repaired · 2025 Q4
Wiring: rear compartment/trunk
Park outsideRisk. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
2016 Jeep CherokeeProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,415 owner complaints about the 2016 Jeep Cherokee, most often about the power train. It is covered by 9 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-338 the manufacturer reports only 40% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 5, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Jeep Cherokee has problems
1,415 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
638Power train13 crash/fire/injury
315Engine6 crash/fire/injury
298Electrical system7 crash/fire/injury
92Service brakes
76Vehicle speed control
54Steering
44Fuel/propulsion system
33Structure
31Air bags
16619 other systems11 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 638 | 13 |
| Engine | 315 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 298 | 7 |
| Service brakes | 92 | 5 |
| Vehicle speed control | 76 | 5 |
| Steering | 54 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 44 | 2 |
| Structure | 33 | 6 |
| Air bags | 31 | 16 |
| 19 other systems | 166 | 11 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
9 recalls
2016 Jeep Cherokee recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2025 Q1
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2022 Q2
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. A loss of drive can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning.
repaired · 2019 Q4
Electrical system: software
Risk. If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Show 5 more recalls
repaired · 2019 Q2
Equipment
Risk. If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
repaired · 2018 Q1
Seats
Risk. Loose fasteners may allow the seats to move, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupants in the event of a crash.
repaired · 2017 Q3
Axle assembly: axle shaft
Risk. A fractured halfshaft may disconnect from the drive axle, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2017 Q3
Axle assembly: axle shaft
Risk. A fractured halfshaft may disconnect from the drive axle, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2017 Q2
Wiring: rear compartment/trunk
Risk. A short circuit in the module increases the risk of a fire.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Jeep.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
49kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 372 power train complaints. 89% were reported before 100,000 miles.
108under 30k miles332under 100k miles40100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
45 owners mentioned a cost$3,300median
Middle half: $2,400 – $4,000
Electrical system
9 owners mentioned a cost$600median
Middle half: $300 – $866
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other Cherokee year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cherokee median. How we score
'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'06'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2016 Jeep Cherokee safety ratings
2016 Jeep Cherokee SUV 2WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 Jeep Cherokee, and the recalls they led to.
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
- Electronic Parking Brake Water IngressNo recall
In owners' words
What Cherokee owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The Power Transfer Unit (PTU) failed on my 2016 Jeep Cherokee at 126,000 miles, throwing code C14A7-97 and causing a sudden, dangerous loss of 4WD drivetrain engagement. A certified Jeep dealer confirmed the mechanical failure (Repair Order 8051781) but stated my VIN is excluded from Safety Recalls…
My jeep stalled while attempting to accelerate from a stopped position at a stop light at a busy intersection on or around June/July 2026. The car remained on, the gear shifts were moveable, but the vehicle would not move despite pressing on the gas. I scheduled a tow. After ten minutes, it…
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on a slight incline, the vehicle started moving. The contact depressed the brake pedal and became aware that the 4WD warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into…
Own a 2016 Cherokee?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.