2017 Jeep Cherokee · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 50owner reports
- 55,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report May 3, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
647 of the 1,334 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 50 of those describe transmission shudder.
Narrower sheets: Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear (36 reports)
Tick what matches of 50 reports
Transmission shudder on other Cherokee years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2021, 2022.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2017 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power and/or loss of park function.
The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power or loss of park function.
Relative movement in the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) between the differential input splines and the transmission output shaft may cause some input spline teeth to wear off, which may eventually cause a loss of engagement between the…
All 6 recalls on the 2017 Jeep Cherokee, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Cherokee
Sudden acceleration. Closed sep 10, 2002.
Driveshaft/univ.joint fail. Closed nov 25, 1994.
Driveshaft/univ.joint fail. Closed oct 29, 1993.
Fires caused by cltch lk. Closed jan 28, 1988.
None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 26,500 and 89,440 miles, from the 38 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Jeep Cherokee that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Gear Ratio DTC?s, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
This bulletin involves reprogramming the Transmission Control Module (TCM) with the latest available software. Some customers may experience one or more of the following conditions: During a limp mode condition, the transmission remains in a fixed gear.
What owners wrote
“Gear shift dash error. Getting all led lights let on my shift gear led indication. Car will run jumping or jerking movement. Then experiencing power loss when acceleration.”
Filed Feb 3, 2026
“Shifter module problems.. the car jerks hard between shifts. The car reversing on it own and wont stop. Warning light in dash "service shifter soon"”
Filed Jan 29, 2026
“rear diff. tries to lock up while driving in auto mode and should not on dry pavement. grinding noise until you slow down enough to engage with a bang. this is a known problem with jeep, the internet has several complaints about this problem, our jeep only has 75k miles on it and others reported with only 40k. I've been told rear diff. needs to be replaced at 4k$”
Filed Oct 9, 2025 · 75,000 miles
“I was driving my vehicle and it lost power going down the highway about 65 mph maybe 70. The power shut off on my vehicle and then it came back on but it was very dim and it say that way for till I got out of it and it was very scary my My cruise control keeps shutting off okay I'm having major problems with my transmission it slips a lot I need to know what to do about that.”
Filed Feb 20, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 50 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. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 592 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 227 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 196 reports
- Service 4WD light or power transfer unit (PTU) failure 186 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 92 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 56 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 45 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 42 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 41 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 36 reports
- Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems 29 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 26 reports