Is the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee a bad year?
854 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Cherokee years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee are in line with other Grand Cherokee years. Electrical system and seats stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 Grand 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 28,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 338 (40%) | 7k–51k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| SeatsSTANDS OUT | 43 (5%) | 32k–52k miles · ahead | — |
| Engine | 139 (16%) | 5k–67k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 75 (9%) | 4k–39k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 62 (7%) | 13k–76k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Air bags | 24 (3%) | 13k–41k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 14 (2%) | 14k–45k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Fuel system | 63 (7%) | 4k–25k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 38 (4%) | 4k–23k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 22 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 17 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 16 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 16 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 16 (2%) | 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 28,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 854 complaints: 42 mention a crash · 10 mention a fire · 31 report an injury · 36 say the car was towed.
71 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
When stopped at a light car stalled, start stop pressed after car places in park and car ran. Automatic off error lit up on screen in yellow and remained on despite turning off automatic off.
While driving around a curve, steering control went out and traction control kicked on. This caused an inability to properly control the vehicle.
While driving about 10 MPH in my neighborhood, the engine abruptly cut off. The "D" On my dash began to flash.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 28,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee: 11
A malfunction in the antilock-brake system (ABS) module may incorrectly illuminate the brake lights and disable the ABS and electronic stability control (ESC). In addition, the vehicle operator may be able to start and shift out of Park without the brake pedal being applied. A vehicle that can be started and shifted out of Park without applying the brake pedal can result in a vehicle rollaway. Disabled ABS and ESC systems can reduce vehicle handling and control in certain driving situations.
The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall. An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
A malfunction in the antilock-brake system (ABS) module may illuminate the brake lights, and allow the vehicle to start and shift out of Park without the brake pedal being applied. A vehicle that starts and shifts out of Park without applying the brake pedal can result in vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash without prior warning and/or injury to others outside of the vehicle.
A high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation. Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may crack and allow pre-heated vaporized coolant to enter the EGR system. This mixture may combust inside the intake manifold. Combustion in the intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
The driver's floor mat may have insufficient clearance between the mat and the accelerator pedal, possibly preventing the pedal from returning to the idle position. If the floor mat prevents the accelerator pedal from returning to idle, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
These floor mats may have insufficient clearance between the mat and the accelerator pedal, possibly inhibiting the pedal from returning to an idle position. If the floor mat prevents the accelerator pedal from returning to idle, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
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.
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.
An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission. If the incorrect park lock rod is installed, the transmission may not shift into 'PARK' and keep the vehicle from moving, increasing the risk of unintended vehicle movement and the risk of a crash.
The fuel line may separate. If the fuel line separates, the engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, a fuel line separation increases the risk of an engine compartment fire and injury.
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: 237
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The Customer May Complain About a Popping Noise, Grinding Noise, or an Intermittent No Reverse or Forward Transmission Engagement
The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission
Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp…
Transmission Control Module (TCM) Updates *Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp…
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
High pressure fuel pump failure
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Neighbouring years
2017 Grand Cherokee: 364 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2019 Grand Cherokee: 370 complaints, keep it.
Every Jeep Grand Cherokee year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Grand Cherokee years side by side
Other Jeep models: Jeep Cherokee · Jeep Commander · Jeep Compass · Jeep Gladiator · 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 Grand Cherokee a bad year?
854 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Cherokee years. At 28,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (338), seats (43), engine (139), transmission and drivetrain (75), brakes (62).
How many recalls does the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
11 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 24V-838), Engine (NHTSA 23V-411), Brakes (NHTSA 22V-426), Fuel system (NHTSA 22V-406) 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.