2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems
NHTSA has received 443 complaints about the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 19% of them involve engine. Next are drivetrain & axles (18%) and electrical system (14%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 443 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 45 and 13
- Injuries and deaths
- 24 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 33,000 miles 262 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 90 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 64 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 56 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 19 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 13 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 9 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 6 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 262 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 33,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 41,000 miles (51 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 45 complaints mention a crash; 13 complaints mention a fire; 24 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2016 ranks 30th most-complained-about out of 34 model years of the Jeep Grand Cherokee with enough data (289 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 8 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, he smelled smoke emanating from the rear passenger seat. After a visual inspection, he observed a fire. The local fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police and fire report was filed, but no injuries were reported. The contact stated he sustained a nondescript fire-related injury to his right leg but did not seek medical attention. The check engine warning light was illuminated.
This 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee was hit in the left front by a vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign. It also spun and was impacted on the left rear as well. All airbags but the driver’s side curtain airbag deployed. The driver hit their head on the seat belt pillar on the driver’s side. I have contacted Jeep but they have not responded to me in over a week. Injury to the driver’s head would have been less traumatic if this airbag had deployed.
Tl* the contact rented a 2016 jeep grand cherokee. While driving approximately 5 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of the contact's vehicle forcefully. The driver side air bags deployed and leaked a chemical substance onto the driver's clothing, which contacted the abdomen area and caused a severe burning sensation to the skin. The contact also sustained bruising to the right breast from the seat belt webbing.
While driving, message came up on instrument cluster to shift to p and then shift to desired gear. I almost got rear ended because the vehicle would not accelerate. I had to put it in park, shift, and then was able to go. Incredibly dangerous!
While the vehicle is in motion and slowing down it lunges forward with no input from the driver. This sometimes occurs by taking your foot off the gas. This happens everywhere, on city streets, highways etc. This has happened almost every time the car is driven.