Most common 2016 Jeep Cherokee problems
Share of the 1,411 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Jeep Cherokee complaints by model year
Best Cherokee years: 2022, 2021, 2020. Years to avoid: 2014, 2015, 2019, 2017, 2016. Compare all years →
2016 Jeep Cherokee recalls (9)
Structure › Body › Hatchback/liftgate
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a power liftgate. An electrical short in the power liftgate module may lead to a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will relocate the power liftgate module and add a water shield.
Power train › Automatic transmission
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power or loss of park function.
Remedy: FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 11, 2023. Owners may contact FCA USA LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Power train › Driveline › Differential unit
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a two-speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU). Relative movement in the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) between the differential input splines and the transmission output shaft may cause some input spline teeth to wear off, which may eventually cause a…
Remedy: FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update that will maintain vehicle propulsion by engaging rear wheel drive and prevent rolling in Park by activating the electronic parking brake if a…
Electrical system › Software
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…
Remedy: 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.
Equipment
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018.
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured July 29, 2013, to February 5, 2016. The seat fasteners on the first or second row seats may not have been tightened to the proper torque specification.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seats or seat sets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during September 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Show 3 more recalls
Power train › Axle assembly › Axle shaft
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured September 30, 2015, to October 2, 2015. The left halfshaft may have been incorrectly manufactured causing it to fracture without warning.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left halfshaft, free of charge. The recall began on June 30, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler's customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Power train › Axle assembly › Axle shaft
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured October 3, 2015, to March 22, 2016. The right halfshaft may have been incorrectly manufactured causing it to fracture without warning.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right halfshaft, free of charge. The recall began on June 30, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler's customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Structure › Body › Hatchback/liftgate
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 18, 2015, to September 10, 2015 and equipped with the power liftgate option. In the affected vehicles, water may leak into the Power Liftgate Control Module and result in a high resistance short circuit.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the module and connectors for corrosion, replacing the damaged components as necessary.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2016 Jeep Cherokee:
Electronic Parking Brake Water Ingress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened investigation PE22-009 after having received 80 complaints on model years 2014-2020 Jeep Cherokees alleging the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) inadvertently activated while the vehicle was in motion.During this investigation, the subject vehicles were updated to include only Model Years (MY) 2014-2016, while MY 2017-2020 were considered peers.Based on related repair…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2016 Jeep Cherokee owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 634 →
The contact's son owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. The contact stated that while his son was parking, the transmission was shifted into park (P), the contact's son lifted his foot off the brake when the vehicle sporadically accelerated, crashing into another parked vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. No injuries were sustained. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V302000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.
I parked my vehicle at 6pm on February 15th. at 2:45 pm I awoke to a loud explosion outside my bedroom window. There was a very large fire, and it was my car. I was in shock we could only watch from our window as the fire department arrived and put out the fire which was spreading to the carport and mailboxes near my parking spot. It also burned a truck parked next to mine. both cars a total loss. My insurance company sent someone to tow my vehicle, but the tow truck driver refused saying the vehicle was untowable, due to the massive damage. the next day a neighbor informed me that he got the whole incident on video start to finish. 'The video shows my engine igniting while off and had been parked for over 6 hours. In the video you see a small flame start under the hood near the windshield wipers. the flame then grew and grew!!!! until the car was completely engulfed in flames. …
Engine & cooling all 320 →
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied at 3 AM, the contact noticed a loud popping sound outside the contact's window. The contact inspected and noticed the vehicle caught on fire. The contact stated the flames were coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the fire spread and damaged the vehicle that was parked beside the contact's vehicle owned by the neighbor. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked in a residential apartment parking lot when the fire occurred. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The Police arrived, however, no report has been filed as of yet. There were no injuries sustained. The contact stated that both vehicles were towed to a local tow yard. In addition, both vehicles were condemned to total loss. …
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. …
Electrical system all 298 →
The contact owned a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that she had parked the vehicle in the driveway near the garage of her friend's residence, and 10 minutes later, she was informed that the vehicle had caught on fire. The contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire from the front seats onward. The contact stated that the fire expanded to the garage, causing the whole residence to catch on fire. The contact stated that the five adults and two children, who were occupying the residence immediately exited the residence. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. A fire department report was filed. The contact did not recall whether a police report was filed. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was totaled. There was no further information provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. …
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. …
2016 Jeep Cherokee engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 9-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 30 / 25 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 9-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 9-speed automatic | AWD | 21 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 9-speed automatic | 4WD | 21 / 27 / 23 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 9-speed automatic | AWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 9-speed automatic | 4WD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Jeep Cherokee a good car?
Based on 1,411 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Cherokee rates avoid: 3.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Cherokee at the same age. It is one of the Cherokee years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Jeep Cherokee?
The transmission & drivetrain — 634 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year, most often about transfer case (4-wheel drive). Next are the engine & cooling (320) and electrical system (298).
How many recalls does the 2016 Jeep Cherokee have?
There are 9 recalls for the 2016 Jeep Cherokee, the most recent from May 11, 2023 (hatchback/liftgate). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Jeep Cherokee?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2021 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014, 2015, 2019, 2017 and 2016. See the full Jeep Cherokee years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Jeep Cherokee problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 44,000 miles; 57% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.