NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Jeep Cherokee. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
My 2016 Jeep Cherokee Latitude is 9years old with 89,800 miles of regular driving & being fully maintained. The Service 4-wheel light came on & I brought it to my mechanic immediately the next day. I was advised after performing tests, it was the PTU in my car. I was advised there is a recall & to take it to the dealer. I did that immediately, while being terrified to drive it as I was advised it could be very dangerous. I or someone could have been badly injured or worse if this part gave way while driving. Something this dangerous should be mentioned immediately to ALL vehicle owners. The dealer confirmed it is the PTU & that it had to be replaced. I was advised my vin was not under the very large recall & well know issue on this part. After a lot of research, Stellantis is well aware of the issue & there is a recall for 2017- 2019 models. Also, they don't have plan in place or a way of correcting this part & distributing it quickly. I had a recall in 2020 for a software update on this and it was taken care of immediately. For some reason the failure of my PTU is not under this recall & I have to pay out of pocket. It has been 3 weeks & still no part due to the huge issue with this part and Stellantis not working hard enough to rectify this known issue or have replacements available. Stellantis needs to extend the recall to all 2016 Cherokee's especially since this is a major issue on this make and model. This is so unacceptable. I am without a vehicle and cannot even use it until the part comes in since it is extremely unsafe to drive (told by my mechanic and the dealer). The consumer should not be penalized due to the incompetence of these auto makers. We are supposed to be safe in our vehicles especially when they are maintained as well as mine is. We spend our hard-earned money and should not have to pay for all these defects due to the poor quality the auto makers are rolling out. Not to mention the resale has dropped significantly!
After purchasing the vehicle, I discovered it had an open FCA recall W90 (Tigershark MultiAir oil consumption/emission system repair). The dealer had not completed this recall prior to selling the vehicle. The vehicle was brought in for the W90 recall, and the repair was reportedly completed last week by a certified dealer. I found recall W90 because the car was overheating and stuttering on starts. The Safter Concern is that the coolant loss and erratic idle may indicate internal gasket or head integrity issues due to engine running hotter than it should, potentially leading to overheating or sudden engine failure while driving. This poses a serious safety risk if the engine fails at speed or stalls in traffic. I ask that the NHTSA review whether recall W90 adequately addresses known mechanical and emission defects with the 2.4 L Tigershark MultiAir engine, and ensure affected owners receive a verified repair or extended coverage for ongoing engine and coolant-loss failures.
Subject: Urgent Safety Concern – 2016 Jeep Cherokee Gear Shifting Issue Good Morning, I am writing to report a serious safety concern with my 2016 Jeep Cherokee. I have been experiencing persistent issues with the gear shifter and transmission that I believe may be related to a known defect or may warrant investigation under a recall. The gear shifter frequently locks up and does not change gears properly. It stays in the wrong gear for an extended period—both when going uphill and downhill—before finally shifting, often accompanied by a loud noise. In some cases, the gear becomes stuck entirely, forcing me to take my foot off the accelerator. This delay in shifting poses a significant risk, especially in traffic, as I temporarily lose control of the vehicle's speed. During these moments, pressing the accelerator has no effect, which could easily lead to a dangerous situation. While the vehicle is still drivable, it consistently displays warning indicators suggesting a serious issue that needs professional attention. These problems are ongoing and seem to be getting worse over time. Given the safety implications, I am requesting that Jeep investigate this matter urgently and confirm whether my vehicle is subject to any active recalls or technical service bulletins (TSBs). If not, I would still appreciate guidance on how to resolve this as soon as possible, as I am concerned for my safety and that of others on the road. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] Email [XXX] VIN# [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the parking brake switch was released, however the parking brake failed to release as intended. The contact stated that after several attempts, the parking brake was released. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed park brake switch. The contact was informed that the parking brake switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that parts were on back order. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
The Power Transfer Unit in my 2016 Jeep Cherokee failed when it only had 50,255 miles on it. The car was almost 10 years old. In the past month, when I tried to accelerate to 50 mph to merge on the highway, the Jeep did not accelerate normally when I pressed on the gas. Instead, it went slowly and made a revving noise, then when I hit the accelerator again, it made the revving noise louder and reluctantly started to accelerate. It would also lose drive power when going down a steep incline. There were a few instances of that and then the “SERVICE 4WD” light came on every day when I would put the car into reverse and stay on for the rest of the time I was driving the car. After that light came on, I noticed there was abnormal vibration underneath the middle of the car when I would drive it, too. The problem was confirmed on [XXX] in the service department of the Don White’s Jeep dealership in Cockeysville, Maryland, and the car is available for inspection there. My service advisor told me my Jeep needs a new PTU and the estimated cost of the repair is $3563 (not including tax). I ordered the new PTU on 7/29/25, but the parts manager at the dealership said the part is on backorder, and it will take at least 1 month, if not multiple months to get the part because there are “380 other Jeep owners” waiting for this same part. With the vibration, loss of motive power both on inclines and when attempting to accelerate and merge onto the highway, the safety of my family was put at risk; Our Jeep could lose drive power and the car could stop on the highway with cars speeding all around us. It could cause a crash. My PTU failed at 50,255 after not quite 10 years of very light driving. There’s no way that part should have failed under those normal conditions. My VIN number should be included in recall 20V343000 or FCA should reimburse me for this part. The repair would have been covered under my warranties if my VIN was included in the original recalls or X89 extension. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Vehicle in dealership service dept since July 16, 2025 for manufacturing recall; attempted repair rendered vehicle inoperable; 2nd part ordered arrived damaged; third part in open order until verbal date of February 2026; no recall remedy such as loaner vehicle; extended warranty purchased but cannot use; manufacturer warranty expired; need transportation
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while the liftgate was closed, there was a warning light indicating that the liftgate was open. The contact stated that upon attempting to open the liftgate, the liftgate failed to open. The contact also stated that there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the rear of the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and advised the contact to park the vehicle outside and not to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V338000 (Electrical System, Structure) was performed; however, the power liftgate failed to close after the repair, and the battery was drained. The dealer jump-started the vehicle and determined that the liftgate latch needed to be replaced. The contact was charged a fee for the repair, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle the following day, the contact noticed that the windshield wipers were inoperable. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where an unknown fuse was replaced, and the windshield wipers became inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated that the rearview camera image was black while reversing, and the infotainment system was inoperable intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing difficulty starting. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start on one occasion and was jump-started by AAA. The vehicle was taken to Firestone, where it was diagnosed with a lack of electrical connection with the key fob. The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The contact stated that the various electrical failures had started after the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,286.
THE AUTOMATIC START STOP SYSTEM SHOWS FAILED.
When coming to a stop the auto stop turned the engine totally off. The car had to be shifted into park to restart the engine using the car's starter button. Afterward a message was displayed that the autostop was not available and to get the autostop serviced. The car was brought to the dealer for service of the full engine shutoff when the car came to a stop issue and the service manager stated they could not duplicate the problem. Since then the car engine totally shutoff 5 times when at a full stop and where the car needed to be placed in park and the start button pushed to restart the car. I now manually shutoff the autostop feature before leaving my house to avoid having the car engine fully shut off. The autostop not available message now displays within 2 minutes of starting the car.
I’ve went to get my car inspected and it shows 1 recall for “IN-USE NOX - CATALYST EFFICIENCY” . There was no warning signs on my dashboard. My car just acts differently and it sounds much louder. My dealership, CarMax can’t repair it for free and charging over $100 for a diagnostic alone.
The contact owned a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that around 5AM, when parked on the driveway the day before in the evening, the contact's wife heard abnormal noise from a window and discovered the vehicle had caught on fire. As a result of the fire, two other vehicles and the contact's residence were damaged. The vehicle was unoccupied during the fire. A fire inspector informed that the fire was an electrical one near the battery and fuse panel. The fire was extinguished by the fire department with water and foam. A fire department report was filed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the message "Shift to Park(P)” was displayed, and several other warning lights were illuminated on the instrument cluster. The failure had occurred while exiting a parking lot and turning left. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle stalled and stalled while accelerating and changing lanes. There were no warning lights illuminated immediately, but then several unknown warning lights were illuminated. After the vehicle had stalled, several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle. During several failures, the headlights and the hazard lights were not functioning as needed. The failure was intermittent but became a recurring failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who performed a tune-up and cleaned the fuel lines. The vehicle was repaired; however, the vehicle stalled again. The vehicle was taken back to the same mechanic who determined that the fuel cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the vehicle stalled. The contact researched and became aware that the engine had been replaced in 2017. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.
Went to go to the grocery store and the Electronic Park Brake was engaged. Had it reset, went to the grocery store and it was re-engaged. Had it towed to dealer, upon diagnosis, corrosion was found at EPB module and connector pin. Declined repair and had it towed back home due to dealership quoting almost three thousand dollars for parts and repair. Upon later research, found that there is a known issue with water intrusion in this area that caused this and that there is a class action lawsuit due to almost 1.3 million vehicles affected by this and has been known about for almost 5 years. Dealership claims sunroof does leak but there has never been evidence of a leak from that area.
WHEN AT IDLE AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT THE PARKING BRAKE WILL ENGAGE. I HAVE TO PUT MY JEEP IN PARK AND THEN TURN THE JEEP OFF AND BACK ON A FEW TIMES TO DISENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES.
Component: Power Transfer Unit (PTU) [XXX] , but my VIN is not included. The power transfer unit has failed. This appears to be a manufacturing defect identical to those listed under the recall. I am requesting immediate inclusion and repair under the recall provisions.”2. Contact Jeep (Stellantis) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
After buying the car from a used dealer, within 1,000 miles the car began grinding in slow accelerated turns. It has been diagnosed as the PTU which has many recalls before and after this particular D4 part. With all of the recalls and extended warranty adjustments for this part, why would mine not be covered? This was to be safe reliable car for my teenagers to drive, now that is no longer the case. Very disappointing
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? A.)Transmission has been 'stuck in 2WD' since I bought it (I was unaware of the DT issue during purchase from Boktor Motors in Las Vegas, NV). I have tried to contact dealership with no response and a blocked phone number. Car has been towed 120 miles to Wolfchase CDJ in Bartlett, TN and is being diagnosed. [In ref: NHTSA campaign number: 25V011) Power Transfer Unit(PTU)] How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? A.) I was on my way from Lakeland, TN to Chattanooga for summer vacation with my children and we were on a highway with a small shoulder and 2 lanes. We were able to pull to the side of the road and slowly make our way to the rest stop, Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? A.) It is currently at Wolfchase CDJ in Bartlett, TN for full diagnosis. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? A.) Not yet. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? A.) 'Service 4WD' was on at the dealership when I test drove it, but the owner, Mina Boktor, assured me that it was because they replaced the battery. He also wrote on the warranty page of my purchase paperwork that he would fix any repairs associated with the 4WD light if it was delivered to Tennessee with the same code. Boktor Motors associates refused to answer my calls and nobody ever returned my calls or emails. About 6 months later, my shifter started lighting up all red lights with the warning 'service shifter' in the notification screen.
THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, BUT IT GOES OFF SOMETIMES WHEN I RESTART. EVERY TIME I ASK SOMEONE TO CHECK IT OUT, THEY SAY THERE'S NOTHING TO SEE UNLESS IT IS ON. I DON'T WANT THIS TO CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT WHEN IT IS NOT ON ALL THE TIME. I HAVE A PICTURE OF IT AND I AM STILL REFUSED SERVICE FOR IT.
Vehicle started making growling noise. Engine light and 4wd lights came on. Transfer case has been diagnosed with damage.
vehicle losing power even when on. Does not accelerate in drive or reverse. My issue is the dealer found corroded wires, but when did they not say that the last time it was in which was 3 months ago. They also all of sudden tell me my battery does not fit my Jeep so they needed to replace to new battery in order to be able s add mf diagnose. All this makes no sense.
On or about [XXX] on Tuesday [XXX] my parking brake automatically engaged itself. With the help of a friend, pulled fuse and emergency brake was disengaged and I got to drive home. Two days later, same issue, now this time tried same remedy and it did NOT work. So now I’m stranded 30 miles from home with my dog. Call tow truck, tow vehicle to dealer, dealer said water had something to do with module activated emergency brake. I’m without vehicle for days while they locate module and have a guy who comes in once a week to find out where water is coming from. I’ve read at least 80 complaints on the issue today. Isn’t Chrysler gonna do anything about this problem? Sad, broke and car less! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Car goes into "limp mode" while driving. Will slow to a complete stop, not rev, and says "Shift to P then desired gear". All other components of car are on (battery barely a year old). Try to follow command prompt; after putting car in P, and shifting to D, it still won't rev. I was on an incline and began rolling backwards. Good thing no one was behind me at the time. Had to turn completely off. On startup, it's stuttering and takes a while to start. Turns on fine and will drive, but is physically jerking between gears. Then, the first time I have to stop for a significant time and idle, it will do it again. I follow process again and was able to record video, because I was on a back street and pulled over in time, luckily. Upon driving the next day and taking to dealer, it is still jerking. Dealer cannot replicate and shows no error codes, so they say to just keep driving and can only help if I bring in while it is happening? That is literally insane. Same thing happened a year ago, but after filling up and being on "Empty". I went to a independent mechanic then, which is why I was hopeful the dealer would have more insight into the problem. That mechanic also could not replicate. They said it could be a fuel line or pump issue and to never let gas get too low, or go through costly man hours to check the fuel line, but then it couldn't be that at all, so could still be back at square one. That time, it stopped me in a busy intersection TWICE and was far more terrifying. I decided to skip the potentially pointless and definitely expensive fuel line investigation. I decided to take it in again when it happened and followed the "don't let gas get too low" directive and had no further issues until 5/5/25.
The PTU system is failing. If it completely fails, the car will lock at any time. The part is backordered and may take months to get here because so many Jeep owners are having this problem. The dealerships confirmed this. There is a service 4wd light.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the "Service 4x4" warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer who informed the contact that the PTU software needed to be updated. The vehicle was repaired; however, the "Service 4x4" warning light illuminated again. The contact had taken the vehicle back to the same dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the differential, rear axle, and PTU needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and found that the failure had occurred twice, prior to the most recent failure of the same parts. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that there was no "Goodwill Assistance" available for the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.
Parking brake module and connector got major water damage. My mechanic found over four gallons of water under my spare tire compartment. After inspecting it he found the module and wires fried. While driving my parking brake light came on and by time I parked my parking brake would not disengage. Check engine light, parking brake light, and traction control light. My vehicle is currently with my mechanic and currently being looked at. He is still trying to find parts and find the cause of the water leak. This was a very dangerous situation that could have caused a major accident.
My 2016 jeep cherokee is displaying the service 4x4 & has vibration while driving. I took it to a shop & was told the transfer case needed to be replaced so I had it done. The transfer case was replaced with new one & the module software keeps kicking it back & the mechanic replaced the software module twice & it keeps happening. On 2 separate occasions I have taken the jeep to the jeep dealer due to the power train software needing to be updated cause it was under recall. I have had the jeep since June 2024 & already had to replace 4 different parts. It would turn off while driving when I first got it & after 3 parts were replaced it stopped & the "service 4x4" message showed up.
Head gasket and cylinder head replacement. There are bubbles in my coolant and oil in cylinder #1. No external leaks. I’ve already called a dealer and cited W80 and they said not eligible for the recall to get it fixed
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The failure persisted and the "Service 4WD" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed, and the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective power transfer unit. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V302000 (Power Train); which the contact linked to the failure. The contact searched the VIN and discovered that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.
Service 4 wheel drive alert warning. Dealership inspected and said Power transfer unit
My Daughter was driving home from work at the very busy time of day. Her vehicle just shut down. It was still running, but it had no power. She was almost hit by many other vehicles because of this. She called in a panic. I told her to kill it and restart it. She killed it, but had trouble restarting it. But she did get it restarted and was able to get it off the road and pulled into a Church parking lot. My Son and I went to help her and I was able to drive it home. But it tried to shut down a couple of times on the way. We took it to a dealer shop and they said it needs a new Power Transfer Unit. Very expensive part and it’s on back order because it’s failing on so many vehicles. They can’t even order it for 45 days. After researching this part, it seems it’s failing on many of this same vehicle. When I searched for a recall, it shows no recalls. I think this should be investigated. There was a recall on the power train that we had fixed. But it was just a software update. Now she has no vehicle for an indefinite period of time, and has been very traumatized by the incident.
The car shuts off while driving
While driving on [XXX] N in Jacksonville, FL on [XXX]. Driving below the recommended speed limit my Jeep Cherokee Sport started to rattle and shake so violently I almost lost control of the vehicle. I hit a small bump in the road, was forced off to the right side and the front drivers wheel broke off from the drum. It was a frightening experience and could have lost my life as the highway was busy with morning traffic. No know suspension issues before this happened. I understand this was a recall issue on different models of Jeep vehicles, so why wasn't the Cherokee Sport not included? I am currently waiting on repair cost and confirmation from the insurance company. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I was driving my car and the parking brake went on at a stop light and wouldn’t unstick. Water has been leaking in to the car and it isn’t properly sealed.
My cars PTU is broken and multiple similar cars have PTU recall yet my vin number is not part of recall.
I bought this vehicle a month ago and the engine stoped while I was driving 3 or 4 times.
March 12th pulled in my drive way and put jeep in park took foot off break and jeep cut off. Also still having the issues where the gears will say to put car in P then it will switch to N, I will put in P then back to D or R and it works fine. I reported this several months ago also and since then it has done it about 3 or 4 more times but no stored messages or check engine light comes on.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed air bag module. The contact was informed that the air bag module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,930.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle violently began jerking after releasing the accelerator pedal and depressing the brake pedal. There was an abnormal popping sound coming from the vehicle. The engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V302000 (Power Train). The contact called the local dealer, who discussed updating the software. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle at a gas station, the check engine and brake warning lights illuminated after restarting the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate after several attempts. A handheld scanner was used to retrieve a code for a failure with the parking brake. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the failure was confirmed. The contact was informed that the parking brake module, actuator, and wiring needed to be replaced and that the vehicle should be taken to the dealer for the repair. The local dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to have the vehicle towed in for a diagnostic test. The vehicle remained with the independent mechanic unrepaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000. The VIN was not available.
I have had my jeep since 2020, in September 2024 my "Service Transmission" notification displayed on the jeep. I took it a Jiffy Lube for a transmission service in which aftermarket fluid was put in the transmission and the filters were not replaced. The "Service Transmission" notification came back on in November, was taken into a mechanic that confirmed the Transmission Temperature Sensor had gone bad. The open recalls were repaired by a Jeep Dealership following the issues due to the recalls potentially having fixes for the "Service Transmission errors". Following that mechanic, it was taken to a dealership that diagnosed the Temperature Sensor and replaced the sensor and serviced the transmission. During the test drive, they noticed the transmission was jumping. After looking into it, they discovered that the transmission wasn't firing correctly. My friends with similar jeep transmissions, if not the same, are experiencing the same exact issues with the temperature sensor and transmission failures. There were no accidents reported, just issues directly related to the transmission.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied at 3 AM, the contact noticed a loud popping sound outside the contact's window. The contact inspected and noticed the vehicle caught on fire. The contact stated the flames were coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the fire spread and damaged the vehicle that was parked beside the contact's vehicle owned by the neighbor. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked in a residential apartment parking lot when the fire occurred. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The Police arrived, however, no report has been filed as of yet. There were no injuries sustained. The contact stated that both vehicles were towed to a local tow yard. In addition, both vehicles were condemned to total loss. The origin of the fire was undetermined however video surveillance showed that the fire started from the front area. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
I parked my vehicle at 6pm on February 15th. at 2:45 pm I awoke to a loud explosion outside my bedroom window. There was a very large fire, and it was my car. I was in shock we could only watch from our window as the fire department arrived and put out the fire which was spreading to the carport and mailboxes near my parking spot. It also burned a truck parked next to mine. both cars a total loss. My insurance company sent someone to tow my vehicle, but the tow truck driver refused saying the vehicle was untowable, due to the massive damage. the next day a neighbor informed me that he got the whole incident on video start to finish. 'The video shows my engine igniting while off and had been parked for over 6 hours. In the video you see a small flame start under the hood near the windshield wipers. the flame then grew and grew!!!! until the car was completely engulfed in flames. I also had a full tank of gas!!! Once the fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. the whole thing was melted to the concrete. the engine laying on the ground. A TOTAL LOSS!!!!
2016 Jeep Cherokee, owner since NOV22. Transfer Case (Service 4-wheel drive), warning light appeared after driving 1x time off-road in sand. From my knowledge, there was a previous recall/complaints however isn’t covered currently by manufacturer. Last year I previously went to a local Jeep dealer to fix the PTU software issue for the same component. The transfer case issue has been verified by a mechanic and is estimated to be +$3,200 for parts and labor. The vehicle is well maintained, transfer case’s fluid was not replaced upon inspection by mechanic. The vehicle has been used for daily commute on paved roads/highways. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the gear shifter was stuck in park(P). The contact stated that once the vehicle was parked, the gear shifter remained stuck in park(P). The contact manually depressed the button under the gear shifter to move the gear shifter. No warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.
On [XXX] my Jeep started making a grinding noise near the rear axle. Initially, thinking something had broken when I had hit a pot hole earlier that evening. We parked the car at a garage and the next day inspected it and said it sounded like the rear differential may be effected, advising it should be safe to drive in “sport” mode. I drove it to Blueridge Chrysler Jeep in Abingdon VA where I informed them I had discovered a Recall 45A on the Jeep, they kept the Jeep and called me in a few days saying it was only for an “software update” and it was fixed. Om [XXX], I drove my Jeep and upon getting less than a mile down the road it sounded like the backend was dragging. They called a tow truck & took it back to the garage & now with the MOPAR Extended warranty they would have to replace the PTU. It was part of the initial recall and it could affect the PTU and the RDM (rear differential). This part took months to be delivered and during that time I had to rent and borrow a car to get back and forth from work for over two months. In May, the service dept. called saying the Jeep was still making the dragging noise and may be the transmission or the Rear Differential, but they’re still looking into it. In June, after re-working the PTU, Blueridge has determined it is the Rear Differential that now needs replaced and when I asked about it all being a part of the MOPAR extended warranty and they told me I needed to call Chrysler Customer Care. I followed up and called and spoke to several people advising that the dealership would have to call MOPAR warranty. Today, 7/7/25, I spoke with Blueridge again and they are saying the Recall was only for an update. I referred to the details of the initial 45A recall that specifically says that if the update is not complete, it would lead to problems with the PTU & the rear differential. My stance is that MOPAR warranty should cover both the PTU and the Rear Differential under Both recalls the 45A and 20V343000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Vehicle making grinding noise when wheel is turned last week. Previously a "Service Shifter" light came in sporadically. No codes were ever found. Recently the 4wd service light came on and stayed on. PTU failure. I searched and realized this specific vehicle was not included in the recall and I don't understand why because it should be. It's been wonky for years, right after the warranty. I may end up without a vehicle for all this beauracracy. It should be included in the recall...
I own a 2016 Jeep Cherokee Limited 4x4. The SERVICE 4WD light came on a few weeks ago. After research and several mechanic's input, I was told the problem was the PTU, and, since Jeep no longer makes the part, I was given the quote of $2700-$3200 to replace the PTU with a remanufactured part with only a one year warranty. According to the mechanics, when driving with a broken PTU it may cause damage to the drive shafts. transmission and axles, which, in turn can break while in use, leading to a very dangerous situation. I was told that I should put the Jeep in two wheel drive manually and drive it like that, but my shifter doesn't have that option. It shifts automatically. So, I have a bad PTU, but my VIN doesn't have a recall, and there are several people with the same problem, according to the NHTSA site. I am filing this complaint so the NHTSA will step in and require the manufacturer to further the recall to include ALL of the VINs with defective PTUs and make them safer to drive. Yes, the vehicle is available to inspect at your convenience.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the drivetrain control module but later the message "Service Four Wheel Drive" was displayed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that the PTU needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V302000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Ptu failure/ loss of motive power
I just bought this used car and just drove around town. It has 101,724 miles and it smells like something burning when I start it up and when I drive it. I know it's coming from somewhere under the hood. I'm paying 9500.00 for this car and already have burnt smell.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026