KnownCarProblems2017 Jeep Cherokee Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 1,337 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Jeep Cherokee, most often about the transmission (49% of complaints, typically around 46,500 miles). It is 5th of 14 Cherokee model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2017 Jeep Cherokee problems
Transmission
649 complaints · 49%Half of these problems showed up before 46,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, transfer case (4-wheel drive).
As I was accelerating out of a corner, I lost total power in the drive train. I was not able to accelerate at all, its as if the neutral was switched on by itself. All my lights on the gear shifter lit up. My dash displayed a message something along the lines of that I have to put the car in neutral or park, press the…
At 9000 miles the service shifter message came on while driving from carthage to galveston texas contacted a local dealer and was told dont place in park to take it to the dealership drove it back to marshall texas to dealership and they said they were having problems with the shifter so replaced the entire shifter..…
Other or unspecified
343 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 38,500 miles.
Service shifter appears on dash while driving and all lights on shifter illuminate. This has occurred twice-- once when starting the vehicle from being parked for several hours and again once the car was driving at about 35-40mph. Each time I cut the car off and restarted the vehicle and the lights disappeared.
My car has turned off twice in the last week within my first 3 miles while driving. This happened on 2 separate days. No warning signs, no codes/notification lights on dashboard.
Electrical
342 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles. Parts named most often: starter assembly, instrument cluster/panel.
At 38,000 miles on our new Jeep, the spark plugs are grounding out for some unexplained reason and burning a hole in the bottom of the coil packs boot. Causing the plug and coil packs to burn up. I'm being told it's a manufactures part defect that Jeep hasn't recognized yet. It's happened 3 different times and Jeep…
While driving vehicle shuts off with out warning. Start is impossible for 30-45 seconds. No check engine light and no drivability issues before or after vehicle shut down. Has happened twice in the last few weeks
Engine
265 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 39,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. While driving 40 MPH, the engine stalled and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle off the road and had it towed to marino chrysler Jeep dodge (5133 w irving park rd, chicago, il 60641, ([phone]). The dealer diagnosed that there was an oil…
On three separate occasions now, while driving my vehicle after it had been parked for 5 or more hours after travelling less than a mile or two while in motion my vehicle has stalled out. Twice, completely stalled where I had to pull over....once in the dark, the lights went out and it started to stall, but then…
Brakes
62 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 37,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components.
We have had this Jeep for one year. The the first repair was to service the brakes system after 1200 miles. Today same thing again. I got in my Jeep to run an errand and started the car pressed on the brake to place the car in reverse and hear a hissing sound under the dash. The brake booster failed again I know this…
My Jeep along with several other have been affected by this! Service shifter and all the lights come on the shifter. Just driving down the highway that alert appeared
Speed control
60 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 35,500 miles. Parts named most often: throttle.
After starting the car and shifting to reverse the car stalls. Also while driving the car has displayed three times in different occasions displays "service shifter" and the lights turn red on the shift stick (keep in mind the car is automatic with 9 speed transmission). I just got the car a week ago and I am scared…
Service shifter light comes on. Need to turn off vehicle and restart. If light is on and vehicle running the shifting is hard and steering is loose
Steering
45 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 38,500 miles. Parts named most often: gear box.
I was driving when my car locked and told me service shifter, I immediately call Jeep who told me to go the dealership near who told me they couldnt do anything because it hasn't been recalled
I was driving and the following happened: Jeep completely died while driving, battery light illuminated & the screen displayed "place in p, then select gear", I attempted it but I had no power, no ability to steer or brake. I was also broken down in on coming traffic and wasn't able to move. I had to put in neutral…
Stability control
42 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles.
I was driving down the road and the shifter warning would come on. All the lights on the gear shift would come on in red and I would have to stop and turn the car off to get them to reset. This is on my 2017 Jeep Cherokee limited.
Service shifter light comes on and all shift gears (park, neutral, reverse,drive ) light up in red after driving on mountain road. Pulled to side and turned car off. Reset light but came on again 20 min later . Apparently known issue with jeeps.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2017 Jeep Cherokee recalls
Transmission: power train
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: automatic transmission
Risk: 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.
Fix: Fca US llc will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed may 11, 2023. Owners may contact fca USA llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca's number for this recall is 45a. This recall expands previous recall number 20v-343.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2016-2017 jeep cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (ptu) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power or loss of park function.
Transmission: differential unit
Risk: A loss of drive can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning. A loss of the park function can cause unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Fca US llc will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update that will maintain vehicle propulsion by engaging rear wheel drive and prevent rolling in park by activating the electronic parking brake if a failed input spline occurs. This recall began july 14, 2020. Owners may contact fca USA llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca's number for this recall is w47.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain 2014-2017 jeep cherokee vehicles equipped with a two-speed power transfer unit (ptu). Relative movement in the power transfer unit (ptu) between the differential input splines and the transmission output shaft may cause some input spline teeth to wear off, which may eventually cause a loss of engagement between the transmission and the differential inside the ptu. If this occurs, power cannot be transferred between the front wheels and the transmission which results in a loss of drive while the vehicle is in motion and a loss of the park function while stationary.
Electrical: software
Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Equipment: labels
Risk: The missing tire and rim designation information may lead to an incorrect combination being installed on the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Air bags: knee bolster
Risk: If the driver's knee air bag does not properly inflate, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's knee air bag module, free of charge. The recall began november 9, 2016. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is s84.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain model year 2017 jeep cherokee vehicles manufactured october 13, 2016, to october 17, 2016. Improper welds on the driver's knee air bag inflator may prevent the air bag from properly inflating.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
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 substa
Questions about the 2017 Jeep Cherokee
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 Jeep Cherokee?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (649 complaints, typically around 46,500 miles); other or unspecified (343 complaints, typically around 38,500 miles); electrical (342 complaints, typically around 40,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2017 Jeep Cherokee have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 16, 2025 (transmission). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2017 a bad year for the Jeep Cherokee?
- It is 5th of 14 Cherokee model years by number of complaints, with 1,337 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.