2018 Jeep Cherokee Engine Problems
Owners have filed 155 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, 23% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 28,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “service shifter” (15% of reports).
- 155engine complaints
- 28,000median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 23%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Service shifter: mentioned in 24 of 155 complaints (15%)
- Low oil: mentioned in 23 of 155 complaints (15%)
- Put park: mentioned in 9 of 155 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 85 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 155 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 2 a fire.
Jeep Cherokee engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Cherokee | 1 | 13% | — |
| 2022 Cherokee | 8 | 16% | 105,000 |
| 2021 Cherokee | 27 | 16% | 27,028 |
| 2020 Cherokee | 46 | 14% | 14,900 |
| 2019 Cherokee | 459 | 28% | 15,000 |
| 2018 Cherokee | 155 | 23% | 28,000 |
| 2017 Cherokee | 259 | 19% | 38,500 |
| 2016 Cherokee | 314 | 22% | 41,000 |
| 2015 Cherokee | 364 | 20% | 28,000 |
| 2014 Cherokee | 516 | 19% | 40,000 |
| 2001 Cherokee | 7 | 3% | 118,500 |
| 2000 Cherokee | 12 | 3% | 133,500 |
| 1999 Cherokee | 1 | 0% | 207,000 |
| 1998 Cherokee | 4 | 1% | 146,000 |
| 1997 Cherokee | 6 | 2% | 150,156 |
| 1996 Cherokee | 4 | 1% | 223,000 |
| 1995 Cherokee | 3 | 0% | 125,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
My 2018 Jeep Cherokee suffered a Power Transfer Unit (PTU) failure in February 2025 while my family was on vacation. The vehicle was delivered to Walker Jeep in Alexandria, Louisiana and has remained there for approximately one year. I reside in Texas, approximately five hours away. The failure…
1. The Power Transfer Unit (PTU) and transfer case have failed. The vehicle was initially suspected to have a wheel bearing issue due to a howling noise during the test drive. However, after purchase, the noise worsened significantly. An independent repair shop diagnosed the vehicle and confirmed…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2018 Jeep Cherokees have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 155 owner complaints about engine for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee (23% of the 687 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 28,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
The most frequent phrase is “service shifter”, in 24 of 155 complaints, followed by “low oil” (23).
Other 2018 Jeep Cherokee problems
- Power Train problems (295)
- Electrical System problems (190)
See all 2018 Jeep Cherokee problems or engine problems across all Cherokee years.