Most common 2021 Jeep Renegade problems
Share of the 67 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Jeep Renegade complaints by model year
Best Renegade years: 2022, 2020, 2023. Compare all years →
2021 Jeep Renegade recalls (2)
Structure › Body › Bumpers
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Renegade vehicles. The incorrect bumper reverse light assembly may have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the bumper reverse light assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Seat belts › Front
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia, 2018-2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, 2019-2023 Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, and 2024 Fiat 500E vehicles. A seat belt buckle switch sensor may be improperly connected, preventing the front seat air bag from deploying as intended.
Remedy: Dealers will repair the connection, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning August 27, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
What 2021 Jeep Renegade owners say
Electrical system all 26 →
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated while driving at 65 MPH, several messages were displayed. The contact stated that " Warning. Imminent Engine Failure", " Warning. Side and Front Impacts", " Warning. Low Fuel" and other unknown warning messages were displayed. Additionally, the radio became inoperable. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the wiring system had melted due to exposure to the exhaust gases. The dealer informed the contact that the exhaust pipe was malformed as it was routed incorrectly in a straight outward direction instead of being curved. The dealer advised the contact that it was a manufacturer defect. The vehicle was repaired; however, upon taking the vehicle to her residence, the contact noticed that the rear bumpers had melted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. …
The UConnect screen has not worked properly on the vehicle since September 2023. Initially the screen would be black or have lines through it when the temperature outside the vehicle was above 80 degrees and during daytime hours. Now the screen is black at all times. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The screen is the only way to control numerous functions including the radio, climate control, backup camera, speaker settings throughout the vehicle, and basic vehicle settings such as time, etc. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by the dealer as well as numerous other individuals who own the same vehicle make and model. Jeep states that the issue is not covered under the warranty, although the inability to use the features listed above poses a safety issue while operating the vehicle. …
Driver assistance
The contact owned a 2021 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph around a curve, the steering wheel went straight, and she attempted to correct it. The lane departure warning with lane keep assist engaged and began to beep and took control of the vehicle. The vehicle fishtailed, crossed the lane, the driver lost control, and crashed into a ditch. The vehicle flipped on its side. The driver-side and passenger-side air bags were deployed. The driver was wearing a seat belt, but her head smashed through the passenger side window. The driver sustained a concussion, and medical attention was provided. There was no reported fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000. …
I am writing to file a formal safety complaint regarding my 2021 Jeep Renegade, which has been experiencing sudden, unprovoked automatic braking for almost a year. The issue began in Spring [Year], and over the past two months, it has become significantly more frequent. The vehicle brakes sharply on its own even when there are no obstacles, cars, or objects in front of us. This happens at normal driving speeds and creates a serious risk of rear-end collisions-especially dangerous on highways. We have a baby, and this malfunction has put our family in frightening situations multiple times. We've brought the vehicle to the dealer and service center several times, but they claim no error code shows up, so no repair is made. The car is currently at the service center again, and still no resolution. …
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated while driving at 65 MPH, several messages were displayed. The contact stated that " Warning. Imminent Engine Failure", " Warning. Side and Front Impacts", " Warning. Low Fuel" and other unknown warning messages were displayed. Additionally, the radio became inoperable. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the wiring system had melted due to exposure to the exhaust gases. The dealer informed the contact that the exhaust pipe was malformed as it was routed incorrectly in a straight outward direction instead of being curved. The dealer advised the contact that it was a manufacturer defect. The vehicle was repaired; however, upon taking the vehicle to her residence, the contact noticed that the rear bumpers had melted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. …
Picked up Jeep in Kansas City. Got on highway and transmission (trans) would not shift into high gears. Called dealership and was told to contact local dealer. Got back to Texas (560 mi.) and contacted 4 dealers in the DFW area. All said there were issues with 9 sp. trans. One said put 2500 mi. on and see if it is a computer break in issue. Took to local dealer with 3300 mi and they did a Star Case. Subsequently, I also went with Manager and confirmed issue. Was contacted by Ralph at Jeep (CASE #82736087). Was told car was submitted for buyback. Two days later, buyback was off the table, and I was stuck with it. Jeep said that no problem found per dealership. Called dealership and was told flat out that was not the case. They drove one off the lot and it did just fine (2022 model). Meanwhile, I posted on a Renegade forum and other people are having same issue. …
2021 Jeep Renegade engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3L 4-cyl turbo | 9-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 32 / 27 |
| 1.3L 4-cyl turbo | 9-speed automatic | AWD | 23 / 29 / 26 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 9-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 9-speed automatic | AWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Jeep Renegade a good car?
Based on 67 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2021 Renegade rates better than average: 80% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Renegade at the same age. 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 2021 Jeep Renegade?
The electrical system — 26 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the driver assistance (13) and engine & cooling (10).
How many recalls does the 2021 Jeep Renegade have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2021 Jeep Renegade, the most recent from December 10, 2024 (bumpers). 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 Renegade?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2020 and 2023. See the full Jeep Renegade years comparison.
At what mileage do 2021 Jeep Renegade problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 22,000 miles; 88% 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.