YearToAvoid

2018 Jeep Renegade Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

88/100

#2 most-complained of 9 Renegade years

The 2018 Jeep Renegade ranks 2nd worst of 9 model years, with 442 complaints and a complaint index of 88. Engine problems dominate at 45% of complaints, backed by 2 recalls covering fuel system and electrical components.

Complaints
442
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
16 / 8
Injuries / deaths
13 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25
22 city / 30 hwy

Top 2018 Jeep Renegade problems

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

  1. Engine201 (45%)
  2. Electrical System135 (31%)
  3. Fuel System99 (22%)
  4. Other96 (22%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain58 (13%)
  6. Brakes28 (6%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers12 (3%)
  8. Steering11 (2%)
  9. Structure & Body11 (2%)
  10. Airbags9 (2%)

What owners report

  • Vehicles caught fire while parked and unattended, with owners reporting an electrical burning smell before flames appeared.
  • Some drivers reported the engine stalling suddenly at highway and normal speeds, cutting all engine power.
  • After stalling, owners described brakes locking up, making the vehicle hard to stop.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during frontal and side-impact crashes, including one that was a total loss.
  • A push-to-start ignition and brake response reportedly failed together in one incident, leading to a rear-end collision followed by an engine fire.
  • One owner reported a steering column trim piece did not protect the knee during a frontal collision, resulting in injury.
2018 Jeep Renegade complaints: complaints filed per quarter512018 Q22019 Q32020 Q42022 Q12023 Q22024 Q32025 Q4
680 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2020 Q3 (51).

2018 Jeep Renegade recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V731000Oct 17, 2018Fuel System21,104 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Jeep Renegade 4X2 flex fuel/E85 vehicles equipped with a 2.4L engine. In certain operating conditions such as high power demand in conjunction with high altitude and/or high ambient temperatures, a manufacturing error in the fuel pump assembly may result in a loss of fuel pressure.

    Risk: A loss of fuel pressure can cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began April 26, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is UB2.

  2. NHTSA 18V524000Aug 9, 2018Electrical System12,779 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring:front underhood

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.

    Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.

2018 Jeep Renegade fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
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.

2018 compared with other Renegade years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201520162017201820192020202120222023
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Caution63430125.5
2017Avoid100564325.5
2018Avoid88442225
2019Good3879425
2020Caution5062325

All Jeep Renegade years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Jeep Renegade reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2018 Renegade has a complaint index of 88, the second highest among the 9 model years covered, with 442 total complaints. Engine issues make up 45% of those complaints.
What is the top problem area for the 2018 Jeep Renegade?
The Engine is the top problem area, accounting for 201 complaints, or 45% of all complaints, with a median failure mileage of 19,000 miles.
Does the 2018 Jeep Renegade have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2018 Renegade: one for a fuel pump issue (campaign 18V731000) and one for a powertrain control module replacement (campaign 18V524000).
How does the 2018 Renegade compare to other years?
The 2018 model is rated Avoid, worse than 2016 (Caution, index 63), 2019 (Good, index 38), and 2022-2023 (Best, index 13 and 0), but slightly better than 2017 (Avoid, index 100).

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.