10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
30,551 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 Cherokee drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2016 Jeep Cherokee Owner Comments (Page 2 of 24)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #445

Oct 032018

Cherokee

  • miles

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

My Power Train Unit has failed to work properly and needs to be replaced. Several years prior to this occurring, my transmission kept skipping, jumping when I would accelerate from a stop, every time I took my vehicle to the dealership for this problem, it would not happen. They said, unless they personally witness this problem first hand, they could not repair my vehicle. My extended warranty has now expired. I believe the transmission skipping was the beginning of my PTU problem.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #444

Sep 282023

Cherokee

  • miles
I have a 2016 Jeep Cherokee with a bad driveshaft and bad PTU that-??s been recalled on most Jeep except for mine. I don-??t understand why it wouldn-??t be every Jeep included in that recall since obviously my Jeep should of been included with the PTU going out on it. It-??s definitely not safe to drive like that. My neighbor who is a certified mechanic looked at it to confirm the issue. The first warning I had that something was not right with it is the service 4 wheel drive light kept coming on and off then started making horrible noises.

- Whitehall, MI, USA

problem #443

Aug 262023

Cherokee

  • miles
PTU has failed and there is not 4wd or rear wheel drive. Dealer flashed but didn-??t replace the PTU.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #442

Aug 052023

Cherokee

  • miles

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

-The transmission will, on occasion, shift hard and even slip to the point where it stops moving. -It is available for testing and inspection. -Our safety was jeopardized when, while making a left turn in a high traffic situation, the vehicle stopped moving when attempting to change gears. The rpm climbed significantly, but the vehicle slowed to a stop and finally the transmission re-engaged and I could complete the turn and fortunately the driver of the oncoming car was able to avoid colliding with our vehicle. I have experienced this problem of the transmission not engaging on several occasions since the first time which occurred on approximately August 1st 2023. -My repair shop test drove it but couldn-??t get it to slip.No other inspections have been made. - I didn-??t see any waning lamps.

- Interlochen , MI, USA

problem #441

Jun 132023

Cherokee

  • miles
Keep makes a loud grinding noise when I turn right or left. Sounds like it-??s coming from the back & underneath. Took it to a mechanic & he checked every thing. It-??s not the brakes. He couldn-??t figure out the problem. I-??m scared to drive it. Don-??t want to have the bottom fall out; which is what it sounds like is going to happen. There are recalls that sound like what the problem is but of course they aren-??t for my car.

- Little River , SC, USA

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problem #440

Jan 282022

Cherokee

  • miles
The car has been stalling when the fuel level reaches the half point for over a year now. Now it is stalling at any time regardless of the fuel line level. Recalls completed and up to date. Informed it was a software issue. Car still performing the same after recall.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #439

Aug 162023

Cherokee

  • miles

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

The PTU has failed on my vehicle a 2016 Jeep Cherokee 75th anniversary with 61k miles. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection My vehicle no longer has 4wd or all wheel drive and is slipping and sliding all over the place now. I could get into an accident. DuPage Jeep & Merlin's have both diagnosed the jeep. From what I have read there are about 65 thousand or more Jeep Cherokees that have the same problem as me. They were under a recall. The service 4WD drive light came on and I lost all wheel drive and 4WD.

- Glendale Heights, IL, USA

problem #438

Jun 212023

Cherokee

  • miles
Transmission failed in vehicle with only 96K miles. When attempting to accelerate, car would not switch gears properly and this hinder the ability to gain speed. We had an original diagnosis that the input output sensor needed to be replaced, and after weeks and several thousand dollars, we were told that the part still failed and a whole new transmission needed to be put in.

- North Ridgeville, OH, USA

problem #437

Aug 102023

Cherokee

  • miles
4WD sensor came on. PTU bad and needs to be replaced. Feeny in Midland MI quoted $2,400 to fix. Back order is difficult due to part not being made right now they said. It has 71k miles on it.

- Midland , MI, USA

problem #436

Aug 292023

Cherokee

  • miles
Car hesitation to accelerate and jerks when driving from a start. Took it to the dealer and they couldn-??t get a code from issues. The issue happens sporadically but will be taking car back again to see if they can figure it out after next incident.

- Hazel Wood , MO, USA

problem #435

Aug 212023

Cherokee

  • miles

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

The SVC 4WD light has come on. I cannot switch to any of the 4wd modes. I do not have the locking differential or anything, just the standard PTU that comes with the Jeep Limited. When I press the brakes when switching from park to drive or reverse, there is a clicking noise in the shifter as well. I am not sure about the safety of myself or others at the moment, as this just happened. The problem has not yet been confirmed by a dealer. No body official has yet to inspect the vehicle component. The SVC 4WD light came on intermittently for about a week, and is now on permanently.

- Levittown, PA, USA

problem #434

Jul 272023

Cherokee

  • miles
I was sitting at a red light when the light turned green I hit the gas and I heard clunk truck put it on park got out to check andy car rolled backwards into a man's car then wouldn't go forward or reverse and then after awhile mechanic got there and said the right front axle came undone from the ptu some how

- San Leandro , CA, USA

problem #433

Aug 162023

Cherokee

  • miles
The service 4WD light has come on and I have no AWD or 4WD so I took my jeep to Merlins to get diagnosed. They reported back to me that code C14A7-97 PTU Motor came up. They also told me that it is a safety recall and to take it to Jeep to have repaired. I have called 4 Jeep dealers and they have all told me that I do not have any open safety recalls and it will cost between 3 to 6k to repair. I have goggled the code and my Jeep does fall within the years of the recall and they have extended the recall. Merlins gave me the screen shots of the code and the safety recall and my Jeep should be included it it. I only have 61k miles on my jeep. I want to get my Jeep added to the recall or added as an independent recall.

- Glendale Heights, IL, USA

problem #432

Jul 212023

Cherokee

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the "Shift from Park to Drive" message displayed. Additionally, the SVC warning light illuminated. The contact shutoff and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the transmission shifter was replaced. The failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #431

Aug 162023

Cherokee

  • miles
Dealer is refusing to replace a failed/noisy PTU as it does not have the mil code. Stellantis own paper work states it -??may-?? have codes. Not that it must. They have refused to replace the part under the XJ1 warranty extension.

- Windsor, CO, USA

problem #430

Jun 292023

Cherokee

  • miles
My 4X4 service light came on and I was advised by the Dealership that my Power Train Unit needs to be replaced.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #429

Aug 042023

Cherokee

  • miles
Since inception of purchasing the vehicle in January 2019, I have experienced a sudden jolt, banging sound/feeling. In the beginning the issue was subtle. In addition, I have felt a sudden loss of speed. It should be noted I did not seek any service at this time. As a side note, sometime in 2020/2021 i received a letter of a recall for fault PTU however this was for another jeep i owned no longer in my possession. This prompted me to call mopar to see if my current vin was possibly on that first recall of jeeps however i was advised it was not even though i had experienced the same issues described. Fast forward to as of recently august 2023, I received a recall letter with this current vin and proceeded to the nearest dealership for repair. I was advised the repair was a software update. As I was leaving the dealership after the update, I felt the loss of power, jolt and grinding when turning to backup with the service 4wd illuminated. I reparked and walked back inside the dealership when I was advised the repair was only a software update. In addition, I was advised a diagnostic test could be done for $175. I was advised to wait a couple of key cycles to see if the issues corrects itself. The software update has since not corrected itself and I feel as though I am at risk of an accident. This issue is getting worse with my vehicle and is a safety concern. I feel as though I am being penalized for faulty PTU which is on the manufacturer for costs to assure correction/repairs made. Thank you your time in reading this.

- Sterling Heights, MI, USA

problem #428

Mar 292023

Cherokee

  • miles
Ptu fail the second day of purchasing my car on my birthday with my 2 daughters was in the car with me a 1 year old and 2 year old the car made a big boom and stop it put it self in park. I took the car to a shop yes it was confirmed the ptu yes I took it to Jeep no they appeared after that happen

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #427

Jul 282023

Cherokee

  • miles
Vehicle had been running fine.Then coming home from work Friday came up to a yield sign went to press on gas heard a noise then car drifted to a stop wouldn't move in drive or reverse was able to drift to side of the road. Was a lot of traffic driving by wasn't able to inspect the car. Called for a tow truck they got my car on a flatbed and took vehicle to dealership were I bought vehicle. They looked at jeep next day said it needs a new transmission. I've read about a lot of people having issues with the zf 9 speed transmission. If this were to happen on a highway someone could be killed or seriously injured. Chrysler, jeep have been having problems since 2014-15 with the 9 speed transmission they were supposed to have fixed the problems in 2016 but sounds like there fix was unsuccessful. Thank you

- Wilmington, DE, USA

problem #426

Jul 142023

Cherokee

  • miles
The PTU has failed and needs to be replaced. There were no indicators of it failing, and had it gone out completely while driving it could have caused a serious crash. Dealership has evaluated it, and stated there is no recall and the part needs to be replaced for a cost of over $3,300. There is a national backorder on the part as other vehicle owners are facing the same problem. There were 2 recalls in relation to the PTU in similar models of this vehicle, but they did not address all cars made during that time frame, and the latest safety recall was a software patch and didn't actually replace the faulty part.

- Penfield, NY, USA

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