Jeeps have earned a reputation for reliability, and the Cherokee’s unique unibody design has made it one of the most durable in the lineup.
But, no vehicle ever comes fresh out of the factory being totally perfect. Recalls happen, and the 2017 Jeep Cherokee has four listed with the NHTSA.
Chances are, you clicked on this article to find out if any of them have to do with the shifter. The answer: Yes, two of them do. The others have to do with missing rim information, and improperly welded airbag inflators.
So, what exactly are the shifter recalls all about, and how can you get them taken care of? Keep reading and find out.
Cruise Control Fails To Deactivate
NHTSA Recall ID: 18V332000
This was a pretty big recall, affecting 4,815,661 units stretching across several Chrysler brands, including a number of Dodge Journeys, Chargers, Challengers, and Durangos, several RAMs, Chrysler Pacificas and 200s, and Jeep Wranglers, Cherokees, and Grand Cherokees.
In the Jeep Cherokee’s case, the model years affected were 2015-2018. The cruise control in affected models failed to disengage in the event of a short circuit while the cruise control was activated.
Typically you should be able to turn cruise control off by depressing the brake or turning the system off manually, but this would either have no effect, or even cause the Jeep to accelerate.
If a vehicle keeps going when you want it to slow down or stop, the odds of getting into an accident are pretty high. Having the auto accelerate when you’re trying to deactivate your cruise control can be especially dangerous, making an accident inevitable in certain conditions.
Chrysler notified owners on June 4, 2018 to have the powertrain control module software corrected, and to not use cruise control in the meantime.
Splines May Break On Power Transfer Unit
NHTSA Recall ID: 20V343000
Affecting 67,248 potential units, all 2014-2017 Cherokees with two-speed PTUs, the differential input splines had a tendency to lose some teeth to wear when operating against the transmission output shaft.
This defect could potentially result in power loss to the front wheels and the transmission being impossible to put into park. This could cause the Jeep to roll down hills when parked on an incline. You could also see a higher risk of accidents if you lose control on the highway.
The notification was issued on July 14, 2020 with the recall number W47, with software updates ensuring proper interaction between the PTU and transmission output shaft.
Is My Cherokee Affected by these Recalls?
It takes only a few seconds to find out if your 2017 Jeep Cherokee is affected by either of these recalls. Simply get your VIN number (your owner’s manual will tell you where it’s located), and type it into the search bar at the NHTSA website.
From there you’ll know if your Cherokee has been serviced, and if it hasn’t, you can call 1-800-853-1403 to find out what to do next.
Typically you’ll be sent to a dealership to have the repairs made. These repairs will be at the automaker’s expense, and they extend to the lifetime of the vehicle on everything except tires, where you have a 180-day window to claim your recall. If you pay for repairs yourself, you may even be reimbursed if a recall is issued later.
When you’re looking at a Jeep Cherokee going for a reasonable price, it may be tempting to simply put your cash down and drive off. It’s a Jeep after all. Jeeps are great. But you always want to do your research, first. Check Vehicle History. An informed driver is a safe driver.
