10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
31,233 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2017 Jeep Cherokee drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2017 Jeep Cherokee Owner Comments (Page 10 of 24)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #295

Dec 172020

Cherokee

  • 54,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

At 54,00 miles service shifter light comes on control panels and red light on all shifting gears while I was driving on highway. Turned car off then turn car back on --service shifter was gone off panel 12/17/20202 happen again 12/21 same thing happen, turn car off and turn car back

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #294

Dec 152020

Cherokee

  • 33,000 miles
Service shifter light comes on having all the lights on shifter go red locking your car. I have had this car 1 week only this is extremely dangerous as the dealer says it can throw your car into park while driving!!! this needs to be a recall. I have 16 year old that drives this car. How awful of he got into a wreck due to this. Dealer says can not fix if light is off which it is by the time you bring it in!! the shifter needs to be replaced under a recall

- Crete, IL, USA

problem #293

Dec 092020

Cherokee

  • 46,638 miles
Several months ago the service shifter warning light began coming on randomly when starting the car and stayed on until the car was turned off. Then the engine light, park assist unavailable and service emergency brake warning lights came on randomly while driving. The dealership installed a new battery but service shifter warning light still comes on randomly when starting the car and stays on until the car is turned off. Took it back to the dealership who then replaced the wheel speed sensor. Service shifter light continues to come on randomly when turning on the car and stays on until the car is turned off.

- Homestead, FL, USA

problem #292

Dec 172020

Cherokee

  • 38,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I turned on my vehicle and on the screen appeared "service shifter." All lights on the shifter were lit (instead of just the gear that the car is in being lit). The vehicle seemed to operate without any issues but I only drove it a short distance. When I parked, I turned off the vehicle and turned it back on. The problem did not happen this time.

- Ridley Park, PA, USA

problem #291

Dec 112020

Cherokee

  • 46,728 miles
Service shifter message pops up constantly and has the last two years. It's random and sometimes it's while I'm driving. Which just happened on my way to a doctors appointment. Luckily I was able to pull into a parking lot. If it comes on right when I start the engine I cannot put my car into any gear. I have to turn my car on and off repeatedly for it to clear. After which the first ten minutes of driving is rough and the car shifts badly. Sometimes acceleration is poor after. All lights on the shifter turn red. Very dangerous

- Tucson, AZ, USA

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problem #290

Dec 072020

Cherokee

  • 30,740 miles
I have had a the vehicle less than 60 days, and the service shifter light came on when I started the vehicle, I drove home turned it off and then when I restated the vehicle it is no longer on. Dealer is unaware of any issues and has never head of this, so now I have to pay for a diagnostic and all the parts and I do have extended warranty but this is not covered by powertrain. There are over 600 complaints for this issue, and nothing has been done.

- Nags Head, NC, USA

problem #289

Dec 072020

Cherokee

  • 18,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Service shifter light first came on after I bought my 2017 Jeep. The warranty took care of the first issue then it came on again several times after that. It went away after I would restart the car. I address this to the dealership and no recalls. It has done this several times but it would always go away. Today my Jeep as I was pulling into a street, the Jeep started stalling and the dashlight said to "step on brake to shift into drive", then the service shifter light came on. It stalled out and I could not start it. After I sat there a while, I tried it again and it started. (35 degrees).

- Trenton, ME, USA

problem #288

Dec 052020

Cherokee

  • 38,766 miles
While driving and turning right the vehicle shifted out of gear to neutral and the emergency brake light activated. Also, the service air bag, service shifter and the engine light came on. Furthermore, all the shifter lights came on. While sitting in the middle of traffic I turned the car off and on to reset it, then I was able to move the vehicle and the service shifter light came on again. I was able to drive the car back to my house 5 miles away. This is not the first time the service shifter light came on. I have a scheduled diagnosis with my dealership's service center in seven days. I made the appointment when the first time the service shifter light came on. They did not advise me not to drive the vehicle. But, after the last incident the vehicle is not safe to drive.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #287

Nov 282020

Cherokee

  • 14,500 miles
Upon starting Jeep received message "service shifter" and all the gear indicator lights are lit and message center is inoperative except for that message. Shutting car off and restarting resets, only to come back after a few starts. Jeep dealership charges $145 to tell you what needs to be replaced but is not sure if that will fix problem. Multiple complaints regarding this issue with 2016-2018 Jeep Cherokee's but car is past 36 month warranty period even though it only has 14,500 miles on it, Jeep will not repair at N/C. with the amount of complaints I have read for same issue, why isn't a recall in order ? apparently, if you don't get it fixed, somewhere down the road, the vehicle may become inoperable, or will not shift to park. The temporary fix appears to be, shut the car off, and restart. Not a very good thing.

- Battle Ground, WA, USA

problem #286

Aug 222020

Cherokee

  • 21,000 miles
Was on the way out of town for the weekend driving at 65mph when all of a sudden service shifter lights up on my console and all lights (gears) on the actual shifter console light up as well. I immediately pulled to the side of the road and placed in park, still all lights remained on leaving me puzzled. I proceeded on cautiously aware off what was occurring, after reaching my destination turned the vehicle off.. finding that restarting the vehicle everything was back to normal. Unfortunately it keeps repeating the same thing over and over for at least a dozen times now. Besides the ongoing problem it also is unsafe as it actually startles you when in traffic when it dings and everything lights up ! apparently its a know problem with Jeep with multiple others having the same issue. Why is there no recall for a permanent fix to this un safe issue before someone is severely injured or a life is lost.....

- Spencerport, NY, USA

problem #285

Nov 292020

Cherokee

  • 17,165 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was making a sharp left turn into a parking lot, sort of fast- between 10-15 mph. After I made the sharp left turn and started to turn right to go straight and park, the service shifter warning came on. I was able to put my car in park just fine. I instantly turned my car off waited a few seconds and started my car again and the warning was gone. Hasn't come back on since. This happened last night.

- Janesville, WI, USA

problem #284

Nov 172020

Cherokee

  • 126,000 miles
At slow speed while accelerating from a stop, the transmission shifted abruptly and caused the vehicle to jerk. In addition there is a loud crunch. Bang or clunk noise that made me feel like another car had rear ended me. The dealer updated the computer but it did not fix the issue.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #283

Nov 132020

Cherokee

  • 30,470 miles
While operating the vehicle, the service shifter light turned on as well as all the lights denoting P-R-N-D on the shifter bezel itself. I stopped the vehicle and shifted from D to P and back to D. vehicle operation did not falter and was able to arrive home with no noted mechanical issue.

- Wimauma, FL, USA

problem #282

Nov 062020

Cherokee

  • 51,000 miles
Gas pedal will stop working while driving not allowing me to accelerate the Jeep. I have to pull over, power off the Jeep, and wait about 5 minutes. After waiting, I have to hold the key in the start position until the Jeep turns on which ranges anywhere from 30-190 seconds to do. There is a recall for this specific issue but my car is not covered. I believe that the recall should be expanded as it does not fully cover the vehicles affected. This has now happened 6 times over the last 2 months.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #281

Nov 042020

Cherokee

  • 56,000 miles
Light on dash: Service shifter. All lights on shifter on such as:P, R, N, D, od. Lights on in motion and stopped.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #280

Nov 052020

Cherokee

  • 50,000 miles
The notice for service shifter come's on, all the lights on the gear selector light up. You can't tell which gear the car is in. This notice shows in the instrument cluster, where the speed odometer is. This has happened on and off for 6 to 8 months, the dealership found nothing. This happens while driving and just starting the vehicle.

- Eastpointe, MI, USA

problem #279

Nov 022020

Cherokee

  • 55,000 miles
My car stopped accelerating while driving and acted like I shifted it to neutral. I took it to the dealership today and was told I need a transmission software update. There has been a recall for this exact thing but my vehicle wasn't included in the recall. Also, my extended warranty wouldn't cover it so I had to pay for it out of pocket along with the diagnostic service. No codes showed up even though a light came on when it happened to me twice that said vehicle must be stopped to shift. This is extremely dangerous and it should be covered.

- Burlington, KY, USA

problem #278

Nov 012020

Cherokee

  • 45,000 miles
The service shifter warning came up while driving on a city street. The vehicle has roughly 45000. Nothing happened this time but I have seen this is a common occurrence and can lead to the vehicle shutting off in motion.

- St. Paul, MN, USA

problem #277

Oct 252020

Cherokee

  • 55,000 miles
I've had the service shifter light come and off since I bought it used 15 months ago. I told the dealership and they said they couldn't find anything wrong. Two days ago, I was driving 40 mph and the car stopped accelerating and a light came on that said car must be stopped to shift. In the middle of the road, I put it in park and back to drive but the engine just revved so I turned it off and back on before I could get it to go. The night before I drove on the expressway and most likely would have been hit. I called the dealership and they won't even look at it for a week. I'm scared to death driving it. They won't give me a loaner although I bought an extended warranty. I started researching and saw many having problems with the service shifter light and to come here to file a complaint. I want Jeep to make this right. I couldn't trade this soon without losing money. I bought a new car to have a safe vehicle and now I'm afraid of having an accident unless this can be fixed.

- Burlington, KY, USA

problem #276

Oct 072020

Cherokee

  • 50,000 miles
Every time I start my car after a few miles it says service shifter but everything is in spec. All the lights on the shifter light up. But there is no issue shifting

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

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