2018 Jeep Cherokee Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 679 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee overview page.
What owners report
“2018 CHEROKEE WITH UNDER 15K MILES. UPON START UP, WARNING FOR "SERVICE SHIFTER" APPEARS ALONG WITH ALL LIGHTS ARE LIT UP ON SHIFTER. TURNING OFF…”NHTSA complaint 11241437 — filed 08/03/2019
“FOR THE SECOND TIME WHILE DRIVING "SERVICE SHIFTER" MESSAGE CAME ON AND ALL LIGHTS ON GEAR BOX LIT UP. PULLED OVER AND CUT CAR OFF…”NHTSA complaint 11240770 — filed 07/31/2019
“"SERVICE SHIFTER" WARNING COMES ON AT RANDOM TIMES. LIGHTS ON SHIFTER ALL CAME ON. ONLY CAME ON WITH LEFT HAND TURNS. FIRST TIME IN HAPPENED…”NHTSA complaint 11240465 — filed 07/29/2019
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2018 Jeep Cherokee have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the most-reported problem area on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee: 288 of 679 complaints on file (42.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2018 Jeep Cherokee have in total?
679 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 11 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 7 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
