Is the 2018 Jeep Cherokee a bad year?
690 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 297, 10× a quiet Cherokee year.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2018 Jeep Cherokee were filed between 20k and 72k miles. You're at 41,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 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 41,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 297 (43%) | 20k–72k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 190 (28%) | 21k–46k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 159 (23%) | 18k–46k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 36 (5%) | 4k–45k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Air bags | 16 (2%) | 15k–55k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 15 (2%) | 13k–47k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 30 (4%) | 6k–39k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 26 (4%) | 5k–39k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 20 (3%) | 4k–40k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 9 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 6 (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 41,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 690 complaints: 11 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 3 report an injury · 24 say the car was towed.
76 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 march 14th while slowing and turning right on a state maintained country road, the vehicle engine stalled and power steering was out with the battery light on..
I turned my Jeep on, put it into drive and the screen says service shifter. All lights on shorter are on.
When my vehicle accelerates the transmission seems to be slipping or not fully engaging.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 41,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee: 7
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 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. A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
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. 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 risk of a crash.
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.
These vehicles may have been manufactured with a fuel tube that may leak fuel into the engine compartment. A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure. If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the 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.
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: 118
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 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
2017 Cherokee: 1,339 complaints, consider selling · 2019 Cherokee: 1,676 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 2018 Jeep Cherokee a bad year?
690 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 297, 10× a quiet Cherokee year. At 41,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2018 Jeep Cherokee were filed between 20k and 72k miles. You're at 41,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (297), electrical system (190), engine (159), brakes (36), air bags (16). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 20k–72k miles.
How many recalls does the 2018 Jeep Cherokee have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 25V-011), Electrical system (NHTSA 18V-524), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 18V-494), 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.