2016 Jeep Wrangler transmission and drivetrain problems
74 of the 460 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Jeep Wrangler 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: 18 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 database0 of the 74 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 16 · 2017: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 15 · 2020: 17 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 3
Half of the 49 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 12,000 and 54,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
460 complaints in all about the 2016 Jeep Wrangler, 3 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 “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Jeep Wrangler 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.
Shift lever rotates 180 degrees left and right when shifting from gear to gear making it very difficult to drive. This occurs when the vehicle is stationary and in motion
Manual transmission gear shift lever gets really sloppy gear shift almost hits floor and rotates
Broken shifter. Was out in the country and after lunch I was about to start driving back home and felt the shifter kinda loose. As I pulled into the highway I noticed I wasn't able to shift 5th or 6th gear and then noticed the shifter was able to rotate... Crazy.
The shifter on my manual 2016 Jeep Wrangler broke today while I was getting on the highway. It almost caused a bad accident. There are 4,000 miles on the car. It felt like it became disengaged and was turning sideways and making crackling sounds, like broken bones.
Manual transmission will not stay in reverse and pops out of gear. When backing up your have to hold it in which takes alot of force but still pops out 95% of the time. Been this way since we bought it. Only 3500 miles on the vehicle
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications18 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
C121C P0344 P0369 P0740 P2638 P2764
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Jeep Wrangler names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Jeep Wrangler
Source: the same files- engine problems 93 complaints
- airbag problems 77 complaints
- electrical problems 56 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Jeep Wrangler?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 74 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (16% of everything owners filed about it), and 18 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 Wrangler?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 5 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 Wrangler?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 31,000 miles; half of them between 12,000 and 54,000. 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.