2018 Jeep Cherokee · symptom sheet
Battery dies or the car will not start
- 28owner reports
- 34,300median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 17, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
191 of the 686 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 28 of those describe dead battery.
Tick what matches of 28 reports
Dead battery 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: 2020, 2021, 2022.
What this problem usually is
These owners walk out to a car that's dead. Some find it drained after sitting only a day or two, some need a jump start every week, and some have had the battery replaced more than once without the problem going away. A good number describe the dealer testing the battery, calling it fine, and sending them home.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (25 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging.
All 7 recalls on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Cherokee
Electronic parking brake water ingress. Closed oct 29, 2023.
Software security vulnerability. Closed jan 5, 2016, led to recall 15V-508.
Electronic ignition failure and gas fume. Closed nov 3, 1976.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 20,000 and 56,000 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 6 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 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.
Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning Lamp On
No Start, After Flash And Or PCM Replace, DTC P0513 Invalid Skim Key Setting
Battery Drain Concern, Dual USB Port Normal Operational Draw, Extended Illumination Or Extended Operation After Key Off
No Start, Cannot Complete Module Replace, Proxi Or Module Proxi Configuration
2 more on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee page.
What owners wrote
“While driving, vehicle shuts off without warning, this has happened 3 times even though the car was supposedly repaired with a new battery and a new alternator.”
Filed Mar 27, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 28 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 243 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 134 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 102 reports
- Service 4WD light or power transfer unit (PTU) failure 98 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 49 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 36 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 34 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 29 reports