Is the 2016 Jeep Cherokee a bad year?
1,415 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 638, 22× a quiet Cherokee year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 26k–70k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 19 of 636 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 Cherokee owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 49,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 638 (45%) | 26k–70k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 298 (21%) | 27k–64k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 76 (5%) | 18k–57k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 321 (23%) | 27k–58k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 93 (7%) | 18k–54k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Steering | 54 (4%) | 20k–60k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Fuel system | 45 (3%) | 24k–56k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 33 (2%) | 13k–70k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 31 (2%) | 25k–66k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 30 (2%) | 23k–59k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 21 (1%) | 7k–57k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Exterior lighting | 20 (1%) | 3k–52k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Wheels | 17 (1%) | 7k–55k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Visibility and wipers | 13 (1%) | 1k–66k miles · around this mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 49,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,415 complaints: 37 mention a crash · 15 mention a fire · 19 report an injury · 51 say the car was towed.
74 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Our 2016 Jeep cherokee (Latitude 4WD) has been stalling after a cold start. The battery indicator flashes and then registers a message to place the car in p to shift into gear.
Transmission recall. While driving on an interstate, 'service transmission' appears on dash, and vehicle ceases to accelerate.
When I was driving at highway, all the sudden service transmission light on and transmission meter went up to the highest point, car stopped by itself.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 49,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Jeep Cherokee: 9
An electrical short in the power liftgate module may lead to a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power or loss of park function. A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Relative movement in the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) between the differential input splines and the transmission output shaft may cause some input spline teeth to wear off, which may eventually cause a loss of engagement between the transmission and the differential inside the PTU. A loss of drive can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning. A loss of the Park function can cause unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged… If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
The seat fasteners on the first or second row seats may not have been tightened to the proper torque specification. Loose fasteners may allow the seats to move, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupants in the event of a crash.
The left halfshaft may have been incorrectly manufactured causing it to fracture without warning. A fractured halfshaft may disconnect from the drive axle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The right halfshaft may have been incorrectly manufactured causing it to fracture without warning. A fractured halfshaft may disconnect from the drive axle, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, water may leak into the Power Liftgate Control Module and result in a high resistance short circuit. A short circuit in the module increases the risk of a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Jeep: 197
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Unable To Clear C1494-07 And C14A9-00 After 45A Recall Technicians may experience the following: SYMPTOM: wiTECH displays a mismatch error after performing…
2.4L Excessive Oil Consumption XB1 Warranty Extension
MIL/check engine lamp comes on after performing U90 recall PCM software update
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Electronic Parking Brake Water Ingress
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2015 Cherokee: 1,794 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2017 Cherokee: 1,339 complaints, consider selling.
Every Jeep Cherokee year
2000 · 2001 · 2006 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2026 · All Cherokee years side by side
Other Jeep models: Jeep Commander · Jeep Compass · Jeep Gladiator · Jeep Grand Cherokee · Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe · Jeep Grand Cherokee L · Jeep Grand Wagoneer · Jeep Laredo · Jeep Liberty · Jeep Patriot · Jeep Renegade · Jeep Wagoneer · Jeep Wrangler · Jeep Wrangler 4xe · Jeep Wrangler Sahara. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2016 Jeep Cherokee a bad year?
1,415 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 638, 22× a quiet Cherokee year. At 49,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 26k–70k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 19 of 636 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Jeep Cherokee?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (638), electrical system (298), speed control (76), engine (321), brakes (93). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 26k–70k miles.
How many recalls does the 2016 Jeep Cherokee have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Body structure (NHTSA 23V-338), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 23V-302), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 20V-343), Speed control (NHTSA 18V-332) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.