2016 Jeep CHEROKEE
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2016 Jeep CHEROKEE has 2036 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.1x the segment average of 1918. The most common issue is transmission problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: first of all, this is a brand new vehicle with just over 1,300 miles on it after nearly 3 months of use. the vehicle was in motion on the road with a 45mph speed limit. the transmission just shut down and i was unable to accelerate and the rpm shot up to a high level. luckily there was no one else . There are 9 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 17 fire reports filed.
2036
Total Complaints
9
Recalls Issued
4/5
Safety Stars
1.1x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
TRANSMISSION
624 complaints- • FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE WITH JUST OVER 1,300 MILES ON IT AFTER NEARLY 3 MONTHS OF USE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE ROAD WITH A 45MPH SPEED LIMIT. THE TRANSMISSION JUST SHUT DOWN AND I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND THE RPM SHOT UP TO A HIGH LEVEL. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE
- • BRAND NEW CAR, SHAKE AND SHIMMY BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR, AND HITS HARD IN 4TH. I HAVE ROUGHLY 1400 MILES ON IT. TOOK IT TO LOCAL JEEP DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, THE TEAM CLAIMED TO FIX IT WITH A TCM FLASH. HOWEVER, MUCH LIKE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE, THE FLASH DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. EXT
- • WE BOUGHT A 2016 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT TWO DAYS AGO.AT A 108 MILES WHILE DRIVING UP A CITY STREET. THE CAR BECAME VERY JERKY, LUNGING FORWARD, THEN WENT IN TO NEUTRAL AND DIED. AFTER THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T ANY DRIVERS NEAR US AND WE WEREN'T ON A HWY. THE DEALERSHIP DID
“FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE WITH JUST OVER 1,300 MILES ON IT AFTER NEARLY 3 MONTHS OF USE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE ROAD WITH A 45MPH SPEED LIMIT. THE TRANSMISSION JUST SHUT DOWN AND I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND THE RPM SHOT UP TO A HIGH LEVEL. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2016 Jeep CHEROKEE
Based on 1,256 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 43K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 30-60K miles range.
BRAKES
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS
AIR BAGS
BODY/STRUCTURE
SUSPENSION
LIGHTING
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Recalls (9)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
Charging Cost Calculator for 2016 Jeep CHEROKEE
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2016 Jeep CHEROKEE
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Jeep CHEROKEE Service Intervals
4WD Wrangler/Gladiator have shorter transfer case + differential intervals if off-roaded frequently.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Jeep New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Jeep. If you're buying a used 2016 CHEROKEE, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Jeep dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
EV Incentives for 2016 Jeep CHEROKEE
Updated 2026-07Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30
Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.
State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)
Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 2036 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TRANSMISSION: FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE WITH JUST OVER 1,300 MILES ON IT AFTER NEARLY 3 MONTHS OF USE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE ROAD WITH A 45MPH SPEED LIMIT. THE TRANSMISSION JUST SHUT DOWN AND I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND THE RPM SHOT UP TO A HIGH LEVEL. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: I PURCHASED A 2016 JEEP CHEROKEE WITH AN ACTIVE DRIVE II TRANSFER CASE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF FLAT TOWING IT BEHIND AN RV. ALL PRINTED AND ON-LINE BROCHURES CLEARLY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE FLAT TOWED. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE UPGRADED DRIVETRAIN AND WAITED 8 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY ONLY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE. THE VEHICLE WAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: SAFETY RECALL S28 SHIFT INTERLOCK SOLENOID ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR THE DEALER FAILS AND IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THIS DEFECT, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART ITS BEEN TWO MONTH PLEASE HELP!!!
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 9 recalls have been completed — free at any Jeep dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Jeep CHEROKEE — Year Comparison
How does 2016 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 2036
- Recalls
- 9
- Fire reports
- 17
- Crash reports
- 31
- Injury reports
- 11
- Segment avg
- 1918
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2016 Jeep CHEROKEE