10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
28,149 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2016 Jeep Cherokee Owner Comments (Page 7 of 14)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #147

May 012020

Cherokee

  • 28,000 miles

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

The sunroof will not close. When the button is pressed to auto-close the sunroof, the roof begins to close but stops 3-5 inches from full close and then reopens fully. It takes three attempts to auto-close before the system stops auto-close and then you have to hold the close button for it to fully close. I've had this repaired once during warranty but it is happening again.

- Perkasie, PA, USA

problem #146

Aug 262020

Cherokee

  • 43,000 miles
I have 43,000 on my 2016..was driving home on the freeway and my service transmission warning came on and now service engine light is on....sounds like a common problem

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #145

Oct 172019

Cherokee

  • miles
While driving, my Jeep will come up with a 'service shifter' warning and all the lights on the shifter will come on. This happens at least once a week.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #144

Jul 252020

Cherokee

  • 45,695 miles

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

45695 miles "service shifter" showed up on the dashboard.I was on the highway and all the shift lights were on.

- Sultan, WA, USA

problem #143

Oct 012018

Cherokee 4-cyl

  • 54,000 miles
First this Jeep uses oil fast. I have to put oil in the car way before it's due to be ch aged. The car will stall and stop and have no power. It has shut off on me in the middle of a busy hwy and would not go. I had to cut it off and back on it would go about 500 feel and do it again. Now this Jeep has left me stranded a few times. It just would not crank. Replaced battery in key fob and still nothing. The car will randomly shut down and flash codes. It told me to service transmission about 54000 miles and wouldn't go. Brought it to a dealership and they updated it but those problems only fixed it for a few months.

- Wiggins, MS, USA

problem #142

Jun 222020

Cherokee 4-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
Service shifter light comes on for the past year. Had in 6 months ago and they told me it just needed a "software update". now 6 months later they say it need a new shifter an wire harness for $500. This should have been done originally since it's the same issue and now not under warranty. Internet has many complaints from this known issue.

- Plainfield, IL, USA

problem #141

Jun 092020

Cherokee 4-cyl

  • 86,500 miles

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

Over the course of a year, my battery has died (Oct), my harsh cold start needed replacement (Nov), my radio completely died and could not be updated (Dec) and recently within the past two months and by far the most concerning is that my Jeep will completely shut off while sitting at a red light or stopping for only a minute. This is not sue ro low oil or anything of my own doing. It will tell me to shift into park and then into gear. Yesterday was the most concerning as it completely shut down while I was in motion and nothing working, steering, lights nothing at all on the vehicle functioned. I was able to put it in park but my keys wouldn't even be released from the ignition. I had it towed to a dealer who then stated they can't find a code for a diagnostic, the oil is perfectly fine and that they can't do anything bc it could be anything. I have no doubt this is electrical in some way and a manufacturer defect of some kind as I have found 100S of other complaints of the same car and same engine type. It is dangerous that the manufacturer is not putting a recall on whatever is going on or at least trying to fix the problem. It seems all Jeep are known for their electrical problems. I do not have the ability to trade this car in or get another one with my financial situation and my entire business is run off of me driving. I could've been killed as it died in the middle of the road in a blind curve where people fly through at over 55 mph. I had to have an officer come and sit behind me I was so scared as the car would do nothing at all!!!! I hope if this is happening to other people that their family is aware of the issues and knows to sue Chrysler for everything when an accident results in someone's death!!!

- Pelzer, SC, USA

problem #140

May 152020

Cherokee 4-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
'service shifter' is displayed, meaning I cannot use any of the in vehicle controls or use the manual transmission feature or see what gear I am in. It's an automatic but has the manual option. I've seen hundreds of other people effected by this, needs to be a recall asap or grounds for a class action if no action is taken.

- Avondale, AZ, USA

problem #139

May 262020

Cherokee 6-cyl

  • 64,000 miles
While driving my vehicle tues.5/26/2020, we were approaching a stoplight, when I accelerated transmission act like it was in neutral, so I looked and it wasn't it slowly accelerated and as we continued the dash went dark, when it came back, the engine light was on and had error code stating airbag needed update.I got home and tried checking transmission and noticed, a computer instead of stick so I research problem and found recalls on year and type vehicle.when I called to check and describe my symptoms I was told my vehicle wasnt on recall.I was wondering how exact year, make, and model of vehicle on recall, but even though mine is experiencing the exact symptoms as described in recall!!

- Lancaster, SC, USA

problem #138

Sep 152019

Cherokee 4-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
My dash is displaying 'service shifter' and my lights by my shifter are all lit up beside the reverse. It began doing it only in reverse but now, 9 months later, is doing it at any given point. I did a scan on it and it says has to do with the 'transmission control module' and 'electronic control module'.

- Escanaba, MI, USA

problem #137

Mar 012020

Cherokee

  • 2 miles

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

Vehicle shif to park while driving. All electrical indicator on. Vehicle currently at hudson valley Dodge Jeep in newburgh NY. This vehicle has been there more than 2 month with all specialist and they cant resolve the issue its not safe. Contact hq for Chrysler john the case worker 8002479753 ext305012. Please research before someone get kill, they are case being reported on youtube with the same issue. Car was tool same day they claim issue was resolve the car was toll back with gear engage on drive with indicator on park. Please contact us at (917)517-0921

- Newburgh, NY, USA

problem #136

May 012020

Cherokee

  • 23,033 miles
While driving in traffic suddenly lost power. Light on dashboard indicated something with transmission. Dealer inspected and said nothing was wrong mechanically. It needed a software update. We were lucky to have not been rear ended. If nothing was wrong mechanically, it should not have lost power. A notification would have been more suitable. Carcomplaints website has 50 similar complaints about 2016 Cherokee dying or losing power for no other reason than the computer. Everyone of them states how dangerous this is while in traffic.

- Casper, WY, USA

problem #135

Mar 222020

Cherokee

  • 71,000 miles
Purchased my 2016 Jeep Cherokee in February of 2017 brand new with 3 miles. It now has 71,000 miles, when coming to a stop, car will shut off and a message reads across the screen "shift to P then desired gear" I turn the car off and restart and the engine hesitates to start but after a minute or so it restarts. I turn a corner and shuts off again with message "blind spot alert unavailable service required" told this is due to oil being very low with an oil change it show solve the shut off problem. It's at dealership now just waiting because they have to perform a diagnostic test due to another problem I'm having with hard shifts, lunging, and repeated illumination of dashboard and radio lights shutting off. Told it possibly needs a system update. With that being said I'm told I have to pay for a diagnostic test and system update because my warranty has expired however I read it happen prior to 2016. Why should I have to pay for this if it happened after my warranty? also A/C is not working all the time. It will shut off and then at times when I turn a corner it will shoot back on. Has something to due with A/C blower. I've literally had this Jeep 3 years I have never ever had this many problems with other vehicles, new or used as I've had with this one.

- Garland, TX, USA

problem #134

Feb 282019

Cherokee

  • 40,000 miles
Started having service shifter codes at approximately 30K. Would be repaired & after about 8 wks it would throw the same code. Repeated the same cycle 2 adtl times. Took a total of 4 times till the entire shifter, module & wiring were replaced. At 40K miles my Jeep died on me going down a hill. Had to coast down hill & find a halfway safe area off the highway. I had no ability to start the vehicle. The electronics would come on when I turned the key but it would not turn over. All the lights on the shifter would be solid & the service shifter alert came on. Immediately called the dealership. The service adviser walked me thru how to reset the car. Wait for 5 minutes. Turn the key on & let it cycle. Turn the key off. Repeat the process 3 X's till it starts. Took it into the dealership & was told the thermostat module & the radiator. Neither of which would be covered under warranty. Same time I also had an oil change done. 2 1/2 mths later same issue. Die going down a hill. Again took it to the dealership. Told that it was a sensor & wasn't covered under warranty. Had an oil change done this time. I have not replaced any parts on it yet. The thermostat module & the radiator are still the same as the first time I took them in. 8 weeks later same issue. I took it to my local auto repair in town since the dealership could not get me in for 2 weeks & the Jeep was leaving me coasting for a safe space to pull over in traffic. Within 2 minutes they discovered Jeep was 2 quarts low on oil. The engine was losing oil pressure & was shutting off the engine to keep it from damaging the motor. Since then I've tried to schedule service with two different dealerships only to be told that using 2-3 quarts extra of oil in between oil changes is normal & they can not do anything.

- Cassville, MO, USA

problem #133

May 162017

Cherokee

  • 32,777 miles
The vehicle was brought to the dealership for several issues at one time on 5/16/2017 (mileage 32779). The vehicle was purchased, new, 5/2016. The service shifter message had been coming on and going off and the dealership told me that they did not know why and could not do anything about it unless it was on when I brought it in. The dealership stated that the problem may come from the battery being bad and that they would not cover the bad battery. After a call to Jeep customer care, Jeep agreed to pay to have the battery replaced by the dealership at no cost to me. This was 7/12/2017 and the shifter issue was noted again on this service order. 4/2018, a technical service bulletin was put out about this issue, but I was not aware of it until 12/2019. After research and the discovery of the technical service bulletin, this is a common problem with many of the Jeep Cherokee produced between 2015 and 2018. There has been no recall. I brought the vehicle to the dealership 3/12/2020 to get another issue fixed and asked them to repair the service shifter problem, now that they knew how to fix it. They would only fix it if I paid for it. I, again, called Jeep customer care for assistance, but have been told this time that the mileage is too high and it is out of warranty, even though I brought this to their attention during the battery ordeal in 5/2017. They are refusing to cover the cost of the repair, even though this has been brought to them during the warranty period (as with the battery). Originally, Jeep techs did not know what the problem was or how to fix it when I brought it to them in 2017. But Jeep is now aware of the problem and how to fix it but won't unless I pay for a repair they weren't able to do, at the time, but are able to do now.

- Murefreesboro, TN, USA

problem #132

Feb 012019

Cherokee

  • 65,000 miles
While in motion: If the 2016 Jeep Cherokee drives over a slight bump, various electrical components will lose power and a warning light will appear on dashboard screen -- most of the time the service brake system warning will display; and other times, the screen power will completely shut off. In addition, while in motion, sometimes the engine will suddenly lose all power, the steering locks up, decelerates and all power to the vehicle shuts off. The only solution is to turn the vehicle completely off, wait a few minutes and start it again.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #131

Mar 132020

Cherokee

  • 64,077 miles
Both the electronic throttle control system lights came on. The vehicle repeatedly would seem to glitch out while operating at varying speeds in motion on city streets and highways. Seems to lose power for very brief spurts.

- Incline Village, NV, USA

problem #130

Feb 272020

Cherokee

  • 40,000 miles
I have owned my vehicle for about 3 years and just the beginning of this year (2020) I have had two problems with the service shifter light coming on while going at a speed of 55 mph. Both times I have been driving on the highway and the light just comes on and all the lights on my shifter panel light up. If I turn the vehicle off then right back on the transmission light comes on and will stay on for a couple of days. I've contacted several different dealerships and they tell me they dont know what the problem is.

- Hazlehurst, GA, USA

problem #129

Mar 092020

Cherokee

  • 47,000 miles
Service shifter light keeps coming on. All the lights light up on shifter. Car keeps sounding like it's revving on its own. And also car keeps feeling like brakes trying to slow down car by itself, and that happens sometimes while it sounds like revving at same time.

- Dudley, MA, USA

problem #128

Mar 052020

Cherokee

  • 49,000 miles
At about 20K miles, a warning on the display popped up that says, "service shifter" and all of the gear shift lights all lit up. This happened two times, once while the vehicle was in motion and once while it was parked. After those two times, it stopped and didn't happen again until now. The issue has returned at 45K miles and is happening a lot. When it happens while I'm moving, the engine revs up really high. When I'm parked and it happens, I have to turn the vehicle off and back on before I can shift into gear. The dealership has not provided a solution.

- Grapeview, WA, USA

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