10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
31,330 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Jeep Cherokee drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2016 Jeep Cherokee Owner Comments (Page 13 of 27)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #290

Feb 102021

Cherokee

  • 91,081 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Several dashboard warning lights lit up at the same time (with alarms sounding continuously): Check engine; parking brake; service airbag system, traction control off, seatbelt warning gear indicator lights were all on at the same time: P, R, N. D and the manual shift +/- indicator (all lit red) the transmission would not shift (out of what felt like 3rd gear) while driving down the freeway. A few times, the transmission would not shift out of neutral, and I could not get the car to move (after coming to a stop) on the off ramp and on the side streets. Key fob would not lock or unlock the doors or set the alarm

- Rio Vista, CA, USA

problem #289

Jan 262021

Cherokee

  • 67,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at a low rate of speed, the vehicle shut-off upon making a right turn with the battery warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle began to make an abnormal noise after multiple attempts were made to restart the vehicle. Upon restart of the vehicle, the vehicle resumed normal operation. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

- Ocean Springs, MS, USA

problem #288

Jan 162021

Cherokee

  • 84,950 miles
On 01/16/2021 I was driving the Jeep at highway speeds when suddenly the transmission would not shift from 4th to 5th and my accelerator peddle was unresponsive. Upon getting home I pulled the obd and received code P0887 which was associated with a recall for this vehicle and the recall outlined the symptoms I was having to a T. upon calling Jeep after reading the recall I learned this VIN was not recalled even though the symptoms for the recall were the same we were experiencing. After reading about this online I think this is a wider recall that needs to happen because since the recall and service bulletin release date in June 2018 there has been multiple reports of this exact same problem. I have attached my diagnostic scan so you can see the freeze frame and code being thrown on the vehicle. That being said this car is undriveable right now through no fault of our own as all maintenance is up to date. Jeep wants to charge us $75 for the re-flash procedure and I realize I may not get out of paying that but I wanted to be sure you guys knew that the recall that was supposed to cover these years of Jeep failed to do so fully and should be reexamined. Thanks

- Rainier, WA, USA

problem #287

Jan 152021

Cherokee

  • 89,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Gear shift error lights! while driving all the service shifter lights came on. Pulled over to shut off the car and the lights went off. When I picked up to speed the lights came back. The car shuts off when turning and started jerking with take off. Once the power shuts off the car didn't want to start and turned over until it caught on. I drive around a large city with lots of highways for a living and I am afraid the car may loss power in traffic! this issue has been happening since summer 2020

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #286

Nov 032020

Cherokee

  • miles
I brought my vehicle to the dealership back in November and they diagnosed it as the power transfer unit failure. There was a recall but they said my VIN did not fall under it. I had them order the part and they keep giving me new eta's on the part. As of today they have informed me that there is such a demand for this part they have given me a new eta of February 4th 2021. The dealer acknowledges that this is a known issue so why isn't my vehicle covered. Now I will need to rent a car for at least a month and a half if there eta is correct which it hasn't been the last 5 times. I believe this should be a recall as they can't make this part fast enough for the demand. I previously put this claim in but have not gotten any response. I believe this is a major issue possibly not being reported by customers who do not have to absorb the cost.

- Orange, CT, USA

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problem #285

Dec 282020

Cherokee

  • 59,612 miles
The 'service shifter ' icon was illuminated as well as the gear selector indicator lights. This is the second time this has happened. After reviewing web sites this is an inherent problem with the Jeep Cherokee.

- West Islip, NY, USA

problem #284

Dec 272020

Cherokee

  • 22,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I keep having 'service shifter' pop up where the speedometer is. It originally popped up about 3 months after I purchased the vehicle. It pops up at random times while the vehicle is moving. I have taken the vehicle in 3 times to have it looked at. The first time they replaced a wiring harness. The second time they said nothing is wrong. And the third time they cleaned a connector. After all three times I took the vehicle in the car was fine for about a month, then the message came back.

- Trempealeau, WI, USA

problem #283

Dec 162020

Cherokee

  • 54,106 miles
Service shifter warning comes on, randomly, and vehicle needs to be shut off and restarted to clear warning and warning indicator lights as nothing, gear related, will function (drive/reverse, etc) until said restart is done. Note this happened while trying to drive/shift/park, etc. There is nothing that indicates a malfunction will happen and given it has happened while driving, safety is a major concern. It has happened multiple times since 12.2.20 with the most recent being 12.16.20

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #282

Aug 012020

Cherokee

  • 90,000 miles
I received a notification a few times saying service transmission. The light would stay on for a day then go away. Upon the third time or receiving this message I noticed my car started shifting hard while accelerating. I had someone check my codes and I received 3 codes. B10E9, B10ea, and P1db7. I have read so many similar problems with this vehicle and I noticed my VIN is not on the recall list. I only had this car for 2 months before I got any of these messages and started having these issues. I can't afford to fix this at the moment and it's really stressful trying to figure out what is wrong with my car. Its very dangerous to drive. Please help.

- Atlantic Beach, FL, USA

problem #281

Nov 222020

Cherokee

  • 72,215 miles
Vehicle would jerk or stall when driving from a stop in the city or even driving on a highway. Problems occurred since vehicle was bought and has progressly gotten worse to the point that it is very noticeable. Engine light would come on now with a service transmission message. Transmission does not have a dipstick to check fluid levels. Owner's manuel states transmission fluid does not need to be checked and transmission is enclosed. Owner's manuel states transmission does not need to be serviced for the life of the vehicle which I am assuming might be a false statement. Problem causing transmission problem is unknown. Vehicle's transmission has not been service because owner's manuel states it does not need to. Problem would resolved by turning engine off and then back on. Sometimes transmission being stuck in a gear will be resolved on its own if gas pedal is kept in the down position.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #280

Nov 032020

Cherokee

  • 69,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving a service 4wheel drive light came on. After investigation there seems to be a recall on the ptu's but my car was not listed. After investigation this seems to be a well know issue with these ptu's failing. I brought the car to the dealership and they can't even locate one or get an eta for these units because they are in so much demand. No matter what dealer I call they are already well aware of the issue as soon as I say ptu which proves this is a well known issue.

- Orange, CT, USA

problem #279

Nov 082020

Cherokee

  • 122,000 miles
My 2016 Jeep Cherokee sport shifter stopped working as I was going down the road. It has a service shifter light on as it seems to be a problem with a lot of the same vehicles. I can't afford to get this fixed and I just got it. It locked up on me in the middle of the road and would not shift in to neutral or in gear so I could get it out the road. After several minutes I finally got it to release into neutral and it rolled back off the road. Now it says service E brake. This car needs to be fixed because this is way beyond your typical car issue that can be fixed for a few bucks. Unsafe for my kids.

- Macon, GA, USA

problem #278

Nov 062020

Cherokee

  • 59,500 miles
I received a notification that says "service shifter" and all of the lights on the transmission panel were lit up.

- Millbrook, AL, USA

problem #277

Oct 312020

Cherokee

  • 34,000 miles
Almost had a rear end collision, transmission stopped functioning and loss all power at highway speed, vehicle behind me skidded before coming inches to hitting me. Service transmission light came on and while giving gas, vehicle would not go. Vehicle has 34000 miles and can't go on freeway.

- Vacaville, CA, USA

problem #276

Oct 012019

Cherokee

  • 35,000 miles
After about a year of owning the car the error message "service shifter" came on. The message comes and goes without warning usually after driving the car over an extended time period. When this happens it locks you out of the digital speedometer and you have to reset it by holding a few buttons and it will come back on.

- Vineland, NJ, USA

problem #275

Oct 172020

Cherokee

  • 52,000 miles
Car is at 52,000 miles and the transmission stopped working. Driving down the highway the service transmission light went on, as soon as I pulled off the highway my car would no longer accelerate.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #274

Sep 192020

Cherokee

  • 64,000 miles
4WD system frailer

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #273

Oct 072020

Cherokee

  • 106,000 miles
Service shifter light comes on and vehicle will eventually not shift into the next gear. Have serviced before and it comes on again.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #272

Sep 252020

Cherokee

  • 50,000 miles
When the vehicle is moved from park to any other gear, all gear indicator lights, light up as well as a message displaying "service transmission shifter". this seems to be a very common issue that nobody can seem to get a straight answer as to how to correct the issue.

- Fort Campbell, KY, USA

problem #271

Mar 022020

Cherokee 6-cyl

  • 69,203 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving on a dirt road she activated the four-wheel drive function. While driving downhill, the vehicle unintentionally shifted out of four-wheel drive with the failure light displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to mtn. View Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (6276 Alabama hwy, ringgold, ga 30736, (706) 935-2328) to be diagnosed. The contact was notified of internal gear damage in the power transfer unit. The contact was informed that the part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,203.

- Chattanooga, TN, USA

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