10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
32,480 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Jeep Cherokee Owner Comments (Page 2 of 15)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #261

Aug 282023

Cherokee

  • miles

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

Complete loss of power while driving.

- Verona, NJ, USA

problem #260

Aug 292023

Cherokee

  • miles
Car hesitation to accelerate and jerks when driving from a start. Took it to the dealer and they couldn-??t get a code from issues. The issue happens sporadically but will be taking car back again to see if they can figure it out after next incident.

- Hazel Wood , MO, USA

problem #259

Aug 042023

Cherokee

  • miles
Since inception of purchasing the vehicle in January 2019, I have experienced a sudden jolt, banging sound/feeling. In the beginning the issue was subtle. In addition, I have felt a sudden loss of speed. It should be noted I did not seek any service at this time. As a side note, sometime in 2020/2021 i received a letter of a recall for fault PTU however this was for another jeep i owned no longer in my possession. This prompted me to call mopar to see if my current vin was possibly on that first recall of jeeps however i was advised it was not even though i had experienced the same issues described. Fast forward to as of recently august 2023, I received a recall letter with this current vin and proceeded to the nearest dealership for repair. I was advised the repair was a software update. As I was leaving the dealership after the update, I felt the loss of power, jolt and grinding when turning to backup with the service 4wd illuminated. I reparked and walked back inside the dealership when I was advised the repair was only a software update. In addition, I was advised a diagnostic test could be done for $175. I was advised to wait a couple of key cycles to see if the issues corrects itself. The software update has since not corrected itself and I feel as though I am at risk of an accident. This issue is getting worse with my vehicle and is a safety concern. I feel as though I am being penalized for faulty PTU which is on the manufacturer for costs to assure correction/repairs made. Thank you your time in reading this.

- Sterling Heights, MI, USA

problem #258

Aug 022023

Cherokee

  • miles

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

The vehicle just cuts off while in the middle of driving and everything shuts off. New battery installed 2 months ago, no loose cables, plenty of gas. Cutting off while driving poses a very bad hazard. The last time it happened the shop that had recently changed my oil two weeks prior said it was due to loose battery cables and it has now been a month since that occurrence took place. Now it's happening again.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #257

Jun 232023

Cherokee

  • miles
I was driving mid day today and I noticed my display on the dash had gone dim as if the headlights had turned on and the dash lights dimmed expecting it to be dark inside. I then got a ding about the auto shutoff when stopped feature not working (this has been dinging for a few years and hasn-??t worked since shortly after I got the vehicle in 2018, however it-??s been working the last few weeks). I was pulling into a grocery store looking for a spot when all of a sudden the car died. I lost brakes and power steering but luckily was going slow. I turned off the key, put it in park, and it turned right back on. I pulled into a spot and then noticed the engine light on. I-??ve read countless forums about this exact issue. Other owners have experienced this since their Jeep was brand new. I-??ve had this for 5 years without issues until lately. Prior to the is event, my car was experiencing the same issue with the display dimming. A week prior to the stall today, I was driving around 70 mph when the dash dimmed and I think went completely dark for a bit. I got a ding about the auto shutoff and another stating that 4wd was not available. I tried to turn my headlights on and off but there was nothing. I didn-??t have any blinkers either. I pulled over, turned it off and back on and all was fine the rest of the hour-long drive home. I am extremely concerned about it stalling, especially if I-??m turning in front of traffic at an intersection. This is not uncommon and other owners are concerned for their safety as well.

- Traverse City, MI, USA

problem #256

Jun 012023

Cherokee

  • miles
For months now I keep having something wrong not sure whats wrong either it-??s engine, powertrain. It keeps doing different stuff. First it-??s acting like it want to dye like stall out for no reason. Sometimes it loses power like hitting the gas peddle but won-??t go engine just fires up. The other day I had issues trying to put into reverse to back up hit the gas and it just accelerated really bad but didn-??t move almost like it was stuck in gear. I-??ll be driving down road and out of nowhere my car accelerated gears to 3/4 wouldn-??t go down when i was going 40 on straight road. Took few minutes to unstick. Whatever is going on seriously needs looked into bc i am worried it-??s gonna cause me get hit. This been going on for couple years and i am about ready to trade my Jeep in for different dealer

- Antioch, TN, USA

problem #255

May 182023

Cherokee

  • miles

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

Engine and drive bad engine but just bought less 7 month ago

- Vassar , MI, USA

problem #254

Nov 102022

Cherokee

  • miles
I-??ve been doing my research and the same issue my car is having many keeps have also had. On highways our card will go limp and stall out. The engine light will come on and the four wheel drive will become not functional. This is a severe issue in winter. As well as the lack of control on highways. I was driving on the highway going 65 up a hill my car engine light went on i lost all acceleration had to coast to the shoulder. When this happened i turned my car off and back on I couldn-??t accelerate up the hill and stayed rolling back it took 45 minutes being shut for me to get out of limp mode. It does it to me every single time I leave my house now. The scanner will not show what-??s wrong I-??ve put 100s of dollars into my jeep trying to fix the issue and it-??s still the same. This is a sever issue for winter and highway driving. It also feels like the wheel gets hard to turn when this happens. It also sounds like the engine is shaking badly or thumping.

- Meadville, PA, USA

problem #253

May 062019

Cherokee

  • miles
Sometimes when I mash the gas pedal to pull out from a stop it hesitates and doesn't move, then is sluggish when it does. This has happened often. It's dangerous.

- Soddy Daisy, TN, USA

problem #252

Apr 052023

Cherokee

  • miles
My Vehicle shuts down once a day, every morning after about a couple minutes of driving. The engine shuts off, the dash notifies me to "Shift vehicle into park then desired gear" but with my engine off, I have to restart my car as well. My car won't restart unless I try over and over and hold the key while turning the ignition. Occasionally I get a "Service Shifter" notification on my dash but no lights or notifications besides that. I've been to one Jeep dealership service department so far and they were not able to locate the cause.

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #251

Jan 012023

Cherokee

  • miles

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

Start stop system is malfunctioning. It will go off that it is malfunctioning after I go down the hill or up the hill sometimes if it-??s wet out it-??ll just go off but it-??s not working and the other problem I-??m having is the engine oil coolant housing. cracked. I noticed A bad smell of oil, then when I parked and came out of the store a bunch of oil under my car and further inspecting with my brother who was a mechanic, but retired said it is the oil engine coolant housing. He doesn-??t understand why they put plastic for that type of part. both of these problems started in January 2023

- Pittsburg , NH, USA

problem #250

Apr 012023

Cherokee

  • miles
For last yr i keep having car want stall did recall on it. Helped for bit, then it-??s always wanting stick between 2/3 when trying change gears. On different recall it fixed for bit the temp on transmission bouncing back forth a lot in temps. I have recorded video to show it. Now my engine light is on for P0441 code with power train possible evap leak. It just keeps being one problem after another like it-??s not wanting to get gas to it what seems like. It-??s all happened over last year and engine light came on Sat

- Antioch, TN, USA

problem #249

Aug 132022

Cherokee

  • miles
This car has had reoccurring issues related to the engine, ignition module and starter. It breaks down every few weeks. It has left me broken down and stranded on freeways, city roads and most recently on the side of a hill. When the key is inserted, it will not turn over completely and even after the key is removed the engine continues to make clicking sounds as if it is still trying to turn over and it smokes from underneath the hood. There were no warning indications. It has been taken to the dealer numerous times for the same issue but they do not find a problem and return it back to me just for it to occur again. Or the dealership will say they've fixed it but nothing has actually been done to the car. The dealership continues to be negligent. After the most recent occurence of the car leaving me stuck on the side of a hill and smoking, it was brought to the dealership August 2021 and still remains there as they continue to give me false hop in repairs. I have now not that vehicle in my possession for 6 months.

- Pleasanton, CA, USA

problem #248

Mar 022023

Cherokee

  • miles
Engine oil cooler failure, had to be replaced. Known issue per 3 techs. Leaks oil onto engine and exhaust. No warning, just the smoke and smell of burning oil. Occurred at 73,200 miles more or less.

- Culloden, WV, USA

problem #247

Jan 252023

Cherokee

  • miles
The component that needed replacement was the PTU (Power Transfer Unit). My Service 4WD drive light began going on so I brought it to my mechanic who told me there was a recall associated with this diagnostic code and to bring it to Jeep dealership. I then brought to dealership, was charged $160 and told that the recall was not for my particular VIN number and the cost of the repair was $3,000. When I googled this issue, there were all of the same warning lights, and all told that the PTU had failed. I fond it hard to believe that this same unit is faulty in the same year, make and model but only in specific cars" Isn't it the same part" I had to save up for the repair as it was costly. I was told that the car was drive-able. I was then driving with my daughter in the car and the car stopped accelerating and warning lights came on. I had to coast into a parking lot and the dashboard flashed to put the car in park. I put it in park and then car still would not accelerate. I called Jeep Customer Service to try and discuss this matter, as I could not afford the repair but need my vehicle for my job. They told me there was nothing they could do and there was no recall on my vehicle. The problem has been repaired by an independant service center on 2/8/23 for $1430 I have been a loyal Jeep customer for over 20 years and was very disheartened by this latest issue and how it was handled.

- Leonardo, NJ, USA

problem #246

Jan 262023

Cherokee

  • miles
Car randomly looses all power. I was driving with out any indication of a problem then the car stalls out causing a life or death moment. When I was about to get the car to restart I was overwhelmed with codes noting loss of communication with almost all body controls. 84k

- Beech Grove, IN, USA

problem #245

Aug 132020

Cherokee

  • miles
Vehicle hesitates, vibrates, looses momentum, shutters, almost stalls when ac to touched since the day I bought it at napelton jeep in palm beach fla. I was told it-??s a jeep thing. The engine roars to like like it-??s fighting to start. A fan sound will go on and off non stop effecting the power and rpm-??s. A loss of power happens and then the car goes back to normal after a completely shaking the cab vibrating and shuttering

- Beech Grove, IN, USA

problem #244

Jan 172023

Cherokee

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that upon having the vehicle inspected, the contact was informed by the technician that there was a crack in the oil engine housing and needed to be replaced. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and the contact was informed that both were aware of the failure, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 140,000. The VIN was not available.

- Poland, ME, USA

problem #243

Apr 222019

Cherokee 4-cyl

  • miles
My 2016 jeep Cherokee Limited which has the 2.4 L Tiger Shark engine is failing miserably. There is a extremely obvious ring around the entirety of the engine block. The manifold gasket has failed. The head gasket has never been removed by myself or by a jeep dealership who had my authority to do so. The indicator lights on my vehicle still have not illuminated other than alerting in me I had a faulty water pump which had to be replaced at 75k miles. The OEM thermostat is plastic. Not metal as it should be considering the elevated temp produced by 2.4 L Tiger Shark engine. That engine has destroyed the gasket. The damage started at the right hand side-??opposite of oil opening-?? about the middle of the gasket head. My vehicle was serviced by jeep multiple times at Napleton-??s JDR in West Palm Beach and the Jeep dealership in Greenwood Indiana. No one brought to my attention that I should have them investigate that. Instead alerted me to my windshield wipers needing to be replaced, Mind you a had done that the month prior from the same dealership. I question now why the engine was so very deeply cleaned when I purchased it and they even cleaned it twice in the days between me seeing and picking up the vehicle. They are aware of this. They were doing the oil changes. I asked how the oil was they always just said a bit low and never mentioned it unless asked. My next statement will be the now knocking pinging pistons. Mind you this Tiger Shark engine lifters/pistions are put in motion by OIL PRESSURE. Strangely the same problem Tiger Shark 2.4L is known for. No wonder so many people complain of there cars becoming immobilized when oil is beyond low. This is a very expensive fix. They knew it. Jeep would bankrupt if they had to either fix every single 2,4 L Tiger Shark engine and likely the multi air flow ones also. When I-??m truth they should be totally replaced a blow head gasket and full engine tear down to replace lifters, head gasket+seal piston rings, spark plugs-??

- Beech Grove, IN, USA

problem #242

Oct 262022

Cherokee

  • miles
When Driving car if you began to go down hill the car will race motor and run away by its self It is very dangerous in curvy and hilly areas. This cay be caused on a daily bases

- Parsons, TN, USA

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