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2018 Jeep Cherokee

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
10 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
37 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical7
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA683
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA25 mpg
202620232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 Jeep Cherokee is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 10 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Cherokee FWD, is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 683 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Cherokee FWDGasFWD2.4L 4-cyl213025$2,500
Cherokee FWDGasFWD2.4L 4-cyl213025$2,500
Cherokee FWDGasFWD3.2L 6-cyl212924$3,000
Cherokee 4WDGasAWD2.4L 4-cyl212823$2,700
Cherokee 4WDGasAWD2.4L 4-cyl212823$2,700
Cherokee 4WDGasAWD3.2L 6-cyl202723$3,100
Cherokee 4WD Active Drive IIGas4WD2.4L 4-cyl212723$2,700
Cherokee Trailhawk 4WDGas4WD2.4L 4-cyl192522$2,850
Cherokee 4WD Active Drive IIGas4WD3.2L 6-cyl182621$3,400
Cherokee Trailhawk 4WDGas4WD3.2L 6-cyl182421$3,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39088, 39089, 39090, 39092, 39093, 39094, 39095, 39097, 39096, 39098.

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Recalls (7)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Power Train

01C
63,130 vehicles
ProblemChrysler (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.RiskA 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.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 25V011000reported Apr 29, 2025Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
▲high

Electrical System

U87
12,779 vehicles
ProblemChrysler (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.RiskA vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.FixChrysler 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.
NHTSA campaign 18V524000reported Aug 9, 2018Chrysler (FCA US LLC)
▲high

Power Train

U78
702 vehicles
ProblemChrysler (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.RiskIf 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.FixChrysler 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.
NHTSA campaign 18V494000reported Jul 26, 2018Chrysler (FCA US LLC)
▲high

Electrical System

U49,U59-U65,U68,U73
4,815,661 vehicles
ProblemChrysler (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 depressRiskIf the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.FixChrysler 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
NHTSA campaign 18V332000reported May 17, 2018Chrysler (FCA US LLC)
!critical

Fuel System, Gasoline

U39
48,990 vehicles
ProblemChrysler (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.RiskA fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.FixChrysler 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.
NHTSA campaign 18V282000reported May 1, 2018Chrysler (FCA US LLC)
▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

T65
357 vehicles
ProblemChrysler (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.RiskIf the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.FixChrysler 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.
NHTSA campaign 17V670000reported Oct 24, 2017Chrysler (FCA US LLC)
▲high

Wheels

T53
22,242 vehicles
ProblemChrysler (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."RiskThe missing tire and rim designation information may lead to an incorrect combination being installed on the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.FixChrysler 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.
NHTSA campaign 17V543000reported Aug 31, 2017Chrysler (FCA US LLC)

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
683complaints filed

11 involved a crash · 5 a fire · 7 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2017: 2 · 2018: 35 · 2019: 128 · 2020: 144 · 2021: 75 · 2022: 51 · 2023: 43 · 2024: 61 · 2025: 89 · 2026: 55

Most-cited components

Power Train292
Electrical System191
Unspecified173
Engine155
Service Brakes34
Steering30

What owners describe

“The other day yet again, a “service shifterâ€� error showed up on my jeeps dashboard shortly after I started to the vehicle. The error showed on the dash and all of the lights on my shifter turned solid red. This is a big safety issue and seems as if there could be some electrical or power train components malfunctio…”Nov 25, 2021 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“Driving on Hwy 156 close to hanston city , Kansas a deer came out of nowhere and hit my car , as soon I hit the deer it hit the front of the keep, it lost power immediately, it was still running slowly and temperature on the dashboard said 186, all lights in the dashboard where red, smoke was coming out and I keep driv…”Nov 23, 2021 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report
“All of the lights came on on the shifter while driving and the dash warning stated there was a shifter problem. The check engine light was also illuminated. This issue put my child's safety at risk as she had to pull over on the side of the interstate not knowing if the car would continue to operate in drive. The car h…”Nov 17, 2021 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV 2WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Cherokee model years

C

2026 Jeep Cherokee

4 recalls · 3 complaints

A

2023 Jeep Cherokee

1 recalls · 3 complaints

C

2022 Jeep Cherokee

3 recalls · 48 complaints

D

2021 Jeep Cherokee

4 recalls · 156 complaints

B

2020 Jeep Cherokee

3 recalls · 289 complaints

F

2019 Jeep Cherokee

11 recalls · 1,628 complaints

F

2017 Jeep Cherokee

6 recalls · 1,333 complaints

F

2016 Jeep Cherokee

9 recalls · 1,406 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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