2.4L Excessive Oil Consumption XB1 Warranty Extension The customer may describe one or more of the following: Oil pressure low indicator lamp illumination between oil changes. Excessive oil consumption. This bulletin involves performing an oil consumption verification test and possibly replacing the long block.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Jeep Cherokee lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Jeep Cherokee have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Cherokee | 24 |
| 2015 Cherokee | 29 |
| 2016 Cherokee (this page) | 14 |
| 2017 Cherokee | 5 |
| 2019 Cherokee | 3 |
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Jeep Cherokee in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting 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.
Power Transfer Unit (PTU) Broken Input Spline - X89 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves replacing the PTU assembly with an updated part. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further investigation the technician may find that one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) have been set: P1720-00 - Output Speed Sensor-Wheel Speed Rationality. P215C-00 - Output Shaft Speed Wheel Speed Correlation. The customer may also describe one or more of the following: Grinding noise coming from under the vehicle while driving. Vehicle will not move.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Power Transfer Unit (PTU) Broken Input Spline - X89 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves replacing the PTU assembly with an updated part. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further investigation the technician may find that one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) have been set: P1720-00 - Output Speed Sensor-Wheel Speed Rationality. P215C-00 - Output Shaft Speed Wheel Speed Correlation. The customer may also describe one or more of the following: Grinding noise coming from under the vehicle while driving. Vehicle will not move.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Power Transfer Unit (PTU) Broken Input Spline - X89 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves replacing the PTU assembly with an updated part. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further investigation the technician may find that one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) have been set: P1720-00 - Output Speed Sensor-Wheel Speed Rationality. P215C-00 - Output Shaft Speed Wheel Speed Correlation. The customer may also describe one or more of the following:Grinding noise coming from under the vehicle while driving. Vehicle will not move.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗LED Front Fog Lamps Flicker Or Intermittently Light, Are Dim Or Inoperative. A U11E9, or B16FB-15 may be set
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently report dim halogen low beams that provide insufficient illumination for safe night driving, despite dealer confirmation the lights meet factory specifications. Complaints describe inadequate forward range, a yellowish color spectrum, and a sharp cutoff line that leaves blind spots, particularly at corners and intersections. Bulb replacement doesn't help—one owner swapped bulbs without improvement, and another experienced premature burn-out: left bulb replaced once, right bulb within a month, then left burned out again in five months. One owner noted fog lights outshine the regular headlights.
Electrical gremlins also surface. One owner experienced a complete stall with loss of power brakes and steering while parking, preceded by dashboard dimming and 4WD unavailable warnings; the vehicle restarted after a key cycle. That same owner describes prior highway episodes of dash blackout and non-responsive headlights.
A separate electrical fault involves the shifter: a SERVICE SHIFTER warning light activates, all shifter lights glow red, and the emergency brake occasionally sets itself. Dealership diagnosis points to shifter bezel and wiring harness fault, estimated at $300, not warranty-covered. One owner reports a rear brake light harness that had been cut, requiring a $600 harness replacement. One more complaint notes high-beam failure treated by the dealer as "as designed" performance.
Owners across these reports indicate awareness of similar complaints from other 2016 Cherokee owners.
Same Jeep Cherokee lighting reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Dim halogen headlights with inadequate forward illumination
Multiple owners report halogen low-beam headlights that are too dim for safe night driving, with insufficient illumination distance and a yellowish color spectrum. Some describe a sharp line of illumination that doesn't reach sufficiently forward. Dealer checks confirm lights are at factory spec but agree they are dim. Changing bulbs has no effect. Owners express concern about seeing oncoming traffic, turning at intersections, and reaction time in emergencies.
When: Present since purchase; complaint mileage ranges from 500 to 72,000 miles; some owners experience dimming intermittently
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights appear dim relative to other vehicles; Insufficient forward range and illumination at night; Yellowish color spectrum; Sharp cutoff line of illumination; Blind spots when turning corners; Difficulty determining if headlights are on due to low brightness; Fog lights brighter than regular headlights
Repairs/costs cited: Bulb replacement attempted without effect; dealer states lights are to factory spec and no fix or upgrade available
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler customer support case started by one owner; slow response. Manufacturer not made aware in at least one case. No recalls issued despite repeated complaints.
High-beam failure
Owner reports high beams failed to operate as intended while driving at night. Dealer stated vehicle performed as designed. No repair attempted.
When: At approximately 21,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: High beams failed to operate while driving at night
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware; vehicle not repaired; dealer stated performance as designed
Premature halogen bulb burn-out
Owner replaced left headlamp bulb, then right bulb within one month. Left low beam burned out again within five months of replacement. Owner notes this is highly irregular frequency.
When: Left replaced 3/8/2018, right replaced 5/9/2018, left failed again after 5 months
Symptoms owners cite: Premature low-beam bulb burn-out; Repeated failure after replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Left headlamp replaced 3/8/2018, right headlamp replaced 5/9/2018, left required replacement again
Shifter bezel and wiring harness fault causing SERVICE SHIFTER warning light and red shifter lights
SERVICE SHIFTER light activates, all lights on shifter turn red. Emergency brake occasionally sets itself. Dealership diagnosed shifter bezel and wiring harness fault. Owner reports this has occurred multiple times in city, interstate, and parked situations.
When: Less than 36,000 miles; occurring for several months and increasing in frequency since purchase approximately one year prior
Symptoms owners cite: SERVICE SHIFTER warning light illuminates; All shifter lights turn red; Emergency brake sets itself; Occurs while stationary, in motion on city streets, on interstate, and when first gearing after starting and reverse
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnosed shifter bezel and wiring harness fault requiring replacement; estimated cost approximately $300; not covered under warranty
Electrical system stalling and power loss event with dashboard dimming
Owner experienced engine stall with loss of brakes and power steering while parking. Prior to stall, dashboard display dimmed as if headlights were on, AUTO SHUTOFF warning dinged (issue recurring since 2018 purchase but resolved recently), and 4WD unavailable message appeared. Headlights would not turn on and blinkers did not function. Vehicle restarted successfully. Owner reports similar dashboard dimming episodes occurring at highway speeds with complete dash blackout, AUTO SHUTOFF and 4WD unavailable warnings. After reboot, all functions normal.
When: At 5 years of ownership (since 2018); recent stall incident plus prior dimming episodes over several years
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning; Dashboard display dims; Loss of power brakes; Loss of power steering; AUTO SHUTOFF feature warning dings; 4WD unavailable message; Headlights fail to respond; Blinkers non-functional; Engine light illuminates after stall; Vehicle restarts after key cycle
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner notes this is a known issue discussed on forums and reported by other owners since their Jeep was brand new
Rear brake light wiring harness cut and non-functional fixture
Brake light above rear hatch not working. Inspection revealed brake fixture wiring harness had been cut, requiring harness replacement.
When: Present at vehicle purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Brake light above rear hatch non-functional
Repairs/costs cited: Brake fixture wiring harness cut; requires harness replacement; estimated cost $600
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had lighting 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 lighting problem on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 15,400 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting 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 lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting 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.