Is the 2016 Jeep Wrangler a bad year?
464 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Wrangler years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2016 Jeep Wrangler are in line with other Wrangler years. Brakes and air bags stand out for this year: see below.
7th quietest of 20 Wrangler years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 Wrangler 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 59,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 139 (30%) | 31k–76k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 77 (17%) | 19k–76k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 93 (20%) | 26k–71k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 57 (12%) | 18k–60k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 74 (16%) | 12k–54k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 36 (8%) | 22k–43k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 28 (6%) | 12k–49k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 18 (4%) | 7k–30k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 14 (3%) | 16k–50k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Stability control | 13 (3%) | 20k–46k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Collision avoidance | 12 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 10 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 8 (2%) | 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 59,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 464 complaints: 28 mention a crash · 15 mention a fire · 28 report an injury · 26 say the car was towed.
57 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
The oil filter canister/oil cooler is cracked and is leaking oil. This is an environmental hazard.
I had the check engine light come on and it was reading a P0302 code. This code is associated with the "Pentastar tick".
Head gaskets had to be replaced at 25712 miles in july 2017. Currently still losing coolant. FCA tech advisor states there is nothing wrong.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 59,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Jeep Wrangler: 5
Debris contamination may cause the clockspring to fail, preventing the driver's air bag from deploying in a crash. An air bag that does not deploy in a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The driver's seat belt buckle mounting strap may fracture and separate from the seat frame. A separated or severed seat belt buckle strap will result in an inoperable seat belt, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
In certain crash conditions, the front impact sensor wiring may be pulled until it detaches before a signal can be received by the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC). If the ORC module does not receive a signal from the front impact sensor, both frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The clockspring assembly may become contaminated with dust and cause the air bag circuit to fail. Failure of the air bag circuit may prevent the driver's frontal air bag from deploying in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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: 116
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Jeep Wrangler. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Suspected Engine Coolant Leak
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA)
Gear Ratio DTC's, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Seat belt buckle bracket failure
Electrical overstress
Neighbouring years
2015 Wrangler: 481 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2017 Wrangler: 312 complaints, keep it.
Every Jeep Wrangler year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Wrangler 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 Renegade · Jeep Wagoneer · Jeep Wrangler 4xe · Jeep Wrangler Sahara. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2016 Jeep Wrangler a bad year?
464 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Wrangler years. At 59,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Jeep Wrangler?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (139), air bags (77), engine (93), electrical system (57), transmission and drivetrain (74).
How many recalls does the 2016 Jeep Wrangler have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 24V-196), Seat belts (NHTSA 19V-680), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-018), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-734) 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.