2017 Jeep Cherokee: loss of power steering

Filed Jan 31, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · 210,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the instrument cluster was black, and the vehicle also lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the vehicle resumed full power function and that the instrument cluster and power steering assist returned several seconds later. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred later, and that prior to the second failure the front passenger’s side window had lowered independently. The contact stated that the vehicle returned to normal operation independently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic reset several functions and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer for additional assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that she had not yet taken the vehicle to a dealer. The contact stated that the instrument cluster had started to flicker intermittently, as if the vehicle would lose power. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 210,000.

Filed Apr 16, 2024 · Brakes, Engine · FL

I was driving my 2017 Jeep Cherokee Latitude 2.4L, car won't start, I have oil pressure sensor to warn me when low doesn't alert me at all, only time is when I realized a beep when I made turns and would indicate oil pressure low! I can't get my car to stop and it stalled on me while driving with no indication of low oil, and I have two kids and could have been very bad, since no power no breaks no steering!

Filed Jan 29, 2024 · Electrical, Steering · WI

Today while driving, my vehicle’s power steering went out causing me to pull over to the side of the road. My car was running, but I was unable to move it. When I put it in drive, the lights on the shifter would flash, but the car would not change gears. The problem appears to be electrical as the battery is brand new, and the engine was running.

Filed Oct 31, 2023 · Brakes, Electrical · MO

After the weekend rain, I went to start the 2017 Jeep Cherokee it did not start. I had the battery car jumped and it started up when driving it the steering wheel locked up. The dashboard started to display antilock brake assist off system, power steering assist off system, service transmission restart in Park with vehicle 0 speed, and so many red lights started flashing afterwards. I was in the car with my children a car that was coming behind me had to swerve around me as my car instantly stopped. This could’ve been a horrific or fatal car accident. I just hit my car check to renew my plates the emissions pass and everything safety was good. With this current situation, I would now have to get my car back to the dealership for further inspection, and will be without a car.

Filed Oct 20, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · MI

While driving the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly stops running without any warning. Engine stops. Car just coasts. PRNDL indicator (D for drive) on instrument cluster flashes instead of a constant D. Then some sort of messages comes up similar to "shift to neutral to start engine". Car will not restart. Car coasts to stop without power and no power steering. Then I need to turn ignition off. I will then cycle locks (locked then unlocked). Then turn on ignition. From here the car attempts to start but it is not an immediate start up like normal. The gauge needles (speedometer and tachometer) both go all the way to the right while the car attempts to restart but this startup takes about 10+ seconds of attempted cranking to finally restart. This is a long clicking sound before restart. This has happened 3-4 times now in the 30 days. Most recently on a main road where I had to coast without power and power steering to the shoulder. I have not yet been to the dealer. Car is out of warranty.

Filed Apr 23, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 60,000 miles · MA

Jeep will stall while driving. Engine will shut off, lose power steering, cannot accelerate to try to get out of harms way, battery, oil and engine light will come on and receive a message saying to "shift to park or neutral to start the vehicle". If you want a couple minutes the jeep struggle to turnover but eventually will. This is extremely dangerous and this vehicle needs to be recalled immediately!!!! This is a major safety issue!!! It has happened to me 6 times in the past 3 weeks. It happens while driving and occurs without warning on any street or highway, turning or braking.

Filed Jan 24, 2020 · Engine · 73,704 miles · IL

I bought this vehicle brand new. Since about 30k I have been complaining that it is randomly shutting off without warning, regardless of speed. No engine power, and no power steering. I have been told this is a fail safe due to low oil. I have followed the fca guidelines and dealers for oil changes and cant really make between changes. I have done multiple oil consumption tests between two dealers bc I am told it doesnt burn enough for fca standards to replace the engine. I have called after it died out to ask for a tow in and have been denied and told it just means its time for an oil change. I have to have an ignition coil replaced on two separate incidents, reprogramming of the shifter PCM, and replaced the PCM. It wasnt till my latest incident that I recorded it and posted the video to twitter that an fca rep reached out to me to 'help'. I was told I still need to do oil testing bc I have to fail 3 in a row for further testing regardless of a history of the problem continuing and not getting better. 1st test it was only half a quart. Didnt even make it to the 2nd before the car shook violently, lost power, wouldn't accelerate and I had to be towed in. 1st was told the multiair actuator went out and fca agreed to pay for it, as im at 73k. Then I hear nothing from anyone for 8 days till I call the dealer and im told they are waiting on spark plugs. 20mins later the fca rep calls and says the engine needs to be replaced. They found, metal shavings inside, scorching, a piece of the exhaust valve missing and lost inside the engine. However fca will only pay for 1500 leaving the rest of the bill to me for something thats not my fault and an issue they continue to ignore. Had they investigated the problem earlier regardless of their oil burning rules they would have found the valve was cracked. Fca says they are not saying its my fault but are hiding behind the warranty.*dt

Filed Nov 27, 2019 · Engine · 29,000 miles · CT

On two occasions this week the jeep cherokee unexpectedly shut off while driving. It was startling and loss of power steering and braking left it difficult to pull over. Upon inquiry from a local jeep dealer, they indicated it is not uncommon for this to happen if the oil is low. The oil was in fact 3/4 quart low and was remedied however there should be a light that comes on not a sudden and unexpected shut down. There was no indication on the dash regarding low oil. This is dangerous and could potentially be deadly.

Filed Sep 16, 2019 · Brakes, Engine · 22,454 miles · IL

Vehicle completely shut down while driving. Had driven about 1/2 mile on a county road, made a left turn and everything shut down. No steering, braking. Very scary!!! Was able to restart vehicle after about 10 minutes and immediately drove home. Have not driven it since.

Filed Jun 3, 2019 · Acceleration, Engine · 44,804 miles · WV

My 2017 jeep cherokee with little under 45,000 stalled this morning on my way to work. The car lost steering/braking control. The battery light came on and stated I needed to shift to park then to desired gear. My jeep would not run at this point. I had to wait a good 5 minutes until I was able to attempt starting my vehicle. However, when attempting to start the vehicle it did not start on the first 2 tries. The 3rd time it finally started. Furthermore, after letting my vehicle sit and cool once I got to my work location which is 40 miles away. I and another co worker checked the oil, and the oil barely registered on the dipstick. I will be going to get the oil changed again since the oil was dark and smelled burnt. This is not the first time I've had issued with the jeep cherokee. The other instance all the shifting gears on the console lite up and a message on the dash stated to shift into the desired gear. This too happened while I was driving. This is unsafe, especially in the first instance whereas you lose all control of your vehicle. I have called the dealership to have the vehicle checked out; however, they are unable to get my vehicle serviced until 2 weeks after this occurrence.

Filed Mar 20, 2019 · Engine · 29,000 miles · WA

The vehicle will stall/die while driving. There is no power steering or braking. This has happened multiple times including while driving on the freeway at 60 MPH. I was told be the dealership that this is a fail safe that is in place to protect the car from low oil. After the first incident, I kept careful watch on my mileage and oil status but did not physically check my oil. Now with 600 miles to go before the next suggested oil change, the car had stalled three times in a week. It is incredibly dangerous because it can happen at any time. The car will not start again right away. I've just dropped it at the dealer and they said this is common with this engine and that I may need to physically check my oil every 1000 miles to ensure it is not low. This is unacceptable. This fail safe put me at risk on a highway and on a highway entrance ramp. I also should not have to physically check my oil on a new car and pay to get oil changes more frequently than suggested. The car has stalled on a neighborhood surface street twice, on a highway entrance ramp once and on the highway at full speed. I have always been driving straight. A message comes on that says, "shift to park or neutral, press brake to select gear". I have seen many similar complaints on the internet.