CarComplaints.com Notes: Be warned the previous model year (2015) Jeep Renegade has a large number of complaints reported by owners. Time will tell whether the 2016 Renegade has the same issues.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
22,321 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Jeep Renegade drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2016 Jeep Renegade Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #70

Dec 012022

Renegade

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My customer satisfaction number is W20. I have been waiting since December 2022 to get the catalytic converter replaced. I was told there were 2 people ahead of me. Everytime I called I was told they were still trying to reach the people. They did update the software but now my Jeep is sluggish. I have to force the gas pedal to force the accelerator to the floor to pick up speed. So my gas mileage is very bad. I hope the engine does not go waiting so long to get a defective part replaced. I am in Arkansas now and will be until my Mom gets out of the hospital. I want to get my Jeep fixed now. I am close to Batesville and Jonesboro Arkansas. Please tell me where I can take my Jeep to get it repaired or do I take the recall card to any Jeep dealer. I feel I have waited long enough.

- Alton, IL, USA

problem #69

Mar 112023

Renegade

  • miles
recently while driving to work at a traffic light as i rolled i heard my car start to accelerate and the check engine light came on. I began to observe, and found out that the gearbox does this when it is downshifted from 5th to 4th gear. of course I didn't hit the car in front several times. the presence of such errors as u0402 and C2502. i went to the dealer but the dealer had never heard of this and only did a software update on the transmission and engine. but it didn't help, they changed the oil in the transmission, no result either, they gave me a document and said that the reason was the electricity. after searching the entire Internet, I saw that Cherokee had such a phantom acceleration for 14-15 years. and really the problem is inside the transmission. i want to fix this problem because the dealer doesn't know what to do.

- Medford, MA, USA

problem #68

Dec 132022

Renegade 4-cyl

  • miles
I recently had the following situation. Tuesday, Dec. 13th, 2022 a big storm hit, showered snow on us ALL day. My Jeep was parked with the passenger side to the north... just setting the scene. Rain, ice, & snow coated my Renegade when I left work and I noticed that the dash temp reading was not working. I didn't need 4WD on the drive home. Wednesday morning, I started up and got a "service engine" notification with solid engine light. The snow was slick enough on the roads that I attempted to put it into 4WD but couldn't. THINKING that the engine light was on due to a 4WD issues, I babied it from my home to the dealership. I was told that a solid engine light means not critical and I should be able to drive it until my appointment on the 21st. Then I was advised to go to an auto parts store to have a free diagnostic. I had to wait until Friday. The tech there came out and within 5 minutes told me the codes P0072 & P0073. He looked them up for me to ease my mind (4WD still not going in so I'm still thinking that's the issue). He informed me that the codes are for the AIR CONDITIONING SENSOR!! I did an internet search and found two pages of blog concerning the same issue from Jeep owners of differing vehicles. https://www.jeeprenegadeforum.com/threads/check-engine-light-no-4wd-lock.72281/ This obviously is a safety concern if you need your 4WD and can't access it due to an innocuous reason such as a malfunctioning air conditioning sensor. Could you please have Jeep look into a fix for this issue?? It may be something simple as the new 4WD lock seems to be electronic.

- Murray, UT, USA

problem #67

Apr 222022

Renegade

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Oil consumption, electrical problems like lights flickering, fuel odor, brake light olways

- Guayanilla, PR, USA

problem #66

Dec 012021

Renegade

  • miles
When car is backed up and put into drive the transmission hesitates. While coming to a stop the transmission has small jerks while downshifting. Also upon pulling out anytime you are stopped it looses power and then jumps forward. While driving as it changes gears it hesitates then switches and feels like I-€™m driving with someone learning how to drive a manual. This should not be happening around 67k miles. It-€™s going to cause a wreck.

- Granite Falls , NC, USA

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problem #65

Jan 052021

Renegade

  • 105,000 miles
I bought this car in may of 2020. It is absolutely ridiculous that a barely 5 year old car is already shifting hard. And has to go under maintenance for the transmission. It is not just my car, but over 75% of Jeep Renegade owners is having this issue. It is unsafe. I noticed it when I was rolling to a stop at a stop light and my car jerked forward into oncoming traffic. Luckily no one was coming. It could have been deadllllyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!! fix the issue. Now I have to stop farther from the light or sign because I know my car is going to lunge forward. A 5 year old car I have to treat like its 20 years old, I will never be buying another Jeep anything again. I was an Impala owner for years and never had any issues. Even when my Impala hit 19 years old and had almost 300,000 miles. A 5 year old car should by no means act like this. Now after dropping 12,000 on this car I have to leave work, loose more money and go to an appointment on the 21st to see if we can get this issue fixed.

- Bowling Green, KY, USA

problem #64

Nov 102020

Renegade

  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving the car loses power and the message "shift to park" appears then the car stalls. The car was traveling less than 25mph.the car may or may not start afterwards. The battery was replaced but the same problem occurs. This has occurred multiple times and has stranded me. It doesn't matter the outside weather conditions.

- East Hampstead, NH, USA

problem #63

Nov 082020

Renegade

  • 24,990 miles
Driving on highway at 70 mph up a minor incline, the vehicle started hesitating/chugging and then the accelerator pedal stopped responding. Vehicle stalled and coasted to stop where the idle was rough and then died. Initially, would restart, but then stall out. For the next 3 hours (while waiting for a tow), the electrical system was flaking out - intermittently flashing any error in its wheelhouse. Restarted next day and idle very rough/misfiring, engine light blinking and decent cloud of black smoke generated. Initial report from shop is that the engine oil is sludge (changed 5K miles ago), battery is completely dead (was already replaced at 15K miles) and a spark plug end is bent and in horrific shape. Vehicle has 25K miles and has been in service for 4.2 years.

- Royal Oak, MI, USA

problem #62

Nov 082020

Renegade

  • 18,000 miles
After starting it just shuts down while car is in motion. Can happen anywhere. Engine just shuts off...then takes a couple of attempts to restart

- Yonkers, NY, USA

problem #61

Jun 062020

Renegade

  • 20,000 miles
The engine burns through oil way to fast and creates unnecessary cost. Also it always feels like it's going to shut down when I turn right slowly. Power constantly fluctuates.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #60

May 292020

Renegade 4-cyl

  • 60,350 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission #2 failed on May 31st lurched forward felt like someone slammed into the back of the car at a traffic light and would not shift into gear at all as I looked for a safe place to park it so it could be towed. Slammed into gear as well. Was told that there was no way of knowing where the transmission failed only that it did and was going to be replaced again.

- Howell, MI, USA

problem #59

Dec 292018

Renegade 4-cyl

  • 47,000 miles
Transmission #1 had a crack in it and failed in January 2019 would not shift into reverse or drive in the driveway would not go back in the parking spot until the car was turned off and restarted. Hill assist light and electronic brake lights went off, along with the service transmission light.. slammed into park and reverse. Whole transmission was replaced.

- Howell, MI, USA

problem #58

Apr 072020

Renegade

  • 61,600 miles
I was driving when this incident happens on a highway or when I drive in the city. When I go to accelerate usually it happens when my vehicle is going slow for example at a yield sign or at a rotary. I will then press the accelerator and it feels like the transmission is slipping and more times than I'd like to remember someone has almost hit me because they were anticipating me proceeding but when I step on the gas it feels like the transmission slips and I don't go anywhere except I just keep rolling very slowly. I've even floored the gas pedal when this has happened to avoid collision and still my vehicle would not accelerate!! after a few seconds it feels like something is catching or kicking in and the Jeep will kind of jerk and then I will be able to use the accelerator pedal again because it works again! I have a 2016 Jeep Renegade.

- Revere, MA, USA

problem #57

Apr 012020

Renegade

  • 87,000 miles
While driving, there is a clunk sound when the engine tries to switch gears. Also, the brake lights, turn signal lights, etc have a warning light that flashes saying the lights are out even when the lights are still working. I also had to replace he cooling fan in May 2018 due to my vehicle stopping, wouldn't drive, wouldn't start.

- Upton, KY, USA

problem #56

Mar 092020

Renegade

  • 52,000 miles
The vehicle jerks at take off and periodically when accelerating. Yesterday, while taking off from a red light, the car wouldn't move. Had to shift to park and back to drive. Car has 52000 miles on it.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #55

Jan 152019

Renegade 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,030 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated that while driving at 20 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that the failure recurred while attempting to move from a stop where the vehicle failed to respond when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to larry H. miller Chrysler Jeep tucson 7800 E 22nd St, tucson, AZ 85710, to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission control module needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired in year 2015 under NHTSA campaign number: 16V529000 (power train) however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer on three separate occasions and repaired under a manufacturer extended warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 29,030.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #54

Mar 312019

Renegade

  • 47,243 miles
The contact's father owns a 2016 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated that vehicle shifted into neutral independently while in drive. Also, the check engine indicator illuminated intermittently. In addition, the vehicle would not crank and had difficulty starting. Furthermore, some electrical failures were experienced, including all the windows remained in the down position and would not roll up and the exterior lighting remained illuminated while in operation. The contact associated the power train failure with NHTSA campaign number: 16V529000(power train), which only pertained to the 2014 and 2015 models. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was serviced on several occasions for the various failures. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 47,243.

- Honokaa, HI, USA

problem #53

Nov 012019

Renegade

  • 65,000 miles
On two occassions while the vehicle was in drive operating on a two lane highway and remained in the drive position with the vehicle in motion the transmission indicator on the display shifted to neutral and the rpms revved without the accelerator pressed and the engine cut off. No codes or check engine lights indicated. The shifter remained in the drive position. The car had to be guided off the roadway and placed into park to be restarted. Vehicle was slow to restart both times. Both incidents occurred after entering a highway into the flow of traffic and accelerating and presented a danger to all drivers.

- Statesville, NC, USA

problem #52

Oct 232019

Renegade

  • 32,652 miles
Update to complaint # 11270456 reported on 10/23/19. I called Jeep directly to report the issue and they instructed me not to pick the car. They called dealership directly. They are aware of an "oil consumption issue" with 2016 Renegades which is related to the car stalling/going into neutral and the gear shifting issue. Since they did an oil change on 10/22/19, they want me to put 1,000 miles on the car & bring it back for an oil consumption test. Depending on the results of that test, they may have to replace the engine.

- Hamilton Square, NJ, USA

problem #51

Sep 302019

Renegade

  • 32,000 miles
While driving, warning light came up "shift vehicle to park" and car essentially goes into neutral. Once pulled over, car couldn't be restarted for a few minutes and wouldn't shift out of park. When it finally did shift, the "shift vehicle to park" warning came up again. Luckily, this happened on a local road and not a 70mph highway. Happened 2 more times when car was started and attempted to shift to D and/or R and car wouldn't shift.

- Hamilton Square, NJ, USA

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