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moderate 73 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Of the 73 engine complaints filed for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
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.
If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Buyer takeaway: Used-car shoppers should approach 2018 Cherokee engines with extreme caution: excessive oil consumption and unexplained shutdown while driving remain unresolved across 73 complaints, with manufacturers offering no recalls despite similar defects being recalled in 2017 and 2019 models. Independent inspection of oil consumption history and coolant hose routing is essential before purchase.
The 2018 Jeep Cherokee engine cluster shows a clear pattern: rapid, unexplained oil consumption coupled with engine shutdown while driving, with no low-oil warning light. Owners report burning 1 quart per 1,000 miles or more, causing stalling as early as 4,300 miles on new vehicles and recurring every 2,000–3,000 miles thereafter. When oil runs low, the engine cuts power with no dashboard alert—only a brief chime sometimes heard during turns. Steering and brakes fail simultaneously. Restarts require 1–6 attempts and several minutes. Dealers acknowledge the problem is known, recommend manual oil checks every 500–1,000 miles, and in severe cases suggest engine replacement at owner expense ($6,000+). Chrysler states 1 quart per 1,000 miles is "normal" and the shutdown is a "safety feature," yet 2017 and 2019 models received recalls for the same complaint. Owners also report original coolant hoses positioned to rub against air filters, creating holes that cause rapid coolant loss and overheating with no prior warning. Oil filter housing cracks above 80,000 miles, pooling oil in the engine valley and creating fire hazard. Software updates and manual consumption tests have not resolved stalling. At least one owner's vehicle was held by a dealer for one year awaiting PTU recall remedy, then deemed ineligible for coverage.
Same Jeep Cherokee engine reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
Engine burns oil at rates of 1 quart per 1,000 miles or higher between scheduled maintenance intervals. When oil level drops, engine shuts down without warning while driving, with no low-oil indicator light or dashboard warning. Stalling occurs unpredictably during turns, highway driving, or city streets, causing loss of power steering and braking. Oil dipstick sometimes shows bone-dry levels well before scheduled oil change.
When: Starts early in ownership (as low as 4,300 miles, 17,844 miles, 20,000 miles) and continues throughout ownership; happens 2,000–3,000 miles after oil changes or every 3,000–5,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off without warning while driving; No low-oil indicator light; No pre-stall warning signals or chimes (or brief, unclear chime on turns); Loss of power steering; Loss of braking assist; Difficult restart after stalling, taking 1–6 attempts or 2–3 minutes; Oil level drops rapidly; dipstick shows very low or empty oil despite recent change; Engine light may come on after stalling
Codes mentioned: P0016 (Crankshaft/Camshaft Position Out of Sync), C14A7-97 (PTU Motor—Component or System Operation Obstructed)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers perform 'oil consumption tests' requiring return visits every 1,000 miles to monitor oil level manually, with no diagnosis of root cause. Some dealers recommend engine replacement. Owners report out-of-pocket costs of $6,000+ for engine replacement; one recalls being denied warranty coverage. Oil changes offered at no cost by dealers during the stalling period, but do not resolve the underlying issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler/Jeep acknowledges issue is known but claims 1 quart per 1,000 miles is 'normal' and 'designed' to shut off without warning as a 'safety feature.' Dealers recommend owners monitor oil manually every 500–1,000 miles instead of providing fix. 2017 and 2019 model years had recalls for the same defect; 2018 not recalled. NHTSA Safety Recall 01C (25V-011) applies to PTU failures but some owners report denial of coverage despite being issued a recall notice.
Original factory coolant hose positioned to rub against air filter, creating friction and a hole that allows coolant to escape rapidly. No warning until engine is critically hot and smoking.
When: Early April at low mileage; owner reports religious maintenance with no prior warning
Symptoms owners cite: Engine overheating; Smoke from engine; Loss of coolant; Dashboard alerts to turn off vehicle immediately
Repairs/costs cited: Coolant hose replacement; owner's mechanic confirmed original hose design was faulty. Repair bill provided to manufacturer. Owner notes local Jeep dealer kept replacement hoses well-stocked, suggesting dealers knew of the defect.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Jeep refused reimbursement despite owner providing photos, repair bill, and mechanic contact information. No recall issued despite similar pattern (2017 and 2019 model years recalled for oil-consumption stalling; hose design not addressed).
Oil filter housing or oil filter housing cooler unit cracks or fails, allowing oil to leak internally and externally. Oil spills down engine block and onto exhaust, creating fire hazard and engine starvation risk.
When: Over 80,000 miles; one reported at 100,012 miles, another at 122,000–123,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Burning smell while driving; Low oil pressure warning when oil level drops; Oil leaking from filter housing area; No warning lights initially (in one case); Oil pooling in engine valley between cylinders
Repairs/costs cited: One owner purchased replacement part from Amazon; independent mechanic performed repair. Dealer recognized issue as 'common for Jeep vehicles with 3.2L V6 over 80k miles.' Another owner had oil filter housing cooler unit failure diagnosed but not repaired at dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler/Jeep does not address this as a known issue in narratives; service advisors mention it informally as common but offer no recall, technical service bulletin, or warranty coverage.
Engine stalls unexpectedly without warning lights, but dashboard displays vague 'shift to park or neutral' or 'shift select' messages and throttle-control errors despite vehicle being in drive or having no electrical issue. No trouble codes in memory when scanned.
When: Variable timing; documented at 7,000 miles, 20,000 miles, 24,000 miles, 40,000+ miles; intermittent occurrence can span months between events
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts down without warning; Shift selector warning light or message displays; Throttle control error warnings; Electronic park brake or stability control warnings appear on restart; No trouble codes stored or codes unrelated to actual failure; Loss of power and steering when stalled
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers perform software updates (TSB or reflash), but stalling recurs. Dealers cannot replicate issue on inspection. Owners mention speculation about variable valve timing system or throttle body clutch, but no parts identified as confirmed root cause. One dealership replaced gear shifter bezel without success.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler/Jeep offers TSB software updates but provides no root-cause analysis. Some dealers admit 'it's a known issue' but cannot resolve it. One dealer informed owner Chrysler designed the car to shut off without warning as a 'safety mechanism' when oil is low—but low oil not the cause in all narratives.
Engine stalls after refueling or during low-mileage driving, accompanied by 'check electrical service throttle' messages. Repeated repairs totaling over $1,000 fail to resolve the issue.
When: Reported at 30 miles after refueling; recurring after $1,110 in repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light stays on; Car stops suddenly on highway or at traffic lights/signs; Car dies immediately after refueling; Very hard time restarting; Check electrical service throttle warning message
Repairs/costs cited: Owner spent $1,110 on repairs at one shop, returned 4 times with no resolution. No parts or causes specified in narrative.
Engine overheats during normal driving; eventual gasket and hose failure forces complete engine replacement. Diagnostic did not initially reveal cause; mechanic attributes failure to poor engine construction.
When: At 152,000+ miles (high mileage) after sustained overheating condition
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle overheating when driving 25–55 MPH (even with AC off); Reduced powertrain performance; Engine gasket failure; Hose failure
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement and damaged component repairs required.
PTU failure while vehicle in use during vacation. Vehicle held by dealer for approximately one year awaiting recall remedy. Despite Safety Recall 01C (NHTSA 25V-011) acknowledging defect, vehicle deemed ineligible for free recall coverage after extended delay.
When: February 2025 (recent); vehicle undriveable for ~12 months pending remedy
Symptoms owners cite: PTU failure—vehicle non-driveable
Codes mentioned: Code related to PTU defect covered under NHTSA 25V-011
Repairs/costs cited: Stellantis offered $4,000 buyback or required ~$6,000 out-of-pocket repair after recall delay.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Safety Recall 01C (NHTSA 25V-011) filed; Stellantis acknowledged defect in Part 573 filing with final remedy notification scheduled February 2026. However, vehicle was denied coverage after one-year hold, suggesting recall remedy delayed or withheld.
Synthesized from 73 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
A common issue with Jeeps with plastic oil filter housing is the oil filter housing cracks leading to oil leaks and engine damage.
Making a right turn, engine shut off no power, lights stated I must be in park to shift warning lights. The Jeep would not start. I had experienced no prior issues before this happened. I called my husband who arrived and drove it home. I called the dealership and they basically told me this was a known issue with this motor and to check the oil. Upon checking the oil there was very little on…
While company employee was driving the vehicle, without warning, the engine shuts down. It has happened numerous times, at highway speeds, and also in town in traffic without warning. The Jeep dealer said it needed an oil change, but the oil life monitor says there is still 56% oil life remaining. After the oil change, the problem seems to go away for a while. After researching, it appears to…
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 73 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
Across the 38 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 17,844 and 40,875 miles, with the median around 26,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 17,844; a quarter make it past 40,875. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover engine issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.