Power Train. Review the 292 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 190 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 155 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports5 fire reports3 injury reports

Steering complaints

30 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2020

Steering

RACK AND PINION COMPLETELY BROKE WITH ONLY 37,000 MILES

NHTSA ODI #11296984

24,528 miles · Dec 27, 2019

EngineService BrakesSteeringCrash

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I HAVE A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE WITH UNDER 30,000 MILES ON IT. MY CAR'S STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE TAKING A RIGHT TURN. MY BRAKES AND STEERING WERE LOCKED, CAUSING ME TO DRIFT UP ON TO A CURB AND HIT A SIGN. NO WARNING OR INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE CAR PRIOR TO THIS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I AM LEASING THE CAR FROM. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH JEEPS, THAT THE CAR WILL BURN THROUGH OIL VERY QUICKLY, THAT NO LOW OIL INDICATOR LIGHT WILL COME ON, AND THAT THE ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN AS A 'SAFETY FEATURE.' I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO PROTECT MYSELF BEYOND GETTING OIL CHANGES EVERY 3K MILES AND THAT IT 'SHOULD' BE FINE. AGAIN, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN OR THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE PRIOR TO IT TURNING OFF WHILE IN MOTION. THE CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE IN MOTION WAS REFERRED TO AS A SAFETY FEATURE BY THE DEALERSHIP WHO WOULD ONLY OFFER ME AN OIL CHANGE AS A FIX.

NHTSA ODI #11291548

12,200 miles · Oct 20, 2019

Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

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WE PURCHASED A USED 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE LATITUDE (LESS THAN 13,000 MILES) FROM A DEALERSHIP IN COLORADO SPRINGS ON 10/17. ON THE WAY HOME, ABOUT 100 MILES, THE STOP /START WARNING LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON ABOUT 8 MILES FROM HOME GOING APPROX. 50 MPH. WE DECIDED TO GET IT HOME. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVEWAY, WE PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE AND NOTICED THAT POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. WE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND AT RESTART, THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE RESET. WE NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AND THEY RECOMMENDED CHANGING OUT BATTERY. WE DROVE ABOUT 15 MILES TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT THE BEST BATTERY THEY HAD FOR THAT VEHICLE. WE DID NOT USE THE JEEP FOR THE NEXT DAY (FRIDAY). SATURDAY 10/19 WE DROVE IT DOWN TO DENVER (ABOUT 60 MILES) WITH NO PROBLEM. ON THE WAY HOME, AGAIN THE STOP /START WARNING LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON GOING APPROX. 60 MPH. WE DROVE TO A PARKING LOT AND MADE A TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT. AT THAT POINT POWER STEERING WAS OPERABLE. I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND THEN IN REVERSE AND THEN NOTICED NO POWER STEERING, I PLACED THE CAR IN DRIVE AND AGAIN NO POWER STEERING. WE STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE RESET. ABOUT 2 MINUTES LATER WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER AND REAR DEFROST HAD BOTH BEEN SWITCHED ON AUTOMATICALLY.

NHTSA ODI #11269737

22,000 miles · Jul 9, 2019

Electrical SystemService BrakesSteeringCrash

I WAS COMPLETING A TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT COMPLETELY OFF CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CURB. VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS ADVISED THIS HAPPENED DUE TO A SAFETY FEATURE OF MY CAR . WHEN THE CAR IS LOW ON OIL WHEN YOU TURN IT THROWS OFF THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR SO T…

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NHTSA ODI #11230601

28,000 miles · Jul 8, 2019

EngineService BrakesSteering

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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 THE ENGINE REPLACED BUT IT HAD AROUND 28,000 MILES ON IT. THE BATTERY LIGHT BRIEFLY BLINKED ON BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS ON MAY 26,2019. VIN IS INVALID.*JB

NHTSA ODI #11230044

300 miles · Feb 6, 2019

Steering

FRONT END WOBBLE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI #11174790

17,838 miles · Oct 28, 2018

EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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WHILE IN MOTION WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 MPH THE TRANSMISSION JERKED TWICE AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL, STAYED THAT WAY AS IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. I HIT MY BRAKES BECAUSE WE WAS LOSING SPEED AND WHEN STOPPED I TRIED TO PUT IN PARK BUT IT SOUNDED AS IF GEARS WAS GRI. DING I HAD TO SHUT OFF THE JEEP TO MAKE IT STOP REVVING. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 4 LANE AND COULD ONLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND ROW BACKWARDS INTO THE MEDIAN. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT BACK IN DRIVE WITH PUT GEARS GRINDING. I HAD BEEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MINS AT A SPEED OF 60-70 WHEN THIS HAPPENED. NO WARNING LIGHTS AND NOTHING ON THE DASH AT TIME OF ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11143583

28,075 miles · Oct 22, 2018

Electrical SystemSteering

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AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY FOR THE LAST 2DAYS, I GET ABOUT 1/2 MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND AN INDICATOR COMES ON TELLING ME THAT SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING CAN'T BE DONE. THE CAR SHUTS COMPLETELY DOWN AND I HAVE TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP TO TURN THE KEY OFF. THE STEERINGWHEEL LOCKS UP MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF THE ROAD. WHEN I TRY TO RESTART, IT ACTS LIKE STARTER IS FIGHTING TO TURN ON. I HAVE TO GIVE IT FUEL TO GET IT TO START. THEN I DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS THE REST OF THE DAY

NHTSA ODI #11141778

85 miles · Oct 16, 2018

SteeringSuspensionUnknown Or Other

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WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS THERE IS A VIBRATION BETWEEN 60 AND 80 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES REPLACED, RIMS REPLACED AND NO CHANGE IN VIBRATION. IT HAS STARTED SINCE I OWNED THE VEHICLE WITH 7 MILES ON THE ODOMETER TILL TODAY WITH 9000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NORMAL THROUGHOUT THE LINE OF CHEROKEES AND IS JUST "ROAD VIBRATION" BUT TALKING WITH OTHER OWNERS THIS IS NOT THE CASE AND THEY DO NOT EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING. IT DOES TEND TO FADE AWAY DURING LONG LEFT TURNS ON THE FREEWAY BUT APPEARS AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE STRAIGHTENS. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THIS HAS RESULTED IN NO HEADWAY AS THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NORMAL.

NHTSA ODI #11140689

6,912 miles · Sep 26, 2018

Electrical SystemSteering

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MONDAY‎, ‎AUGUST‎ ‎13‎, ‎2018 THE JEEP CHEROKEE WAS IN FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE. MINUTES AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE OIL CHANGE AND DRIVING OFF THE DEALER LOT AT 10:07 AM RECEIVED THE CHARGING/BATTERY INDICATOR ALONG WITH THE AUTO START/STOP ERROR INDICATOR. SECONDS LATER WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE JEEP BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT A BUNCH OF SMOKE. WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE SERVICE CENTER AT THE DEALER, IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT A FAULTY O-RING ON THE OIL FILTER CAUSED THE LOSS OF 2 QUARTS OF OIL. SMOLICH MOTORS SERVICE CENTER FAILED TO NOTE THE AUTO START STOP ERROR AND NO ERROR WAS PRESENT AFTER THE LOSS OF OIL WAS REPLENISHED AND WE RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK DESPITE BEING SHOWN THE PICTURE OF THE ERROR. THEY DID NOTE THE O-RING FAILURE AND THE LOSS OF 2 QUARTS OF OIL ON THE SERVICE ORDER RECEIPT. THURSDAY‎, ‎SEPTEMBER‎ ‎6‎, ‎2018 9:28 AM WHILE TURNING FROM BADGER ST ON TO THE BEND PARKWAY THE CHARGING/BATTERY LIGHT APPEARED WITH THE MESSAGE TO SERVICE THROTTLE CONTROL AND AGAIN EXPERIENCED DIFFICULT STEERING WHILE NARROWLY AVOIDING A COLLISION WITH A SEMI TRUCK.

NHTSA ODI #11131672

Official recalls

25V011000 · Power Train

Apr 29, 2025

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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 service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 01C.

18V524000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Aug 9, 2018

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.

18V494000 · Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft

Jul 26, 2018

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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's number for this recall is U78.

18V332000 · Electrical System:software; Electrical System:wiring; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

May 17, 2018

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. 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, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Electrical System:software

Consequence: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.

Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

Consequence: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Electrical System:wiring

Consequence: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

18V282000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

May 1, 2018

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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's number for this recall is U39.

17V670000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Oct 24, 2017

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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. Chrysler's number for this recall is T65.

17V543000 · Equipment:other:labels; Wheels:rim

Aug 31, 2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The missing tire and rim designation information may lead to an incorrect combination being installed on the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners and will provide a corrected certification label, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T53.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Equipment:other:labels

Consequence: The missing tire and rim designation information may lead to an incorrect combination being installed on the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners and will provide a corrected certification label, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T53.

Wheels:rim

Consequence: The missing tire and rim designation information may lead to an incorrect combination being installed on the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module