2018 Jeep CHEROKEE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
683 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
33,050 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 359 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 291 of 683 complaints (42.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 83 | 12.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 72 | 10.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 69 | 10.1% |
| Braking behavior | 67 | 9.8% |
| Steering behavior | 29 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 291 |
| Electrical System | 188 |
| Unknown Or Other | 173 |
| Engine | 155 |
| Service Brakes | 34 |
| Steering | 30 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 26 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 20 |
Power Train: 291; Electrical System: 188; Unknown Or Other: 173; Engine: 155; Service Brakes: 34; Steering: 30; Fuel/Propulsion System: 26; Vehicle Speed Control: 20
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 125 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 141 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 48 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 23 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 125; 25,000 to 49,999: 141; 50,000 to 74,999: 48; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 6
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (141). 324 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 35 |
| 2019 | 128 |
| 2020 | 144 |
| 2021 | 75 |
| 2022 | 51 |
| 2023 | 43 |
| 2024 | 61 |
| 2025 | 89 |
| 2026 | 55 |
2017: 2; 2018: 35; 2019: 128; 2020: 144; 2021: 75; 2022: 51; 2023: 43; 2024: 61; 2025: 89; 2026: 55
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 83 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 72 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 69 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11102009 · 2018-06-15 (June 15, 2018)
CRUISE CONTROL KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF. 2.4ML ENGINE STALLS A LOT HARD TO STOP CAR WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AND IT'S GOES IN AND OUT ON ITS OWN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11102009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11128007 · 2018-09-07 (September 7, 2018)
WHILE TURNING CORNERS, VEHICLE SOMETIMES STALLS. WHEN REPORTED TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT,THEY SAID IT IS A SAFETY FEATURE TO LET YOU KNOW OIL IS LOW. OUR OIL CAN BE AT 35% AND CAUSE THE CAR TO STOP DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROADWAY...THAT IS NOT SAFE! WE SHOULDN'T NEED TO REPLACE OIL U TIL 20% OR LESS AS THAT IS WASTEFUL...
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11128007 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11131672 · 2018-09-26 (September 26, 2018)
MONDAY‎, ‎AUGUST‎ ‎13‎, ‎2018 THE JEEP CHEROKEE WAS IN FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE. MINUTES AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE OIL CHANGE AND DRIVING OFF THE DEALER LOT AT 10:07 AM RECEIVED THE CHARGING/BATTERY INDICATOR ALONG WITH THE AUTO START/STOP ERROR INDICATOR. SECONDS LATER WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE JEEP BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT A BUNCH OF SMOKE. WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE SERVICE CENTER AT THE DEALER, IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT A FAULTY O-RING ON THE OIL FILTER CAUSED THE LOSS …
Owner-reported narrative. 6,912 miles reported. Look up ODI 11131672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11157252 · 2018-12-10 (December 10, 2018)
THE CAR HAS START UP PROBLEMS, THE CAR STALL AND JERKS WHEN BREAKING. THE BATTERY ON CHARGES TO 45% ( THIS IS A NEW CAR). THE ENGINE WAS SMOKING PURFUSLY LIKA AN 1980S CAR. ALL LIGHT FLICKER IN THE CAR AMD NOW THE CAR IS UNDRIVABME WITH NO HELP FROM DEALSHIP OR FINANCE. ITS LIKE I'M ON ME OWN STUCK WITH A LEMON.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11157252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11046490 · 2017-11-16 (November 16, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AND EMERGENCY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (HAWK CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP, 7911 ROOSEVELT RD, FOREST PARK, IL 60130) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PMC MODULE NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO HAWK CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED…
Owner-reported narrative. 535 miles reported. Look up ODI 11046490 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11079585 · 2018-03-15 (March 15, 2018)
TRANSMISSION RANDOMLY DOES NOT WANT TO GO IN THE RIGHT GEAR. THE VEHICLE THEN FEELS LIKE IT IS ALMOST STOPPING AND JERKING HARD WHILE THE VEHICLE THEN FINDS THE CORRECT GEAR AND STARTS WORKING PROPERLY AGAIN A WEIRD NOISE ALSO SEEMS TO RANDOMLY COME FOR THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A TRIGGER OR WHAT MAKES THE TRANSMISSION DO THIS, IT SEEMS COMPLETELY RANDOM. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND BOTH SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME I TOOK IT IN THEY TOOK IT ON A TEST DRIVE SA…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11079585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11080025 · 2018-03-18 (March 18, 2018)
PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM SOUTHERN JEEP GREENBRIER VA. MARCH 17, 2018, AFTER TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, 854 MILES ON VEHICLE. DROVE THE VEHICLE 22 MILES HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. LEFT HOME 0800 MARCH 18, 2018 AND DROVE LESS THAN 2 MILES AND AT 55 MPH THE ENGINE QUIT WITHOUT WARNING (NO WARNING LIGHTS UNTIL THE ENGINE CUT OFF) ON THE KINGS HIGHWAY STATE RT. 125. THIS ROAD HAS LIMITED SHOULDERS AS IT TRAVELS THROUGH A SWAMP SO THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE ROAD PRESENTING A SAFETY HAZARD. CALLED GOOD SAMS ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED …
Owner-reported narrative. 875 miles reported. Look up ODI 11080025 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11128650 · 2018-09-11 (September 11, 2018)
ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE ENGINE SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. ONCE ON A HILL, THE NEXT TIME ON A HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS OR OTHER WARNING SYSTEMS IN PLACE. WHEN IT HAPPENED THE STEERING FAILED AS DID ALL BRAKING SYSTEMS. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. BOTH TIMES OIL WAS BELOW READABLE LEVEL. IT WAS ALSO LOW PRIOR TO DEALER RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGE PERIOD. I WAS TOLD AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST NEEDED TO BE DONE, BUT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN OIL CONSUMPTION WAS DEEMED LOW, I WAS TOLD THA…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11128650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11156434 · 2018-12-05 (December 5, 2018)
UNABLE TO FILL GAS TANK - NOZZLE KEEPS TURNING OFF AND SPITTING GAS OUT OF SPOUT. TRIED SLOWING DOWN FLOW BUT AFTER TANK IS ABOUT 3/4 FULL IT JUST KEEPS CLICKING AND GOING OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT THREE DIFFERENT FUEL STATIONS OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS. MY JEEP HAS ABOUT 15,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS HAS BEEN THE STORY FOR THE LAST 3,000 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11156434 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11230393 · 2019-07-09 (July 9, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, IT WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES. THE CONTACT, WHO WAS SEATED IN THE REAR DRIVER'S SEAT, SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AFTER HIS HEAD STRUCK THE SIDE WINDOW. THE WINDOW BROKE AND INFLICTED A CUT ON THE CONTACT'S NECK. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A LEG FRACTURE. THE OTHER TWO PASSENGERS WERE TRAUMATIZED. THE DRIVER AND THE R…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11230393 at NHTSA ↗