Problems · NHTSA complaints

2016 Jeep Cherokee problems

Owners filed 1,413 complaints about the 2016 Jeep Cherokee with NHTSA between Nov 2015 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is power train (636).

Complaints
1,413
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
37
Reported by owners
Fires
15
Reported by owners
Injuries
27
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train636
  2. Engine314
  3. Electrical system298
  4. Service brakes92
  5. Vehicle speed control76
  6. Steering54
  7. Fuel/propulsion system43
  8. Structure33
  9. Air bags31
  10. Electronic stability control (esc)30
  11. Forward collision avoidance29
  12. Suspension21
  13. Exterior lighting20
  14. Wheels17

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20155
201661
201795
2018145
2019271
2020202
2021106
202294
2023149
2024120
2025108
202657

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

636 reports7 crashes4 fires4 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on a slight incline, the vehicle started moving. The contact depressed the brake pedal and became aware that the 4WD warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into 4WD. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V343000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was contacted and determined that the vehicle had experienced a PTU failure. The dealer stated that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2026Power trainODI 11773743

Engine

314 reports2 crashes4 fires
“I was driving home from work, the digital display (center)!showed my speed at 82m/h and revving the engine, the actual speedometer showed the actual speed I was doing of 32m/h…(right side of display). Computer reading lights and license plate light not working, yet they are. Took to repair shop and they could only reset, but it returned almost immediately. Gear shift malfunction. The lights on the gear shift and the alert in the display saying gear shift malfunction… all within 2 days… car has @97 000 miles…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 3, 2026Electrical system, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11761867

Electrical system

298 reports2 crashes4 fires3 related recalls
“1. Start/stop light always comes on since I purchased the vehicle in 2024 2. Svc 4wd light is always on within the past several months 3. Vehicle System Report indicates 10 items needs attention including the DTCM 4. Receiving error code C1494 for PTU Symptoms: A. Vibrating floor bed at left drivers side foot B. Slipping and sliding in the rear tires. The VIN has been excluded from all safety recalls, but I am experiencing a severe failure of the AWD/4WD. The dealership that I bought it from will not assist me in paying because my car was excluded. I have all the signs of a failed PTU.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2026Steering, Power train, Electrical systemODI 11772310

Service brakes

92 reports4 crashes
“The parking brake has engaged on it's own 4 times. Twice while I was driving and twice while I was parked in my driveway with car started and attempting to leave. When parked it will not let me roll. When driving the vehicle shimmies and acts like it has serious problems like the wheel is about to fall off. One time there was a yellow exclamation point as a warning light as it was having the issue. The other time there were no warning lights. I never use my parking brake. It came on when I was about a mile down the road. I believe the first 2 times were in March. The last 2 were in May 2026”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 2, 2026Service brakesODI 11741684

Vehicle speed control

76 reports5 crashes
“The PTU was bad and was replaced by the dealership under Chrysler extended warranty. The dealership then said the transfer case module and motor needed to be replaced and while at the dealership replacing those components they informed me that the rear differential axle is bad resulting from the bad PTU”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 22, 2026Power train, Vehicle speed control, WheelsODI 11712655

Steering

54 reports3 crashes
“The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the message “4WD/Pull Over” was displayed, and the Low Oil warning light was intermittently illuminated. The contact became aware of the warning lights after receiving an oil change. Additionally, the oil level needed to be topped off after driving approximately 3,000 miles. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and it decelerated and stalled. The contact pulled over, turned off the vehicle, waited for several minutes, then made several attempts to restart the vehicle until the power steering functionality returned and was able to drive as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and it was confirmed that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of oil, and that the oil level sensor was inoperable. The dealer reprogrammed the ECM, but failures persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 2, 2026Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 11728808
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.