2018 Jeep Cherokee: Engine shuts down while driving
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2018 Cherokee report: engine shuts down while driving. CarComplaints.com lists 7 owner complaints, average mileage 19,300 miles.
NHTSA has 159 owner complaints for the 2018 Cherokee in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11740839 (filed 05/29/2026): “The contact owns a 2018 jeep cherokee. the contact stated that while driving at 35 mph, the vehicle shut off as several warning lights appeared on the instrument panel. the contact made multiple attempts to restart the vehicle but to no avail. the police arriv…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11720255 (filed 02/24/2026): “My 2018 jeep cherokee suffered a power transfer unit (ptu) failure in february 2025 while my family was on vacation. the vehicle was delivered to walker jeep in alexandria, louisiana and has remained there for approximately one year. i reside in texas, approxi…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace engine (2 reports) replace throttle body (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
No sourced cost range: get a written quote after diagnosis.
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
- CarComplaints.com: Engine shuts down while driving (2018 Cherokee)
- NHTSA complaints API, 2018 Cherokee
Page last updated .