Stop/Start Illuminated, 0x22 During Fork Wear Routine Technicians may experience the following: SYMPTOM: ● Negative response 0X22 after Recall 01C flash triggers one or more communication codes with controllers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Jeep Cherokee engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Jeep Cherokee have filed 104 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 35,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
104
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Cherokee | 168 |
| 2015 Cherokee | 130 |
| 2016 Cherokee | 137 |
| 2017 Cherokee (this page) | 104 |
| 2018 Cherokee | 73 |
| 2019 Cherokee | 183 |
| 2020 Cherokee | 19 |
| 2021 Cherokee | 9 |
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 104 engine complaints filed for the 2017 Jeep Cherokee, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 104 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
"2.4L Excessive Oil Consumption XB1 Warranty Extension The customer may describe one or more of the following: ● Oil pressure low indicator lamp illumination between oil changes. ● Excessive oil consumption. This bulletin involves performing an oil consumption verification test and possibly replacing the long block."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning Lamp On "
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service 4wd Light On, AWD System Service Required Message Illuminated. Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) C14A7-97 PTU Motor Component Or System Operation Obstructed Or Blocked, Set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Water Quality When Mixed With Engine Coolant
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2017 Cherokee's 2.4L engine has a documented problem: it burns through oil at roughly 0.5 to 1 quart per 1,000 miles, sometimes more. Owners report the dipstick reading empty well before the 5,000-6,000 mile service interval. There's no low-oil warning light—instead, when oil drops critically low, the engine simply shuts off mid-drive, cutting power to steering and brakes without notice. This has happened to owners at highway speeds, on entrance ramps, in intersections, and during turns, creating genuine safety hazards.
Dealers acknowledge this is an intentional fail-safe engineered by FCA to prevent engine damage. However, they offer no fix—only a workaround: check oil manually every 1,000 miles and plan for more frequent changes than advertised. Some owners are enrolled in oil-consumption monitoring programs requiring dealer visits every 1,000-1,500 miles. Diagnostic testing sometimes shows the consumption is "within spec," even though owners are adding full quarts between changes.
A few owners report internal engine damage—cracked exhaust valves, metal shavings, bearing wear—discovered after years of this cycle. One owner at 73,000 miles needed a complete engine replacement but FCA covered only $1,500 of the cost. The broader pattern suggests FCA identified this issue years ago and chose not to recall or redesign the engine.
Same Jeep Cherokee engine reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Engine shutdown due to low oil (fail-safe activation)
Engine cuts off abruptly while driving without warning, triggered when oil level drops too low. Owners report loss of power steering, power brakes, and inability to restart immediately. Dealers confirm this is a programmed fail-safe to protect the engine from oil starvation. The vehicle typically restarts after several minutes. Loss of electrical power and steering control poses severe safety risk, especially on highways or in traffic.
When: Starting as early as 25,000-30,000 miles; can occur throughout vehicle ownership at unpredictable intervals
Symptoms owners cite: Abrupt engine shutdown while driving at any speed; Loss of power steering and power brakes; No warning lights before shutdown; Engine won't restart immediately; requires 1-30 minutes to restart; Message may appear: 'Shift to Park or Neutral, Press Brake to Select Gear'; Vehicle may stall on turns (right or left), during highway driving, or at low speeds
Codes mentioned: Loss of communication codes, Check engine light (sometimes absent until after incident)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers add oil and recommend more frequent oil changes (every 1,000-2,500 miles instead of manufacturer-recommended 5,000-6,000 miles). Some owners placed on oil consumption monitoring programs. No permanent repair offered; shutdown feature remains active.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: FCA acknowledges this is a known fail-safe feature designed to shut off engine when oil is too low. No recall issued. Some owners placed on oil consumption monitoring with threshold of 3 consecutive failed tests before engine replacement consideration. Limited warranty assistance (e.g., $1,500 toward engine replacement at 73K miles, leaving remainder to owner). Dealers instructed to deny tow assistance and claim shutdown means 'time for oil change.'
Excessive oil consumption (2.4L engine)
2.4L engine burns or loses oil at abnormally high rates—commonly 0.5 to 1+ quart per 1,000 miles—despite no external leaks visible. Owners report oil levels dropping dramatically between manufacturer-recommended oil change intervals (5,000-6,000 miles), forcing more frequent manual checks and changes. Oil consumption tests at dealerships sometimes show results within FCA's tolerance, even though owners observe bone-dry engines. Issue appears widespread across 2017 Cherokee models and reportedly known to FCA for years.
When: From as early as 3,200 miles; persists throughout vehicle life at variable rates
Symptoms owners cite: Oil level drops 0.5 quart every 1,000 miles or more (1+ quart per 1,000 in severe cases); Engine runs completely dry (no oil on dipstick) within 2,000-3,000 miles after oil change; No external oil leaks detected; No warning indicator on dashboard for low oil until shutdown occurs; Oil change reminder suggests 5,000-6,000 miles, but vehicle consumes 2.5-6 quarts in that interval
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers recommend oil consumption monitoring program: return every 1,000-1,500 miles for manual checks. Some owners required to add 1 quart every 1,000 miles themselves. Engine replacement offered only after 3 consecutive failed consumption tests, typically once warranty expires (at ~60,000 miles). Full synthetic oil does not extend consumption intervals.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: FCA issues oil consumption monitoring programs (e.g., CSN W84) and reprograms Powertrain Control Module (PCM). Claims consumption rates within design tolerance. Engine replacement offered under warranty only if specific thresholds met; out-of-warranty owners responsible for full cost (~$3,000-$4,000). No recall or permanent engineering fix announced.
Service Shifter light and intermittent loss of drive mode
Dashboard illuminates 'Service Shifter' warning light intermittently, sometimes with all gear indicators (P-R-N-D-L) flashing in red. Vehicle may slip into neutral unexpectedly while driving or lose ability to shift out of Park. Light appears without identifiable trigger and vanishes when vehicle is at dealer, making diagnosis difficult. Occasionally accompanied by engine shutdown or inability to restart.
When: Occurs intermittently over months; can happen when vehicle is cold or warm, in drive or parked
Symptoms owners cite: 'Service Shifter' warning light appears on dash; All gear indicator lights (PRNDL) illuminate in red; Vehicle may slip into neutral while driving without driver input; Inability to shift out of Park or into Drive; Engine shutdown while in Drive (in some cases); Warning light disappears when parked or at dealer, reappearing later
Repairs/costs cited: Some owners report shifter bezel replacement; others required shifter PCM reprogramming. In one case, ignition coil and PCM were replaced. No permanent resolution reported; issue recurs after repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers claim no knowledge of issue when contacted. One dealer replaced shifter bezel. Some owners report manufacturer assigned case managers but no resolution. No recall issued.
Engine internal damage (cracked exhaust valve, metal shavings, bearing wear)
Internal engine failure discovered after prolonged low-oil operation. Inspection reveals cracked/missing exhaust valve pieces lodged inside engine, metal shavings in oil pan, bearing wear, and scorching of internal components. Engine failure typically occurs around 73,000+ miles after years of excess oil consumption and shutdown cycles. Damage suggests oil starvation and extreme operating conditions.
When: Discovered at 73,000 miles after approximately 3 years of ownership and repeated shutdown incidents
Symptoms owners cite: Violent engine shaking before shutdown; Loss of power and inability to accelerate; Engine requires complete replacement; Upon inspection: cracked exhaust valve, metal shavings, scorching, bearing damage
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement required (cost ~$3,000-$4,000+ depending on labor and parts). Damaged valve and bearing evidence suggests prolonged oil starvation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: FCA agreed to pay $1,500 toward engine replacement at 73K miles, denying full coverage despite acknowledging internal damage caused by low oil condition. Owner responsible for remaining $2,500+ balance despite no owner negligence found.
Repeated radiator failure and engine failure (secondary to cooling issue)
One vehicle experienced recurrent radiator leaks leading to engine overheating and failure. Engine was replaced once, failure recurred 4 months later with same radiator issue, then repeated a third time. Suggests systemic cooling or radiator design flaw in this vehicle.
When: First failure at 97,000 miles; recurrence pattern not fully documented
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke from engine compartment; No prior warning lights; Radiator leak identified by dealer; Engine failure requiring replacement; Same failure recurring 4 months after repair
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement performed; radiator repaired. However, same radiator failure recurred at least twice more with no permanent resolution documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer repeatedly diagnosed and repaired radiator; manufacturer not notified initially. No systemic fix or recall issued.
Engine fire
One reported case of engine compartment catching fire while driving. Popping sound under hood preceded sudden fire at 50 MPH. Engine compartment destroyed; vehicle not yet deemed total loss at time of complaint.
When: At 59,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Popping sound under hood; Engine compartment fire without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; owner possession with destroyed engine compartment.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer and dealer not notified of failure.
Synthesized from 104 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Leaking a lot of oil to the point I had to refill every week.
On four occasions the engine started racing while I was braking. On the most recent occasion, I was trying to stop the car for a woman in a crosswalk when the engine started racing even though I was braking. This lasted several seconds before returning to normal idling. I was in a mall parking lot
My engine consumes oil. I cannot even reach 2000 miles between oil changes. My car will just cut off while I am driving (at any speed including highway speeds and turns). When this first happened I checked the oil and the engine was completely empty of oil. It didnt even register on the dipstick. I have had over 6 oil changes since I bought my car in 01/2019 (less than a year). I have had oil…
Had engine trouble with your 2017 Jeep Cherokee?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2017 Jeep Cherokee?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 104 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 80 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 23,300 and 55,000 miles, with the median around 35,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 23,300; a quarter make it past 55,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Jeep/Cherokee.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.