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2018 Jeep Cherokee problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
63% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 84% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2018 Jeep Cherokee have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 421 of 686 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Jeep Cherokee concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (63%), and the largest group is filed under power train (295). For comparison, the 2017 scores 64% and the 2019 scores 73%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2018 compares with other Jeep Cherokee years
Of the 13 Jeep Cherokee years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 5th-best on engine and transmission share (63%). The worst is the 2022 (77%), the best the 2013 (30%). By volume, the 2018 drew 686 complaints (421 drivetrain), against 1,335 for the 2017 and 1,648 for the 2019.
Jeep Cherokee years to avoid and best years →
2010 Cherokee problems · 2011 Cherokee problems · 2012 Cherokee problems · 2013 Cherokee problems · 2014 Cherokee problems · 2015 Cherokee problems · 2016 Cherokee problems · 2017 Cherokee problems · 2018 · 2019 Cherokee problems · 2020 Cherokee problems · 2021 Cherokee problems · 2022 Cherokee problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2018 Jeep Cherokee said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 421 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2018 Jeep Cherokee engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Chrysler (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.
Risk: A 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.
Fix: Dealers 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…
Chrysler (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.
Risk: If 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…
Fix: Chrysler 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 (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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler 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 (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.…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2018 Jeep Cherokee? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2018 Jeep Cherokee
Does the 2018 Jeep Cherokee have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 421 of 686 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Jeep Cherokee concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (63%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Jeep Cherokee is power train: 295 of 686 complaints (43%) name it, followed by electrical system (190) and engine (155). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2018 Jeep Cherokee reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 63% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 84% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Jeep Cherokee years we score, it ranks 5th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total: 25V011000 (power train), 18V494000 (power train: axle assembly: axle shaft), 18V282000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings), and more. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Jeep Cherokee years are better?
Among the Jeep Cherokee years we track, the 2013 (30%), the 2012 (34%) and the 2010 (38%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (63%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/jeep-cherokee
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.