Jeep Cherokee Complaints (2016)

1,413 consumer complaints on file.

#11722509March 6, 2026
FIRERELATED
The contact owned a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that twenty minutes after her husband parked and turned off the vehicle in a parking lot, the vehicle caught fire while unoccupied. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she noticed sparks coming from beneath the rear driver's side taillight before the vehicle caught fire. The fire consumed half of the vehicle, causing extensive damage. The firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire. There were police and fire department reports filed. The fire department informed the contact that the fire was caused by an electrical failure. The vehicle was towed to a collision center, but was not yet deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720306February 24, 2026
POWER TRAIN
We own a 2016 Jeep Cherokee and have been experiencing ongoing issues with the transmission and acceleration. The vehicle will sometimes hesitate or lag when pressing the gas pedal. There are situations where you try to accelerate and the vehicle does not respond right away. This has created safety concerns while driving. There have been multiple instances where the vehicle did not move as expected when attempting to pull into traffic or accelerate from lower speeds. When you press the accelerator, you expect the vehicle to go, but instead there is a delay or lack of power. This has nearly resulted in accidents due to oncoming traffic. The problem happens most often at normal city / street speeds, especially when accelerating from a stop or at low speeds. The vehicle feels like it struggles to shift or deliver power. We have also noticed hesitation at higher speeds, but the main issue is during everyday driving. No crash has occurred, but the hesitation and inconsistent response make the vehicle feel unsafe and unreliable.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719852February 23, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
Beginning in late October 2025, my 2016 Jeep Cherokee North Edition began experiencing a recurring electronic shifter and transmission malfunction. The vehicle displays a “Service Shifter” warning (with an A! with a circle arrow and the check engine light is on) and shakes violently upon shifting; it's straight up psychologically unnerving. This issue creates a significant safety hazard because the vehicle may not shift accordingly, consequently increasing the risk of unintended vehicular movement and ultimate loss of control. I previously brought the vehicle to a certified Chrysler/Jeep dealership (Big O’ Dodge Chrysler Jeep, Laurens Rd., Greenville, SC) approximately 13 months earlier for mechanical issues while under warranty. At that time, repairs were completed and I was told no additional mechanical concerns were present. The shifter malfunction began after my extended warranty expired (after 20,000 miles). Since the problem began, I have taken the vehicle to a mechanic multiple times. During each visit, a diagnostic scan tool indicated cylinder misfires: First visit: cylinder #1 misfire — I paid for repairs/replacement. Second visit: cylinder #2 misfire — I paid for additional repairs. Third visit: cylinder #3 misfire — I was advised further repairs would be costly and to consider replacing the vehicle. Despite having recently spent $1,500 on these repairs, the shifting malfunction and safety issues have persisted/have not been resolved. I have been unable to safely operate the vehicle for approximately four months due to the risk associated with the transmission/shifter malfunction. I have learned that similar (2014-2017) Jeep Cherokees have been recalled for similar electronic shifter defects. However, my VIN was not included in the recall. Because this defect poses a serious safety risk and appears consistent with known issues, I am requesting an investigation into this failure. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719361February 20, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My Vehicle VIN isn't listed under the massive recall of the PTU (Diagnostic code C14A7-67) Vehicle is the same manufacture year of the recalled vehicles. If the PTU fails it can cause sudden loss of drive power, inability to stay in Park (rollaway risk). The check 4WD light is on and Diagnostic code C14A7-67 comes up. Jeep said my vehicle isn't included in the recall so there isn't anything they can do. I am wondering why this Vin isn't included in the recall and if it should be since it is having the identical issue as the massive recall of similar vehicles. My vehicle lost drive power on a highway and had to carefully glide over to the shoulder.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719370February 20, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE STOPPED AT STOP SIGNS OR STOP LIGHTS THE EMERGENCY PARKING BREAK WILL ENGAGE AND UNABLE TO TURN OFF WITH OUT RESTARTING VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718891February 18, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle sputtered, jerked, and hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The message "Service 4WD" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with an inoperable PTU actuator. The dealer was contacted and provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718675February 17, 2026
AIR BAGS, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
I was going home, speed limit 55 mph, so thats what I was doing. A suv entering a intersection ahead of me, ( i dont have a stop or yield sign, but they do) the suv never stops, rolling into the intersection, as im entering the intersection at 55 mph. I tried avoidance at last second to no avail. My front drivers corner smashed the middle, passenger side of the other suv. My Jeep continues to the right, uncontrollable, stops in someone's front yard, engine still running. The other car swerved to the left, still on the road, rolling on its side. My airbags never deployed, i didnt even get any lights on the dash, i had to shut the engine off. Not one airbag deployed, and nothing even recognized there was something wrong. This car is supposed to have all options for airbags, yet a collision at highway speed, with post wreck travel of less than 50 feet, and not one single air bag deployed. I very literally could have died right there. I honestly dont know how i didn't.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717227February 11, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked abnormally with an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with a misfire in cylinder #5. The fuel injectors were cleaned, and the spark plugs and filters were replaced. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the contact became aware that there were oil stains on the ground, and the abnormal odor was still coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the plastic oil filter housing seal had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11716434February 7, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
The parking brake will sometimes activate while driving the vehicle, I happens twice driving loosing control of the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712655January 22, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN, WHEELS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712667January 22, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH and attempting to make a left or right turn the rear driver’s and passenger’s side wheels locked up as if the brake pedal was depressed, with a grinding sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken a dealer where it diagnosed and determined that the PTU needed to be replaced. The PTU was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The failure had occurred on several occasions with the past two months. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but declined to cover the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711079January 15, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a grinding sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the PTU was faulty and needed to be replaced. The PTU was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The vehicle later experienced transmission failures and failed to properly accelerate or reverse as needed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. Additionally, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message “Service 4WD” was displayed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 25,749.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710603January 13, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the message "Shift to Park(P)” was displayed, and several other warning lights were illuminated on the instrument cluster. The failure had occurred while exiting a parking lot and turning left. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle stalled and stalled while accelerating and changing lanes. There were no warning lights illuminated immediately, but then several unknown warning lights were illuminated. After the vehicle had stalled, several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle. During several failures, the headlights and the hazard lights were not functioning as needed. The failure was intermittent but became a recurring failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who performed a tune-up and cleaned the fuel lines. The vehicle was repaired; however, the vehicle stalled again. The vehicle was taken back to the same mechanic who determined that the fuel cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the vehicle stalled. The contact researched and became aware that the engine had been replaced in 2017. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710202January 11, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, ENGINE
UNKNOWN: Not had problems since I got it. 66000 miles on it and now it’s losing electrical power at random. I’ll be driving normally, but my dash will go black, all lights go out and the engine will go into neutral. When I let off the throttle and coast, it will come back to life and go back to normal.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710074January 10, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Multiple incidents from different shops after oil changes, car continues to leak oil from around filter. Have had to replace the shifter sensor twice within the last 5 years. Regular driver back and forth to work. Drive less than 8k miles a year
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709989January 9, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was told that my PTU needs replaced however since it did not throw the proper code it is not covered under the extended warranty that Jeep had out.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709754January 8, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Transmission, yes it’s available for inspection I was on the highway driving approximately 70 MPH going up hill, and my car starts to downshift and lose power on a high traffic highway without warning no lights flickered or anything Yes it was seen by dodge dealership No it was not inspected by the manufacturer or others No, The check engine came on Approximately 15 minutes AFTER the failure. so no warning before it started to downshift so I could pull over!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707883December 30, 2025
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Transmission was replaced at 20k miles it has still continue to stall while driving causing hard shift and stalling in the middle of the road almost causing accidents.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11706078December 19, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Power Transfer Unit needs to be replaced. I took vehicle to repair shop for noise in left front tire. They informed me that the unit needs to be replaced. They checked for recall will a Chrysler Dealer. The recall does not apply to this vehicle. I purchased this vehicle new from a Chrysler Dealer in CT. The repair shop informed me that the PTU unit in my car is a used one from a Junkyard, the said it has writing on it that junkyards use to identify parts. I never had it replaced so it had to come from the dealer like that.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704301December 10, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The failure persisted and the "Service 4WD" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed, and the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective power transfer unit. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V302000 (Power Train); which the contact linked to the failure. The contact searched the VIN and discovered that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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