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ProblemsByVin Index / 2016-JEEP-WRANGLER / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2016 Jeep Wrangler owner complaints

447 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle , including 3 reporting a crash, fire, injury, or fatality. Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

engine 5 complaints shown

54 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $3,100 · see engine cluster analysis →
12/29/2022 70,218 mi ODI #11499392.0

The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard a tapping sound under the hood of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and indicated that the rocker arm and the camshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 70,218.

12/28/2022 ODI #11499201.0

Oil Housing Unit crack. Just bought vehicle used. Weather dropped to 28 degrees and oil housing unit cracked. All oil poured out of vehicle and would not hold any oil when more was added. Took vehicle to Jeep dealer and they confirmed that the PLASTIC piece that was the original part cracked and that this is a very common problem for 2014-2017 Jeeps due to the part being plastic. Part is not covered under any warranty and will cost $1200 to repair. I'm told that the replacement parts have been updated and are no longer made of plastic due to the high instance of problems. All research shows that this was to be a recall but that it has not been made official. This is a huge safety concern as the oil completely drained from the vehicle upon crack. Had I not been in my own driveway and drivin

12/28/2020 67,000 mi ODI #11385357.0

Engine oil cooler fail, extreme fire hazard. Small amount of oil found on driveway while parked, attempted to locate source by starting engine. Oil flooded out of the engine, streaming down the engine to the frame. Had my wife driven the Jeep to work it would've probably caught fire once the oil reached the exhaust.

12/26/2020 77,000 mi ODI #11384975.0

I noticed an oil burning smell and upon further inspection saw oil all over the undercarriage of my vehicle including the transmission and exhaust . Looked under the hood and noticed oil underneath my engine cover by the oil filter housing. So now every time I drive it smells like it's on fire. So I guess they are not worried about the people who buy their vehicles burning up.

12/16/2019 130,000 mi ODI #11289270.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Jeep wrangler. When the vehicle was started, the contact heard an abnormal knocking noise coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to woodhouse Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat (2101 6th st, sioux city, ia 51101, (712) 277-3221) where it was diagnosed that there was damage to the passenger side camshaft caused by rocker arm failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred on the driver's side camshaft and rocker arms. The manufacturer was informed of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. *js

powertrain 5 complaints shown

70 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain cluster analysis →
12/29/2020 40,000 mi ODI #11385385.0

On cold days after the Jeep has been sitting overnight, the engine will stall when the transmission is shifted into drive or reverse. This happens when the Jeep is started and it makes no difference if the car is running for 30 seconds before it is shifted or running for 3 minutes, the engine will stall when shifting into drive or reverse. This happened last winter and has started doing it again now that its cold.

12/28/2019 58,000 mi ODI #11291803.0

Vehicle stalls when put into reverse when cold. This does not mean only first start of the day. When transmission fluid is under 120 degrees, it will stall in reverse with brake depressed. Upon restart, the starter will engage for a prolonged period even after the vehicle starts, the starter will continue to run too long. When the vehicle restarts after a stall, it will idle rough when shifted back into reverse. No problems in drive. Started at a mileage of around 35,000. Vehicle now at 58,000 and has progressively worsened.

12/22/2019 55,000 mi ODI #11290721.0

On first start of the day in cold weather, after starting engine and shifting into r (with brake pedal applied), car will frequently drop into extremely low RPM range (<= 500rpm) and/or stall and die completely. This is primarily only on the first start of the day and in colder weather (sub 40f degree)

12/18/2017 26,000 mi ODI #11055340.0

I was driving on the interstate and the engine just died. I pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle and when I put it in gear it acted as if it were in neutral. I then shut off the vehicle and restarted it and it drove fine. This happens randomly (could occur twice in one day or not for 2 weeks) and at different speeds (city and highway). I also have had random misfire codes and camshaft position sensor codes. Sometimes the codes clear on their own and I have had to reset the codes with a tuner. I spoke to the dealer and it will be around a week before they can look at it, even in light of the danger for an engine just dying.

12/15/2020 ODI #11383524.0

I have gone through over 4 sets of mud terrain tires over the last two years that are unevenly worn and no one knew why. Most recently, the rear right tire had a sidewall gash and had a flat tire, we began smelling smoke and ended up taking the Jeep into brakemasters and was told the entire rear differential was failing and falling apart. We had the rear diff replaced, brakes, rotors and paid $5000 out of pocket and as I was driving from home to tucson the other day to my maternity appointment, the back right tire began screeching while not braking and began sizzling and burning with oil coming out from the tire. I immediately stopped at the nearest brakemasters and they said that an entirely new rear differential is needed. Not only could the Jeep have caught on fire with this safety

brakes 2 complaints shown

84 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $450 · see brakes cluster analysis →
12/28/2018 52,626 mi ODI #11163796.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Jeep wrangler. When the contact took the vehicle to rancho Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram (8010 balboa ave, san diego, ca 92111, (858) 560-7100) for an oil change, he was notified that the brake rotors and pads needed to be filed down. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer for diagnostic testing, but no repairs were performed. The contact mentioned that the vehicle had to be repaired for the same failure a year ago. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 52,626.

12/18/2025 ODI #11705903.0

Abs system fails periodically causing the jeep to go into limp mode driving in traffic.

steering 2 complaints shown

26 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $700 · see steering cluster analysis →
12/27/2022 ODI #11498999.0

This Jeep is a right hand drive wrangler. Airbag light, traction control light came on, and my horn quit working. Cruise control quit working, and then my antilock brake system was malfunctioning. I couldn't figure out why. So I went to both the Jeep dealership, and the local autozone where they scanned my Jeep for codes, and it's saying a bad clockspring. They said there is a known recall for 2016 models, but mine isn't included. They said to figure out why this Jeep is not included. . Why is my Jeep not included in the already known recall for the bad clock springs?

12/20/2022 13,000 mi ODI #11498201.0

The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the contact attempted to blow the horn and no sound came from the horn. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to steer and the controls on the steering wheel were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the steering column and the clockspring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was 13,000.

body 1 complaint shown

17 total in this category · severe · avg repair $1,500 · see body cluster analysis →
12/31/2019 52,000 mi Fire ODI #11292328.0

Contact stated vehicle had not been driven for an extended period of time. Week before, anti skid and the ABS warning lights were on but shuts off. Driving on a paved road when engine died. Fire broke out instantly from the front right consuming entire vehicle. We had just left a dirt road onto the paved road, drove about 200-300 yards when the incident occurred.*dt*jb

other 1 complaint shown

12/22/2018 32,000 mi ODI #11163076.0

I awoke this morning to find my vehicle running inside our parked garage. The remote start somehow had triggered unintentionally.

lighting 1 complaint shown

12/22/2016 ODI #10936847.0

Head lights extremely poor lighting and visibility. Can leave high beams on and no one flashes me to change to low beams. I find it very dangerous to drive at night. We live in the mountains which is why we purchased the Jeep in the first place. We have had them checked at dealership and they say nothing is wrong. I feel that Jeep needs to recall headlights and replace with a better light. Thank you for your time. *tr

airbags 1 complaint shown

62 total in this category · severe · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags cluster analysis →
12/16/2025 Crash ODI #11705380.0

I recently got into an accident in my 2016 Jeep Wrangler. My airbags never deployed however. Also my buttons on the left side of my steering wheel do not work and my horn does not work. After realizing all this I believe it is an issue with the clock spring. I did research and found in 2024 there was a recall for the clock spring but only in the RHD model. My car is a LHD model but it seems the same issue has occurred and my clock spring failed.

electrical 1 complaint shown

46 total in this category · severe · avg repair $850 · see electrical cluster analysis →
12/16/2022 Fire ODI #11497677.0

I started my Jeep. After a few minutes I could smell smoke and something burning. The alarm started going off, wipers came on, radio etc. smoke came inside cab . I tried to shut everything off but it wasn’t working. I started seeing flames around the hood. My husband was able to disconnect the battery and the fire died out. Insurance would not cover it and said it was electrical. The fuse box was melted and wire harnesses. The vehicle was right by our garage and could’ve caught our house on fire. My son and I were in the vehicle when the fire started. Thank God we weren’t hurt. I did report this but was told it wasn’t Jeeps fault. A week later another jeep caught fire in the small town I live in. Something isn’t right.

Showing 300 of 447 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Jeep/Wrangler#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-06-14. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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