Jeep Cherokee electrical problems, 2016–2026
1,236 of the 5,606 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Jeep Cherokee 2016–2026 name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). The loudest years: 2017 (342), 2019 (340), 2016 (297). Filed under the same heading across these years: 9 manufacturer bulletins, 5 recall campaigns. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Jeep Cherokee electrical problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the electrical system | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 20% | — | 63 TSBs | the year → |
| 2023 | 0 | — | — | 40 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 | 8 | 16% | — | 62 TSBs | the year → |
| 2021 | 23 | 14% | — | 94 TSBs | the year → |
| 2020 | 34 | 11% | — | 151 TSBs | the year → |
| 2019 in depth | 340 | 21% | 16k | 152 TSBs · 2 recalls | the record → |
| 2018 in depth | 191 | 28% | 36k | 70 TSBs · 2 recalls | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 342 | 26% | 40k | 74 TSBs · 1 recall | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 297 | 21% | 44k | 178 TSBs · 3 recalls | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the electrical system. Nothing here is a rate.
When the electrical complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 10 · 2017: 16 · 2018: 88 · 2019: 255 · 2020: 244 · 2021: 135 · 2022: 97 · 2023: 120 · 2024: 100 · 2025: 114 · 2026: 57
Across the model years, half of the 635 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 19,000 and 51,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Car caught on fire while driving. Entire front end was in flames and burned completely. VIN is invalid
While in crude controls my Jeep speeds up and past the set speed and keep on going faster
I leased a 2019 Jeep Cherokee on may 23,2018. On four occasions since that time, the car's battery light comes on and the car stalls out. The incidents have happened while in motion when slowing down (less than 10 miles per hour) the car was in a Jeep dealership for several days this month, but they were unable to determine the cause of…
Vehicle battery died while driving. Has happened 3 times. Happens at low speeds. Power steering is turned off and you must turn car off and turn back on. Very danergous because you can't turn your steering wheel when it is dying so easily could be hit
Water saturating floor and carpets under floor mats, passenger front and rear. May be the cause of intermitant door locks , and at time uconnect radio and climate control system restarts. First visit to dealer, dealer resealed/rewelded rocker panels and improperly sealed areas. Second vist dealer stated the leaking was a sun roof.
What is on file about the electrical system, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- May 11, 2023 · 132,099 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a power liftgate. An electrical short in the power liftgate module may lead to a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off.
- 18V917000 ModerateDec 20, 2018 · 52 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The instrument cluster may fail resulting in a lack of activation of warning chimes, messages, and gauges.
- 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.
- 15V826000 CriticalDec 9, 2015 · 32,784 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 18, 2015, to September 10, 2015 and equipped with the power liftgate option. In the affected vehicles, water may leak into the Power Liftgate Control Module and result in a high resistance short circuit.
9 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Sep 16, 2026
- Hybrid Cooling Pump Emergency Mode Condition Customers may comment on one or more of the following: SYMPTOM: ● 12V battery is draining. NOTE: The auxiliary heat and battery coolant pumps can enter emergency mode and drain the 12V battery. ● A pump running at full speed noise may be heard from the engine compartment after the vehicle is turned off. This bulletin involves replacing the Auxiliary Hea
- Sep 1, 2026
- Airbag Warning Light On or Intermittent. The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) May Have The Following DTCs (Active/Stored)
- Aug 28, 2026
- Malfunction Indicator Illuminated (MIL) - P04DF-00 Has Set Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must SYMPTOM: exhibit/set the following Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC): ● P04DF-00 - Evap System Purge Control Valve 1 Performance/Stuck Open.
- Jul 23, 2026
- Unable To Clear C1494-07 And C14A9-00 After 45A Recall Technicians may experience the following: SYMPTOM: ● wiTECH displays a mismatch error after performing recall 45A.
- Jul 9, 2026
- Stop/Start Illuminated, 0x22 During Fork Wear Routine Technicians may experience the following: SYMPTOM: ● Negative response 0X22 after Recall 01C flash triggers one or more communication codes with controllers.
- Apr 22, 2026
- Door Latch, Handle And Ajar Additional Service Information.
- Apr 15, 2026
- Rear Taillamp Condensation Clearing Procedure On occasion, vehicle exterior taillamp assemblies get fogged with a light layer of condensation on the SYMPTOM: inside of the lenses Fig. 1. This may be reported after the lamps have been turned on and brought up to operating temperature, turned off and then rapidly cooled by cold water (such as rain, or the water from a vehicle wash). Lens fogging can
- Mar 9, 2026
- If replacing $8474412A$ with $8474413A$ version, verify vehicle is proxied and configured properly. The 4412 part does not have RSD (SXM) capability. The 4413 part has RSD (SXM) capability and will not have an antenna connected. If replacement radio does not function, verify RSD sales code is added to configurator.
The 8 newest are listed; each model year’s page lists every one filed on that year. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Jeep Cherokee
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Jeep Cherokee problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Jeep Cherokee years have the most electrical complaints?
2017, 342; 2019, 340; 2016, 297. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2018 (28%).
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the Jeep Cherokee?
Yes — 5 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 23V338000 (2016), 18V917000 (2019), 18V524000 (2019), 18V332000 (2018). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do electrical problems show up on the Jeep Cherokee?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 36,300 miles across the model years; half of them between 19,000 and 51,000. 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.