Diagsheet

2017 Jeep Cherokee · symptom sheet

Battery dies or the car will not start

  • 36owner reports
  • 28,000median miles
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report May 26, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

342 of the 1,333 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 36 of those describe dead battery.

Tick what matches of 36 reports

5
5
12
28
4

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (30 reports), the alternator (5 reports) and the module (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the electrical system covers the 2017 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

18V-332May 17, 2018
Electrical System:Wiring

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.

Risk and remedy
Risk: 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.

NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Cherokee

PE22-009opened Jul 22, 2022
Parking Brake · model years 2014 to 2016

Electronic parking brake water ingress. Closed oct 29, 2023.

NHTSA summary
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened investigation PE22-009 after having received 80 complaints on model years 2014-2020 Jeep Cherokees alleging the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) inadvertently activated while the vehicle was in motion.During this investigation, the subject vehicles were updated to include only Model Years (MY) 2014-2016, while MY 2017-2020 were considered peers.Based on related repair invoices, ODI believed the EPB module was damaged by water leaking into the vehicle. When the EPB inadvertently activates, it can cause a stalling condition bringing the vehicle to a stop. ODI was aware of recall 15V-393 that addresses water ingress affecting the power liftgate module on nearly the same population of vehicles subject of this investigation. The liftgate module can potentially catch fire as a result of the water damage. Both the liftgate and EPB modules are located in a similar area of the vehicle. On May 11, 2016, the manufacturer released a Technical Service Bulleting (ODI #10191415, FCA #08-060-16) that instructs dealers on replacing the EPB module and inspecting the electrical connector for corrosion if a customer describes having the EPB not releasing. This Preliminary Evaluation was opened to assess the scope, frequency, and safety-related consequences of the alleged defect. On September 8th, 2022, ODI sent an information request letter to Fiat Chrysler US LLC (FCA) requesting pertinent information on the subject 2014-2016 Jeep Cherokee and
RQ15-004opened Jul 24, 2015
Electrical · model years 2014 to 2015

Software security vulnerability. Closed jan 5, 2016, led to recall 15V-508.

NHTSA summary
On July 23, 2015, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) launched Safety Recall 15V-461 to remedy security vulnerabilities in approximately 1.4 million model year (MY) 2013 through 2015 vehicles equipped with Uconnect head units (HU) 8.4A (RA3 radio) and 8.4AN (RA4 radio) manufactured by Harman International.On July 24, 2015, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query, RQ 15-004, to investigate HU security vulnerabilities and remedy effectiveness in the recalled population and to determine whether similar units have been supplied for use in other FCA vehicles.In an August 11, 2015 letter, FCA submitted a second Part 573 safety recall report expanding the scope of the Uconnect RA4 model radio to include additional 7,810 MY 2015 Jeep Renegade vehicles manufactured from September 18, 2014 through June 25, 2015 (Recall 15V-508).Scope analysis indicated that Uconnect radios installed in FCA vehicles not included in recalls 15V-461 or 15V-508 (subject recalls) are not equipped with built-in cellular access or short range wireless communication features and, thus, do not contain the security vulnerabilities addressed by the subject recalls. SUBJECT VEHICLES: MY2014 through 2015 Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Cherokee sport utility vehicles; MY2013 through 2015 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500 and 4500/5500 pickup trucks; MY2013 through 2015 Dodge Viper vehicles; and MY2015 Chrysler 200, 300, Jeep Renegade, Dodge Charger and Challenger vehicles.According to FCA, long and
DP77-002opened Sep 1, 1976
Electrical · model years 1976

Electronic ignition failure and gas fume. Closed nov 3, 1976.

NHTSA summary
ELECTRONIC IGNITION FAILURE AND GAS FUMES INSIDE VEHICLE

None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 14,000 and 47,000 miles, from the 16 reports that gave a mileage.

117
618
619
420
621
222
523
324
125
226

What owners wrote

“Today while driving, my vehicle’s power steering went out causing me to pull over to the side of the road. My car was running, but I was unable to move it. When I put it in drive, the lights on the shifter would flash, but the car would not change gears. The problem appears to be electrical as the battery is brand new, and the engine was running.”

Filed Jan 29, 2024

“Parking brake engage itself upon starting car and was still engaged while backing out of garage. Service parking brake and service start/stop warning lights are now on. Investigation for repair found excessive drain on battery for age of the battery (14 months).”

Filed Aug 3, 2023

“Service shifter light illuminates several times per month but disappears when engine is off. Battery randomly drains all power and needs to be jump started when temperature outside is warmer than 76 degrees”

Filed May 5, 2023

“Service shifter warning. Car stalled twice. It has 45 k miles only. Won't start on first try.”

Filed Jul 18, 2021

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 36 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

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