Service 4wd Light On, AWD System Service Required Message Illuminated. Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) C14A7-97 PTU Motor Component Or System Operation Obstructed Or Blocked, Set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Jeep Cherokee airbags problems
severe 22 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
22
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
12crashes
11injuries
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags 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.
LATCH, Hood For the following concerns, please verify secondary plunger switch before replacing hood latch with primary switch. Please refer to service information for complete diagnostics of the secondary plunger switch which is located in the left front under hood on RU, MP, and WK/WD and left rear under hood on KL. 1) Electronic Stop Start Message on Cluster or DTC P152F without hood ajar illuminated. 2) KL Hood ajar light is on or unlatched hood due to high closing effort. (KL hood may have a higher closing effort to latch the hood as rubber bumper interference is set purposely high to prevent hood flutter at highway speeds) If stop start message or DTC P152F is present on vehicles witho
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) For PF, KL or UF Vehicles ONLY: Prior to replacing ORC part numbers, please contact FCA engineering if ANY of the following Diagnostic trouble codes are Stored or Active in the ORC module: DTC: B223D-00 - OCM DTC Present DTC: B0050-13 - Driver Seatbelt Sensor-Circuit Open DTC: B0052-13 - Passenger Seatbelt Sensor-Circuit Open DTC: B00B5-13 - Driver Seat Track Position Restraints Sensor-Circuit Open DTC: B00C5-13 - Passenger Seat Track Position Restraints Sensor-Circuit Open DTC: B0028-13 - Right Side Seat Deployment Squib 1-Circuit Open DTC: B0020-13 - Left Side Seat Deployment Squib 1-Circuit Open Execute DealerCONNECT / TechCONNECT Diagnostic Procedures
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe two broad patterns. First, the airbag system fails to deploy during frontal collisions. Incidents include a 55 mph T-bone where the driver's corner absorbed major impact with zero airbag response; a 35 mph head-on into a tree that left the driver unconscious with head, neck, and torso injuries; a 65 mph rear-end impact with no seatbelt pretensioning; a 40 mph head-on collision that totaled the car; and a rollover crash (5–6 rotations) at 65–70 mph with injuries—all without airbag activation. One owner crashed into a concrete light pole base in 4x4 mode and suffered a blackened eye, ripped eyelid requiring emergency surgery, and no airbags.
Second, the warning and control systems are unreliable. Service airbag lights come on without any collision—one intermittently for over a year, another after reconnecting a disconnected battery, a third at 112,930 miles. Dealerships have turned owners away or diagnosed the problem as B0020-13 (which FCA issued a TSB for) but the code won't store in memory. One passenger airbag deployed spontaneously while the car idled in the driveway. Seatbelt warning lights falsely claim the belt is unfastened even when plugged in. One case traced the issue to a defective intermediate seat connector with poor pin contact under the seat.
Same Jeep Cherokee airbags reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Non-deployment in frontal collisions
Airbags fail to deploy despite significant frontal impact damage, high speed collisions, and injuries. Owners report highway-speed crashes, head-on collisions with vehicles or fixed objects, and severe deceleration events that should have triggered deployment but did not.
When: During crashes ranging from 35 mph to 70 mph; multiple incidents at highway speeds; one reported at 10,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment on frontal impact; Severe front-end damage without airbag activation; Vehicle continuing uncontrolled post-impact without restraint cushioning; Owner injuries from lack of airbag protection (head, neck, chest, torso, eye injuries)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles totaled; some owners did not repair; no repair details provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One narrative (#2) notes manufacturer and dealer not yet notified. Narrative #6 states manufacturer made aware of issue but provided no assistance per narrative #4.
Inadvertent airbag deployment
Passenger airbag deploys without collision or impact. Owner reports multiple warning lamps (service airbag system, service parking brake, check engine) appearing over several days, battery disconnection and reconnection, then passenger airbag deploying while vehicle idling in driveway with no occupant in passenger seat.
When: After battery reconnection; while idling at 2000 RPM with AC on
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag deployed with no impact or collision; No object or occupant on passenger seat at deployment; Multiple warning lamps active prior to deployment; Service airbag system warning lamp illuminated
Service airbag warning light illumination
Service airbag system warning lamp comes on without crash or impact. Some owners report intermittent illumination; others report persistent warnings. In one case, dealership diagnosed failed airbag module requiring replacement but repair not completed. Another case shows code B0020-13 with FCA TSB issued but code does not store in memory, preventing dealer repair.
When: Multiple instances: one at 112,930 miles; one after 20-mile drive; one intermittent over one year; code B0020-13 appears during operation
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag system warning lamp on; Intermittent or persistent warning lamp illumination; No crash or impact preceding warning; Code B0020-13 reported (FCA TSB issued for this); Code does not remain stored in memory, preventing diagnosis and repair
Codes mentioned: B0020-13
Repairs/costs cited: Airbag module replacement required per dealer diagnosis in one case; intermediate seat connector harness replacement required in another case ($value not specified)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: FCA issued TSB for code B0020-13; one owner advised to contact NHTSA Hotline when manufacturer provided no assistance
Seatbelt warning light malfunction
Seatbelt warning light illuminates stating driver seatbelt not fastened even when seatbelt is properly plugged in. Also reported in conjunction with service airbag system warnings.
When: While driving on highway
Symptoms owners cite: Seatbelt warning light on despite seatbelt being fastened; False seatbelt detection
Intermediate seat connector electrical failure
Poor electrical connection in intermediate seat connector harness under seat causes service airbag system warning lamp to cycle on and off intermittently, then remain on continuously. Defective connector pins make poor contact.
When: After 20-mile drive and brief stop
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag system warning light cycling on and off intermittently; Warning light remaining on continuously; Poor pin connection in seat connector
Repairs/costs cited: New harness assembly replacement required
Synthesized from 22 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2016 Jeep Cherokee?
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 airbags problem on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee?
It's a meaningful issue. 22 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 27,000 and 70,000 miles, with the median around 44,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 27,000; a quarter make it past 70,000. 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 $1,100 for airbags 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 airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags 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/2016/Jeep/Cherokee.
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.