2016 Jeep Renegade transmission and drivetrain problems
73 of the 430 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Jeep Renegade name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 86 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 transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 73 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 7 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 15 · 2017: 15 · 2018: 10 · 2019: 14 · 2020: 10 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 2
Half of the 59 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 4,000 and 47,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
430 complaints in all about the 2016 Jeep Renegade, 2 filed in 2025. 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 “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Jeep Renegade transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Renegade. While driving 60 MPH, the vehicle made a "rough truck" sound, independently shifted into a lower gear and independently decelerated to 25 MPH. The engine overheating and oil warning indicators illuminated. The failure recurred three more times. The vehicle was towed to a dealer.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Renegade. While parked and/or driving at any speed, the contact heard a ding sound and the check engine indicator illuminated. A giant "p" appeared on the instrument panel, a vehicle icon appeared, and "ets, air coolant temperature, service hill start assist" appeared.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated that the vehicle would hesitate, lounge, or stall at speeds ranging from 0-40 MPH. When the vehicle was driven above 40 MPH, the failure would no longer occur. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and the computer was reprogrammed; however, the failure recurred.
On the hutchinson parkway ,could not shift gears in my manual car. Middle lane not able to engage transmission in to any 6 forward gears. This occurred november 23, 2016 thanksgiving eve. At 2:30 PM. I'm alive but this was the worst experience in my 40 plus years of driving.
Incident with new 2016 Jeep Renegade resulting in an accident. I was slowly pulling in a parking spacewhen the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own and I was unable to bring the vehicle to a stop before itwent overthe parking curb and hit the side of the restaurant.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications86 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
P0128 P0335 P050D P0513 P1066 P1068 P0101 P061B
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Jeep Renegade names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Jeep Renegade
Source: the same files- engine problems 181 complaints
- electrical problems 119 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Jeep Renegade?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 73 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (17% of everything owners filed about it), and 86 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 transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Jeep Renegade?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 1 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Jeep Renegade?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 19,000 miles; half of them between 4,000 and 47,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.