AutoUtility currently tracks 682 official NHTSA owner defect complaints for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee. Powertrain & Transmission issues are the most frequently reported category, appearing in 291 complaints (42.7% of submitted records). Among these NHTSA complaint records, 11 filings cite a crash, 5 cite a fire, 3 report one or more injuries.

Key Problem Findings
  • • Total NHTSA Complaints: 682 reports
  • • #1 Reported Problem Area: Powertrain & Transmission (291 reports • 42.7% of submitted complaints)
  • • Secondary Problem Areas: Electrical System (190), Engine & Cooling (142)
  • • Crash-Citing Complaints: 11 filings
  • • Fire-Citing Complaints: 5 filings
  • • Complaints Reporting Injuries / Fatalities: 3 injury filings • 0 fatality filings
Reporting Methodology: Statistics describe unverified consumer submissions voluntarily filed with NHTSA. Complaint volume is not normalized for vehicle sales volume or miles driven. Multiple components can be cited within a single owner complaint submission.
Total Complaints
682
Submitted to NHTSA ODI
Crash-Citing Complaints
11
Filings citing a collision
Fire-Citing Complaints
5
Filings citing smoke or fire
Complaints Reporting Injuries
3
Filings citing one or more injuries
Complaints Reporting Fatalities
0
Consumer filings citing fatalities

Most Reported Problems for 2018 Jeep Cherokee

Top automotive subsystem defect categories ranked by unique owner complaint volume in federal records

#1 Problem Area 42.7% of complaints

Powertrain & Transmission

291 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
⚠️ NHTSA Recall Context

NHTSA records list 2 official safety recall campaigns for this model year involving the same broad component area:

*Component overlap means an official recall exists for the same broad vehicle system. It does not establish that an individual owner complaint was caused by, covered by, or resolved through that recall.
⚠️ 1 crash report
#2 Problem Area 27.9% of complaints

Electrical System

190 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
⚠️ NHTSA Recall Context

NHTSA records list 2 official safety recall campaigns for this model year involving the same broad component area:

*Component overlap means an official recall exists for the same broad vehicle system. It does not establish that an individual owner complaint was caused by, covered by, or resolved through that recall.
⚠️ 2 crash reports 🔥 1 fire report
#3 Problem Area 20.8% of complaints

Engine & Cooling

142 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
⚠️ NHTSA Recall Context

NHTSA records list 1 official safety recall campaign for this model year involving the same broad component area:

*Component overlap means an official recall exists for the same broad vehicle system. It does not establish that an individual owner complaint was caused by, covered by, or resolved through that recall.
⚠️ 1 crash report 🔥 2 fire reports
#4 Problem Area 7.6% of complaints

Brakes & Traction Control

52 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
⚠️ 3 crash reports
#5 Problem Area 4.4% of complaints

Steering System

30 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
⚠️ 3 crash reports
Domain Share Note: Share percentage represents the proportion of unique complaint filings referencing each vehicle system. Because single complaints may cite multiple systems (such as engine and electrical simultaneously), domain percentages represent individual category incidence and may sum to over 100%.

Symptoms Mentioned in NHTSA Owner Reports for 2018 Jeep Cherokee

Specific mechanical, electrical, and driver-assist defect symptoms identified via deterministic narrative analysis

AutoUtility uses deterministic phrase matching to identify recurring symptom descriptions within consumer-submitted NHTSA complaint narratives.

Powertrain & Transmission 3.8% of complaints

Loss of Motive Power While Driving

26 complaint narratives describe this symptom
Symptom Identification Method: A complaint may describe more than one symptom, so percentages may sum to more than 100%. Symptom identification reflects text contained in consumer-submitted complaint records and does not establish a confirmed mechanical diagnosis.

Recent NHTSA Owner Reports for 2018 Jeep Cherokee

Representative defect filings submitted by owners to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Powertrain & Transmission NHTSA ODI ID: #11759616
Filed: 08/26/2026

"Noticed that while going slow and turning heard popping from the rear end. Had 3 different certified shops give me different answers to the cause. Had to attempt to find my wife a way to work. As stated previous We started at Becks for estimate and diagnosis. Then Daver Taylor transmission. Then I..."

Incident Date: 07/06/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: POWER TRAIN
Electrical System NHTSA ODI ID: #11756845
Filed: 08/13/2026

"I have a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The exact component causing the problem is UNKNOWN. While driving, a “Service Shifter” warning appeared on the dashboard and all of the gear indicator lights illuminated at the same time. After I turned the vehicle off and restarted it, the warning disappeared. On a..."

Incident Date: 06/16/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Powertrain & Transmission NHTSA ODI ID: #11752716
Filed: 07/24/2026

"The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel, and the transmission was shifting very roughly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the battery was replaced several..."

Incident Date: 09/01/2025 • Raw NHTSA Component: POWER TRAIN
Brakes & Traction Control NHTSA ODI ID: #11749251
Filed: 07/09/2026

"The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 25–30 MPH on the highway, the brakes locked up, and the vehicle failed to move. The "Service Brakes" message illuminated on the instrument panel after the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign..."

Incident Date: 06/25/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,STRUCTURE
Wheels & Tires NHTSA ODI ID: #11746163
Filed: 06/24/2026

"The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear end of the vehicle was shaking abnormally, and the rear end of the vehicle was uncontrollable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with two fractured..."

Incident Date: 06/23/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: WHEELS
Consumer Narrative Notice: Excerpts are sanitized text descriptions submitted by vehicle owners to the federal ODI database. They reflect the reporting consumer's observations at the time of filing and have not been independently confirmed by vehicle manufacturers or government investigators.

Complaint History for Jeep Cherokee

Reported defect complaint volume across sibling model years (2015–2026)

Model Year NHTSA Complaints Crash Reports Safety Recalls Detailed Report
2015 Jeep Cherokee 1784 45 11 View 2015 Problems →
2016 Jeep Cherokee 1403 36 9 View 2016 Problems →
2017 Jeep Cherokee 1330 24 6 View 2017 Problems →
2018 Jeep Cherokee Current Page 682 11 7 Current
2019 Jeep Cherokee 1617 40 11 View 2019 Problems →
2020 Jeep Cherokee 281 9 3 View 2020 Problems →
2021 Jeep Cherokee 152 10 4 View 2021 Problems →
2022 Jeep Cherokee 48 3 3 View 2022 Problems →
2023 Jeep Cherokee 3 1 1 View 2023 Problems →
2024 Jeep Cherokee 0 0 0 View 2024 Problems →
2025 Jeep Cherokee 0 0 0 View 2025 Problems →
2026 Jeep Cherokee 0 0 3 View 2026 Problems →
Comparative Disclaimer: Complaint totals are unadjusted historical counts and are not normalized for vehicles sold, active fleet size, or total road mileage. Newer model years naturally have had less calendar exposure time to accumulate owner filings.

Detailed NHTSA Component Breakdown for 2018 Jeep Cherokee

Complete distribution of consumer defect reports across all 94 granular NHTSA system and subsystem classifications

Vehicle Component / System Total Complaints Crash Reports Fire Reports Reported Injury Entries Reported Fatality Entries
Powertrain NHTSA category: POWER TRAIN 200 1 0 0 0
Other / Uncategorized NHTSA category: UNKNOWN OR OTHER 98 1 2 1 0
Engine NHTSA category: ENGINE 65 0 1 0 0
Electrical System NHTSA category: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 58 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 23 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 14 0 0 0 0
Service Brakes NHTSA category: SERVICE BRAKES 14 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 11 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 9 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 9 0 0 0 0
Air Bags NHTSA category: AIR BAGS 8 5 0 6 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 8 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 7 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 5 0 0 0 0
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES 4 0 0 0 0
Fuel & Propulsion System NHTSA category: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 4 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 4 0 0 0 0
Steering NHTSA category: STEERING 4 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 4 0 0 0 0
STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 4 0 0 0 0
Engine & Cooling NHTSA category: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 3 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE 3 0 0 0 0
Vehicle Speed Control NHTSA category: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ENGINE 2 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 2 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 2 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 0 0 0 0
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 2 0 0 0 0
PARKING BRAKE 2 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES 2 0 0 0 0
Seat Belts NHTSA category: SEAT BELTS 2 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 2 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES 2 1 0 0 0
STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 0 0 0 0
STEERING,POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 0 0 0 0
STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 2 1 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 2 0 0 0 0
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE 2 0 0 0 0
Wheels & Hubs NHTSA category: WHEELS 2 0 0 0 0
AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,LANE DEPARTURE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 0 1 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER,BACK OVER PREVENTION 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,EQUIPMENT 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,SEAT BELTS,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN 1 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,STRUCTURE 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 1 0 0 0
STEERING,SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
Structure & Body NHTSA category: STRUCTURE 1 0 0 0 0
STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
Suspension NHTSA category: SUSPENSION 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,WHEELS 1 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 1 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,BACK OVER PREVENTION 1 0 1 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
Data Attribution & Reporting Methodology: Complaints are unverified voluntary submissions to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Because multiple vehicle components can be cited within a single owner complaint submission, component-level rollups may sum to more than the unique complaint count (682). Injury and fatality entries in the detailed table reflect raw values entered by reporting consumers across individual submissions; they are not deduplicated casualty statistics and may include duplicate or unverified entries. Complaint volume is not normalized for sales volume or vehicle mileage and does not represent an audited component failure rate.

Official NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

1 OPEN

Formal safety defect inquiries and engineering analyses opened by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Official Federal Inquiries: NHTSA opens a defect investigation when safety screening or consumer defect trends indicate a potential unreasonable safety risk. An open investigation is a formal inquiry and does not by itself confirm a defect or result in a mandatory recall.
OPEN Engineering Analysis (EA) ODI Action #EA21002
Opened: 2021-09-17 • Currently Active

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Affected Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER 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...

Active federal investigation. Official NHTSA File →

Related Official Reports for 2018 Jeep Cherokee

Cross-reference safety recalls, crash test safety ratings, and EPA fuel economy for this model year

Official US Government Data Provenance

The complaint records on this page are retrieved directly from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) public database.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.