YearToAvoid

2017 Jeep Cherokee Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

56/100

#5 most-complained of 10 Cherokee years

The 2017 Jeep Cherokee has a Complaint Index of 56, ranking 5th out of 10 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 49% of its 1,334 complaints, backed by three PTU recalls, and median failure mileage is 40,947.

Complaints
1,334
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
24 / 6
Injuries / deaths
27 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
23
21 city / 27.5 hwy

Top 2017 Jeep Cherokee problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain647 (49%)
  2. Electrical System347 (26%)
  3. Other343 (26%)
  4. Engine304 (23%)
  5. Brakes102 (8%)
  6. Steering45 (3%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires27 (2%)
  8. Airbags26 (2%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras21 (2%)
  10. Fuel System18 (1%)

What owners report

  • Vehicles unexpectedly shift into park on their own or display a service shifter warning while driving, sometimes leading to loss of control.
  • Airbags fail to deploy in front and rear impact crashes despite significant vehicle damage.
  • Front end and steering components have failed while driving, including a full front-end/wheel-hub separation and a steering/brake malfunction that ended in a crash.
  • Electrical or engine problems have led to under-hood fires, including one case with a popping sound before flames appeared.
  • The gas and brake pedals are reported to sit close together, contributing to pedal misapplication in at least one low-speed crash.
2017 Jeep Cherokee complaints: complaints filed per quarter1522016 Q42018 Q12019 Q22020 Q32021 Q42023 Q12024 Q22025 Q3
1905 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2020 Q3 (152).

2017 Jeep Cherokee recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V011000Apr 29, 2025Transmission & Powertrain63,130 vehicles

    Power train

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. 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.

    Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway, which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the drivetrain control module and PTU software and replace the PTU, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning February 19, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 01C.

  2. NHTSA 23V302000Apr 27, 2023Transmission & Powertrain25,980 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. 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.

    Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 11, 2023. Owners may contact FCA USA LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 45A. This recall expands previous recall number 20V-343.

  3. NHTSA 20V343000Jun 11, 2020Transmission & Powertrain67,248 vehicles

    Power train:driveline:differential unit

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a two-speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU). 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 transmission and the differential inside the PTU. If this occurs, power cannot be transferred between the front wheels and the transmission which results in a loss of drive while the vehicle is in motion and a loss of the Park function while stationary.

    Risk: A loss of drive can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning. A loss of the Park function can cause unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update that will maintain vehicle propulsion by engaging rear wheel drive and prevent rolling in Park by activating the electronic parking brake if a failed input spline occurs. This recall began July 14, 2020. Owners may contact FCA USA LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is W47.

See all 6 recalls for the 2017 Jeep Cherokee →

2017 Jeep Cherokee fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
27.5 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,875
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2017 compared with other Cherokee years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Avoid781,7871123
2016Caution671,406923
2017Caution561,334623
2018Good44684723
2019Avoid891,6411123

All Jeep Cherokee years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Jeep Cherokee reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2017 Cherokee a Complaint Index of 56 and a Caution verdict, ranking 5th worst out of 10 model years tracked for this model. It is worse than 2018-2022 but better than 2014, 2015, and 2019.
What are the main problems with the 2017 Jeep Cherokee?
Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 49% of complaints (647 complaints), followed by Electrical System at 26% and Engine at 23%. Median mileage at failure for the transmission issues is 46,638.
Does the 2017 Jeep Cherokee have a transmission recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists three separate recalls covering the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) in the 2017 Cherokee, issued in 2020, 2023, and 2025, all addressing loss of drive power.
Should I avoid the 2017 Jeep Cherokee?
The 2017 model carries a Caution verdict rather than Avoid. Owners should be aware of the Transmission & Powertrain problem area and the six recalls tied to this year, but it ranks better than the 2014, 2015, and 2019 model years.
What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Jeep Cherokee?
EPA rates the 2017 Cherokee at 23 mpg combined (21 city / 27.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,875.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.