Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Jeep Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, there was a loud banging sound, the vehicle swerved into the left lane, and the vehicle was safely maneuvered to the side of the road. The contact observed that the driver's side front axle blew out. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic where the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that 79 miles later, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a different independent mechanic where the driver's and passenger's side front axles were replaced. The contact stated that 40 miles later, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to a different independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to a suspension specialist where the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while making a turn, the vehicle experienced the death wobble. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic on two occasions to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the rear knuckles needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired twice; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken back to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rear knuckles and knuckle bushings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal popping and clicking sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 02-004-15. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 49,000.
My car has 123,000 done everything by book. Been report issues for over yr. Car almost got my killed by not stopping, turning, jerking on Accelerating and decelerating when shifting. All my motor mounts, transmission mount busted , messed up suspension control arm, ball joints, struts , axle, brakes all once. Drained battery. Spent 4500. Then my service shifter just came on. So back at shop. This is insane my shifter should last life time of my car. Due to the damage of that it cause a downfall of front end issues. This is well known issues of Jeep 2016 but not mine for a recall. It has cost me thousands and should not be happening at 122,000 miles . Car is at dealership again now and i have rental so not sure what that will cost. This started 2/11 not codes just could tell already filed reports with you all. …
While driving on [redacted] N in Jacksonville, FL on [redacted]. Driving below the recommended speed limit my Jeep Cherokee Sport started to rattle and shake so violently I almost lost control of the vehicle. I hit a small bump in the road, was forced off to the right side and the front drivers wheel broke off from the drum. It was a frightening experience and could have lost my life as the highway was busy with morning traffic. No know suspension issues before this happened. I understand this was a recall issue on different models of Jeep vehicles, so why wasn't the Cherokee Sport not included? I am currently waiting on repair cost and confirmation from the insurance company.
Axle, driveshaft, and differential concern. The 4x4 warning light came on the dash and the four-wheel-drive system stopped functioning properly. Dealer diagnosed a failing PTU (Power Transfer Unit) and recommended installing an SOP PTU unit. Symptoms included grinding, vibration, and inconsistent 4x4 engagement, creating a safety concern during normal driving. Mileage at time of replacement (lights on dash 500 miles prior) : 49,536. Total repair cost: $2,416
The Power Control Unit of the full time four drive unit is defective and has caused warning lights that made the car unsafe to drive. There is current safety recall by NHTSA 20V343 that applies to 2014-2017 jeep Cherokee that applies to my car but does not shows up on the Jeep data base. Please advise. Thank you
According to my mechanic the sway bar broke, also I get a 4WD system unavailable service required! Which is PTU module needs replaced! That is a rescalled issue, do to safety issues! Please look into it! Thanks
I've had this vehicle for a few years now and at the time of purchase the vehicle had 16,000-18,000 miles on it. It's a 2016 and I believe I purchased the vehicle in 2019 so I've had it for about three years now. I didn't really start to pay any attention to the shaking/shimmy/wobble that the vehicle has until about a year after I purchased it because at first it wasn't nearly as noticeable as it is today and I had just upgraded from a cheap little Chevy cobalt that was a beater and the jeep was a huge upgrade and improvement from that vehicle causing me to gloss over the problem initially. The problem seems to get worse over time and regardless of me getting new tires, getting them balanced and alignments the same shaking/wobbling/shimmying persists. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2106 Jeep Cherokee sport. The contact stated that his wife was driving at 25 MPH when the front wheel on the driver's side detached from the vehicle, causing the vehicle to drop to the ground. The vehicle veered off the road grazing a tree until it stopped. The contact stated the air bags did not deploy causing the driver to hit the steering wheel. The contact stated that his wife sustained bruising on her chest, eyes, arms and suffered a concussion. The driver was unconscious until was pulled from the vehicle. The driver did not seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the screen and it was totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was contacted and a case was opened. The contact stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V284000 (power train) which could have been the cause of the failure. …
Suspension complaints in other Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the suspension of the 2016 Jeep Cherokee, 1% of the model year's 1,411 complaints. The component named most often is multiple axle (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Jeep Cherokee suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 2016 Jeep Cherokee, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2016 Jeep Cherokee suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 44,000 miles, and 43% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to suspension problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.