2016 Jeep Wrangler
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Service brakes is the leading concern among 460 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 26 Wrangler model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 28 involved a crash and 15 involved a fire. 38 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, driver clockspring/spiral cassetteMar 14, 2024
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) (Stellantis) is recalling certain right hand drive 2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Debris contamination may cause the clockspring to fail, preventing the driver's air bag from deploying in a crash.
An air bag that does not deploy in a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the clockspring, steering wheel back cover, and steering column shrouds, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 27B.
Campaign 24V196000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, front, anchorageSep 26, 2019
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2018 Jeep Wrangler right hand drive vehicles. The driver's seat belt buckle mounting strap may fracture and separate from the seat frame.
A separated or severed seat belt buckle strap will result in an inoperable seat belt, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt buckle, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed November 19, 2019. Owners will received a second letter and the recall began March 26, 2020. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is VA6.
Campaign 19V680000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleDo not drive until repairedJan 15, 2019
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 4, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V01.
Campaign 19V018000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, sensor/control module-inactiveOct 13, 2016
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured June 16, 2015, to August 14, 2016. In certain crash conditions, the front impact sensor wiring may be pulled until it detaches before a signal can be received by the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC).
If the ORC module does not receive a signal from the front impact sensor, both frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the front impact sensor wiring and relocate the impact sensor branch, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S76.
Campaign 16V734000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleMay 11, 2016
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Right Hand Drive Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to May 2, 2016. The clockspring assembly may become contaminated with dust and cause the air bag circuit to fail.
Failure of the air bag circuit may prevent the driver's frontal air bag from deploying in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clockspring, wheel back cover, and column shroud, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S40.
Campaign 16V288000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
56 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Feb 28, 2022, fire
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that upon replacing the engine oil himself, he noticed that oil was leaking onto the transmission. The contact stated that there was no smell of oil burning or any smoke coming from the oil leak. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil filter housing was cracked. The dealer replaced the oil filter housing and repaired the vehicle; however, while the mechanic was test driving the vehicle, the vehicle caught on fire under the hood. There were no injuries sustained. The fire was extinguished with the assistance of the fire department. A fire department report was filed. There was no police report. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and sent an inspector who diagnosed that the fire started under the hood. The contact stated that he believed the fire started out as an electrical fire. The manufacturer advised the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under warranty; and that the repair would be at his own expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 65,700.
Electrical system, Air bags, Seat belts, Oct 20, 2021
My 2016 Jeep Wrangler with 53,000 miles on had the airbag light come on and when I went to have it checked it was due to a Occupant restraint control module malfunction. I was told this might not allow the airbags to deploy and that it could even deploy spontaneously. I have seem all kinds of recalls across the years for OCR related items(especially from FCA/Chrysler) https://www.automotiveworld.com/news-releases/chrysler-statement-occupant-restraint-control-orc-module/ You can inspect if you would like. Dealer noted the ORC was malfunctioning.
Electrical system, Air bags, May 18, 2021
AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING HAS BEEN RECALLED PREVIOUSLY ON THIS VEHICLE AND WAS REPLACED , BUT SAME ISSUE HAS OCCURED AGAIN, WITH AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON AND NO HORN OR STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS. VEHICLE IS ONLY A 2016 AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS REOCCURING ISSUE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 12, 2021
COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ON HIGHWAY MULTIPLE TIMES. EVERY LIGHT ON DASH FLASHES AND HEADLIGHTS FLICKER
Electrical system, Service brakes, Nov 9, 2020
THE JEEP WRANGLER HAS 37K MILES AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BREAK CALIBER LOCKED UP. WHEN THIS FIRST OCCURRED/IDENTIFIED THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 70 MPH. WHEN BREAKING THE JEEP MADE A STRONG PULL TO THE RIGHT ALMOST SENDING THE VEHICLE OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD..
Electrical system, Oct 7, 2020
HORN SOUNDS ONLY AFTER A VERY FORCEFUL/PURPOSEFUL PUSH ON THE STEERING WHEEL HORN PAD AND THEN ONLY AFTER A MOMENTARY DELAY (I SUPPOSE AFTER "RELAYS" ARE ACTIVATED). ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS NO OPTION FOR A LIGHT, FRIENDLY "BEEP" (FOR INSTANCE TO SAY "HELLO" TO A NEIGHBOR OR AWAKEN ANOTHER DRIVER SITTING AT A LIGHT AFTER IT'S TURNED GREEN).
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Sep 20, 2020
CLOCKSPRING IS CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO STAY ILLUMINATED. CLOCKSPRING CONTROLS TURN SIGNAL, FLASHERS, DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS, ETC. IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT EVEN DEPLOY. THAT IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE TO ME AND SHOULD BE FOR ALL DRIVERS.
Electrical system, Air bags, Aug 14, 2020
AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON AND OFF SUDDENLY WITHOUT REASON AFTER STARTING THE CAR. NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STEADY ON. MECHANIC RAN FAULT CODES AND RECEIVED ABOUT 15 FAULT CODES ON COMPUTER RELATED TO AIRBAG SYSTEM AND SRS. APPEARS TO BE SOME SORT OF MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Jul 9, 2020
2016 JEEP WRANGLER 4X4 EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE WIPERS STAY ON AT ALL TIMES, WIPER SWITCH DOES NOT WORK. LIGHTS STAY ON AT ALL TIMES, SWITCH DOES NOT WORK. HORN DOES NOT WORK. BLINKERS DO NO WORK. HIGH/LOW BEAM ALSO INOPERABLE. DASH LIGHTS EXTREMELY LOW, CAN BARELY SEE THEM AND WE ARE 35 YR OLD OWNERS WITH GOOD 20/25 VISION. FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS OR MECHANICAL TERMS, HAVING A VEHICLE WITH THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE IS LIKE DRIVING SOMETHING POSSESSED. TIPM ON THIS VEHICLES ARE KNOWN TO BE FAULTY AND FCA HAS AGREED TO RECALL CERTAIN VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN ISSUED CAME TO LIGHT.
Electrical system, Air bags, May 20, 2020
WHILE SITTING STILL I STARTED MY JEEP AND ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, THE FIRST FEW HOURS IT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY, NOW IT'S ON ALL OF THE TIME. WHEN I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRING WHICH COSTS $410 FOR THE PART ALONE AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY ARE ON BACK ORDER WHICH TELLS ME THERE MUST BE A LOT OF JEEPS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I ASKED THEM IF THAT MEANT MY AIRBAG MAY DEPLOY AT ANY TIME SHE SAID NO QUITE THE OPPOSITE IT MEANT IT WOULD NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. I AM A MAIL CARRIER AND HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER 2016 RHD JEEP OWNERS AND THEY HAD RECALLS TO REPAIR THEIRS BUT MINE DIDN'T MAKE THE RECALL LIST. MY JEEP IS MY LIVELIHOOD, NOW I HAVE TO WORRY THAT IF I'M INVOLVED IN A COLLISION I'M AT A MUCH HIGHER RISK FOR INJURY OR FATALITY. *TR
Electrical system, May 2, 2020
THE WHEEL SPEED SENSORS ARE NOTORIOUS TO GIVE OUT IN THESE VEHICLES. EVEN AT LOW MILEAGE. THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON LIMITING PERFORMANCE AND CAUSING ISSUES REQUIRING IMMEDIATE SERVICE. THEIR ARE MANY JEEP OWNERS I HAVE ENCOUNTERED WITH THIS ISSUE AND IT CAN BE EITHER LOCATION OR INAPPROPRIATE GUARD TO COVER WIRING. JEEP STATES IT IS PART OF MAINTENANCE BUT A SIMPLE PLASTIC COVER WOULD ALLEVIATE A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT MAY BE ASSOCIATED TO DEBRI OR CAUSING FAULTY.
Electrical system, Air bags, May 1, 2020
THE VEHICLES AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL NOW FAIL TO WORK. LOOKED ONLINE FOUND IT IS THE CLOCK SPRING. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. DEALER QUOTE TO FIX THIS ISSUE IS 679.00
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 27, 2020
PCM REPROGRAMMED WITH ONLY 3,556
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Jan 7, 2020
THE FIRST INCIDENCE, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES SEIZED WHILE DRIVING ON A DRY EVENING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 25MPH CAUSING THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME TO NEARLY COLLIDE AND FORCING US BOTH OFF THE ROAD. I HAD IT LOOKED AT BH A MECHANIC AND HE FOUND NOTHING SO SAID TO BRING IT BACK NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS. THE VEHICLE WAS FINE FOR A WEEK AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN FROM THE DRIVEWAY. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES ON THE ROAD NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND SEVERAL OTHER TIMES FORCING DRIVERS BEHIND ME TO PASS. I FIND IT HAPPENS IN THE FIRST MILE OR 2 AFTER STARTING A DRIVE AND THEN IS OK. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SUGGESTED REPLACE ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL MODULES ASSOCIATED WITH BRAKES AND REPLACE THE BRAKES AND PADS SINCE THE SEIZING OF THE ABS HAS CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR OF THE BRAKES. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS BUT CANNOT AFFORD $1300 REPAIR ESPECIALLY IF IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER SAFETY RECALL.
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 31, 2019
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IN STATIONARY PARKING LOT, LIGHTS FLASHED. I SHUT IGNITION DOWN AND TOOK KEY OUT AND ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, OVERHEATED, BEGAN SMOKING, AND ANTIFREEZE SPILLED ON GROUND. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN UNTIL BATTERY WAS FULLY DISCONNECTED BY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 22, 2019
ENGINE QUITS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, CREATING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. ONCE I PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER OF ROAD, IT WOULD RESTART ONLY TO PRODUCE THE SAME RESULT SEVERAL MINUTES LATER WHILE DRIVING. SUSPECTED FAULT IN CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, OR CORROSION IN ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO SUCH. THIS IS THE SECOND JEEP THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED ON, VERY DANGEROUS TO OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS DOWN THE HIGHWAY
Electrical system, Jul 17, 2019, fire
AFTER TURNING INTO A LARGE PARKING LOT FROM A CITY STREET WHILE STILL DRIVING THE 2016 JEEP WRANGLER JKU SPORT'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED ABRUPTLY BY THE ENGINE QUITTING AND NUMEROUS DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATING. THE NOW DEAD VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY COASTED TO A STOP AS SMOKE STARTING BILLOWING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS QUICKLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THIS JEEP WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW 3 YEARS AND 3 WEEKS AGO AND HAD LESS THAN 16,000 MILES ON IT. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE BATTERY ABRUPTLY DIED AND WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE. AFTER A NEW TOP-OF-THE-LINE BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, THE DASH RED SECURITY LIGHT WOULD FLASH CONSTANTLY WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. JUST ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE JEEP WAS SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP TO ACCOMPLISH TWO SAFETY RECALL ITEMS RELATED TO AN AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS AND AIRBAG MODULE. THE JEEP'S WIRELESS CONTROL MODULE (WCM) WAS DIAGNOSED TO HAVE AN INTERNAL FAILURE BUT WAS NOT REPLACED AT THAT TIME DUE TO A WARRANTY DISPUTE AND ALSO AVAILABILITY OF THE MODULE. PRIOR TO THE BATTERY FAILURE, WHICH WAS JUST 1 WEEK BEYOND THE 3-YEAR WARRANTY DATE, THIS 2016 JEEP WRANGLER WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND HAD ZERO MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY SERVICING OUTSIDE OF ROUTINE OIL CHANGES AND SERVICE CHECKS. THE FIRE STARTED QUICKLY AND BURNED EXTREMELY HOT BURNING THROUGH THE FIREWALL AND INTO THE CABIN IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. FORTUNATELY THE OCCUPANT WAS ABLE TO EGRESS WITHOUT INJURY. THIS JEEP, WITH LESS THAN 16,000 MILES, IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE HOTSPOT ON THE HOOD APPEARS TO BE AROUND THE LOCATION OF THE FUSE BOX. ATTEMPTS TO EXTINGUISH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WITH A PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER WERE FUTILE.*DT *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 21, 2019
2016 JEEP WRANGLER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ALTERNATOR LEAKING. *LD *TR
Electrical system, Feb 17, 2019
RADIO OVER HEATING - FAN NOT SPINNING. RADIO WILL NOT WORK MORE THEN 45 SECONDS, MAKES A POPPING NOISE
Electrical system, Service brakes, Jan 4, 2019
MY ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF PLUS THE HILL DESCENT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING RANDOMLY THEN THE DESCENT CONTROL STARTS. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE BRAKES START SURGING ON AND OFF AND THE ENGINE WANT TO CUT OFF OR STOP FUEL. THEN THE LIGHTS GO OFF NO CODES TO CHECK THEN AND EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT. THE FUEL CUTTING OFF AND THE BRAKES SURGING WAS FROM A STOP ON A SIDE STREET
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 15, 2018
LEAKING TO THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR PANEL. THE LEAK IS SO BAD I'M WORRIED ABOUT ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IT WAS A LEGIT PUDDLE OF WATER. I'M ALSO WORRIED ABOUT ABOUT BEING ELECTROCUTED,
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Jul 26, 2018
SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CHEMICAL, THE CRUDE CONTROL WILL WORK RITE ALONG FOR A FEW WEEKS, THEN ONE DAY IT WON'T TURN ON AND I WILL HAVE TO PUSH THE BUTTON OVER 20 TIMES TO GET IT TO WORK. THE CHEMICAL WAS IN MOTION WHILE TRYING TO DO THIS ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO RECENTLY THE STERIO WILL NO LONGER CONNECT TO BLUETOOTH. BLUETOOTH WILL NOT WORK WILL DRIVING OR STATIONARY.
Electrical system, Oct 16, 2017
ENGINE DIES WHEN DRIVING. WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON TPM LIGHT COMES ON THEN ENGINE DIES. SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING THE WIPERS COME ON, TPM LIGHT, THEN CAR SLOWES BUT RECOVERS. WHEN STARTING CAR TURN KEY TO START AND THE STARTER CONTINUES WHEN YOU LET GO OF KEY. HAVE APPT WITH JEEP, THEY SAY THEY MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FIX IF THEY CAN REPRODUCE. DTC CODESU0127 LOST COMM WITH THE TIRE PRESS MONITOR MOD. DTC B2305, WIPER PARK SWITCH INPUT CIRCUIT HIGH (STUCK HIGH). HAPPENS WHEN FIRST STARTING, ON BACK ROADS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. BEEN HAPPENING FOR 3 MONTHS BUT GETTING WORSE
Seats, Electrical system, Oct 4, 2017
2016 JEEP WRANGLER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNSAFE DESIGN FEATURES IN VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE NOT ILLUMINATED WELL ENOUGH. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO READ THE SPEED DURING MANY DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE HEADREST OBSCURE THE REAR VIEW DUE TO IT'S SIZE. UPDATED 10/4/2017*JS
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 25, 2017, fire
MY 2016 JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON WAS ORDERED AND PURCHASED ON 8/18/2016 AND ORDERED STRAIGHT FROM THE CHRSYLER PLANT THROUGH LEITH JEEP DEALERSHIP IN RALEIGH, NC. WHILE TRANSPORTING MY DAUGHTER FROM A DR. APPOINTMENT THE JEEP CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE TRAVELING ON AVIATION PARKWAY IN RALEIGH, NC ON 9/8/2017 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:45AM. THE JEEP SUDDENLY HAD SMOKE COMING INTO THE MAIN CABIN FROM THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE GLOVE BOX AREA. I QUICKLY PULLED THE JEEP TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND REMOVED THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION HOPING THE SMOKE WOULD STOP. AS I TOOK THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DASH WAS MELTING AT MY DAUGTHERS FEET AND FLAMES WERE COMING INTO THE CAR AND UNDER THE HOOD FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE QUICKJLY EXITED THE JEEP AND CALLED 911. BY THE TIME WE GOT 10 FEET AWAY THE CAR BECAME ENGULPED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. WE KNOW THE FIRE STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AROUND THE MAIN WIRING UNIT DUE TO WHERE THE SMOKE STARTED. THE FIRE DEPT ALSO STATED THAT THE ORIGIN WAS NOTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE MORE SEVERE BURN PATTERN TO THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE JEEP COMPARED TO THE LEFT SIDE. ALL SERVICE WAS COMPLETED BY OUR CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS NOTED. THERE WAS 1 RECALL (FRONT IMPACT SENSOR) ON MY VIN # AND THE DEALERSHIP COMPLETED THE REQUIRED WORK. PLEASE SEE ALL SERVICE RECORDS ATTACHED.