Hands On Steering Wheel Message In EVIC
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Jeep Renegade steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2015 Jeep Renegade have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 40,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Renegade (this page) | 15 |
| 2016 Renegade | 15 |
| 2017 Renegade | 17 |
| 2018 Renegade | 11 |
What stands out
Among the 5 model years of Jeep Renegade in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Vibration Felt In Steering Wheel This bulletin involves applying aluminium adhesive tape around the radiator anchoring pin. The customer may describe a vibration that is felt in the steering wheel. A vibration may be caused by clearance between the radiator anchoring pin and radiator support rubber bushing.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Vibration Felt In Steering Wheel This bulletin involves applying aluminium adhesive tape around the radiator anchoring pin. The customer may describe a vibration that is felt in the steering wheel. A vibration may be caused by clearance between the radiator anchoring pin and radiator support rubber bushing.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Vibration Felt In Steering Wheel This bulletin involves applying aluminium adhesive tape around the radiator anchoring pin. The customer may describe a vibration that is felt in the steering wheel. A vibration may be caused by clearance between the radiator anchoring pin and radiator support rubber bushing.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗JEEP RENEGADE: POWER STEERING SYSTEM WARNING LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDS REPROGRAMMING WITH LATEST SOFTWARE
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe power steering cuts out intermittently or stops completely while driving, often without warning. The steering wheel locks or becomes unresponsive, forcing drivers to pull over immediately. One owner took the car to the dealer four separate times for the same problem, spent two months in the shop, and the issue never resolved. Another reports the steering wheel jerks out of their hands every time they drive, accompanied by radio and headlight surging just before the failure.
The root cause appears electrical. One owner traced their power steering loss to an ignition switch malfunction that also causes the engine to run after the key is removed and the battery to drain overnight. Other owners report similar cascading failures: multiple dashboard warnings light up without cause, airbags disable, brakes lose pressure, and the transmission shifts into neutral all at once. One instance happened going 70 mph down a mountain; the car shut down completely with failed brakes.
Several owners report the vehicle stalls without warning on the highway and will not re-engage into gear or restart for 10+ minutes. Dealers have replaced fuel valves and updated software without lasting results. Transmission issues also include hard jerking through lower gears, stuck gears, and grinding sounds in the steering rack. One vehicle had all four tires replaced at only 28,000 miles, then displayed a tire pressure warning that persisted. Most concerning: owners say dealers cannot diagnose the underlying problem, and no recall has been issued despite the safety risk.
Same Jeep Renegade steering reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering loss / service power steering warning
Power steering cuts out intermittently or completely while driving, often triggered by electrical anomalies or system faults. Multiple owners report the steering wheel locks up or becomes unresponsive, forcing them to pull over. Some dealers replace components without resolving the issue; others cannot identify the root cause. The problem recurs even after multiple service visits.
When: At 20,000 miles; as early as 6 days after purchase; intermittently throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering cuts out while driving; Steering wheel locks or becomes unresponsive; Service power steering warning light on dashboard; Radio and headlights surge before steering failure; Takes 10+ minutes to restart vehicle after event
Codes mentioned: Dynamic power steering warning
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report repeated dealer visits (4+ times) with no resolution; some mention fuel valve replacement and transmission/electrical inspection without identifying actual cause
Ignition switch malfunction
Ignition switch failure causes cascading electrical issues: multiple warning lights illuminate without cause, engine runs after key removal, battery drains overnight, power door locks fail, and power steering cuts out. Owners cite online forums reporting other Renegade owners fixed the problem via ignition switch replacement, but no official recall exists.
When: Early in ownership; battery drain occurs overnight with new battery
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple warning lights appear (airbag, power steering, park lights, coolant, check engine); Engine continues running after key removal; Battery drains completely overnight despite new battery; Power door locks stop working via fob and manual; Power steering stops working while driving
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented in narrative; owner reports online forums indicate ignition switch replacement fixed the issue for other owners
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued
Complete electrical/system shutdown while driving (loss of brakes, transmission, steering, airbags)
Vehicle unexpectedly enters a 'lockdown' state while in motion, disabling critical systems simultaneously: transmission shifts to neutral, brakes fail, airbags deactivate, steering may lock, engine shuts off. Multiple instances suggest a cascading electrical or control module failure. Root cause traced to one owner's engine thermostat reading -40°F (false reading), triggering shutdown; other owners' causes remain unknown.
When: As early as 6 days after purchase; at 35 mph, 70 mph, at red lights; at 28,000 miles total
Symptoms owners cite: Car enters neutral unexpectedly; Brakes fail (no hydraulic pressure); Airbags turn off; Power steering fails; Engine shuts off mid-drive; Multiple warning lights flash; Vehicle unresponsive to restart for 10+ minutes
Codes mentioned: ESC (Emergency Stability Control) warning
Repairs/costs cited: One owner: thermostat sensor replaced after reading -40°F; multiple service attempts with software updates did not resolve issue for others; transmission and associated parts replacement recommended on one vehicle
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership attributed early failures to software updates; no recall issued
Transmission stalling/immobilization on highway
Engine stalls without warning while driving at highway speeds (35-70 mph), forcing vehicle to coast or be towed. Vehicle will not re-engage into gear or restart for extended periods. One occurrence immediately after fuel valve replacement. Problem recurs despite multiple repair attempts and software updates.
When: As early as 6 days and 400 miles after purchase; within 2 days of previous service repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls at highway speed without warning; Vehicle will not shift into any gear; Vehicle immobilized on roadway; Brakes may lose hydraulic assist during event; Takes 10+ minutes to restart
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel valve replaced; software updated (two updates available); transmission replacement recommended; no lasting repair achieved
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealerships unable to diagnose; Chrysler reluctant to initiate buyback; no recall issued
Transmission jerking, hard shifts, and mechanical grinding
Automatic transmission exhibits hard jerks through lower gears during acceleration and deceleration, sometimes lurching forward unexpectedly. Steering rack and pinion produces grinding or rubbing sounds when turning. One owner reports transmission slipped in lower gears, then stuck in 5th gear with severely reduced power.
When: During initial takeoff from parked position; during acceleration and deceleration; turning corners
Symptoms owners cite: Hard jerking through gears 1-3 during acceleration; Hard kicks during deceleration and stopping; Vehicle lurches forward unexpectedly while stopping; Grinding or rubbing sound in steering rack/pinion during turning; Transmission slipping in lower gears; Transmission stuck in 5th gear with no power response
Codes mentioned: Transmission light illuminated, Engine light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair documented; owner awaiting service
Electrical gremlins: unintended gear shifting, radio/light surging, loss of accessory functions
Intermittent electrical faults cause vehicle to shift gears without driver input, radio and lights to surge unexpectedly, and accessory functions to fail randomly. Power locks, windows, sunroof, and seat controls become unresponsive. Problems persist across multiple years of ownership and dealership visits.
When: Throughout ownership; some issues present for 2+ years; at 28,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shifts gears on its own without driver input; Radio and headlights surge or flicker; Power door locks fail (fob and manual); Sunroof will not open; Power seat inoperative; Power windows inoperative; Door lock button sticks; Running lights and radio remain on after key removal
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair documented for electrical gremlins; multiple service visits without resolution; one owner reports 14+ shop visits in 18 months
Four-wheel drive / stability control malfunction
While 4WD engaged in adverse weather, vehicle exhibits swerving and fishtailing despite slow speed. Emergency Stability Control (ESC) message appears on dashboard. Issue resolves after vehicle computer resets, possibly after hearing a 'growling' sound from steering system.
When: While driving in snowstorm with 4WD engaged at 20 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle swerves and fishtails at low speed (20 mph); ESC warning message on dashboard; Growling sound heard from steering area; Computer performs reset and issue clears
Codes mentioned: ESC (Emergency Stability Control)
Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed; issue self-resolved after computer reset
Tire pressure system warnings and premature tire wear
Service tire pressure system warning appears after all four tires replaced at 28,000 miles. Owner replaced tires prematurely due to wear, then warning persists despite new tires.
When: At 28,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Service tire pressure system warning on dashboard; All four tires worn out and replaced at 28,000 miles
Repairs/costs cited: All four tires replaced at 28,000 miles
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2015 Jeep Renegade?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2015 Jeep Renegade?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 17,000 and 67,000 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 17,000; a quarter make it past 67,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Jeep/Renegade.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.