2018 Jeep Cherokee electrical problems
191 of the 686 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Jeep Cherokee name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 70 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 191 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 11 · 2019: 40 · 2020: 53 · 2021: 27 · 2022: 16 · 2023: 13 · 2024: 14 · 2025: 8 · 2026: 9
Half of the 103 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 22,000 and 46,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
686 complaints in all about the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, 9 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Jeep Cherokee electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The car has start up problems, the car stall and jerks when breaking. The battery on charges to 45% ( this is a new car). The engine was smoking purfusly lika an 1980s car. All light flicker in the car amd now the car is undrivabme with no help from dealship or finance. Its like i'm on me own stuck with a lemon
For the past three months since labor day of 2018, my 2018 Jeep Cherokee latitude has not started on several occasions. Eventually it does start but it will always say, "cannot read key fob". I have discovered that it's worse when I use the remote start to warm it up.
After starting the car and leaving my driveway for the last 2days, I get about 1/2 mile down the road and an indicator comes on telling me that shifting while driving can't be done. The car shuts completely down and I have to make a sudden stop to turn the key off. The steeringwheel locks up making it impossible to get out of the road.
Monday, august 13, 2018 the Jeep Cherokee was in for its first oil change. Minutes after receiving the vehicle from the oil change and driving off the dealer lot at 10:07 AM received the charging/battery indicator along with the auto start/stop error indicator.
While driving car completely loses all power. Becomes difficult to control. Cannot be steered or moved. Turning onto a street at low speed in a very busy intersection with streetcar tracks. Car completely shut down and became inoperable. Vehicle stuck in traffic with streetcar and trucks almost hitting it from behind. Could not be pushed
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 18V524000 HighAug 9, 2018 · 12,779 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. 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.
- 18V332000 CriticalMay 17, 2018 · 4,815,661 vehicles
- 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.
70 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- S2523000003 REV. A Service bulletinApr 22, 2026
- Door Latch, Handle And Ajar Additional Service Information.
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0513 P0300 P0301 P0302 P0303 U11E9 P152F P258B
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Jeep Cherokee names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 295 complaints
- engine problems 159 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 191 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (28% of everything owners filed about it), and 70 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading: 18V524000, 18V332000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 35,500 miles; half of them between 22,000 and 46,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.