Cruise Control Inoperative.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Grand Cherokee | 16 |
| 2013 Grand Cherokee | 16 |
| 2014 Grand Cherokee | 59 |
| 2015 Grand Cherokee | 23 |
| 2016 Grand Cherokee (this page) | 10 |
| 2017 Grand Cherokee | 10 |
| 2018 Grand Cherokee | 13 |
| 2019 Grand Cherokee | 7 |
| 2020 Grand Cherokee | 7 |
2crashes
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control 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 ↗Accelerator Pedal Before replacing accelerator pedal, be sure to follow fault code diagnostic procedures in service manual. Make sure to check wiring and connectors. P2122 and P2127 will set if accelerator pedal connector is disconnected during diagnosis. Make sure codes are active before replacing pedal. DTC P2299 is usually caused by a two footed driver and accelerator pedal should not be replaced for this fault.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Accelerator Pedal Before replacing accelerator pedal, be sure to follow fault code diagnostic procedures in service manual. Make sure to check wiring and connectors. P2122 and P2127 will set if accelerator pedal connector is disconnected during diagnosis. Make sure codes are active before replacing pedal. DTC P2299 is usually caused by a two footed driver and accelerator pedal should not be replaced for this fault.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Adaptive Cruise Control Sensor 1) If you are replacing this part due to the cluster displaying Clean Radar Sensor in Front of Vehicle or DTC C1266 ACC Sensor Blinded, please verify that there is no blockage in front of the sensor. Blockage can occur from mud, ice, snow, front end damage, bracket damage, the sensor not attached to the bracket properly or an aftermarket fascia installed. This fault can occur intermittently in muddy or icy/snowy conditions and is considered normal operation. Under some circumstances, a misaligned sensor can also cause the C1266 DTC, please complete an alignment procedure. No replacement is required.~ 2) If you are replacing this part due to the cluster displayi
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2016 Grand Cherokees describe a range of throttle and drive engagement problems starting as early as 500 miles. The most common complaint: sudden acceleration without pedal input—sometimes from a full stop, sometimes while idling or parked. One owner's vehicle accelerated at 30 mph from a stationary position in a garage, striking a tree stump and building. Another crashed into a fence after exiting a car wash when the pedal traveled to the floorboard unprompted. Brake application sometimes has little or delayed effect during these events.
A separate cluster of failures involves complete loss of acceleration while driving. Engines stay running but ignore pedal input; a restart restores function. One owner lost all acceleration in the I-405 tunnel surrounded by trucks.
Transmission issues also appear: vehicles unexpectedly slip into neutral mid-drive, sometimes while crossing traffic. Shifting back to Drive doesn't work until the engine is restarted.
One complaint centers on the automatic stop-start system hesitating or lagging during acceleration from a stop, though the manufacturer framed this as normal operation.
Dealerships consistently cannot reproduce these failures. Manufacturer black-box analysis found no throttle or accelerator pedal faults. A wire harness replacement in one case didn't prevent recurrence. No recalls or factory service bulletins are documented in these narratives.
Same Jeep Grand Cherokee cruise control reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration from stop or idle
Vehicle accelerates suddenly without driver depressing the accelerator pedal, typically when stopped or idling. Occurs at low speeds when brake is released or vehicle is starting from a stop position.
When: 500–45,848 miles; primarily early in vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle surges forward without pedal input; Brake application has reduced or delayed effect; No warning lights or messages; Vehicle may revert to normal idle after short acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Wire harness replacement attempted in one case (#3); most incidents could not be reproduced by dealers and remain undiagnosed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Jeep manufacturer analyzed black box data in case #1 and found no throttle or accelerator pedal issues; other cases acknowledged but no repairs or recalls issued
Complete loss of acceleration while driving
Engine continues running but fails to respond to accelerator pedal input. Vehicle loses all forward motion, sometimes coasting to a stop. Engine restart restores function temporarily.
When: Early ownership (2.5 weeks, 28,000 miles, high-speed highway driving)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine running but unresponsive to pedal pressure; Vehicle coasts or comes to complete stop; No warning before failure; Electrical systems (lights, dash, radio) remain operational
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed; problem cannot be diagnosed by dealers
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Offered words of consolation only; no recall or service advisory issued
Unexpected transmission shift to neutral while driving
Vehicle unexpectedly shifts into neutral while driving, causing loss of drive engagement. Shifting back to Drive has no immediate effect; engine must be turned off and restarted to restore drive function.
When: Unpredictable; reported at highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle enters neutral without driver input; Loss of drive engagement while crossing traffic or merging; Shifting back to Drive does not restore function immediately; Requires engine restart to regain drive capability; Occurred on three separate occasions in one complaint
Repairs/costs cited: Wire harness replacement performed by dealership; issue recurred
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership could not recreate problem and advised bringing vehicle back if it happens again
Hesitation and restart lag on acceleration from stop
Engine stalls or hesitates to respond when accelerator is depressed from a full stop. Vehicle features automatic stop-start system that shuts engine at stops; restart and acceleration are sluggish or delayed.
When: Early ownership (6,002 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine restarts hesitantly when accelerating from stop; Delayed throttle response; Undetermined frequency and timing; No warning indicators
Repairs/costs cited: Driver advised to press override button on dash to prevent engine stall; no mechanical repair performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer confirmed stop-start system is by design; issue attributed to normal system operation
Acceleration while idling in stationary position
Vehicle suddenly accelerates and increases RPMs while sitting idle in park or drive, with no accelerator pedal input. Occurs when vehicle is parked in garage or at rest with brake applied.
When: Varying mileage; one instance at approximately 11,600 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle revs and accelerates from idle position; Accelerates to approximately 30 MPH while in park; No warning before surge; Vehicle continues accelerating after initial surge
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed in crash; no repair attempted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but no response or recall issued
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2016 Jeep Grand 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 cruise control problem on the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, cruise control issues most often appear around 19,664 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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/Grand 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.