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What 1,322 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Jeep Cherokee

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (1,322)Crash / fire / injury (33)Transmission & drivetrain (639)Electrical system (341)Engine (256)Speed control (60)Brakes (56)Steering (45)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (42)Airbags (26)Fuel system (18)Driver assistance (17)

5 of 1,322 complaints match · Engine · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Nov 27, 2023Electrical systemEngineFuel systemCrash

There was already a recall on the make and model of my car, Jeep Cherokee Latitude; however, when I search by VIN it shows zero unrepaired recalls. So if the problem is fixed (no one even attempted to fix my car), why does my car still shut off in the middle of driving? When it shuts off I can’t turn the wheel, Can’t put it in park, and the gas and brakes/ABS don’t work. This has happened many times with my daughter, currently 4yo, in the car; why do I have to risk my life every single time we need to go somewhere? Every single dealership and mechanic I’ve brought it to says there is nothing wrong with the car, yet it continues to shut off while driving… I did crash the first time it happened, but it was in a snow storm and possibly unrelated? No injuries or damage.

NHTSA ODI 11557126

Jun 18, 2022BrakesEngineCrash

The incident happened in a parking lot. Backing out of the parking space, there was a delivery truck parked right behind me. Backing out of my parking space, I hit the bumper of the truck (no damage to the truck). As I pulled back into my parking space the vehicle accelerated very rapidly in a distance of approx. 25 feet; the acceleration seemed "Hell cat" like. Slamming my foot on the brake did not help. The vehicle then hit a brick retaining wall deploying multiple air bags and causing enough vehicle damage that the insurance company declared it totaled. It is amazing that the vehicle hit the brick wall with enough intensity to deploy the air bags and cause considerable front end damage after traveling such a short distance (approx 25 ft). The vehicle is in the insurance company's possession. As such, I do not have access to the vehicle. Had the brick wall not been there, the vehicle could have hit other vehicles or pedestrians and I was lucky to only have minor bruises and abrasions. There was no warning what so ever that this was about to happen.

NHTSA ODI 11469879

Jun 25, 2020EngineCrash1 injury

MY JEEP HAS ABOUT 26,000 MILES ON IT, SINCE I'VE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT, IT HAS BEEN TOWED 6 TIMES FOR ENGINE FAILURE. MY ENGINE IS BURNING THE OIL, WITH OUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR SHUTS OFF. THE DEALER INSISTS THIS IS NORMAL, BUT IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR A CAR TO ABSORB OR BURN OIL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330789

Mar 20, 2019EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF OF THE ROADWAY AND, WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ODI 11190200

Sep 3, 2018Electrical systemEngineFuel systemFire

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. ENTIRE FRONT END WAS IN FLAMES AND BURNED COMPLETELY. *TT *TR *BF VIN IS INVALID UPDATED 11/26/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11124118

Working with the data? Download all 1,322 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2017 Jeep Cherokee verdict →