Is the 2018 Jeep Renegade a bad year?
444 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 191, 17× a quiet Renegade year.
Consider selling
Half of all engine complaints about the 2018 Jeep Renegade were filed between 5k and 41k miles. You're at 20,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 Renegade 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 20,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 191 (43%) | 5k–41k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 131 (30%) | 4k–35k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 100 (23%) | 8k–52k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 58 (13%) | 5k–42k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 20 (5%) | 6k–30k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed control | 16 (4%) | 6k–30k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 8 (2%) | 10k–38k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 9 (2%) | 23k–56k miles · ahead | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 12 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 11 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 5 (1%) | too few with a 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 20,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 444 complaints: 16 mention a crash · 8 mention a fire · 10 report an injury · 33 say the car was towed.
28 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
When operating the vehicle, especially on turns, the car will cut out and not accelerate when they accelerator is pushed down.
While driving, my Jeep renegade will just turn off. I have to pull off to the side of the road and put the car in park and try to restart the car a couple of times.
Purchased vehicle july 2019. Today I was making a right hand turn and the d light started blinking and the car just shut off.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 20,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2018 Jeep Renegade: 2
In certain operating conditions such as high power demand in conjunction with high altitude and/or high ambient temperatures, a manufacturing error in the fuel pump assembly may result in a loss of fuel pressure. A loss of fuel pressure can cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition. A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
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: 137
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 Jeep Renegade. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
2.4L Excessive Oil Consumption XS1 Warranty Extension
2.4L Excessive Oil Consumption XB1 Warranty Extension
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
2.4L Engine Oil Consumption Test The customer may comment that the vehicles engine oil level is low or they need to add oil between oil change intervals and no…
Neighbouring years
2017 Renegade: 567 complaints, consider selling · 2019 Renegade: 80 complaints, keep it.
Every Jeep Renegade year
2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · All Renegade years side by side
Other Jeep models: Jeep Cherokee · 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 Wagoneer · Jeep Wrangler · Jeep Wrangler 4xe · Jeep Wrangler Sahara. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2018 Jeep Renegade a bad year?
444 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 191, 17× a quiet Renegade year. At 20,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all engine complaints about the 2018 Jeep Renegade were filed between 5k and 41k miles. You're at 20,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Jeep Renegade?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (191), electrical system (131), fuel system (100), transmission and drivetrain (58), brakes (20). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 5k–41k miles.
How many recalls does the 2018 Jeep Renegade have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Fuel system (NHTSA 18V-731), Electrical system (NHTSA 18V-524). 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.