Keeping your Jeep Cherokee in good condition is essential if you want it to last for years to come. One way to do this is to regularly change the oil. When you do this, you will also need to reset the oil life, so it’s important to know how to reset the oil life on a Jeep Cherokee. There are actually two different methods, and which one works for you can depend on your specific model year, so we’ll cover both.
In this post, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to reset the oil life on your Jeep Cherokee using either method.
What Does Resetting the Oil Life Actually Do?
It’s worth being clear on this before you do anything: the reset doesn’t refresh your oil or fix anything mechanically. It simply resets a mileage and time-based counter that the vehicle uses to estimate how much life is left in your current oil. If you reset it without actually changing the oil, the system will just be tracking inaccurate information from that point on, which defeats the purpose of having the monitor at all. Always perform an actual oil change first, then reset the counter afterward.
Method 1: Steering Wheel Menu (2014-and-newer Cherokees)
This is the primary method for the current-generation Cherokee (2014 and newer) and generally the quickest if it works on your vehicle.
1. Turn On the Ignition Without Starting the Engine
To reset the oil life, turn the ignition on (or press the Start button once without touching the brake, on push-button models), but do not start the engine. This gives you access to the instrument cluster’s settings.
2. Locate the Menu Button on the Steering Wheel
Once the ignition is on, use the arrow buttons on the steering wheel to navigate the instrument cluster’s menu system.
3. Select “Vehicle Info” to View Maintenance Options
Navigate to “Vehicle Info” on the display and select it by pressing the “OK” button.
4. Choose “Oil Life”
Scroll down within “Vehicle Info” until you find the “Oil Life” option and select it.
5. Reset the Oil Life
Press and hold the “OK” button until the percentage resets to 100%. On some model years, you’ll instead get a confirmation prompt asking if you want to reset; select “Yes” if so.
Method 2: Accelerator Pedal Method (Older Models, or as a Backup)
If you have a 2008-2013 Cherokee, this is your primary method. But it’s also worth knowing even if you have a newer Cherokee, since the steering-wheel menu method is known to glitch or fail to reset on some 2014-and-newer vehicles, and this pedal method often works as a reliable fallback.
With the ignition in the ON/RUN position and the engine off, fully press the accelerator pedal to the floor three times within about 10 seconds, without pressing the brake. Then turn the ignition off. Start the engine and check whether the “Oil Change Required” message and oil life percentage have reset. If it didn’t take, it’s usually a timing issue; try the sequence again, making sure all three presses land within that 10-second window.
Conclusion
By following whichever of these two methods fits your Jeep Cherokee, you can reset the oil life in a couple of minutes without a trip to the dealer. Doing so keeps the system accurately tracking when it’s time to change the oil again, so your vehicle keeps running smoothly and efficiently. If neither method works after a few tries, check your owner’s manual for the exact procedure for your specific model year, since Jeep has made small changes across trims. Staying on top of small maintenance tasks like this is covered in our car maintenance checklist.
So, if you are due for an oil change, use this guide to reset the oil life on your Jeep Cherokee afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which oil reset method should I use for my Jeep Cherokee?
If your Cherokee is a 2014 or newer model, start with the steering wheel menu method. If it’s a 2008-2013 model, or the menu method doesn’t work on a newer Cherokee, use the accelerator pedal method instead.
Why won’t the steering wheel menu reset my oil life?
This is a fairly common glitch on some 2014-and-newer Cherokees. If it won’t reset after a couple of tries, switch to the accelerator pedal method, which works as a reliable backup on most model years.
What if the accelerator pedal method doesn’t work either?
Double-check your timing; all three full presses need to happen within about 10 seconds. If it still won’t reset after several attempts, check your owner’s manual for your specific model year, or have a dealer perform the reset.
Do I need to actually change the oil before resetting the oil life?
The reset itself doesn’t check whether you changed the oil, it just resets the tracked percentage. But resetting without actually changing the oil means the system will be tracking inaccurate oil life, so only reset it after a real oil change.
Will resetting the oil life clear the “Oil Change Required” warning message too?
Yes, a successful reset clears both the oil life percentage and the associated warning message on the dashboard.
