2016 Jeep Cherokee: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee: 9 recalls, 1409 owner complaints and up to 25 mpg combined.

Recalls
9 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Body & structure, Electrical Vehicle recall #15V826000 · 2015 · 32,784 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, water May leak into the power liftgate control module and result in a high resistance short circuit.
Why it matters: A short circuit in the module increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the module and connectors for corrosion, replacing the damaged components as necessary. The mastic shield will be removed and the module will be covered with a water shield. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on…
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #16V284000 · 2016 · 1,029 vehicles
What's wrong: The right halfshaft May have been incorrectly manufactured causing it to fracture without warning.
Why it matters: A fractured halfshaft May disconnect from the drive axle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right halfshaft, free of charge. The recall began on June 30, 2016.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #16V287000 · 2016 · 52 vehicles
What's wrong: The left halfshaft May have been incorrectly manufactured causing it to fracture without warning.
Why it matters: A fractured halfshaft May disconnect from the drive axle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left halfshaft, free of charge. The recall began on June 30, 2016.
Seats, Seats Vehicle recall #16V590000 · 2016 · 1,827 vehicles
What's wrong: The seat fasteners on the first or second row seats May not have been tightened to the proper torque specification.
Why it matters: Loose fasteners May allow the seats to move, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupants in the event of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seats or seat sets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during September 2016.
Equipment Vehicle recall #17V824000 · 2017 · 61,791 vehicles
What's wrong: A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.NHTSA.gov/odi/rcl/2017/rmisc-17v824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers May become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle May detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the…
Why it matters: If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018.
Electrical, Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #18V332000 · 2018 · 4,815,661 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver May not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed…
Why it matters: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018.
Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #20V343000 · 2020 · 67,248 vehicles
What's wrong: Relative movement in the power transfer unit (ptu) between the differential input splines and the transmission output shaft May cause some input spline teeth to wear off, which May eventually cause a loss of engagement between the transmission and the differential inside the ptu. If this occurs, power cannot be transferred between the front wheels and the transmission which results in a loss of drive while the…
Why it matters: A loss of drive can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning. A loss of the park function can cause unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Fca us LLC will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update that will maintain vehicle propulsion by engaging rear wheel drive and prevent rolling in park by activating the electronic parking brake if a failed input spline occurs. This recall began July 14, 2020.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #23V302000 · 2023 · 25,980 vehicles
What's wrong: The power transfer unit (ptu) May become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power or loss of park function.
Why it matters: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Fca us LLC will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 11, 2023.
Body & structure, Electrical Vehicle recall #23V338000 · 2023 · 132,099 vehicles
What's wrong: An electrical short in the power liftgate module May lead to a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off.
Why it matters: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will relocate the power liftgate module and add a water shield. In addition, dealers will inspect for corrosion and replace the module and electrical connectors, if necessary. Repairs will be…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 15 mention a fire, 27 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (632): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (283), warning light on (197), stalls / loses power (100).
- Engine (314): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (151), warning light on (77).
- Other / unknown (313): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (60), warning light on (50).
- Electrical (297): the most common themes are electrical failure (81), warning light on (62).
The 2016 Jeep Cherokee has 1409 owner complaints, ranking #4 of 24 Cherokee model years for complaints (2.3× the average Cherokee year). Complaints peaked in 2019 (271 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 43,650 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (1789 complaints, 11 recalls), 2017 (1336 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 9-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 30 | 25 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 9-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 30 | 25 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.2 L 6-cyl | Automatic 9-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 9-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 23 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 9-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 23 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.2 L 6-cyl | Automatic 9-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 23 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 Jeep Cherokee.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2016 Jeep Cherokee have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Jeep Cherokee. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Jeep Cherokee problems?
Owners have filed 1409 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (632), engine (314), other / unknown (313).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Jeep Cherokee get?
EPA ratings run up to 25 mpg combined (2.4 L, Automatic 9-spd), across 6 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Jeep Cherokee repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.