Jeep lost acceleration and died in the middle of the road. Fortunately I had just gotten off the freeway or we could have been seriously injured. No warning or check engine lights illuminated, it just completely lost the acceleration and died in the road.
2016 Jeep Renegade engine problems
moderate 109 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
109
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
3fires
When does it fail?
Of the 109 engine complaints filed for the 2016 Jeep Renegade, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 109 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 7 model years of Jeep Renegade in our records for engine problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
3 weeks ago I heard a wobbling sound under the hood while the car was idling. It was a day later I was able catch what it was making the noise which is the cooling fan. I had it towed to the dealership not wanting to drive it for fear of overheating. The issue was confirmed there and after two false arrival dates I spoke to the dealership and thy finally admitted there was no date for the arrival…
The radiator fan will stop working or work intermittently. If it's not running when the temp gets up you have to manually Spin The Fan then it will engage. It is prone to overheating while idling or moving slow. I have replaced the fan on a active recall for this model three times already. The fans usually last from anywhere from 4 months to a 8 months.
While driving in city, engine temp went to overheat. Loud noise and smoke from engine. After inspection engine fan wobbling on mount and motor smoking. Car is 14 months old with 15000 miles
This vehicle had a check engine light come on while driving in a neighborhood at low speeds and the etc light come on, when this happened the vehicle immediately became sluggish and switched to manual mode for gears. This is very unsafe if driving at highway speeds because the vehicle slows down on you with no warning. Also the airbag lights have come on and the thermostat housing needs replacing…
All motor mounts poorly manufactured too light. Need recalled as its a known problem.
Had engine trouble with your 2016 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 engine problem on the 2016 Jeep Renegade?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 109 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 85 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 33,350 and 48,000 miles, with the median around 41,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 33,350; a quarter make it past 48,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/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.