2016 Jeep Cherokee engine problems
320 of the 1,406 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Jeep Cherokee name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 82 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 320 reports a crash · 4 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 7 · 2017: 23 · 2018: 62 · 2019: 75 · 2020: 40 · 2021: 26 · 2022: 10 · 2023: 26 · 2024: 26 · 2025: 17 · 2026: 8
Half of the 218 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 27,000 and 58,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,406 complaints in all about the 2016 Jeep Cherokee, 8 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Jeep Cherokee engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I was driving 50mph and my Jeep completely shut down - 0 MPH, 0 RPM, but I could still steer and brake. No lights, no warning. Pulled into a neighborhood, had to put it in park, remove the key and put it back in to get it to do anything again. Restarted with no hesitation
Driving through a parking lot, Jeep turned off but I could still steer and brake. Had to stop completely, put it in park, remove and re-insert key for it to restart. Started with no hesitation, no lights or anything came on
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact was experiencing an excessive oil consumption issue with the vehicle. The contact had to add oil to the vehicle every 1,200 miles. The contact researched the issue online and discovered that this was an ongoing issue with the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. While driving approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact came to a complete stop. The vehicle restarted normally. The dealer diagnosed that the oil level was too low and the engine stalled.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start after being parked overnight. The dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 2,000
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications82 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
U0402 B10EA P0887 P061B U1424 B10E9 P2097 P2099
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Jeep Cherokee names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 631 complaints
- electrical problems 297 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 320 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (23% of everything owners filed about it), and 82 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 9 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 42,000 miles; half of them between 27,000 and 58,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.