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

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2016 Jeep Cherokee:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2016 Jeep Cherokee Owner Comments (Page 1 of 27)

problem #530

Jan 162025

Cherokee

  • miles

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

Four Wheel Drive quit working. There is no traction on the rear wheels and four wheel drive error and stuck in traffic during freezing temperatures and snow on the road. This almost caused a collision. Why is there a recall on 2016 Jeep Cherokees for four wheel drive issue but not on my 2016 Jeep Cherokee?

- Gilbertsville, KY, USA

problem #529

Dec 132024

Cherokee

  • 168,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle jerked while in first gear. The contact stated that after a short while the vehicle returned to normal functionality. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000.

- Muskegon, MI, USA

problem #528

Nov 042024

Cherokee

  • miles
Transmission doesn-??t engage while driving. When I am braking, the vehicle jumps like it is skipping gears while trying to slow down.

- Rochester , NY, USA

problem #527

Dec 242024

Cherokee

  • miles

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

Intermittent 4WD SVC Light - Code c14a7-97 comes up. There is an outstanding LIFETIME warranty on my vehicle to replace the Power Transfer Unit, however Jeep/Chrysler refuses to fix this under the warranty because this code does not fall under the Extended Warranty, even though it is related to the same part (PTU). The part is 3-6 months backordered anyway. This is ignorance and a safety hazard from Jeep/Chrysler.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #526

Jan 042025

Cherokee

  • miles
According to my mechanic the sway bar broke, also I get a 4WD system unavailable service required! Which is PTU module needs replaced! That is a rescalled issue, do to safety issues! Please look into it! Thanks

- Trenton, NC, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #525

Feb 092024

Cherokee

  • miles
Service 4wd warning light illuminated. Google search for recall indicated that 2016 Jeep Cherokees had a recall for this problem. However, our specific VIN was not part of recall. When calling the manufacturer, I was advised that if the dealership could verify our vehicle was having the same problem as the recall, we could receive assistance. The advice was followed and confirmed, but when calling the manufacturer back, I was told that that was not how things work when dealing with a recall and since our VIN was not part of the recall, they could not do anything. I filed a complaint with NHTSA in April 2024 to no avail. We have brought the vehicle back to the dealership to see if we could have the problem fixed, and although we can, the parts are on back order. I can only assume because of the recall. Almost a year later, we are still dealing with this issue and never did hear back regarding our complaint.

- Randolph , NJ, USA

problem #524

Dec 092024

Cherokee

  • miles

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

My car has 123,000 done everything by book. Been report issues for over yr. Car almost got my killed by not stopping, turning, jerking on Accelerating and decelerating when shifting. All my motor mounts, transmission mount busted, messed up suspension control arm, ball joints, struts, axle, brakes all once. Drained battery. Spent 4500. Then my service shifter just came on. So back at shop. This is insane my shifter should last life time of my car. Due to the damage of that it cause a downfall of front end issues. This is well known issues of Jeep 2016 but not mine for a recall. It has cost me thousands and should not be happening at 122,000 miles. Car is at dealership again now and i have rental so not sure what that will cost. This started 2/11 not codes just could tell already filed reports with you all. My brakes lasted years, rotors was changed 2/11 hoping it helped per papers already damaged due to all this other crap. I-??m very upset my car shouldn-??t be having all these issues at 122,000 we are 1 car family

- Antioch, TN, USA

problem #523

Sep 102024

Cherokee

  • 96,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the message -??4WD Unavailable-?? was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the power transfer unit (PTU) needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V302000 (POWER TRAIN). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000.

- Fremont, WI, USA

problem #522

Nov 192024

Cherokee

  • miles
Service 4WD light came on. Mechanic received C14A7-97 code indicating a problem with the PTU. Also I was told that the internals of the transfer case were jammed and cannot engage 4x4. A Google check confirmed that other Jeep Cherokees were recalled because of PTU issues but my VIN does not come up. This doesn-??t make sense as it is the same vehicle and same flawed part. Also, I did have a brief loss of power while driving over a year ago. I do not want to pay $4100 for this repair when other similar issues exist and a recall was issued. I believe that this is similar enough to be covered for this flaw, especially when I only have 107,000 miles. Please advise. Regards, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Parlin, NJ, USA

problem #521

Nov 052024

Cherokee

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that an undisclosed module needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was then taken to another independent mechanic where a diagnostic test was performed, and the contact was informed that the PTU (Power Transfer Unit) and the blower motor needed to be repaired. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V302000 (Power Train) which was linked to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and scheduled an appointment. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #520

Sep 152024

Cherokee

  • 115,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the 4WD function failed to operate as intended. The check 4WD warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with power transfer unit case assembly failure. The contact was informed that the power transfer unit case assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

- Hamburg, NY, USA

problem #519

Sep 012024

Cherokee

  • miles
PTU problems. Grinding noise from rear when turning slow and accelerating. Remove fuse for ptu and noise goes away. Put fuse back in it is back. Vehicle moves a lot when put in park and sometimes when using remote start you can see the vehicle jump forward a couple feet. My vehicle has all symptoms from recalls NHTSA 20V-343, NHTSA 20E-037, NHTSA 23V-302. But my PTU part number of:68283349AA is not included in any recall. This needs to be looked at further and extend the recalls to all PTU-??s on the Jeep Cherokees 2014-2017. Chrysler knows these are bad

- Laingsburg, MI, USA

problem #518

Nov 052024

Cherokee

  • miles
Service 4WD warning received shortly after car was returned from dealership for recall fixes. Took car to independent repair shop where car was diagnosed with code C14A7-97, PTU failure

- Southington, CT, USA

problem #517

Nov 102024

Cherokee

  • miles
Vehicle is throwing code C14A7-97 Drive terrain Control Mobule Vehicle shifts weirdly while driving and losses a little power.

- Silver Lake, KS, USA

problem #516

Oct 012024

Cherokee

  • miles
The service 4 Wheel Drive light comes up. The dealer wants to charge over $3,000 to fix the PTU. I have under 60,000 and hardly ever used the 4WD.

- West Chester, PA, USA

problem #515

Nov 082024

Cherokee

  • miles
3-4 time this has happened and twice in the last 2 weeks my car just won-??t turn over. I have to turn switch then put car in/out of park to get my car to start. For few months now I keep hearing vibrating, grinding noises when I go to slow down or stop. I thought it could be my left front axle so I changed it, pads and rotors. They didn-??t even look bad when I changed them. The noises is coming from somewhere below driver side. With no lights coming on it-??s hard to know and I can-??t afford just pay 150 to look at it say who knows. My fear is it will die on my driving when it also goes up down with acceleration at times. I don-??t understand why they don-??t seem to do recalls on these 2016 Jeeps when clearly everybody-??s having the same issues but they claim it-??s not our models. My car is barely over 100,000 miles. This is literally my third complain in a year with the same issues.

- Antioch, TN, USA

problem #514

Sep 242024

Cherokee

  • miles
The power transfer unit (ptu), yes it is available to look at. It's making grinding and knocking noise, it could come out of park on its on. Yes it has been seen by car dealer shop and confirmed its the power transfer unit (ptu). Yes its been looked at and hooked up to a machine by dealership, and a garage that found it first. Yes, the service 4wd light came on that's why we to it to garage to be checked and that's when they told me about the power transfer unit (ptu) was out. I took it to dealership and they confirmed it and they're was recalls on on the power transfer unit (ptu) just not on mine

- Mooresboro , NC, USA

problem #513

Oct 252024

Cherokee

  • 136,368 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the message -??4WD Unavailable -?" Service Required-?? was displayed. The contact stated that the message appeared intermittently for the day. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was power transfer unit (PTU) needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,368.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #512

Oct 032024

Cherokee

  • 49,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the -??Service 4WD-?? warning light was illuminated. While driving approximately 45 MPH and decelerating, the vehicle suddenly stalled from the transmission independently shifting into neutral(N) and failing to release. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed and determined that the transfer case (PTU) had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case regarding the failure. The manufacturer confirmed there was no recall on the VIN the failure. The failure mileage was 49,000.

- Drexel, NC, USA

problem #511

Oct 202024

Cherokee

  • miles
While driving the Vehicle the gear attempted to go into 4WD by itself. I pulled over and at that time I could not shift the car into drive or park. I believe the transmission or gear shift is having an issue. No warning lights go on the dashboard and it will stall while driving on the highway which caused an extreme safety hazard.

- Wheat Ridge, CO, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?