YearToAvoid

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

7/100

#15 most-complained of 16 Grand Cherokee years

The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee ranks 15th worst out of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 7 and a "Best" verdict among Grand Cherokee years. It has 310 NHTSA complaints, 8 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls.

Complaints
310
Recalls
8
Crashes / fires
27 / 7
Injuries / deaths
18 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21
18.5 city / 25.5 hwy

Top 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine102 (33%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain78 (25%)
  3. Electrical System69 (22%)
  4. Fuel System45 (15%)
  5. Brakes36 (12%)
  6. Other31 (10%)
  7. Structure & Body22 (7%)
  8. Steering16 (5%)
  9. Airbags11 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the vehicle suddenly surging or accelerating unintentionally while shifting into drive or reverse, sometimes crashing into buildings or garages.
  • Some describe the transmission getting stuck in drive and unable to move to park, followed by unexpected acceleration.
  • Several complaints describe the auto-stop feature shutting off the engine on a slope, then the car surging forward when the engine restarted.
  • Owners report the rear liftgate reopening on its own without a warning chime after being closed, leading to collisions while reversing.
  • A driver-side airbag deployment in a low-speed crash reportedly leaked a chemical substance that caused skin irritation.
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee complaints: complaints filed per quarter242016 Q12017 Q32019 Q12020 Q32022 Q12023 Q32025 Q12026 Q3
432 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2016 Q4 (24).

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls

8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V411000Jun 8, 2023Engine80,629 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L Diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.

    Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 3, 2023. Some owner notification letters were mailed October 31, 2023. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated July 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 66A. This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-475.

  2. NHTSA 22V406000Jun 9, 2022Fuel System138,645 vehicles

    Fuel system, diesel:delivery:fuel pump

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2014-2019 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. A high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation.

    Risk: Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the HPFP, and inspect and replace, if necessary, additional fuel system components, free of charge. Interim notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed July 21, 2022. Owner notification letters for were mailed for Jeep Grand Cherokee owners starting January 11, 2024. Owner notification letters for Ram 1500 owners were mailed March 7, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLS's number for this recall is Z46.

  3. NHTSA 20V699000Nov 12, 2020Engine28,884 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:gas recirculation valve (egr valve)

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with the 3.0L EcoDiesel engines. The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may crack and allow pre-heated vaporized coolant to enter the EGR system. This mixture may combust inside the intake manifold.

    Risk: Combustion in the intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EGR cooler, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect and, as necessary, replace the intake manifold. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on December 21, 2021. A second notification will be mailed when parts are available, currently expected to be around March 11, 2021. The recall began March 11, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is W79.

See all 8 recalls for the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee →

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18.5 MPG
Highway
25.5 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,850
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Diesel
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other Grand Cherokee years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Avoid1002,3751819
2015Avoid931,359919
2016Best7310821
2017Best13364519
2018Caution678531021

All Jeep Grand Cherokee years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
Among Grand Cherokee model years, the 2016 ranks 15th worst out of 16, with a complaint index of 7, making it one of the better years based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
What problems does the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
NHTSA lists 310 complaints for the 2016 Grand Cherokee, with the top problem area being the engine (33% of complaints), followed by transmission and powertrain (25%) and electrical system (22%).
Does the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee have recalls?
NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2016 Grand Cherokee, covering the engine, fuel system, electrical system, and brakes; none are do-not-drive recalls.
What year Jeep Grand Cherokee should I avoid?
Based on complaint index, the 2014 (100), 2015 (93), and 2012 (87) model years are rated Avoid, while the 2016 is rated Best with an index of 7.
What is the median mileage for engine failures on the 2016 Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 34,000 miles for engine-related complaints on the 2016 Grand Cherokee.

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.