2018 Jeep Cherokee maintenance schedule

The 2018 Cherokee is part of the KL generation (2014-2023), sold as an SUV. Below: its service intervals with the source behind each one, the fluids it takes, the problems owners report for this year, and the NHTSA recalls issued for it.

Service schedule

What the 2018 Cherokee needs, and when

4 of these 12 items come from Jeep's own published schedule. Manufacturer rows link to Jeep's own schedule, Independent rows to a service shop or parts retailer's published guide.

ServiceIntervalSource
Engine oil and filter

Do not exceed interval; severe duty limits to 350 engine hours

10,000 mi / 1 yearIndependent
Engine air filter

Replace earlier if operating in dusty, off-road environments

30,000 mi / 3 yearsIndependent
Cabin air filter

Replace more frequently in high pollen/dust areas

20,000 mi / 2 yearsIndependent
Tire rotation

Rotate at first sign of irregular wear; mandatory for AWD health

7,500 miIndependent
Brake fluid

Replace every two years regardless of mileage to prevent internal corrosion

2 yearsManufacturer
Engine coolant

Mopar 10-year OAT pink/orange formulation

150,000 mi / 10 yearsManufacturer
Transmission fluid

Severe duty replacement interval (frequent towing/off-road)

60,000 miIndependent
Spark plugs (2.4L, 3.2L)

Copper plugs require 30k; long-life iridium lasts 100k

100,000 miIndependent
Serpentine belt

Inspect at 60k; replace at 75k under severe conditions or 6 years

Inspect, replace as neededIndependent
Differential and transfer case fluid (AWD)

Inspect at 30,000 miles; replace under severe off-road/towing conditions

30,000 miIndependent
PCV valve

Inspect and replace if necessary (approx. 100,000 mi benchmark)

Inspect, replace as neededManufacturer
12V battery

Test annually; replace typically every 3-5 years

Inspect, replace as neededManufacturer

Intervals are for normal driving; towing, short trips, extreme heat or dust shorten them.

Fluids and engines

What goes in it

Engine oil
0W-20 (2.4L) / 5W-20 (3.2L)
Coolant
Mopar 10-Year OAT
Transmission fluid
ZF 9HP ATF

Powertrains in this generation

  • 2.4L 4-cyl (2.4L Tigershark MultiAir), 184 hp, 9-speed Auto (ZF 9HP), FWD / AWD
  • 3.2L 6-cyl (3.2L Pentastar V6), 271 hp, 9-speed Auto (ZF 9HP), FWD / AWD
  • 2.0L 4-cyl (2.0L Turbo), 270 hp, 9-speed Auto (ZF 9HP), FWD / AWD

Confirm the exact spec against the owner's manual or the label under the hood; capacities vary by engine and drivetrain.

Known problems

What 2018 Cherokee owners run into

Problems reported for this model year, with the mileage they tend to show up at. Buying past a window is not automatically a pass - it just needs to be priced in.

ZF 9HP Transmission Failure

high severity

40,000-80,000 mi · $2,400-$4,500 to fix

Rough shifts, hesitation, limp mode, gear hunting

Source: autopart.alibaba.com

PTU (Transfer Case) Failure

high severity

50,000-100,000 mi · $1,500-$2,500 to fix

Whine, grinding, 4WD disconnect failure, overheating

Source: dardoor.com

2.4L Tigershark Oil Consumption

high severity

30,000-90,000 mi · $3,000-$5,000 to fix

Excessive oil burn, engine stalling

Source: apextechnation.com

BCM Battery Drain

medium severity

20,000-70,000 mi · $500-$900 to fix

Battery drains overnight

Source: dardoor.com

Power Liftgate Failure

low severity

40,000-80,000 mi · $300-$600 to fix

Intermittent operation, fails to latch

Source: dardoor.com

Safety recalls

7 NHTSA recalls for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee

From NHTSA's recall database, matched by model and year. Recall repairs are free at Jeep dealers, and a given car may already be fixed or fall outside a campaign, so check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.

Power train

NHTSA 25V011000

April 2025

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.

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.

Electrical system

NHTSA 18V524000

August 2018

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.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.

Power train

NHTSA 18V494000

July 2018

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee all-wheel-drive vehicles. The bearing cage for the right front halfshaft assembly may not have been properly heat treated, possibly resulting in the bearing cage breaking and a potential halfshaft assembly failure.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front right halfshaft assemblies, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U78.

Electrical system

NHTSA 18V332000

May 2018

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.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.

Fuel system, gasoline

NHTSA 18V282000

May 2018

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a 2.4L engine. These vehicles may have been manufactured with a fuel tube that may leak fuel into the engine compartment.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tube, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U39.

Engine and engine cooling

NHTSA 17V670000

October 2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee and Compass vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the oil pump, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 5, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T65.

August 2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The tire and rim size information required to be on the Certification label was omitted during manufacturing, which may result in an incorrect tire and rim combination being installed on the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners and will provide a corrected certification label, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T53.

Running costs

What maintenance typically costs

A typical year of maintenance
$634

Typical US independent-shop estimates for this generation; they vary by region and condition.

Other Cherokee model years

KM (2026-2026)

KL (2014-2023)

Shopping new? The Jeep Cherokee guide covers the current model, with what it costs to keep for 1 to 15 years.

Sources

Researched 2026-09-19. Modeling, not mechanic advice - always confirm against your car's owner's manual and service records.

Running a Cherokee for income?

Carlyle scores the exact listing on cost per remaining mile and projected Turo income, so you know what a 2018 Cherokee earns before you buy it.

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