UAQ and UCQ Radio Enhancements Customers may experience one or more of the following: ? **Wi-Fi hotspot connection failure. ? Speaker popping, crackle noise during Voice Recognition (VR) response and navigation guidance. ? Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) missing from radio, no connected services working.** ? Intermittent, black radio display screen (Rear View Camera (RVC) not affected). ? Intermittent, radio freezes (RVC not affected). ? Wireless connectivity pairing and/or connection issues. ? Lost radio presets. ? Radio channels change by itself. ? SXMT icon inoperative. ? SXMT favorite song not displaying/playing. ? Incorrect navigation address/location/directi
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Jeep Renegade steering problems
severe Owners of the 2018 Jeep Renegade have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Renegade | 15 |
| 2016 Renegade | 15 |
| 2017 Renegade | 17 |
| 2018 Renegade (this page) | 11 |
| 2021 Renegade | 4 |
1crash
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.
UJQ and UMQ Radio Enhancements This bulletin involves inspecting the software level and update the radio software level to 34.2. Customers may experience one or more of the following:The language switches to Italian. The language switches to English when ignition cycles. Heated/Vent Seat and Heated Steering wheel icon are grayed out on display screen during Ignition ?ON? and when engine in ?RUN? state. Making it impossible to activate/deactivate them until shutting the engine off.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Hands On Steering Wheel Message In EVIC
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Flash: Comfort Seat and Wheel Module (CSWM) Enhancements This bulletin involves updating the CSWM with the latest available software. The customer may describe the following:The heated steering wheel and heated seats, turn off when Engine Stop Start (ESS) activates.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Flash: Comfort Seat and Wheel Module (CSWM) Enhancements This bulletin involves updating the CSWM with the latest available software. The customer may describe the following:The heated steering wheel and heated seats, turn off when Engine Stop Start (ESS) activates.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe the 2018 Renegade as dangerous from day one. Engine stalling starts within weeks of purchase at low mileage (3,500–5,200 miles), with some stalls happening during sharp turns at 20 mph and others on highways. No warning lights precede failure. After stalling, the vehicle requires multiple restart attempts; owners report the engine sounds like it's struggling to crank. Three separate owners had near-miss rear-end collisions when their vehicle suddenly died in traffic.
Power steering failures are the most alarming: steering wheel locks completely immobile while driving 45–55 mph. Hill Assist and Traction Control lights appear, but restarting sometimes clears the issue—until it happens again. One owner started the vehicle and found zero power steering with a dash error message; another read forum posts about drivers losing steering while already moving.
Electrical gremlins compound the danger. Systems reset overnight; one owner's infotainment switches to kilometers without touching anything. Dealership responses have been dismissive: techs blamed oil changes for stalling, cleared diagnostic codes without fixing root causes, and updated PCM/TCM software to no avail. Chrysler Corporate mentioned possible recall coverage for 2.4L engines but dealerships found no recall in their system. Oil consumption is rapid despite no leaks, and burning plastic smells appear sporadically with no resolution.
Same Jeep Renegade steering reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Power Steering Lock/Loss of Assist
Steering wheel suddenly locks or becomes immovable during normal highway driving. Warning lights (Hill Assist Needs Service, Traction Control) appear. Issue resolves after engine restart, but represents critical safety hazard with zero steering control at speed.
When: While driving at 45–55 mph; occurs intermittently without pattern
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks in place and becomes extremely hard to move; Hill Assist Needs Service light appears; Traction Control light appears; Unable to turn vehicle; Power steering error message displays on startup in some cases; Zero power steering assist reported
Codes mentioned: Hill Assist Needs Service, Traction Control warning
Engine Stalling Under Load
Engine shuts off without warning while driving, particularly during turns or acceleration. Vehicle must be restarted multiple times. No warning lights precede failure. Dealerships attributed symptoms to low oil, but owners on new vehicles with minimal mileage dispute this.
When: 3,500–5,200 miles; stalling occurs within weeks of purchase; happens intermittently during turns or light acceleration (20 mph, 45 mph speeds)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off randomly while driving; Sudden loss of engine power with no warning lights; Steering wheel stiffens when engine cuts off; Vehicle requires multiple restart attempts; Shift Gear to P message appears on dash; No dash indicator lights appear before failure; Engine may sound like it is struggling to start after stall
Codes mentioned: Shift Gear to P
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships cleared diagnostic codes but did not resolve issue; PCM and TCM updates performed without success
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler Corporate indicated possible recall coverage on 2.4L engine; dealership service records show no recall found; owners advised to perform oil change (disputed by owners as unrelated to stalling)
Loss of Electrical System Control and Engine Restart Failure
Electrical system resets overnight; vehicle loses all power and fails to start without multiple restart attempts. Combined with engine stalling, creates inability to restart vehicle reliably in traffic. Confirmed by both dealer and independent service centers.
When: Intermittently since purchase; occurs overnight and during drive cycles
Symptoms owners cite: Electrical equipment randomly resets by morning; Vehicle will not start on first or second attempt; Must turn off radio, wipers, and electrical components to force restart; Engine cranks but sounds like it is struggling
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer and dealership inspected and performed diagnostic tests; solutions have been inconsistent; problem persists
Infotainment System Malfunction
Radio screen, display settings, and user interface freeze, disconnect, or behave erratically. Units switch language from English to kilometers without input. Codes generate repeatedly; clearing does not resolve.
When: Early in ownership; ongoing intermittently
Symptoms owners cite: Radio screen turns on and off; Screen freezes and won't connect; Units switched to kilometers without user input; Heating system settings changed without input; Multiple fault codes appear; Codes reappear after being cleared
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership cleared codes multiple times but did not repair root cause; replacement unit pending per one owner
Jerking/Hard Acceleration and Transmission Shift Issues
Engine experiences hard time picking up power and shifting into next gear, causing jerking motions during acceleration. Occurs randomly. PCM and TCM firmware updates did not resolve.
When: Random; ongoing throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Engine hesitates during acceleration; Hard shifting into next gear; Jerking motion during random acceleration events
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership updated PCM (Powertrain Control Module) and TCM (Transmission Control Module) without resolution
Excessive Oil Consumption
Vehicle burns oil rapidly despite no visible oil leaks. Dealership claims this is normal for 2.4L engine, but owners on new vehicles report needing frequent top-ups.
When: Throughout ownership; evident by 5,000–8,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil level drops rapidly; No visible oil leak; Burning smell or ticking sound (fan cycles frequently)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership attributed to normal 2.4L engine behavior; no repair performed
Burning Plastic Smell
Vehicle randomly emits smell of burning plastic. Reported to dealership; no fix provided.
When: Random intermittent events
Symptoms owners cite: Smell of burning plastic
Repairs/costs cited: Addressed with dealership with no fix provided
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2018 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 steering problem on the 2018 Jeep Renegade?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 5,432 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/2018/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.