
2018 Jeep CHEROKEE
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2018 Jeep CHEROKEE has 987 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 12.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: 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. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.
987
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
12.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
TRANSMISSION
289 complaints- • 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
- • 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
- • ENTERING I 264 VA, PRESSED ACCELERATOR RESULTING IN A LURCHING MOTION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE CAUSING OTHER VEHICLES TO SWERVE TO AVOID REAR ENDING OUR 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE LATITUDE. IT REPEATED THIS ACTION MANY TIMES AS WE LIMPED HOME UNDER 40 MPH. WE WERE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
190 complaints- • GOING 65 IN THE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE, THE PARK ASSIST SUDDENLY KICKED IN WITHOUT WARNING AND SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. AFTER DRIFTING TO THE SHOULDER, THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE AGAIN. THE CAR IS LESS THAN A MONTH OLD.
- • I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE NEW ON MARCH 30. ON SUNDAY, APRIL 1 THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY WENT INTO PARK ASSIST MODE WITHOUT THE BUTTON BEING PUSHED. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT BACK TO DRIVE. WE HAD TO PULL OVER A
- • 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
“GOING 65 IN THE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE, THE PARK ASSIST SUDDENLY KICKED IN WITHOUT WARNING AND SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. AFTER DRIFTING TO THE SHOULDER, THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE AGAIN. THE CAR IS LESS THAN A MONTH OLD.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
175 complaints- • THIS COMPLAINT IS NOT SPECIFIC TO MY CURRENT VEHICLE. THE HEAD RESTS IN ALL NEWER VEHICLES ARE MAKING THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT OVERWEIGHT AND HAVE GOOD POSTURE SIT IN AN AWKWARD POSITION WITH OUR HEADS PUSHED FORWARD. THIS IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND WE CAN'T TURN THE HEAD RESTS AROUND BECAUSE THEN TH
- • GOING 65 IN THE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE, THE PARK ASSIST SUDDENLY KICKED IN WITHOUT WARNING AND SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. AFTER DRIFTING TO THE SHOULDER, THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE AGAIN. THE CAR IS LESS THAN A MONTH OLD.
- • TRANSMISSION LURCHES WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP ALSO WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND SOMETIMES GOING INTO REVERSE. IT'S A HARD LURCH SO STOPPING FOR PEDESTRIANS HAS TO HAPPEN EARLY AS I'M CONCERNED THE CAR COULD HIT SOMEONE. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY.
“THIS COMPLAINT IS NOT SPECIFIC TO MY CURRENT VEHICLE. THE HEAD RESTS IN ALL NEWER VEHICLES ARE MAKING THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT OVERWEIGHT AND HAVE GOOD POSTURE SIT IN AN AWKWARD POSITION WITH OUR HEADS PUSHED FORWARD. THIS IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND WE CAN'T TURN THE HEAD RESTS AROUND BECAUSE THEN TH”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
159 complaints- • 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 LIGHT
- • I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2018 JEEP LATITUDE AND AT 4300 MILES IT STARTED ACTING UP AND SHUT DOWN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD I WAS TRAVELING. I HAD TO USE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAVE IT TOWED.JEEP STATED THAT IT WAS BURNING A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES STATED IT WAS 4 QUARTS OF OIL LOW. THEY ALS
- • FIRST STARTED WITH JERKING AS YOU'RE DRIVING AT ONE TIME WE WERE AT A STOPLIGHT AS AND IT THE CAR JUST WANTED TO TAKE OFF BY ITSELF AND WE ALMOST GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT THE CAR IS ALWAYS LOW ON OIL I MEAN WE BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 3 MILES WITHIN WEEKS IT WOULD ACTUALLY HAD NO OIL MY HUSBAND THOUGHT OU
“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 LIGHT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
35 complaints- • 1.)THE DOOR KNOB/HANDLE IS BURNING HOT THAT YOU COULD HARDLY HANDLE IT OR GRAB IT. 2.) WHEN TURNING, THERE IS A SQUIZZING SOUND AT THE REAR WHEELS AND COULD HARDLY PULL FORWARD, SOMETHING LIKE HOLDING BACK. 3.) WHILE IN TOTAL STOP, ENGINE ON, THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKE AND IT
- • FRONT RIGHT BRAKE PAD/ROTOR FAILURE WHEN STOPPING VEHICLE. APPEARANCE OF SIGNIFICANT LOCALIZED BRAKE PAD MATERIAL IS CEMENTED TO THE ROTOR IN ONE LOCATION CAUSING FAILURE OF RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO BRAKE PROPERLY. VEHICLE DELIVERED AFTER PURCHASE WITH 272 MILES, NOTICED ON FIRST TRIP THAT THE SYSTEM "
- • MY VEHICLE WS IN MOTION WHEN THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED ON BRIEFLY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS MY VEHICLE LOST POWER COMPLETELY. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER, BRAKE OR ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I USED MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE.*BF CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY HAVING
“1.)THE DOOR KNOB/HANDLE IS BURNING HOT THAT YOU COULD HARDLY HANDLE IT OR GRAB IT. 2.) WHEN TURNING, THERE IS A SQUIZZING SOUND AT THE REAR WHEELS AND COULD HARDLY PULL FORWARD, SOMETHING LIKE HOLDING BACK. 3.) WHILE IN TOTAL STOP, ENGINE ON, THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKE AND IT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 987 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TRANSMISSION: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: GOING 65 IN THE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE, THE PARK ASSIST SUDDENLY KICKED IN WITHOUT WARNING AND SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. AFTER DRIFTING TO THE SHOULDER, THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE AGAIN. THE CAR IS LESS THAN A MONTH OLD.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: THIS COMPLAINT IS NOT SPECIFIC TO MY CURRENT VEHICLE. THE HEAD RESTS IN ALL NEWER VEHICLES ARE MAKING THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT OVERWEIGHT AND HAVE GOOD POSTURE SIT IN AN AWKWARD POSITION WITH OUR HEADS PUSHED FORWARD. THIS IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND WE CAN'T TURN THE HEAD RESTS AROUND BECAUSE THEN TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: 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 LIGHT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Jeep CHEROKEE — Year Comparison
How does 2018 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 987
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 6
- Crash reports
- 11
- Injury reports
- 1
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2018 Jeep CHEROKEE