2018 Jeep Cherokee

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that on a rainy day while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle almost spun out of control due to a lack of traction. The message "4WD System Service Required" was displayed. The dealer was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with a power transfer unit failure. The DTC: C14a7-97, associated with TSB: S1721000016 and NHTSA ID: 102247452 for the 4WD, was displayed. The manufacturer was contacted by phone about the failure and stated that the cost of the repair was not covered because the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 84, 400.

NHTSA ID

11766172

Incident

Mar 13, 2026

Mileage

84,400 mi

My 2018 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk is subject to FCA Recall 01C/NHTSA 25V-011 for two-speed PTU failure. I have experienced 3 serious drivetrain events requiring towing. In April 2024, before the recall was announced, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration while entering an interstate/on-ramp, with loud grinding/revving and jerking. An independent repair facility replaced the transmission. On May 18, 2026, another drivetrain failure occurred. An authorized Jeep dealer confirmed PTU failure and performed Recall 01C. Dealer records state the PTU had “MAJOR INTERNAL DAMAGE” and document damage at the PTU/transmission interface, including a transmission-side stub shaft and damage/scored gears attributed to the old PTU gear. The vehicle remained at the dealer until approximately August 7. About 2 weeks later, the Service 4WD warning appeared, followed by loud drivetrain noise, jerking and severe loss of propulsion. The vehicle also rolled backward while in PARK unless the parking brake was applied and required another tow. The dealer diagnosed a failed left-front CV axle/halfshaft and attributes it to progressive wear, unrelated to the PTU repair. I am not claiming the PTU caused the axle failure; I am asking NHTSA to evaluate the timing and repeated loss-of-propulsion/PARK events. Additionally, the dealer performed a multipoint inspection about one week before the axle failure that marked the CV drive axle category as passing. As of Sept. 2, 2026, BOTH NHTSA and FCA/Mopar systems still listed Recall 01C as incomplete/unrepaired despite the dealer having performed the recall repair. I request review of these repeated safety failures, the recall remedy, and the continued incomplete recall status.

NHTSA ID

11761982

Incident

Aug 26, 2026

Noticed that while going slow and turning heard popping from the rear end. Had 3 different certified shops give me different answers to the cause. Had to attempt to find my wife a way to work. As stated previous We started at Becks for estimate and diagnosis. Then Daver Taylor transmission. Then I called Jeep Customer Care. Also dropped off our Jeep at Dealership. The day we picked it up from Dave Taylor and went to the dealership the SVC4x4 light came on. We not have it all together again. However we retained every parts that they said was faulty and replaced. Started our own research. Found it odd that our jeep had the same mechanical issues as stated in the previous campaigns. NHTSA 20V343 / FCA W47 and NHTSA 23V302 / FCA 45A, NHTSA Campaign Number 26V290. To this day no one has ever given a clear definition of what the root cause was.

NHTSA ID

11759616

Incident

Jul 6, 2026

I have a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The exact component causing the problem is UNKNOWN. While driving, a “Service Shifter” warning appeared on the dashboard and all of the gear indicator lights illuminated at the same time. After I turned the vehicle off and restarted it, the warning disappeared. On a separate occasion, a “4WD Service Unavailable” message appeared along with the SVC 4WD warning light. That warning also later disappeared. I am concerned about my safety because these warnings involve the vehicle’s shifter and four-wheel-drive system, and I do not know whether either system could malfunction while I am driving. The vehicle has not been inspected or diagnosed by a Jeep dealer or independent repair facility for this problem yet. I took the vehicle to Advance Auto Parts, where they connected a diagnostic scanner, but no codes were found with their scanner. The warnings have been intermittent and have disappeared after restarting the vehicle. There were no other symptoms that I noticed before the warnings appeared. The exact cause of the Service Shifter and SVC 4WD warnings is UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11756845

Incident

Jun 16, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel, and the transmission was shifting very roughly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the battery was replaced several times out of pocket; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,270.

NHTSA ID

11752716

Incident

Sep 1, 2025

Mileage

117,270 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 25–30 MPH on the highway, the brakes locked up, and the vehicle failed to move. The "Service Brakes" message illuminated on the instrument panel after the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V523000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the electronic brake module had failed due to water intrusion and corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.

NHTSA ID

11749251

Incident

Jun 25, 2026

Mileage

102,000 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear end of the vehicle was shaking abnormally, and the rear end of the vehicle was uncontrollable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with two fractured bolts on the rear passenger’s side wheel. The contact was informed that the two bolts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic where it was confirmed that the two bolts were fractured on the rear passenger's side wheel. The contact was informed that the two bolts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was informed that the two fractured bolts were severely damaged and had been damaged for a while. The contact stated that the dealer had performed an alignment on the vehicle the day before the failure occurred. The contact stated that the dealer failed to inform the contact of the issue. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,790.

NHTSA ID

11746163

Incident

Jun 23, 2026

Mileage

143,790 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train), and the part was listed as available at the time. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed to have the PTU/full transmission failure as listed in the recall notice; however, the vehicle was not repaired due to the dealer not being able to remedy the part. The part was ordered. The contact stated while driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed on the highway, she attempted to accelerate but no power was given. She pulled off to the side, and authorities were called for traffic control. The vehicle was unable to move. When engaging into drive, the vehicle sounded like it was coming apart. The contact stated the vehicle was not able to engage its own brake. When the vehicle was towed, there was no evidence that the wheels were locked up. Shortly after that, the vehicle's PTU became fully inoperable, causing the vehicle to not be able to be placed in park or any other driver setting. The vehicle was towed to the dealer a second time. The tow company parked the vehicle at the dealer on a hill. With a failed transmission, this caused the vehicle's E-brake to disengage, causing it to roll off the hill and stopped rolling shortly after once on flat ground. The dealer declined to perform the recall repair and prompted the contact to fix the E-brake on her own, although the failure portrayed to the recall notice. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.

NHTSA ID

11740894

Incident

Apr 29, 2025

Mileage

110,000 mi

Unable to Complete 01C Recall Drive Cycle C14A7-97 Active Technicians may experience the following: SYMPTOM: ● After performing Recall 01C, the vehicle may get a 'Service AWD' message on the EVIC.

Stop/Start Illuminated, 0x22 During Fork Wear Routine Technicians may experience the following: SYMPTOM: ● Negative response 0X22 after Recall 01C flash triggers one or more communication codes with controllers.

Backup Camera Poor Image Quality Inspection

Door Latch, Handle And Ajar Additional Service Information.

Two Speed Power Transfer Unit Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must SYMPTOM: exhibit/set the following Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC): ? C1494-07 - PTU Fork Position-Mechanincal Failures. Customers m

D-26-10 (XX1) Two Speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - Select 2017 - 2019 Jeep Cherokee (KL)