Home · 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee · Complaints

What 306 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (306)Crash / fire / injury (38)Transmission & drivetrain (78)Engine (76)Electrical system (61)Fuel system (32)Brakes (25)Speed control (22)Steering (16)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (12)Fuel System, Diesel (12)Airbags (11)

12 of 306 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Aug 8, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngineCrash

While exiting an automatic car wash, I pressed the brake pedal to put the vehicle in gear and while turning in the lot to go to a vacuum station the accelerator stuck and went to wide open full speed mode and I could not stop it with the brakes. I shot through a vacuum stall, jumped a curb and hit a concrete drain collection box. The air bags deployed but the car was a total loss.

NHTSA ODI 11537221

Nov 22, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel systemFire

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND TOWING MY BOAT (APPROX 4500LBS) FOR THE PREVIOUS HOUR OR SO ON STATE HIGHWAY BETWEEN 50-65 MPH WITH SOME STOPLIGHTS (NOT INTERSTATE), THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (CEL) CAME ON AND THE DRIVER INTERFACE ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON DISPLAYING SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF "SERVICE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM". CONTINUED DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES TO GET TO AN INTERSECTION TO TURN OFF THE MAIN ROAD. ONCE STOPPED AT THE STOPLIGHT I NOTICED SLIGHT SMOKE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT CORNER OF THE HOOD BY THE HEADLIGHT. I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK, PUT THE HAZARDS ON AND PULLED THE HOOD RELEASE. BY THE TIME I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND MADE MY WAY AROUND THE DOOR TO THE HOOD, THICK BLACK SMOKE WAS BILLOWING FROM ALL AROUND THE HOOD AND FLAMES WERE NOTICED COMING THROUGH BODY GAPS AND THE GRILL. WITHIN 30 SECONDS THE ENTIRE ENGINE BAY AND HOOD WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I DID MANAGE TO GET THE BOAT UNHOOKED AND PUSHED BACK AND DOCUMENTED WITH PHOTOS. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THESE INDICATIONS (CEL) AND DRIVER INTERFACE DISPLAYED THE EXACT SAME INDICATIONS. THE FIRST TIME IT RESOLVED UPON SHUTTING DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND TIME, IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER. APPROX 1 MONTH PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING ON INSPECTION AND RESET THE CODE. THE CODE WAS FOR EXCESSIVE EGR FLOW. ADDITIONALLY THE DEALER PERFORMED ANY OUTSTANDING RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE 3.0 ECO DIESEL ENGINE AND WAS BOUGHT NEW, DEALER, SERVICED ITS ENTIRE TIME AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 70K MILES ON IT. I HAVE NO DOUBT THIS WAS DIRECTLY RATED TO AN EGR PROBLEM THAT THESE PARTICULAR ENGINES HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH DIRECTLY RESULTING IN THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11375815

May 16, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngineCrash

BACKING UP TO PARKING SPOT A HOME, FROM A DEAD STOP I GOOSED THE THROTTLE TO GO UP A SLIGHT INCLINE AND THROTTLE STUCK WIDE OPEN IN REVERSE. STOOD ON THE BRAKE FOR 20FT WHILE FIGHTING THE THROTTLE, HIT THE SIDE OF GARAGE AND THREW IT INTO DRIVE AND CONTINUED TO STAND ON THE BRAKES FOR ANOTHER 40FT IN DRIVE. AFTER SMASHING THE IGNITION BUTTON FRANTICALLY ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES AND ALSO ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, THE JEEP SHUT OFF. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN OUR DRIVEWAY THAT OUR CHILDREN PLAY ON OFTEN. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT, AND NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WAY WORSE. NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT IN MY LIFE UNTIL THIS EVENT. COMPLETELY OUT OF MY CONTROL. NOTE THE SKID MARKS ON THE DRIVEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11324833

Apr 28, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemCrash

CAR WAS STOPPED, PLACED IN PARK AND LEFT RUNNING IN DRIVEWAY. DRIVER EXITED VEHICLE, MANUALLY LOCKED WITH WITH THE EXTERNAL BUTTON ON DRIVERS HANDLE. DRIVER WALKED AROUND VEHICLE AND UP TO RESIDENCE. CAR BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD AND DRIVER RAN BACK TO VEHICLE, ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK USING MANUAL BUTTON ON PASSENGER FRONT HANDLE, WOULD NOT UNLOCK. PULLED OUT KEYFOB TO UNLOCK AND WAS ABLE TO DISABLE VEHICLE, BUT NOT BEFORE IT RAN ITSELF IN TO A CLOSED GARAGE DOOR. DRIVER NOTICED IT SLIP OUT OF PARK ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS WHILE IN VEHICLE. ONE DAY LATER, DRIVER WAS STANDING OUTSIDE VEHICLE, WHILE NOT RUNNING, AND NOT NEAR DOOR HANDLE AND CAR RANDOMLY LOCKED ON IT'S OWN.

NHTSA ODI 11204275

Apr 14, 2019Transmission & drivetrainCrash

THIS ROLL AWAY INCIDENT OCCURRED ON MARCH 7, 2019. MY 2016 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY THAT WAS NOT MY OWN AND I EXITED THE VEHICLE WHILE THE JEEP WAS IN PARK BUT IDLING. I EXITED THE JEEP WITHOUT AN INCIDENT (NOTICING ANY FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE) AND WALKED TO THE PORCH TO DELIVER A LETTER TO THE HOMEOWNER. I WAS ON THE PORCH WHEN THE JEEP MOVED FORWARD INTO THIS HOMEOWNER'S GARAGE,CRASHING INTO THE TRASH CANS IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE FIRST AND PUSHING THEM INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. THIS CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE DOOR AND IT'S TRACK. I WATCHED THIS INCIDENT FROM THE TOP STEP OF THE PORCH AND QUICKLY JUMPED INTO THE JEEP, PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND LOOKED AT THE DAMAGE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVEWAY. TWO DAYS LATER A CLAIM WAS FILED WITH FCA. THREE DAYS FROM THE INCIDENT, A EAA REPRESENTATIVE CONTACTED ME TO OBTAIN INFORMATION. FOUR DAYS LATER I WAS ASKED TO PICK UP MY JEEP FROM THE DEALER AFTER THEIR INSPECTION. ON APRIL 5TH, ALMOST A MONTH LATER, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FCA STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND FAULT WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS HUMAN ERROR! I RECREATED THIS WHILE NOW IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I OPENED THE DOOR AND WAS WARNED VIA THE TONE THAT THE DOOR WAS OPEN AS IT MOVED ABOUT 1-2 MPH UP THE DRIVEWAY IN D WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS.THERE WAS NO WAY ON 3-7-19 IT WAS IN DRIVE AS I COULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN OUT WITHOUT NOTICING IT MOVE THIS QUICKLY. IT ROLLED UP IT THAT FAST WITH MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. FCA STATED THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THIS ACTION BUT THEY DID NOT EVEN TRY! AFTER LEASING OR PURCHASING IN THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY: 4 JEEPS (IT NEVER HAPPENED TO ANY OTHER PRIOR MODEL), AND 6 OTHER VEHICLES, I WILL NEVER OWN OR LEASE ANOTHER FCA VEHICLE AGAIN. THE INABILITY FOR THIS BILLION $ COMPANY LIKE FCA TO REPLACE A GARAGE DOOR AND SAY IT WAS OWNER ERROR WILL KEEP ME FROM RECOMMENDING THIS COMPANY TO ANY FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER. *BF*JB

NHTSA ODI 11196140

Feb 20, 2019Transmission & drivetrain1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND PLACED IN PARK. ONCE THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RETRIEVE A PACKAGE FROM THE REAR SEAT, THE CONTACT FELL DUE TO THE VEHICLE ROLLING BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED WRIST AND CONTUSIONS TO THE FACE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED, WHICH INCLUDED WRIST SURGERY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ODI 11181292

Oct 27, 2018Transmission & drivetrainLightsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Crash

SINCE LEASING THIS JEEP IN JULY OF 2016 THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE ISSUES. THE MAIN CODE FOUND SEVERAL TIME IS A LOSS OF COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAIN COMPUTER TO THE REST OF THE AUTO. CODE U220. ISSUES INCLUDE 1) INCORRECT SHIFTING, 2) INCORRECT "BRAKE" WARNINGS, 3) UNAVAILABILITY OF BRIGHT LIGHTS IN THE AUTO OR MANUAL MODES, 4) LANE CHANGE/OBJECT SONAR WARNINGS NOT AVAILABLE (BACK INTO CEMENT WALL AT NIGHT) 5) NONFUNCTIONAL AUTOMATIC WINDSHIELD WIPERS 6) LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE JEEP AND IPHONE 7) INABILITY TO TURN JEEP OFF 8) WHEN IN CRUISE CONTROL IF + PUSHED IT DOESN'T GO UP JUST ONE OR TWO MPH'S, IT SPEEDS UP VERY QUICKLY AND DOESN'T STOP AND 9) ISSUE WITH ADJUSTING THE AIR RIDE AND . THE BRIGHT LIGHTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE 50% OF THE TIME. I WOULD TAKE THE JEEP IN AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A CODE, SO THEY WOULD TELL ME THERE WAS NOTHING TO FIX. FINALLY, A TECH LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE AND FOUND A STAR FIX AND IMPLEMENTED IT. NOW I HAVE THE AVAILABILITY OF BRIGHT LIGHTS 90% OF THE TIME. I DROVE FOR TWO YEARS WITH NO BRIGHT LIGHTS FOR MOST OF THE TIME AT NIGHT, ON COUNTRY ROADS, AND EVEN IN THE PA MOUNTAINS AT NIGHT WITH NO OTHER LIGHT DISTRACTIONS.. WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THE JEEP HAS STARTED TO SHIFT INCORRECTLY. I WILL BE DRIVING IN TOWN ON A FLAT ROAD AND THE JEEP WILL SHIFT INTO "OFF ROAD" AND THE RPM'S GO UP TO 8. I HAVE AN AVAILABLE VIDEO OF THIS. I ALSO HAVE A VIDEO OF THE JEEP'S DASH AFTER IT SHIFTED TO ANOTHER DRIVE WHERE THE RPMS WENT UP TO 4 ON A LEVEL CITY ROAD. WHEN TAKING THE JEEP FOR THE "BRAKE" ISSUE THE TECH COULD FIND NO CODES. I REFUSED TO DRIVE THE JEEP AND IT SAT FOR ALMOST THREE MONTHS. FINALLY, A STAR WAS IMPLEMENTED, HOWEVER NOW THE "BRAKE" ALARM GOES OFF MORE FREQUENTLY. IN SUMMARY, IT SEEMS THE MAIN COMPUTER IS NOT TALKING CORRECTLY TO THE REST OF THE AUTO AND THE ERRORS ARE BECOMING MORE SERIOUS AS TIME GOES BY.

NHTSA ODI 11143388

Jul 7, 2018Transmission & drivetrainCrash1 injury

IT WAS PARKED IN THE NERO ELLIE, I WAS IN A HURRY AND COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE IN PARK SO I PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL, WENT AROUND BACK OPEN THE REAR GATE DOOR, THEN CLOSED IT, THEN AS I WENT TO GET BACK INTO THE JEEP AND OPEN THE DOOR TOUCHED THE STEERING WHEEL THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE AND I FELL TO THE GROUND PINNED BETWEEN A GARAGE AND THE DOOR. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD MOVED BY ME, RUNNING OVER MY RIGHT SHOE, IT HIT A BUILDING, AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO SWING MY RIGHT LEG INTO THE COMPARTMENT AND PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND TO MY AMAZEMENT THE SHIFTER LEVER WAS IN DRIVE. NORMALLY ON THIS VEHICLE IF YOU PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND GET OUT, YOU MUST PRESS THE BREAK AND HIT START TO SHIFT IT INTO GEAR. I CAME WITHIN ABOUT ONE SECOND OF DYING BY BEING CRUSHED BETWEEN THE GARAGE IN THE WHEELS. AT 64 I AM SERIOUSLY HURTING TONIGHT. IN READING ON THE WEB I SEE I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS OCCURRENCE, PLEASE DO SOMETHING IN THE WAY OF A RECALL AS I WOULD HATE TO SEE ANYONE HURT LIKE I WAS. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11110064

Sep 18, 2017Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ECO INDICATOR SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN THE DRIVE POSITION AND COULD NOT BE SWITCHED TO THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COLE MOTORS IN BLUE FIELD, WV, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 11/03/17*LJ *TT CONSUMER STATED CAR RAN AWAY EMERGENCY BRAKE AND FOOT BRAKE WAS ON UPDATED 7/18/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11024025

Feb 8, 2017Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlFuel systemCrash

THE CAR OPERATED WELL AT FIRST START. EARLY IN THE DAY, IT DROVE 30+ MILES. AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 6+ HOURS IN A FLAT PUBLIC PARKING LOT, IT WAS TURNED ON AND PUT INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE STALL. UPON LIGHTLY RELEASING THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED (APPROX 20MPH) AND HIT A PARKING PILLAR. A LARGE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE BACK END, INCLUDING BUMPER, HATCH, SAFETY REINFORCEMENT BAR AND FLOOR BOARD ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 10950290

Dec 30, 2016Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel systemCrashFire1 injury

LESTER GLENN DEALERSHIP, TOMS RIVER, NJ DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS RECALL!

NHTSA ODI 10938837

Feb 3, 2016Transmission & drivetrain1 injury

THE ELECTRONIC GEAR SHIFTER IN THIS VEHICLE WENT FROM PARK TO ROLLING DOWN A HILL. I WAS PARKED AND PROCEEDED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHEN IT STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. I JUMPED BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND HIT MY RIGHT KNEE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASH BOARD. TO AVOID HITTING THE PEDESTRIANS BEHIND MY VEHICLE AND HITTING THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. NO WARNING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PARKED WHEN THE DRIVERS DOOR WAS OPEN. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER REGARDING THIS FAULTY DESIGN AND WAS ISSUED A CASE.....UPDATED 06/15/16 *BF *JS

NHTSA ODI 10824042

Working with the data? Download all 306 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 7, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee verdict →