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 ↗2018 Jeep Cherokee airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2018 Jeep Cherokee have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Cherokee | 34 |
| 2015 Cherokee | 29 |
| 2016 Cherokee | 23 |
| 2017 Cherokee | 19 |
| 2018 Cherokee (this page) | 10 |
| 2019 Cherokee | 31 |
| 2020 Cherokee | 6 |
| 2021 Cherokee | 6 |
| 2022 Cherokee | 3 |
5crashes
6injuries
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags 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.
LATCH, Hood For the following concerns, please verify secondary plunger switch before replacing hood latch with primary switch. Please refer to service information for complete diagnostics of the secondary plunger switch which is located in the left front under hood on RU, MP, and WK/WD and left rear under hood on KL. 1) Electronic Stop Start Message on Cluster or DTC P152F without hood ajar illuminated. 2) KL Hood ajar light is on or unlatched hood due to high closing effort. (KL hood may have a higher closing effort to latch the hood as rubber bumper interference is set purposely high to prevent hood flutter at highway speeds) If stop start message or DTC P152F is present on vehicles witho
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report two distinct airbag problems in the 2018 Cherokee. First, multiple owners experienced complete airbag non-deployment during frontal collisions. In one rear-end impact at 20,000 miles, no warning light showed beforehand; the driver and passengers were injured—one with a leg fracture, others with whiplash and lacerations when the side window shattered. In a separate frontal collision, airbags again failed to deploy, though fortunately no injuries occurred. A third collision with a semi-truck at highway speed resulted in extensive front-end damage and non-deployment.
Second, owners report the Service Airbag System warning light illuminating on the dashboard. One dealer diagnosed a failed crash sensor and attempted replacement, but the replacement sensor was defective, requiring installation of a second sensor. Another owner's airbag light turned on and off intermittently; the dealer cleaned a loose connection for $200, but the problem returned within a week. Owners worry that a malfunctioning airbag system won't deploy in a real crash, making the vehicle unsafe.
Same Jeep Cherokee airbags reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag non-deployment in frontal collision
Airbags failed to deploy during frontal impact crashes despite sufficient force to warrant deployment. Owners sustained injuries including back/neck trauma, whiplash, leg fractures, and lacerations. In at least one case, no warning light was illuminated prior to the crash.
When: At impact; one case at 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment despite frontal collision; No warning light illuminated before crash; Severe injuries to occupants (whiplash, back/neck injury, leg fracture); Vehicle totaled in at least one incident
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; vehicles towed after collision
Service Airbag System warning light and crash sensor failure
Owners report Service Airbag System warning messages on dash display. Dealer diagnostics identified failed crash sensors. Replacement sensor was reported defective, requiring a second replacement attempt. Owner concern: non-functioning airbag system will not deploy in an accident.
Symptoms owners cite: Service Airbag System message on display; Airbag warning light illuminated; Light turns on and off intermittently without clear reason
Repairs/costs cited: Crash sensor replacement required; first replacement sensor was defective; dealer cleaned loose connection for $200 but intermittent issue returned within a week
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2018 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 airbags problem on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 19,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags 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 airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags 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/2018/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.