The Lemon Index2018 Jeep Cherokee.
The 2018 Jeep Cherokee is worse than average by owner complaints: 384 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 159, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 7 recalls, and it gets 21 to 25 mpg combined. The best Jeep Cherokee year is 2022.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 100 YouTube videos about the 2014–2023 Jeep Cherokee, 27.6M views. The 2018 is the same generation.
- Infotainment, battery & electrical927K views
2014 - 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Key Fob Not Detected - How To Start With Dead, Bad Key Fob BatteryPYR Automotive · 349K views · 5 videos - Oil changes & service492K views
How to reset the oil life on a 2014 Jeep CherokeeJimthecarguy · 492K views - Driveshaft, axles & 4x4469K views
👉 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee HIGH ALTITUDE 4X4 - Ultimate In-Depth Look in 4KMikesCarInfo · 221K views · 3 videos - Gauges, lights & wiring408K views
2019 jeep cherokee maintenance light resetOil Light Reset · 235K views · 2 videos
Show 4 more
- Heat, A/C & blend door361K views
How to Replace HVAC Blend Door Actuator 2011-2021 Jeep Grand CherokeeTRQ · 127K views · 3 videos - Spark plugs & ignition coils327K views
How to Replace Spark Plugs 2011-2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.6L V6TRQ · 181K views · 2 videos - Transmission & shifter245K views
2015-2018 Jeep Cherokee U1465 and P1C86-1D Shifter PRDNL BezelMotorCity Mechanic · 128K views · 2 videos - Fuel pump, filter & tank181K views
How to Replace the fuel pump on the Jeep Cherokee 2014 to 2019Haynes Manuals · 181K views
Before you buy, watch
Should You Buy a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee? Thorough Review By A MechanicThe Car Care Nut Reviews · 519K views
Jeep Grand Cherokee Common Problems - 2011-2022 WK2Kurt of Trades · 497K views
Top 5 Problems Jeep Grand Cherokee 2011-2021 4th Generation1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 472K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 687 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Jeep Cherokee year. 2018 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 19K to 50K miles on the car (360 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 20K–71K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 20K–46K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 16K–43K miles
Recalls 7
- transmission & drivetrain 2025
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.
- electrical 2018
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.
- transmission & drivetrain 2018
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.
Show all 7 recalls
- electrical 2018
These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging.
- fuel system, gasoline 2018
These vehicles may have been manufactured with a fuel tube that may leak fuel into the engine compartment.
- engine 2017
The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.
- equipment 2017
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Jeep told dealers about
Jeep sent dealers 211 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Shifter - Automatic Transmission If a 2015 - 18MY KL ONLY is brought in with a ?Service Shifter?
- Customer complaint may include MIL/Check Engine lamp
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep Cherokee SUV 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Jeep Cherokee SUV 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2550–3500 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.2L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Recieved a "service shifter" message and all the lights near the shifter were luminated red
2018 Jeep Cherokee owner · NHTSA complaint 11218194
More owner reports
My Jeep wouldnt start(05/04/2021) so I bought a new battery (05/05/2021).but I notice today (05/06/2021)that the clock had reset on it own( so I got to ne losing power) and my service shifter came on aa well while in motion
NHTSA complaint 11415489
Service shifter and all lights on gear shifter light up
NHTSA complaint 11430700
Quick answers
Is the 2018 Jeep Cherokee reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.6× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 159; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Jeep Cherokee year by this measure is 2022.
What are the most common 2018 Jeep Cherokee problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (34%), transmission & drivetrain (33%) and engine (27%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2018 Jeep Cherokee have?
7 safety recalls (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Jeep Cherokee get?
21 to 25 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2018 Jeep Cherokee safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2018 Jeep Cherokee problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 19,900 and 50,000 miles. The middle report was at 33,100 miles, from 360 complaints.
Does the 2018 Jeep Cherokee have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 33% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2018 Jeep Cherokee cost in fuel a year?
About $2550 to $3500 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2018 Jeep Cherokee have?
2.4L 4-cyl, 3.2L 6-cyl.
What Jeep Cherokee year is better than the 2018?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2022, 2020 and 2021.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works