner complaints for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee. Most complaints involve power train (296) and electrical system (190). The EPA rates it 21–25 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.
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.
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.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Cherokee model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 450 |
| 1997 | 1,380 |
| 1999 | 2,004 |
| 2000 | 1,829 |
| 2001 | 1,111 |
| 2014 | 2,651 |
| 2015 | 1,794 |
| 2016 | 1,413 |
| 2017 | 1,338 |
| 2018 | 688 |
| 2019 | 1,673 |
| 2020 | 334 |
| 2021 | 177 |
| 2022 | 52 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2026 | 0 |
“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.”
“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.”
“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…”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee FWD Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 30 | 25 | $2,550 | 361 |
| Cherokee FWD Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, FFV · Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 30 | 25 | $2,550 | 361 |
| Cherokee FWD Auto 9-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | $3,100 | 377 |
| Cherokee 4WD Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · All-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 23 | $2,800 | 378 |
| Cherokee 4WD Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, FFV · All-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 23 | $2,800 | 378 |
| Cherokee 4WD Auto 9-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 23 | $3,200 | 388 |
| Cherokee 4WD Active Drive II Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · 4-Wheel Drive | 21 | 27 | 23 | $2,800 | 385 |
| Cherokee Trailhawk 4WD Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · 4-Wheel Drive | 19 | 25 | 22 | $2,900 | 412 |
| Cherokee 4WD Active Drive II Auto 9-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,500 | 416 |
| Cherokee Trailhawk 4WD Auto 9-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 21 | $3,500 | 432 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
7 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 688 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (296), electrical system (190), engine (155). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2018 Jeep Cherokee at 21–25 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (10 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2018 Jeep Cherokee 4 out of 5 stars overall.