NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
Brakes repetitively seize, causing the wheels to overheat and the vehicle to shake while braking, putting the vehicle at risk of fire, reduced brake performance, and brake failure. Two different dealerships have confirmed from the problem at various points, the brakes are "repaired" and then have the same failure with the same components again. There are no warnings that the brakes are seizing other than the smell of burning brakes, or smoke coming from the wheel.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle suddenly jolted, lost power, and went into LIMP Mode, almost causing a rear-end crash. The message "Service Electronic Throttle Control" was displayed. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder and inspected, but no cause was immediately determined. The vehicle was driven to the residence in LIMP Mode. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where codes associated with the crankshaft position sensor and intake manifold runner were retrieved, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V475000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 256,000.
I hit a deer at 65 mph, causing significant damage to my vehicle, 7,300 to the front end. I have a safety beacon that detected the accident through my insurance, that detected the severity of the impact, resulting in an immediate call for safety to check on me. My airbags did not deploy, but there was a nasty aroma of sulfur during the impact. My minor children were secured safely in the vehicle, as well as myself. I, the driver of the car hit my head very hard on the steering wheel and window during impact, causing whiplash- neck pain, and reoccurring migraines still to this day 3-21-2026. Although I didn't receive medical attention it has been made known that I hit my head. This would've been avoided had my airbags deployed. I assume there may have been a malfunction and had this been a more serious incident, not only would my life be at stake, but most importantly my children. This is unacceptable for safety purposes.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the transmission remained stuck in first gear. The contact shifted to neutral(N) and shifted back to drive(D), and the vehicle responded as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 151,755.
Received a warning light and vehicle decelerated with a loss of power. After researching the issue it was determined that it was the crankshaft sensor that had become delaminated. Of which there is a current recall that would not be honored by FCA
Tone wheel failure resulting in vehicle not operating as intended. Required repair of which FCA stated the repair was not covered by the recall issued against the vehicle.
265/50R20 Cooper Evolution H/T, all 4 tires have cracks all the way around each tire, possibly sidewall defects. Tires were purchased new from Bob’s tire in Attalla, Alabama.
The transmission on this 2016 grand jeep Cherokee had completely went out due to fluids being in the transmission. Which is causing a head gasket problem as well. This car was regularly serviced. Only had this vehicle 7-8 months. My safety was put at risk when I was driving my kids to school and on my way to work when it started to overheat causing me to pull over and not being able to drive this vehicle. This jeep is currently at an authorized dealer and has been diagnosed. There were absolutely NO warning signs whatsoever to indicate that this vehicle was going to go out on me. I don’t think it’s fair for me to have to give up my vehicle for something that I did not cause!
Headlights will completely go out at night just at random, sometimes it's only one and sometimes it both completely. Yet the High beams and fog lights will work when activated even when the regular lights will not. Has been an ongoing issue for a while now, and upon talking to other Jeep Grand Cherokee owners of around the same year model they complain that there's do it randomly as well, and I've seen a lot of forums talking about this issue.
This 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee was hit in the left front by a vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign. It also spun and was impacted on the left rear as well. All airbags but the driver’s side curtain airbag deployed. The driver hit their head on the seat belt pillar on the driver’s side. I have contacted Jeep but they have not responded to me in over a week. Injury to the driver’s head would have been less traumatic if this airbag had deployed.
Oil filler neck leaking and possible due to a blown motor
The contact's son owns a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While the owner was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was informed that the vehicle had been running rough and idling roughly prior to the warning light becoming illuminated. The owner had taken the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer retrieved DTC: P0303 (Misfire in Cylinder #3). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 129,045.
Car not going out of park. Seems to be stuck in gear. Code P1DAB
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while in park(Park) and attempting to shift to drive(D), the transmission failed to shift to the desired position. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a handheld diagnostic machine was used to retrieve DTC: P1DB8 and P1DB8-00. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 155,347.
Passenger front seat headrest deployed while parked, no collision or accident, was parked in my driveway.
Transmission will "buck" unexpectedly when slowing to a stop. This causes a violent and unpredictable lunge forward. This has been reported and inspected by the dealer multiple times with the assessment just being "that's an 8 speed transmission for ya". There is no warning of it happening, nor is an event stored within the vehicle ECU.
I was stuck in traffic as a result of a road being closed while they cleared another incident. Creeping along, the Jeep with it's engine pause shutting down until I removed my foot off the gas and then engaging so I could move forward a foot or two. Keeping in mind this feature has been throwing errors and I've taken it to the shop twice in the last 6 months with no results, and another appointment scheduled within a few days of the accident. Car in front of me moved forward, I took my foot off the gas, and the self start struggled, and then burst into life at a full throttle. I stomped on my break and tried to steer away, but nicked the corner of the car in front of me, and tangled with their bike rack. But slowed enough there were no air bags deployed. But still, this has become MY fault because of some faulty feature in a car and I get to pay an increase in premiums despite 25 years of no accidents. Is it going to take people getting hurt before this feature can be fixed or at least disabled as a default?
The gear selector assembly (shifter indicator) failed in accordance with current recall S28 for 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokees. The lights stopped illuminating suggesting corruption/inability to flash repair and the "Service Shifter" warning message appeared on the dash. The dealer indicated the vehicle is immediately unsafe for operation stating that the PRNDM indicator operates important features beyond just illumination of the PRNDM display such as driving signals, lights including reverse lights, backup camera, etc and that the vehicle is not currently recognizing all gears. Jeep dealer indicated this is a common failure and indicative of S28 recall but could not provide reasoning why vehicle was not included in the notice.
From one day to the next the engine is blown. Mechanic says the engine was hot for a while but no light or notices came up until the day of the major issue. I had jsut taken it to get new headlights and tires rotated and no mention of anything off. From oen day to thenext it overheated. I see similar RECALLS on the SAME EXACT JEEP. Make model and year.
Tires: Pirelli 285/40R22. Tires failed: Front passenger + Both -Driver/Passenger tires. Failures did not occur concurrently. I am writing to report significant issues with the Pirelli tires on my vehicle, raising serious safety concerns. (Usage, two tires - 11 months / 1 tire - 4 months) Firstly, the front passenger tire has developed noticeable bumps on the sidewall near the rim. Notably, these tires have never encountered foreign objects or rough terrain that could have caused this damage. The bulges indicate potential internal damage, compromising the tire's structural integrity and posing a risk while driving. Additionally, the passenger rear tire suffered a catastrophic blowout at 65 mph on Interstate 75. Examination revealed a 10-inch strip had detached from the tire's inner layer. This sudden failure occurred without warning and could have resulted in a severe loss of control, endangering my safety and that of other road users. Similarly, the driver rear tire also blew out at 65 mph on Interstate 10 due to a failed section measuring approximately 6 inches along the contact area. These incidents raise critical concerns about the reliability of these tires, especially at highway speeds. Following these events, my technicians inspected the vehicle and found no other underlying issues, raising further questions about the quality and durability of these tires. I urge you to investigate thoroughly to prevent risks for other customers relying on your products. Thank you for your attention to this issue.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, or at a complete stop, the vehicle was shuddering with the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact used a code reader and retrieved a DTC for a stuck intake valve in the high lift position. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to a local dealer to have the vehicle diagnosed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
While driving then it just shuts off
The 2011-2021 Jeep WK2 Grand Cherokees all have a safety issue when driven in colder climates in snowy, or icy conditions. Where the wipers are parked on the windshield is below the level of the dashboard, so any heat that is produced by the windshield defroster does not warm the glass where the wipers are parked. This leads to the wipers freezing to the windshield, and cannot be operated to clear the windshield. I don't know why this hasn't been a recall issue in the past, as it effects every WK2 in those years. The solution would be to remove the windshield, and add a heating element to the inside of the glass, similar to the rear window, which happens to have a heating element underneath the rear wiper. There are other vehicles that do have heating elements under the front wipers, namely the Jeep KL Cherokee models. So, FCA knew this was a problem, and decided to ignore it, as they have done many other issues.
During a routine trip, in a suburban area, on a cold winter morning my 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo was running rough and losing power as soon as I started it. The engine light came on and we immediately stopped driving and had it towed for repairs. The Dealer diagnosed the problem by observing that the front of the engine rose up when the gas pedal was pressed, and the engine was loose. We are concerned this failure could have resulted in engine falling out of the car, which could have caused a catastrophic accident, fire from the loss of fuel, and loss of life or serious injuries. The engine mounts failed at about 76,101 miles. This did not result in an accident or damage This problem was diagnosed and repaired by the Stafford, Chrysler Jeep Rambler Dealer (the Dealer) at 121A West Stafford Rd, Stafford Springs CT who can be reached at 860-684-8877. The Dealer stated that it was unusual for the engine mounts to fail at such a low mileage unless there was an accident or heavy usage (we do not know of any such issues). We bought the car the certified used from Bolles Motors (the previous owner of the Dealer) with 46,370 miles. The Carfax showed regular maintenance and did show any accidents. We drove only the car 29,731 miles before the engine mounts failed. A copy of the receipt and photos of the engine mounts are attached.
Vehicle will stall while driving. Has happened 15+ times when trying to accelerate from a stop light, twice while driving at 45+ mph. Engine will stall and the dash will say "Shift to park to continue driving." Vehicle must be shifted in to park, and then the start button must be pressed to restart the engine and continue driving.
The DPF exhaust flange bolts broke, causing exhaust gasses to leak from joint into cabin. Known issue with eco diesel vehicles.
On October 26, 2024, I stopped at a gas station to pick up a few items, turning my vehicle off before going inside. When I returned about five minutes later, the vehicle wouldn’t start. The fuel pump module wasn’t supplying fuel to the high-pressure pump. Since it wouldn’t start, I left it at the station overnight. The next afternoon, after about an hour of attempts, the fuel pump module finally engaged, and the vehicle started, running normally. This issue had actually occurred once before, about a year ago, while I was pulling out into traffic. At that time, the vehicle stalled, and I had to push it out of traffic and into a nearby parking lot. The fuel pump module was also silent then, indicating it wasn’t functioning. Fortunately, after around five minutes, I was able to restart the vehicle without further issues. The vehicle hasn’t exhibited this issue since—until last night. If you research this problem online, it seems there are other reports of similar incidents with Jeep Grand Cherokees and Ram 1500 models equipped with the EcoDiesel engin
Rocker arm failure on 3.6 liter engine. This issue had been reported by many Grand Cherokee owners over multiple years. This is an expensive fix greater than 1000 dollars and should be supported or recalled due to manufacturer error.
2016 Grand Cherokee with 3.0L Ecodiesel and the engine failed at 43K mileage. The engine failed while driving on the highway. This could cause an accident and serious safety concern. Ecodiesel had similar failures for different drivers. The engine fails without any previous warnings. The dealer found big metal shaving in the oil pan, possibly due to the rod bearing failure. Currently the engine needs to be replaced
I have attempted to have recall Z46 performed by several Jeep dealerships and have been unsuccessful at getting the work done or even any estimate when it might be done. I complained to Jeep online advocate and was told there was a “huge” backlog and they would not commit to any repair date. The vehicle is dangerous to drive as the fuel pump may fail and subject the occupants to unnecessary risk of injury or death.
Passive head rest deployed while sitting idle in drivers seat! Slamming into the side of my head! Causing a mild concussion! Took it into dealership and they replaced saying it didn’t have a recall! That only replaced if it failed! We wanted to have passenger side replaced also!
The shifter failed. It won’t come out of park.
I was involved in a car crash accident on the freeway, I was hit by a Ford Raptor truck from the back (left side) and pushed against the median barrier (center division) bounced back and spun twice and while spinning I hit another vehicle. Through all this I had three impacts, but when I hit the center divider I bumped my head on the left side and while spinning I heard the sound of gas (and felt air also coming into the car on the side of my head) but the side airbags never deployed. I suffered a head concussion and neck injury due to whiplash and bumping my head. I called the Jeep Company and claimed about the side/curtains airbags not deploying, they said they will send someone to check the car and investigate, they also made me sign the order authorizing them to check the car and after doing the investigation they sent me a letter with a vague explanation and no copy of the report that supports it. This needs further investigation, Jeep is not being cleared about this.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the headlights failed to illuminate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact became aware of an oil leak coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was discovered that oil had leaked into the coolant tank. The dealer was then notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled to have the vehicle inspected. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall on the VIN related to the failure. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle and attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was sputtering and hesitating while being started. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle had been towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump and the electrical wiring system had failed. The contact was informed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and it was confirmed the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 30,000.
The paint on my hood has bubbling underneath. I’m not sure but someone informed me this was a manufacture related incident when the vehicle was painted and not done correctly, causing paint bubbling. This is only on the front hood area on both side of jeep emblem
I have a problem with my air system no air when i turn it on and when i turn the heat on its cold
There are issues with the leather dashboard wrinkling, delaminating, and bubbling. I contacted Jeep (case #91040374) after the dealership refused to fix the dashboard. This situation has worsened and requires a new dashboard ($3500) to repair the issue.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Engine oil filter housing cracked and there was excessive and continuous oil leakage. Research on the internet shows this is a common problem as the part is made of plastic and destroyed by heat. If not fixed, the car could overheat, the engine fail, and the car stop during use at high speeds. Problem was inspected, confirmed, and part replaced with metal part at Rad Rides in Buffalo WY. Problem first appeared as oil leaking under car about 2 weeks ago.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the contact was unable to shift the vehicle out of 4WD-Low. The vehicle hesitated while attempting to accelerate. The 4WD warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty transfer case and transfer case control module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000. The contact stated simple 1, 2, or 3 tire change throws your transfer case off and it becomes bad. It needs to be replaced at the cost of over $4,000.00.
Jeep turns off while driving and makes me put it into park to turn it back on and into drive again. Lights flicker from dim to bright inside and outside. I have changed both batteries and the alternator.
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee started to have rough idle when stopped at light or parked. Turns out the VVT Solenoid (Front #2 cylinder) went bad. Poor design by Jeep/Chrysler that could cause a safety concern and even internal damage to engine. The VVT Solenoid from (Hawk Chrysler Jeep in Forest Park, IL) cost $143.00 w/o tax part #5047897AC. Part and vehicle is available for inspection at anytime. My incident occurred on Oct 1, 2023 in the middle of intersection making a left turn when I experienced rough idle. The next day the check engine light came on triggered code P0302 misfire #2 cylinder. Normal vehicle cylinder misfire would be due to bad ignition coil, plug, vacuum leak or fuel injector but not Chrysler product. That's when I noticed an abundance of Jeep Grand Cherokee owners from 2016/2017 complaining about VVT Solenoid causing misfire and rough idle. Independent repair facility confirmed VVT Solenoid was faulty and caused rough idle issue. Please open a vehicle recall for 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee for faulty VVT Solenoid to cover owners repairs and parts to resolve this poor design by manufacturer. Thanks! [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I was in a motor vehicle accident on 9/27/23 and my driver side seat belt had a retractor failure allowing me to be thrown forward and hit my chest on the steering wheel, causing chest contusion, bruising and pain. The cause of the accident was due to another vehicle losing control and hitting me head on.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the transmission failed to shift into park(P). The “Service Transmission, Set Park Brake, and Prevent Rolling” messages were displayed. Several unknown warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel immediately afterwards and then turned off independently. The parking brake symbol remained flashing with an audible alarm beeping. The contact turned off the vehicle, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the valve body had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure occurred approximately 1 year later. The vehicle was returned to the dealer who had diagnosed the vehicle with valve body failure. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V043000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer had been attempting to have the manufacturer add the VIN to the recall. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
My 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a water leak in the rear compartment area. It is leaking next to the wiring which could cause a fire or electrical short.