Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Jeep Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact placed the gear shifter in the park and the restart message was displayed. While driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. While making a turn, the vehicle was difficult to steer. Additionally, the key fob was inoperable. There was an abnormal rattling sound detected. While driving, the vehicle was swaying. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were flashing. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that a wiring harness was loosened. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Hi I bought a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk 2018 at GM Motors (Old Bridge), I have on open recall and I take it to the dealer, Jeep Dodge Chrysler located at Bloomfiel, I talked to Tony the supervisor and they refused to fix it,this incident happened last July he told me come back in 6 months so in December when I get there he told me they have a lot of work call them in January, and when I call them last month they told me this recall have been released that was a lie, he told me any Jeep Dodge Chrysler have this part anywhere in the country, I said Oky I can try to get it I don't have to pay for the installation he said no cause the part should from Chrysler, when I didn't know yet if it was a recall whe I saw the light 4wd SVC coming up on my dash board he tried to charge me 1300$ for a recall they should repair for free
Due to the unresolved recall I have experienced alot of issues. The most terrifying is the loss of power, my jeep has just stopped moving sometimes allowing me to het to 30 mph but no more. This has happened to me 3x all of which were on the highway. I no longer have use of my 4wd, which is extremely frustrating since it was the only reason I purchased this vehicle. It has released itself from the parking position. And my "service shifter" light it constantly on. I did put my car in the shop over a year ago they "fixed" it, unfortunately it broke shortly after since it is a recalled part.
While driving my vehicle, the vehicle suddenly stopped accelerating. I pulled over and when I put it into park it felt like it was the transmission. However, I had the transmission inspected and there were no issues. Prior to the happening the "service 4WD" light kept coming on. After the incident, the vehicle could not be driven over 45mph, the steering was so stiff I could hardly turn it, and every time I put the vehicle into drive or park it would feel like the transmission was about to drop.
While engaged in cruise control at 63mph, going up a hill, upon desending hill car unexpectedly starts to down shift and accelerate to 70+ before I disengage cruise control through brake pedal usage. This has happened repeatedly while desending hills in a mountain terrian area, Does not repeat while driving on flat roads.
I believe TSB 08-054-18 does not take seriously enough the danger of an automatic car shutting off mid drive. Only by luck did I avoid being hit on a small road. This has happened pretty much every year of owning the car but I thought it was a fuel/oil issue related to weather until the shifter messages popped up this year.
I got on I-95 from the lantana exit heading west and I noticed that the dashboard speedometer accelerated to 119 mile per hour but the vehicle itself was not moving at that speed. I exited two exit's later onto gateway blvd and the dashboard speedometer was still showing that I was going at a dangerous speed than I was actually going. I called schumacher delray where I now lease the vehicle from and I was given an appointment for Friday 4/27/2018. I also emailed the manager ken cadmens and executive director sal delgreco and I am still awaiting a response. I obtained this vehicle approximately one month ago where I gave back a 2016 Jeep patriot which had dangerous wheel bearing issues that caused the tires to wear as though they were 10 years old. …
First started with jerking as you're driving at one time we were at a stoplight as and it the car just wanted to take off by itself and we almost got into a car accident the car is always low on oil I mean we bought the car with 3 miles within weeks it would actually had no oil my husband thought out maybe the manufacturer just didn't fill it up all the way by mistake didn't check it out so he went and purchased will put oil in it two weeks later took it for an oil change and we already a quart low car waste is gas like crazy we are constantly filling up every 2 days and then car doesn't really go anywhere but from what 15 miles a day on our way to kansas so we were coming to a curve and my husband try to hit the brakes and the car did not break it actually accelerated and he had to put the car in neutral as he was driving just to slow it down to avoid getting into an accident I mean …
While in motion with cruise control set at 65 MPH the transmission jerked twice and the engine revved up and as if it was in neutral, stayed that way as if the accelerator was stuck. I hit my brakes because we was losing speed and when stopped I tried to put in park but it sounded as if gears was gri. Ding I had to shut off the Jeep to make it stop revving. I was in the middle of the 4 lane and could only shift to neutral and row backwards into the median. I was unable to put back in drive with put gears grinding. I had been driving approximately 40 mins at a speed of 60-70 when this happened. No warning lights and nothing on the dash at time of issue.
I was driving on the city street coming to a stop sign. I stopped at the stop sign and when I went to pull out, the car slowed down, puttered and the accelerated more than I gave it gas to. Then I go to the gas station & pullin into the parking lot, the parking lot has somewhat of a steep incline, when I go to pull in, the car puttered and the dies . And thats when the service shifter came on . I followed the directions of the service shifter but that didnt work. I turned the car off and on, it started up fine and the service shifter turned off.
Acceleration complaints in other Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, 3% of the model year's 687 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2018 Jeep Cherokee acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2018 Jeep Cherokee acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 25,000 miles, and 46% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.