Check a VIN

2018 Jeep Cherokee: grinding or squealing brakes

10 of the 692 complaints about the 2018 Jeep Cherokee describe grinding or squealing brakes.

owner complaints
10
of this car's complaints
1%
recalls
0
Is there a fix? 2 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Grinding or squealing brakes by model year

What owners say

Filed Sep 3, 2026 · Transmission · CO

My 2018 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk is subject to FCA Recall 01C/the federal safety agency 25V‑011 for two-speed PTU failure. I have experienced 3 serious drivetrain events requiring towing. In April 2024, before the recall was announced, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration while entering an interstate/on-ramp, with loud grinding/revving and jerking. An independent repair facility replaced the transmission. On May 18, 2026, another drivetrain failure occurred. An authorized Jeep dealer confirmed PTU failure and performed Recall 01C. Dealer records state the PTU had “MAJOR INTERNAL DAMAGE” and document damage at the PTU/transmission interface, including a transmission-side stub shaft and damage/scored gears attributed to the old PTU gear. The vehicle remained at the dealer until approximately August 7. About 2 weeks later, the Service 4WD warning appeared, followed by loud drivetrain noise, jerking and severe loss of propulsion. The vehicle also rolled backward while in PARK unless the parking brake was applied and required another tow. The dealer diagnosed a failed left-front CV axle/halfshaft and attributes it to progressive wear, unrelated to the PTU repair. I am not claiming the PTU caused the axle failure; I am asking the federal safety agency to evaluate the timing and repeated loss-of-propulsion/PARK events. Additionally, the dealer performed a multipoint inspection about one week before the axle failure that marked the CV drive axle category as passing. As of Sept. 2, 2026, BOTH the federal safety agency and FCA/Mopar systems still listed Recall 01C as incomplete/unrepaired despite the dealer having performed the recall repair. I request review of these repeated safety failures, the recall remedy, and the continued incomplete recall status.

Filed May 14, 2026 · CO

I am writing to escalate a safety and reimbursement concern regarding my 2018 Jeep Cherokee, VIN [Your VIN], which is subject to recall 01C / 25V‑011 (Power Transfer Unit Snap Ring Defect). Before the recall remedy was available, my vehicle experienced a sudden loss of drive power, grinding, and jerking, which led to a full transmission replacement. I was stranded on the side of an interstate ramp as a result of this loss of drive power. The PTU was not replaced and remains original. I now intermittently receive a “4WD won’t work” alert 65-80% of vehicle starts. I attempted to schedule my vehicle for the recall repair and spoke in length with the Jeep dealership in [XXX] on 2/23/26. The dealership has informed me that PTU replacement parts are unavailable and could take months to arrive. If the dealership detects a concern during inspection, they will not allow me to keep the vehicle, yet they cannot provide a loaner. This leaves me without transportation for an indefinite period, despite the recall being an active safety concern. It is important to note that the PTU is directly connected to the transmission and transfers power to the rear wheels; a PTU failure can place stress on or impair the transmission, which can cause symptoms identical to sudden transmission failure. I request escalation to a senior case manager or Tier 2 Top Car Specialist, review of my prior repair for reimbursement, and documentation of the ongoing 4WD alerts to support safety and claim review. Attachments: repair receipt. Thank you for your time, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 25, 2026 · Transmission · NY

- The PTU has been making a grinding noise, and the car feels different to drive. - Other issues with a different model of this PTU involve the car rolling out of park or losing driving power while in motion. I do not believe this is an isolated issue with my vehicle, due to looked at forums and communities online with people having the same issue as me. This could put other drivers and me on the road at risk. - Grinding noise identified as PTU by ASE-certified tech. - Vehicle to be inspected by dealer 3/3/26 -Do not remember the date of first hearing the noise, but it has been present for a few days. Noise varies from super loud to absent. No warning lamps prior to failure or present.

Filed Jan 28, 2026 · Transmission · IL

The vehicle experienced a powertrain failure involving the Power Transfer Unit (PTU). On June 19, 2025, the vehicle was inspected at Dobbs Tire & Auto at approximately 154,548 miles after a grinding noise and drivetrain noise were observed. The shop found metal shavings in the rear differential fluid and advised the vehicle be taken to a Jeep dealership. Because the vehicle was originally purchased from Cassens Jeep, it was taken there for further diagnosis. On August 28, 2025, the vehicle was inspected at Cassens Jeep at approximately 158,011 miles. The dealership confirmed internal drivetrain noise, metal contamination, and a PTU-related fault code. The vehicle experiences knocking noises at low speeds, lurching while driving, and intermittent drivetrain and 4WD warning indicators. The dealer advised replacement of the PTU and rear drivetrain components. This condition is associated with the active PTU powertrain recall originally issued on January 23, 2025. On January 22, 2026, a representative from Cassens Jeep confirmed that there is currently no available repair remedy, no estimated timeline for completion, and that required parts remain on backorder. This creates an ongoing safety risk due to potential loss of drive power and possible unintended vehicle movement related to park function failure. Service work orders and inspection reports from both repair facilities have been attached to support this complaint.

Filed Dec 8, 2025 · Transmission · KY

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V011000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the front wheels. The 4-WD warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle remained at the dealer pending a diagnostic test. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the vehicle was no longer driven. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Nov 21, 2025 · Transmission · 158,000 miles · MO

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V011000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the START/STOP feature failed to function as intended. In addition, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the transmission. The contact stated that the floorboards vibrated and felt as if something had fallen. The contact stated that the transmission failed to shift gear. The contact was unable to drive the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) had failed, and an unknown item had sheared off in the process. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Oct 28, 2025 · Transmission · 103,000 miles · MN

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that while turning the steering wheel to the left or right, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from under the floorboards. The contact stated that the message "4WD Unserviceable" was displayed. Additionally, the contact noticed that the vehicle intermittently lost motive power. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the power transfer unit (PTU) had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

Filed Oct 8, 2025 · Transmission · NC

My Trailhawk has severe vibrations/ grinding from the PTU. When accelerating from a stop or making turn, the vehicle hesitates and vibrates from the rear which almost caused a bad accident when I was pulling out to the main road.

Filed Sep 24, 2025 · Steering, Transmission · MI

Regarding Recall Transport Canada Recall 2025-012, also known as Safety Recall 01C and the federal safety agency ID Number: 25V011000 My Jeep has the service 4WD message displayed on the dash along with the noise/vibration/grinding as described in the same recall for other Jeeps for my model year. I'm not sure if this recall needs to be expanded but I'm curious to know what the process looks like as my problem is identical to the other Jeeps effected by this recall but my Jeep isn't listed.

Filed Oct 28, 2018 · Acceleration, Engine · 17,838 miles · VA

While in motion with cruise control set at 65 MPH the transmission jerked twice and the engine revved up and as if it was in neutral, stayed that way as if the accelerator was stuck. I hit my brakes because we was losing speed and when stopped I tried to put in park but it sounded as if gears was gri. Ding I had to shut off the jeep to make it stop revving. I was in the middle of the 4 lane and could only shift to neutral and row backwards into the median. I was unable to put back in drive with put gears grinding. I had been driving approximately 40 mins at a speed of 60-70 when this happened. No warning lights and nothing on the dash at time of issue.

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Questions about the 2018 Jeep Cherokee grinding brakes

Is grinding or squealing brakes a common problem on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?

10 of 692 owner complaints about the 2018 Jeep Cherokee (1%) mention grinding or squealing brakes. The model year with the most reports is 2019.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?

There are 0 recalls and 2 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee

Warning lights 91Stalling 83Oil consumption 33Loss of power 28Check engine light 27Jerking 24Engine failure 11Won't start 11Transmission failure 10Adaptive cruise 8Hesitation 7Overheating 7Power steering loss 7Harsh shifting 6Fire or smoke 5Misfire 5

All model years of the Jeep Cherokee

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 2018 Jeep Cherokee?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history