Is the 2017 Jeep Cherokee a bad year?
1,339 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 651, 22× a quiet Cherokee year.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2017 Jeep Cherokee were filed between 27k and 74k miles. You're at 47,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2017 Cherokee owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 47,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 651 (49%) | 27k–74k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 342 (26%) | 27k–50k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 60 (4%) | 18k–49k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 42 (3%) | 30k–54k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 265 (20%) | 24k–52k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 57 (4%) | 22k–51k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Steering | 45 (3%) | 22k–60k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Air bags | 26 (2%) | 26k–62k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 18 (1%) | 14k–47k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Suspension | 16 (1%) | 13k–65k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Body structure | 12 (1%) | 17k–64k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 17 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 12 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 8 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 47,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,339 complaints: 24 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 17 report an injury · 52 say the car was towed.
98 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
On january 18 2020 I was driving and after only a mile from home, coming to an intersection yielding to go left, my car completely without warning stalled in the middle of an intersection.
Service shifter warning. Stationary, or in motion. Warning can't be fixed and blocks readout.
When accelerating it feels like the engine is not sending enough power as if the transmission was on a higher gear and also thuds as if the transmission was having trouble shifting.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 47,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2017 Jeep Cherokee: 6
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. 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.
The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power or loss of park function. 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.
Relative movement in the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) between the differential input splines and the transmission output shaft may cause some input spline teeth to wear off, which may eventually cause a loss of engagement between the transmission and the differential inside the PTU. A loss of drive can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning. A loss of the Park function can cause unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
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 depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged… If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
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. The missing tire and rim designation information may lead to an incorrect combination being installed on the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Improper welds on the driver's knee air bag inflator may prevent the air bag from properly inflating. If the driver's knee air bag does not properly inflate, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Jeep: 144
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2017 Jeep Cherokee. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Unable to Complete 01C Recall Drive Cycle C14A7-97 Active Technicians may experience the following: SYMPTOM: After performing Recall 01C…
Stop/Start Illuminated, 0x22 During Fork Wear Routine Technicians may experience the following: SYMPTOM: Negative response 0X22 after Recall 01C flash triggers…
Two Speed Power Transfer Unit Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must SYMPTOM: exhibit/set the following…
2.4L Excessive Oil Consumption XB1 Warranty Extension
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2016 Cherokee: 1,415 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2018 Cherokee: 690 complaints, consider selling.
Every Jeep Cherokee year
2000 · 2001 · 2006 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2026 · All Cherokee years side by side
Other Jeep models: Jeep Commander · Jeep Compass · Jeep Gladiator · Jeep Grand Cherokee · Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe · Jeep Grand Cherokee L · Jeep Grand Wagoneer · Jeep Laredo · Jeep Liberty · Jeep Patriot · Jeep Renegade · Jeep Wagoneer · Jeep Wrangler · Jeep Wrangler 4xe · Jeep Wrangler Sahara. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2017 Jeep Cherokee a bad year?
1,339 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 651, 22× a quiet Cherokee year. At 47,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2017 Jeep Cherokee were filed between 27k and 74k miles. You're at 47,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Jeep Cherokee?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (651), electrical system (342), speed control (60), stability control (42), engine (265). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 27k–74k miles.
How many recalls does the 2017 Jeep Cherokee have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 25V-011), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 23V-302), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 20V-343), Speed control (NHTSA 18V-332) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.