Car · Jeep problems

2018 Jeep Cherokee problems

688 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The most reported area is power train (transmission and drive) (43% of them). NHTSA also lists 101 service bulletins and 7 recall campaigns.

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 7. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 688 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Power train (transmission and drive)296 · 43%
• Electrical system190 · 28%
• Other or unknown174 · 25%
• Engine and engine cooling159 · 23%
• Service brakes36 · 5%
• Steering30 · 4%
• Fuel system26 · 4%
• Speed control and throttle20 · 3%

14 smaller areas not shown (68 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 101 repair bulletins from Jeep for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

1. 03-001-26Received July 18, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   Unable to Complete 01C Recall Drive Cycle C14A7-97 Active Technicians may experience the following: SYMPTOM:.

2. 03-002-26Received July 18, 2026

   Engine and engine cooling

   Stop/Start Illuminated, 0x22 During Fork Wear Routine Technicians may experience the following: SYMPTOM:.

3. S2208000045 REV.DReceived July 2, 2026

   Body and structure

   Backup Camera Poor Image Quality Inspection.

4. S2523000003 REV.AReceived April 29, 2026

   Electrical system

   Door Latch, Handle And Ajar Additional Service Information.

5. 111432Received April 15, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   D-26-10 (XX1) Two Speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - Select 2017 - 2019 Jeep Cherokee (KL).

6. 111447Received April 15, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   ID-26-19 (XX1) Two Speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - Select 2017 - 2019 Jeep Cherokee (KL).

7. 14078Received April 15, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   (XX1) Two Speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - Select 2017 - 2019 Jeep Cherokee (KL).

8. 21-027-26Received April 15, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   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):...

Recalls

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee. Recall repairs are free at a Jeep dealer. The 3 to look at first:

1. 25V011000January 16, 2025

   Power train

   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.

2. 18V494000July 26, 2018

   Power train

   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.

3. 18V524000August 9, 2018

   Electrical system

   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.

See all 7 recalls for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your Cherokee will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

This model year has an engine recall in NHTSA's data. Before you pay for an engine repair, check the recalls and ask the dealer about warranty extensions for your VIN. Those repairs can be free.

Start with a diagnosis

• Diagnostic scan (check engine light)$55 to $250

Power train (transmission and drive) 296 complaints · 43%

• Transmission fluid service$140 to $480
• Transmission solenoid replacement$290 to $1,200
• Torque converter replacement$880 to $2,475
• Clutch replacement (manual transmission)$1,000 to $2,050

Electrical system 190 complaints · 28%

• Battery replacement$150 to $470
• Alternator replacement$360 to $930
• Starter replacement$280 to $740
• Battery cable replacement$100 to $340

Engine and engine cooling 159 complaints · 23%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Service brakes 36 complaints · 5%

• Brake pad replacement (front)$190 to $400
• Brake rotors and pads (front)$320 to $790
• Brake pad replacement (rear)$180 to $420
• Brake caliper replacement (one wheel)$240 to $590
• Brake fluid flush$75 to $180

Check a quote you got

Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

By VIN By year, make and model

VIN (17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield or the driver door jamb)

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Look up this VIN

Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2018 Jeep Cherokee: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?

Of the 688 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, 296 (43%) name power train (transmission and drive), and 190 (28%) name electrical system. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2018 Jeep Cherokee reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 11 of the 688 complaints as involving a crash and 5 as involving a fire. They also reported 7 injuries and 0 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2018 Jeep Cherokee have?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee. Recall repairs are free at a Jeep dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 101 repair bulletins for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee.

More

• 2020 Cherokee problems
• 2019 Cherokee problems
• 2017 Cherokee problems
• 2016 Cherokee problems
• 2015 Cherokee problems
• 2014 Cherokee problems
• 2018 recalls
• All Jeep recalls
• Jeep problems by model
• Check-engine codes

Sources

• NHTSA complaint and technical service bulletin files, checked October 29, 2026
• NHTSA recalls

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.