Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Jeep Renegade owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact's son owned a 2016 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated that after his son parked the vehicle in the driveway and turned the vehicle off, the son entered the home and moments later noticed an orange glow coming from outside. The son went outside to investigate and discovered a foot tall flames coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The son attempted to use a fire extinguisher to extinguish the flames, but was unsuccessful. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the fire. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed, and the detached garage was also damaged by the flames. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 80,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated that she had received a manufacturer recall notice, Recall Number: V54 - Engine Cooling Fan (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that the dealer determined that the cooling fan was working as designed and the fan was not replaced. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH and various speeds, and while stopped at a traffic light, the engine would overheat. The contact stated that the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was hot. The contact stated that the failure had become a recurring failure. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine cooling fan needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,143.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound while the cooling fan was in operation. The contact stated that the sound became louder over time. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with fan bearing and spindle failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that after leaving the dealer, the engine started to overheat, and the coolant temperature gauge moved into the red zone. No warning lights were illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated he was able to restart the vehicle and drive to his residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
Had this car since 2016,only 39,289miles,no problems whatsoever,and then I did this recall thing the 12th of July 2021,and today the 14th of July 2021 I have an engine light on,I have this horrible noise when I turn it on,I am so pissed and mad!!!really mad!!!Techs should not touch anything else than whats is called for to be fixed!!!i feel that when we take the cars they mess things out so we,the customers have to end up putting money since is free,they need customers to go back and spend on something that it didn't needed it from the beginning!!!like I said 6yrs and not a problem,even have a multi point inspection sheet that it shows everything was great!!!i am scare to take back,because now I'm going to end up paying for their mistakes/fault/unprofessional work.I am so disappointed,upset,mad.I was planning to buy there again,but now I'm re thinking bout it!it won't get fixed I know I …
My 2016 Jeep Renegade Sport 4WD 2.4L (~87K mileage) never has given me any major issues or shown symptoms of any need for service attention recently. It has been upkept with regular oil changes and servicing as needed. I recently went on vacation and had the vehicle parked for a week and upon returning and trying to turn the vehicle on it would not start. It was not the battery as that was recently changed and the vehicle tried very hard to crank, but nothing was successful on its own we even tried charging the battery and jumping it with our other car. I had AAA finally come and they were able to start it, but as soon as you put it in "drive" to move it the engine would flood and the car would shut off. As the car would run, white smoke would flow out of the tailpipe horribly as well. …
The engine cooling fan failed. The vehicle was repaired by Firestone, and we have the old parts in case an inspection is needed. This failure put myself and others at risk because had I not been close to home when the engine light came on, the engine would have overheated. My daily commute is over 50 miles, and this could have caused an accident if it had happened on the highway. The problem was confirmed by a service center (Firestone). The entire fan assembly needed to be replaced since the bracket was also broken. The component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. The check engine light first came on while I was driving home from the store on 5/31/25. Then, the A/C stopped cooling. I stopped by Advance Auto Parts Store, and they checked the engine code (P0481) and advised me to purchase a fuse. …
Vehicle was returning Diagnostic code P0653 and P2138 it was taken to the dealership for servicing on 04/26/2025. Pedal position sensor was identified as the issue. Part was on national backorder for several weeks. and issue was repaired on 05/22/25. Vehicle was driven less than 100 miles and presented with the same issue on 06/26/2025 and was returned to the dealership for servicing. Service department reset the code and drove the vehicle for less than 100 miles, and indicated they could not reproduce the problem. Car was left at the dealership for a week for additional diagnostic. Car was picked up on 07/12/2025 from the dealership and on 07/15/2025 car was returned for third time to repair the issue with the same codes. A case was opened with Stellantis. At this poin car is still being repaired for the same issue. …
On more than one occasion, this car has stalled or stopped, leaving me coasting to the side of the road in active traffic. I was going about 30-35 mph. It has had oil consumption problems since 2021 when I purchased it. It was presented to me at point of sale as gas consumption...it wasn't getting good mileage and would need a tune up. Also misrepresented as having a spare and it did not. On 4 Aug 2024 I completed the most recent oil consumption test and it failed. Leith Jeep refused to provide me with paperwork and said "no charge." But it needed another quart of oil which I added. Before the test was completed it needed a quart of oil. I have all records and will attach here if possible or email under separate emails. Not sure how many doc can be attached. I had recall repairs made. My car is part of the class action lawsuit but is unsafe. …
There is an emissions recall on this Jeep; it is currently at the dealership for the repairs. In order to reach the part that must be replaced in order to complete the recall, there is a bolt that is sheared off. The dealership is telling us that we have to pay $3,800 in order to replace the head, because of the bolt being sheared off. This bolt must be removed in order to complete the recall but they are refusing to do this repair at no cost. They cannot do the recall work without removing the bolt. The part the bolt is connected to will have to be replaced. We should not be financially liable to pay for this since it is part of the work required to complete the recall. We've spoken to the FCA recall department and they are refusing to cover the repairs. My husband needs this vehicle to drive back and forth to work. …
Engine complaints in other Renegade years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2016 Jeep Renegade?
NHTSA has 180 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2016 Jeep Renegade, 42% of the model year's 431 complaints. The component named most often is cooling system › fan (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Jeep Renegade engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2016 Jeep Renegade, though it has 1 recall 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 Renegade engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 28% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 4 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling 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.