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: engine
93 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Engine, May 6, 2019
ENGINE MIS FIRE ALSO VEHICLE WAS SOLD AS NEW TO ME AND HAD OVER 200 MILES ON IT PARTS WERE MISSING FROM ROOF ENGINE MIS FIRE CYTINDER 2 FACTORY SAYS NOT WARRANTED HOW EVER I HAVE BEEN TOILD BY DEALER WAS WARRANTED AS THE HEADS ARE MADE BY TWO DIFFERENT COMPANIES SAID REPAIR IS BACK LOGGED AND WILL TAKE AT LASE 3 WEEKS TO REPLIR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 11, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FORT COLLINS DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP (3835 S COLLEGE AVE, FORT COLLINS, CO 80525, (970) 372-0621) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,600. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Engine, Feb 21, 2019
ENGINE STALLS WHEN PUT IN FORWARD OR REVERSE ONE OR TWO TIMES IN THE MORNING
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 21, 2019
2016 JEEP WRANGLER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ALTERNATOR LEAKING. *LD *TR
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 11, 2019
ON COLD DAYS AFTER THE JEEP HAS BEEN SITTING OVERNIGHT, THE ENGINE WILL STALL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS FIRMLY PRESSED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE JEEP IS STARTED AND IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IF THE CAR IS RUNNING FOR 30 SECONDS BEFORE IT IS SHIFTED OR RUNNING FOR 3 MINUTES, THE ENGINE WILL STALL WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. IF THE BRAKE IS NOT FIRMLY PRESSED THE ENGINE WON'T STALL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THIS CAUSES THE JEEP WILL LURCH FORWARD, FOR DRIVE, OR BACKWARD, FOR REVERSE,
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jun 14, 2018
TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMING ON WHILE DRIVING 40+ MPH AND VEHICLE SEEMS TO ALMOST STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY CANNOT FIND AN ISSUE. TAKING BACK TO DEALER AGAIN FOR RE-EVALUATION.
Engine, Jan 8, 2018
CASTING SAND OR SOME OTHER FACTORY SLUDGE IN THE COOLING SYSTEM. KILLED MY HEATER CORE AND MAYBE MORE.
Engine, Jan 4, 2018
HEAD GASKETS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 25712 MILES IN JULY 2017. CURRENTLY STILL LOSING COOLANT. FCA TECH ADVISOR STATES THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. PHOTO ATTACHED IS FROM JANUARY 5,2018. I HAVE SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION TO FCA IN REGARDS TO THE ONGOING LOSS. FCA IS REQUESTING ANOTHER DEALER VISIT, THIS WOULD BE THE FOURTH SINCE THE GASKETS WERE REPLACED. CARFAX REPORT FOR EVERY VISIT IS DEPLETING THE VALUE DUE THE ALL THE RED FLAGS.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 18, 2017
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE ENGINE JUST DIED. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR IT ACTED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. I THEN SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT AND IT DROVE FINE. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY (COULD OCCUR TWICE IN ONE DAY OR NOT FOR 2 WEEKS) AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS (CITY AND HIGHWAY). I ALSO HAVE HAD RANDOM MISFIRE CODES AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CODES. SOMETIMES THE CODES CLEAR ON THEIR OWN AND I HAVE HAD TO RESET THE CODES WITH A TUNER. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND IT WILL BE AROUND A WEEK BEFORE THEY CAN LOOK AT IT, EVEN IN LIGHT OF THE DANGER FOR AN ENGINE JUST DYING.
Engine, Nov 10, 2017
AROUND 8:00 PM ON 9 NOV 2017 I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 - 65 MPH IN THE FAR LEFT LANE WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. THEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT OFF. IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON AND I HAD TO SLOWLY COAST TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE. I LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP, THE SAME WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON AND WHEN I TRIED TO PRESS DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL IT WOULD JUST MAKE A THUMPING NOISE AND WOULD ONLY MOVE A LITTLE BIT. WAITED AN HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK. IT IS CURRENTLY AT A DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 3, 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 OR DIES COMPLETLY. WHEN STARTING CAR TURN KEY TO START AND THE STARTER CONTINUES WHEN YOU LET GO OF KEY. WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN, JEEP DIES WAS ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND I HAD IT TOWED (AAA) TO JEEP SERVICE, THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND TIPM. I ATTEMPTED TO PICK UP NEXT DAY AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO START.. 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
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Jul 11, 2017
VEHICLE HAS EXHIBITED MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF RAPID ACCELERATION ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE ENGINE CONTROLLER LIGHT WILL SUDDENLY COME ON AND THE VEHICLE WILL SEEM TO LOOSE POWER. APPLYING THE BREAK TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SEEM TO HELP AS THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO ACCELERATE BACK UP TO DRIVING SPEED ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED (ALMOST LIKE WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL RENEGADES. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO THE JEEP DEALER WHERE'RE THEY RESET THE CODE SEVERAL TIMES AND RELEARNED THE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR WITH A FIRMWARE REBOOT. THIS HAS NOT FIXED THE ISSUE AND JEEP IS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AS THE VEHICLE HAS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 30-35 MPH WHEN TURNING INTO PARKING LOTS OR AWAY FROM STOP SIGNS. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN IN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE.
Engine, Feb 7, 2017
ENGINE TICKING ON LEFT SIDE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3.6 PENSTAR ENGINE. I'VE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT JEEP DEALERSHIPS AND BOTH OF THEM SAID PRETTY MUCH THAT THIS IS SOMETHING I'LL JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH. THAT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. THIS WAS OVER A 30 THOUSAND DOLLAR INVESTMENT. THIS JEEP DIDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHEN I PURCHASED IT OTHERWISE I WOULDN'THAVE BOUGHT IT. LOOKING TO THE NHTSA FOR A SOLUTION.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jun 20, 2016
2016 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED RHD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND TRACTION WENT OFF. CHECK ENGINE WENT OFF LATER THAT DAY, BUT CAME BACK ON. TRACTION WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT WOULD TURN OFF WHEN RESTARTED. NEXT DAY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CAME ON AND TWICE WHILE MOVING THE ENGINE DIED. I LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF VEHICLE, BUT WAS GOING SLOW AT THE TIME. ONCE ON A CURVE AND THE OTHER TIME WHILE TURNING. SECOND TIME WAS TOWARD A DEEP DITCH, BUT STOPPED SHORT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. QUALITY MOTORS TRIED TO FIX ONCE. WILL TAKE BACK TOMORROW WHEN THEY COULD FIT IT IN.
Power train, Engine, May 17, 2016
2016 JEEP WRANGLER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARD, ENGINE NOISES AND NO ACCELERATION WHEN GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HER HUSBAND DROVE THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. HOWEVER HE DID HAVE TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MORE THAN USUAL. TWO WEEKS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40-45 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THE RPM WAS AT 5,000 AND GOING TO 6,000. THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AND THE ENGINE WAS MAKING LOUD GRINDING NOISES. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. TWO WEEKS LATER, AS BEFORE, THE ENGINE BECAME LOUD, THE RPM WENT TO 5,000 AND FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE NUMBER 1 SURROUNDED BY A SQUARE LIT UP ON THE DASH BOARD AFTER THE LETTER D. THE VEHICLE ONLY REACHED A SPEED OF 10-15 MPH. *JB
Electrical system, Engine, May 5, 2016, fire
MY SON CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL TO GET HIS WALLET TO GO FILL UP HIS JEEP WHEN HE CAME OUT BACK OUTSIDE THE FRONT OF HIS JEEP WAS SMOKING, WHEN HE OPENED THE HOOD HE FOUND THE RADIATOR FAN ON FIRE. HE QUICKLY RAN AND GOT THE HOSE AND PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT IT CONTINUED TO SMOKE FOR ABOUT 5 MINS. THE JEEP WAS RUNNING PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY THE JEEP ONLY HAS ABOUT 4000 MILES ON IT THE AIR-CONDITIONING WAS ON. HE ONLY DROVE IT FROM SCHOOL ABOUT 1 MILE AWAY. WE HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER YET. THE FANS CURRENTLY ARE NOT WORKING THE REST OF THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE FINE. I HAVE PICTURE AND A VIDEO I CAN TRY TO UP LOAD.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 16, 2016
I HAVE A 2016 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED WITH 20,000 MILES., TODAY I WAS GOING UP A HILL STOPPED AT A MAILBOX THEN STARTED TO TAKE OFF AND THE MOTOR STALLED WHILE IN DRIVE. IT CASED ME TO ROLL BACK ABOUT 3' BEFOR I COULD HIT THE BRAKE ALMOST CAUSED A ACCIDENT. I THEN RESTARTED THE JEEP PLACED IT BACK IN DRIVE AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE! IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I ALSO TRIED REVERSE STILL WOULDN'T DO NOTHING. SO I ROLLED TO A FLAT SPOT IN THE ROAD CHECK THE TRANS FLUID, IT WAS GOOD THEN TURNED IT OF CHECKED THE OIL, IT WAS GOOD TO. THEN STARTED IT BACK UP AND PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT WAS WORKING FINE AGAIN!
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 16, 2016
I HAVE A 2016 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED WITH 20,000 MILES., TODAY I WAS GOING UP A HILL STOPPED AT A MAILBOX THEN STARTED TO TAKE OFF AND THE MOTOR STALLED WHILE IN DRIVE. IT CASED ME TO ROLL BACK ABOUT 3' BEFOR I COULD HIT THE BRAKE ALMOST CAUSED A ACCIDENT. I THEN RESTARTED THE JEEP PLACED IT BACK IN DRIVE AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE! IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I ALSO TRIED REVERSE STILL WOULDN'T DO NOTHING. SO I ROLLED TO A FLAT SPOT IN THE ROAD CHECK THE TRANS FLUID, IT WAS GOOD THEN TURNED IT OF CHECKED THE OIL, IT WAS GOOD TO. THEN STARTED IT BACK UP AND PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT WAS WORKING FINE AGAIN!