2018 Jeep Cherokee problems & reliability
680 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, alongside 7 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
3 complaints report injuries (7 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2018 Jeep Cherokee vehicles were involved in 53 fatal crashes with 24 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 290 | 43% |
| Electrical System | 189 | 28% |
| Unknown OR Other | 172 | 25% |
| Engine | 155 | 23% |
| Service Brakes | 34 | 5% |
| Steering | 30 | 4% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 26 | 4% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 20 | 3% |
| Air Bags | 16 | 2% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 15 | 2% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 34,300 miles (middle 50% between 20,000 and 50,000 miles), based on 349 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“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…”
Power Train · filed Jul 24, 2026
“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 · filed Jul 9, 2026
“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…”
Wheels · filed Jun 24, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Engineering Analysis EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · open
Technical service bulletins
211 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The 10 most recent:
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.
03-002-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 9, 2026
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.
03-001-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 9, 2026
Backup Camera Poor Image Quality Inspection
S2208000045 REV.D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 26, 2026
Door Latch, Handle And Ajar Additional Service Information.
S2523000003 REV.A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 22, 2026
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…
21-027-26 REV. A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 11, 2026
(XX1) Two Speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - Select 2017 - 2019 Jeep Cherokee (KL)
14082 · Warranty Program/Extension · issued Apr 8, 2026
(XX1) Two Speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - Select 2017 - 2019 Jeep Cherokee (KL)
14081 · Warranty Program/Extension · issued Apr 8, 2026
(XX1) Two Speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - Select 2017 - 2019 Jeep Cherokee (KL)
14079 · Warranty Program/Extension · issued Apr 8, 2026
(XX1) Two Speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - Select 2017 - 2019 Jeep Cherokee (KL)
14078 · Warranty Program/Extension · issued Apr 8, 2026
ID-26-19 (XX1) Two Speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - Select 2017 - 2019 Jeep Cherokee (KL)
111447 · Warranty Program/Extension · issued Apr 8, 2026
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2018 Jeep Cherokee has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 34,300 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.