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…
2018 Jeep Cherokee powertrain problems
moderate 278 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
278
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 278 powertrain complaints filed for the 2018 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
Powertrain accounts for 41% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 8 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 278 powertrain 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.
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
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 278 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?
Across the 134 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 20,103 and 70,000 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,103; a quarter make it past 70,000. 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 $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.
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.