What 453 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Jeep Wrangler 4-door 4xe

While driving my vehicle on Monday, February 16, 2026 I heard a loud pop come from the front of the vehicle. Right after that smoke began to come through the hood vents. I stopped the vehicle to inspect and at that point the engine compartment was burning heavily. I could barely get out of the vehicle and away before the whole front end of the vehicle was engulfed with fire and heavy black smoke. It looked as if the fire started somewhere on the righthand side of the engine compartment because the right front tire was the first to blow out in the fire. The vehicle is with the insurance company to inspect, but it was in perfect running condition, all maintenance performed. There were no dash warning lights that came on, no odd sounds heard and the vehicle ran until I stopped and shut it office. There has to be something that was wrong with the manufacturing of this specific engine to make a loud pop and burn as hot as it did. I wanted to report this before the vehicle is sent away to be demolished due to it being a complete loss.

NHTSA ODI 11719624

Parked vehicle outside corner of home at 9:00 pm. Awoken by loud popping and hissing sounds at 4:45AM. Looked outside to notice a bright orange hue by vehicle. Realizing the car was on fire, we called 911 and proceeded to use garden hose to water down both the vehicle and the home that the car was next to, in order to try to prevent the house from also catching fire. Vehicle was not moved nor accessed during those 7 overnight hours. It was locked and we were all asleep. There were two other vehicles parked next to and behind the vehicle that caught fire - those two other vehicles sustained no damage to them. The house sustained some minimal siding warping from the heat of the fire. Fire chiefs reviewing the damage in person as well as viewing photos have stated that it appears to be battery or fuse box related as that side of the engine's damage was greatest as well as the battery and fuse box being completely destroyed by the fire. No warning lights or indications of system failures or malfunctions prior to parking the car. Vehicle was towed away from scene by insurance company. Unsure if vehicle is still at that lot or not. Insurance deemed vehicle totaled and issued check for losses.

NHTSA ODI 11493798

The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that upon the approach of a stop sign with his foot on the brake pedal, the engine had begun to rev without warning. With the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard, the vehicle continued to lurch forward as the contact clipped the vehicle in front of him. As the engine continued to rev, the contact immediately shut off the ignition. A police report was not filed and no injuries were reported. Both the contact and the other driver were able to drive away from the scene. The dealer was notified and an appointment was made for a diagnostic. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that he would receive a callback, the contact had yet to hear back from the manufacturer. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

NHTSA ODI 11463630

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING OIL SMELL DETECTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A CRACKED OIL COOLER THAT LEAKED INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONTACT INFORMED A JEEP DEALER OF THE FAILURE BUT THE PART TO REPAIR WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11397729

MY SON CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL TO GET HIS WALLET TO GO FILL UP HIS JEEP WHEN HE CAME OUT BACK OUTSIDE THE FRONT OF HIS JEEP WAS SMOKING, WHEN HE OPENED THE HOOD HE FOUND THE RADIATOR FAN ON FIRE. HE QUICKLY RAN AND GOT THE HOSE AND PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT IT CONTINUED TO SMOKE FOR ABOUT 5 MINS. THE JEEP WAS RUNNING PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY THE JEEP ONLY HAS ABOUT 4000 MILES ON IT THE AIR-CONDITIONING WAS ON. HE ONLY DROVE IT FROM SCHOOL ABOUT 1 MILE AWAY. WE HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER YET. THE FANS CURRENTLY ARE NOT WORKING THE REST OF THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE FINE. I HAVE PICTURE AND A VIDEO I CAN TRY TO UP LOAD.

NHTSA ODI 10863497