SERVICE SHIFTER KEEPS COMING ON MY CAR WHILE I'M DRIVING SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND IT LIGHTS UP ALL RED NEXT TO THE P R N D AND YOU CAN'T SEE YOUR MPH ON THE SCREEN OR TELL WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN. I HAVE TO PULL OVER TURN MY CAR OFF AND OPEN MY DOOR AND THEN RESTART IT FOR IT TO GO AWAY. SOMETIMES IT COMES RIGHT BACK ON. I TOLD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL IT COMES ON A…
2018 jeep Cherokee powertrain problems
moderate 270 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
270
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Power take off unit (PTU) failed, causing loss of power while driving.
I TURNED MY JEEP ON, PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND THE SCREEN SAYS SERVICE SHIFTER. ALL LIGHTS ON SHORTER ARE ON.
WHILE DRIVING AND STATIONARY THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE DASH AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE FLOOR SHIFTER ILLUMINATE ALL GEAR POSITIONS. ALSO, AT LOW SPEED, WHEN ADDING POWER, THE TRANSMISSION HAS A "BUMP" AS IT TRIES TO SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. MAKES IT JERK/CLUNK INTO GEAR.
THE SHIFTER KEEP SAYING THAT IT NEEDS TO BE SERVICED THE CAR ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT . I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER JEEP OWNERS AND THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE HAS THE SAME ISSUE
SERVICE SHIFTER APPEARS ON SCREEN, ALL SELECTIONS ON SHIFTER LIGHT UP RED. 40,000 MILES. HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE FORUMS. VEHICLE STATIONARY. JUST STARTED UP. TURN OFF AND RESTART- IT GOES AWAY
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2018 jeep Cherokee?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 270 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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