2017 Jeep Cherokee Problems: Transmission / driveline (1,336 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2017 Jeep Cherokee is Transmission / driveline (40% of 1,336 owner reports). There are 6 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-16 1,336 complaints · 6 recalls
What problems show up on the 2017 Jeep Cherokee?
536 of 1,336 filings named Transmission / driveline (40% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Engine (146 reports).
There are 6 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags, Electrical, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2016 has 1,404 reports on file; this year has 1,336. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Transmission / driveline 536 complaints · 40.1% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 24
- Fires 6
- Injuries 27
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 536 | 40.1% | 4 crashes · 0 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 146 | 10.9% | 1 crashes · 1 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 136 | 10.2% | 0 crashes · 2 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 37 | 2.8% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 30 | 2.3% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 23 | 1.7% | 2 crashes · 0 fires |
| Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) | 17 | 1.3% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Airbags (AIR BAGS) | 14 | 1.1% | 7 crashes · 0 fires |
| Wheels (WHEELS) | 14 | 1.1% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 367 | 27.5% | 6 crashes · 2 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 17V543000 was reported 74 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 18V332000 was reported 256 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 20V343000 was reported 1,285 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 23V302000 was reported 2,335 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 12 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 12 | |
| 2018-Q1 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 24 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 34 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 24 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 30 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 91 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 81 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 82 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 84 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 57 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 113 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 57 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 53 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 26 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 27 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 17 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 24 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 13 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 21 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 17 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 19 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 40 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 25 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 13 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 25 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 21 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 48 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 49 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 40 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 33 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 35 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 20 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 13 | |
| 2026-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V799000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V543000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V332000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V343000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 23V302000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 25V011000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA21002 |
Safety Recalls (6)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags, Electrical, and Transmission / driveline.
-
Recall campaign 16V799000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- If the driver's knee air bag does not properly inflate, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's knee air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S84.
-
Recall campaign 17V543000
Safety recall 17V543000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- The missing tire and rim designation information may lead to an incorrect combination being installed on the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners and will provide a corrected certification label, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T53.
-
Recall campaign 18V332000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
-
Recall campaign 20V343000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- A loss of drive can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning. A loss of the Park function can cause unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy:
- FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update that will maintain vehicle propulsion by engaging rear wheel drive and prevent rolling in Park by activating the electronic parking brake if a failed input spline occurs. This recall began July 14, 2020. Owners may contact FCA USA LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is W47.
-
Recall campaign 23V302000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy:
- FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 11, 2023. Owners may contact FCA USA LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 45A. This recall expands previous recall number 20V-343.
-
Recall campaign 25V011000
Safety recall 25V011000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway, which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will update the drivetrain control module and PTU software and replace the PTU, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning February 19, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 01C.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-16
Showing 5 of 1,336 complaints · page 1 of 54
CrashFireInjuryDeath
There was a leak in my trunk that completely shorted out my electric parking break module. My safety and others safety were put at risk because the emergency break was turning on automatically and I could not control it. I noticed it blinking and quickly pulled into a parking lot where the brake went on. I couldn't move the car at that time it took me a couple attempts to get the emergency brake off. I managed to get the car moving and went right back home where then the emergency brake turned on again. I ended up having to call a tow truck. This easily could've been worse if I made the decision to continue on my route that day because the emergency brake was turning on automatically. I took my car to an auto shop who determined with photo evidence that my electric parking brake module was filled with water. They noted "Shorted module Full of water due to trunk water leak. Needs module replacement and connector repair with reprogram. Trunk leak needs to be addressed." A small warning light appeared on my dashboard when the issue started. There was no prior warning lights or problems with the car. I had just gotten my car inspected a few days prior and passed inspection with no issues. I didn't notice the leak until after my emergency brake stopped working. That's when I began to investigate my car and found water in my spare tire compartment.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I was stopped at a red light. When the light turned green, I took my foot off the brake and pressed the accelerator. bI heard a loud cracking/crushing noise coming from underneath the vehicle. When I tried to accelerate, the Jeep would not shift properly into gear. The engine revved, but the vehicle did not accelerate normally / did not move as it should. The Jeep was essentially no longer able to transmit power normally, so I stopped driving it. The important sequence is: red light-green light-released brake-pressed accelerator-loud cracking/crushing noise underneath-Jeep wouldn't properly engage/shift- engine revved- vehicle accelerated normally.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
PTU failed on my 2017 Cherokee Jeep. It should be involved in a recall BUT it is not and I’m paying out of pocket to this repair.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
CRITICAL VEHICLE SYSTEM SAFETY & TELEMATICS FAILURES: 1.ELECTRICAL & ELICTRICAL DEFECTS: The vehicle's primary infotainment and factory navigation display module suffers a total software and hardware failure. module suffers a total software and hardware failure. While operating on public roadway, including [XXX] entering [XXX], the tracking telemetry completely losses spatial orientation. mapping the vehicle floating deep in blue water (Shenango River Lake), dropping road names, and issuing false audible "entering restricted area" alarms furthermore, the screen suffers a total hardware lock that prevents it from engaging automatic night-dimming code, creating a blinding cabin glare that severely obscures forward visibility during night-driving hours ( I must shut screen off). Certified factory diagnostics at [XXX] confirmed the unit is frozen on an obsolete version (version 10) that cannot be updated per manufacturer parameters due to legacy 3G lines. 2. BODY & COSMETIC DEFECTS: Extensive, undisclosed road paint slurry/overspray is baked into the wheel wells and lower molding, masking structural trim deterioration. A certified inspection by Tri-City Collision verified that a full body restoration is required-including the total replacement of factory fender flares ,splash shields, and lower texture bumpers-totaling $2,742.75 3.BRAKES & SUSPENSION DEFECTS: Delivered from stagging hub ([XXX]) with pre-existing severe front-end mechanical and safety failures, independent certified mechanic at Marstellar Auto had to immediately replace both front rotors and right-front strut assembly to eliminate a dangerous highway driving wobble to restore basic steering stability replaced worn rear rotors as well SUMMARY: the vehicle was marketed as clearly "passing" items 67,87,113, and 116 on dealers active checklist Investigation open with PA AG ([XXX]) AND pa dept. OF state ( [XXX]_[XXX]) I took delivery 7/1/2026 and called Carvana with hours INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I was stopped at a red light and once the light turned green my vehicle made a grinding noise and would not go faster than about 15 miles per hour. I pulled through the intersection and over to the side of the road and put my hazard lights on and put the vehicle in park but it wanted to roll while in park so i put the parking brake on. There was no warning lights or messages or other symptoms prior to this failure. I managed to get the vehicle checked at a corner shop and was told the PTU recall is the issue and that it failed and to tow it to the dealership. I towed it to Luther Brookdale Jeep and Dodge in Brooklyn Park, MN and they claim to not know how to fix or even diagnose the problem and are not being forthcoming with any information.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2017 Jeep Cherokee?
Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 536 of 1,336 reports (40%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2017 Jeep Cherokee?
NHTSA lists 6 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags, Electrical, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2017 Jeep Cherokee?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-16. YearTell is not a government agency.