Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Complaints filed between 2017-11-16 and 2026-08-26. Median delay from incident to filing: 5 days.
Analysis
The following model year (2019) drew 211.5 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2018 model collected 165 complaints, 85% higher than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (36.8% of complaints), followed by Engine (23.3%) and Electrical (17.3%). Transmission / powertrain complaints are 3.2 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Within Transmission / powertrain reports, owners most often mention “shifter”, “ptu”, “power train”, “power transfer” and “transfer unit”. 16 reports (2.3%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 7 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 37 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was after five years (33% of incidents). In the last 12 months 80 new complaints were filed, versus 82 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls for this model year. 93% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses. 1 NHTSA defect investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture” (opened 2021-09-17, still open).
Safety recalls (7)
POWER TRAIN Campaign 25V011000 · 2025-04-29
Summary: 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 UNDERHOOD Campaign 18V524000 · 2018-08-09
Summary: 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 SHAFT Campaign 18V494000 · 2018-07-26
Summary: 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:WIRING Campaign 18V332000 · 2018-05-17
Summary: 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 FITTINGS Campaign 18V282000 · 2018-05-01
Summary: 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:ENGINE Campaign 17V670000 · 2017-10-24
Summary: 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:LABELS Campaign 17V543000 · 2017-08-31
Summary: 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.
How to check whether your car has an open recall ›
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
682 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, or about 78.6 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
The most common category is Transmission / powertrain, accounting for 36.8% of complaints.
Does the 2018 Jeep Cherokee have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 7 safety recall(s) for this model year. 1 NHTSA defect investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture” (opened 2021-09-17, still open).
Is the 2018 Jeep Cherokee still generating complaints?
In the last 12 months 80 new complaints were filed, versus 82 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
How does the 2018 Jeep Cherokee compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 682 owner complaints about the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, or 78.6 per year on the road — more complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 1.87, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 73 model-year 2018 vehicles we track, it ranks #57 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Jeep models its rate is 8% higher; against other Compact SUVs it is 26% higher.