YearToAvoid

2016 Jeep Cherokee Steering Problems

NHTSA lists 53 steering complaints for the 2016 Jeep Cherokee, 4% of its 1,406 total complaints for the year. Three crashes and one injury are tied to this area, with a median failure mileage of 49,000 miles. No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data.

Steering complaints
53
4% of 1,406
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
49,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a front-end wobble or shimmy, sometimes called the "jeep wobble," that occurs when flat-towing the Cherokee behind a motorhome.
  • Some drivers describe the steering wheel seizing or locking up suddenly while the vehicle was in motion, leading to loss of control.
  • Several complaints describe combined failures where power steering, brakes, and forward collision warning all dropped out at once, with a dealer attributing this to a failed steering module.
  • Owners note a front wobble or shimmy during acceleration from a stop, unrelated to towing, that caused them to overcorrect steering.
  • Multiple complaints mention a wiring harness kit that Jeep recommended to prevent towing-related wobble, with owners saying they were not informed of this requirement at purchase.

When 2016 Jeep Cherokee steering complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 21, 2016, latest May 9, 2026.

2016 Jeep Cherokee steering complaints: complaints filed per month3Mar 2016Feb 2017May 2018May 2019Dec 2019Jan 2021Jul 2023Jan 2026
53 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2016 to May 2026; peak Jul 2018 (3).

Steering recalls for the 2016 Jeep Cherokee

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Steering complaints by Cherokee model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2014119 (4%)
  2. 201559 (3%)
  3. 201653 (4%)
  4. 201745 (3%)
  5. 201830 (4%)
  6. 2019120 (7%)
  7. 202022 (7%)
  8. 20213 (2%)
  9. 20223 (6%)
  10. 20230 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many steering complaints does the 2016 Jeep Cherokee have?
NHTSA lists 53 steering complaints for the 2016 Jeep Cherokee, making up 4% of the 1,406 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a steering recall for the 2016 Jeep Cherokee?
According to the available NHTSA data, there are no related recalls listed for steering on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee.
At what mileage do steering problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for steering complaints on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee is 49,000 miles.
Did steering problems cause any crashes?
NHTSA data links 3 crashes and 1 injury to steering complaints on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee, out of 53 total steering complaints for the year.
Is the steering issue worse in 2016 than other Cherokee years?
The 2016 Cherokee's steering complaint share is 4%, similar to 2014 and 2018, but lower than 2019 and 2020, which each show a 7% share.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.