2017 Jeep Cherokee Complaint Log

NEW 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE HAS COMPLETELY AND RANDOMLY SHUT OFF/SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING THREE TIMES. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FAILURE MODE! VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 2000 MILES AND IS LESS THAN 3 MONTHS OLD. FIRST INSTANCE: APRIL 27, 2017. DAUGHTER DRIVING. GOING UP A HILL ON CITY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH. VEHICLE JUST DIED. ALMOST REAR-ENDED. PULLED OVER. PUT IT IN PARK. VEHICLE RESTARTED. SECOND INSTANCE: APRIL 28, 2017. OWNER DRIVING. ON INTERSTATE 376 GOING 65MPH. VEHICLE JUST DIED. PULLED OVER. PUT IT IN PARK. VEHICLE RESTARTED. THIRD INSTANCE: APRIL 29, 2017. OWNER DRIVING. STATE ROAD GOING 40MPH. VEHICLE JUST DIED. NOTICED A "DING" SOUND JUST BEFORE IT DIED. ALMOST REAR-ENDED. PULLED OVER. PUT IT IN PARK. VEHICLE RESTARTED. TOOK CAR TO DEALER - PRESTON MOTORS IN NEW CASTLE, PA. EXPLAINED SITUATION. TOLD THEM "WE COULD HAVE DIED!" THEY CLAIM THEY KNOW OF NO SIMILAR ISSUES OR REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. I PRESENTED THEM WITH PRINTOUTS OF THE NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR 2016 MODELS ON NHTSA WEBSITE. DEALER IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING AND GUESSES (DOES NOT KNOW) IT MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER BUTTON (NOT THE STOP/START BUTTON). THEY ARE REPLACING IT AND WILL TEST DRIVE IT BEFORE GIVING IT BACK TO US.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO EASTGATE CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (500 SHADELAND AVE, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46219; (317) 352-9361) WHO WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE DUE TO THERE NOT BEING A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SHIFTER AND THE WIRING HOUSING. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THAT WHEN IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE THEY NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE THE TEMPERATURE WAS WARMER, SHE COULD HEAR WATER MOVING AROUND INSIDE THE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 516.

SHIMMY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP ABOUT 18 MPH. INTENSITY CHANGED UPON TORQUE AND TURNING ANGLES...MOST NOTICEABLE ON RIGHT HAND TURNS. FEELS AT TIMES LIKE RF WHEEL IS WOBBLY (ONLY FOR A SECOND AND THEN GOES AWAY).

“Service Shifter” message appears and all gears (P, R, N, D, etc.) light up on the gear shift. I purchased my vehicle brand new and this has been happening since 28K miles. When I contacted the dealership, I was told it was not covered under warranty or a recall; it would cost about $400 with parts and labor to repair. I was also told if I did not repair it, that it could eventually turn into a safety hazard where my engine would lock up and stall and I would be stranded on the side of the road and it would not start up again. What happens if this is occurs on the highway. This is a safety issue that needs to be addressed. Others all across the nation are experiencing the exact same problem. https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-t68742_ds990296

OUR BRAND NEW VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR MAINTENANCE SEVERAL TIMES, DUE TO SERVICE SHIFTER AND SERVICE 4X4. THIS IS ALL DUE TO A FAULTY SHIFTER BEZEL AND FAULTY WIRING TO THE SHIFTER BEZEL. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND WELL KNOWN IF YOU DO GOOGLE SEARCHES ON THIS VEHICLE. CAN THIS BE LOOKED INTO? ITS NOT FAIR FOR THE CUSTOMER AND DEFINITELY AN ISSUE IF THE DEALER KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUE IS BEFORE RECEIVING THE CAR. MAKE THIS A RECALL ALREADY. WHY IS THIS AN ISSUE? BECAUSE IT PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM BEING THROWN INTO 4X4 AND ALSO CAUSES SOME VEHICLES TO LOOSE CONTROL FROM WHAT I AM READING. IN MY CASE, MY VEHICLE CAN NOT GO INTO 4X4.

This is clarification and additional information to a previous complaint filed: 11706675. The vehicle was experiencing grinding during hard turns shortly after i purchased it off the dealership lot in 2017. I didn’t know why, I thought I should practiced not making hard turns and thats what I did. Years later, around 2021 or 2022, I needed the first service on my vehicle, outside of regular maintenance (coolant hose piece replacement) and the mechanic mentioned the grinding during test drive while turning. I told him it always did that and that was the extent of that. He said nothing else and I didn’t know any better. Tjat shop has since closed down and I’ve been going to another mechanic since then. Most recently, December 2025, the vehicle started shutting off while driving. Im going to get my regular mechanic to inspect the PTU.

CAR HAS A DELAY WHEN SHIFTING FORM PARK TO DRIVE AND REVERSE TO DRIVE. ALSO WHEN STOP AND ACCELERATE JUST A LITTLE THE CAR JUMPS AND JERKS WHEN STOPPING. THE OTHER DAY I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR STOP RESPONDING FROM THE ACCELERATOR. ALREADY TOOK THE CAR THREE TIMES TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY CANT FIND ANY ISSUE.

VEHICLE HESITATES TO ACCELERATE AFTER SLOWING OR STOPPING. DELAY IS SEVERAL SECONDS AND POSSES A SERIOUS RISK OF BEING STRUCK FROM BEHIND. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY.

STOP/START FEATURE DANGER: I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, PULLING OUT FROM A DRIVEWAY IN HEAVY CROSS TRAFFIC. I WAS PULLING ONTO A FOUR LANE ROAD. JUST AS I STARTED TO LIFT MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, THE STOP/START FEATURE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THERE WAS A FULL TWO SECONDS BEFORE THE ENGINE STARTED. THE CROSS TRAFFIC HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ME. NORMALLY WHEN THE ENGINE THE RE-START DELAY IS SMALL, BUT BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS SHUTTING OFF AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THIS ADDED A SIGNIFICANT DELAY BEFORE THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS ONLY AN ISSUE IF THE ENGINE HAPPENS TO SHUT OFF RIGHT AT THE MOMENT YOU INTEND TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC.

THE SO CALLED, 9 SPEED TRANSMISSION ISN'T A 9 SPEED. IT NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, HITS 9TH GEAR. THE JEEP SERVICE TECH TOLD ME THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BUT HE KNOWS THAT IT WILL NEVER HIT 9TH. ALSO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A VERY SCARY MOMENT WHEN I SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. I ALMOST GOT HIT IN THE DOOR BY AN ONCOMING CAR! I HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN HILL AT OVER 70MPH, AND IT WON'T SHIFT TO 9TH. WHEN MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER FROM "D" TO THE ELECTRONIC MANUAL POSITION, THE INDICATOR SHOWS THAT 8TH IS THE HIGHEST ATTAINABLE GEAR. I CAN MANUALLY SHIFT THE HIGHEST ATTAINABLE GEAR TO 9TH, BUT THE TRANSMISSION STILL WON'T UP SHIFT TO 9TH GEAR.

CAR SPEEDS UP AND JOLTS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. IT ALSO LOOSES STRENGTH AND DOES NOT GO HIGHER THAN 5MPH ON THE ROAD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY DID FIX THE TRANSMISSION SOME TIME AGO AND EVEN AFTER THAT IT CONTINUES TO JOLT WHEN IN PARK. WHEN DRIVING IT ALSO JOLTS FROM LOW SPEED TO HIGH SPEED

I've owned this vehicle for about four years now. The car has been good up until JUST after my warranty expired and now I have a "Service 4WD" light on now. This light will come on most times when I'm driving. Sometimes not right away. But when it does light up it will say lit for the remainder of the drive. I belong to an online jeep group and I'm seeing a lot of the same issue. This light will come on most of the time. Any way I really hope you can help. Thank you.