YearToAvoid

2020 Jeep Renegade Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#5 most-complained of 9 Renegade years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2020 Jeep Renegade has 62 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 50, ranking 5th worst out of 9 model years, earning a "Caution" verdict. Engine problems are the top issue, at 37% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 7,000.

Complaints
62
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
10 / 1
Injuries / deaths
10 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25
22 city / 29 hwy

Top 2020 Jeep Renegade problems

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

  1. Engine23 (37%)
  2. Electrical System15 (24%)
  3. Other12 (19%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain7 (11%)
  5. Fuel System6 (10%)
  6. Seat Belts6 (10%)
  7. Airbags5 (8%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (8%)
  9. Brakes2 (3%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (3%)

What owners report

  • Engine stalls suddenly at various speeds, sometimes triggering a check-oil warning light and requiring a restart.
  • Engine drops into limp mode during highway driving, cutting speed to around 20 mph while the tachometer reads roughly 6,500 rpm.
  • Brake pedal application in low-speed situations reportedly triggers unintended acceleration instead of stopping the vehicle.
  • Airbags failed to deploy during a moderate-speed side-impact crash, leading to occupant injuries.
  • Infotainment screen goes black or shows white lines, disabling the backup camera display.
  • Windshield reportedly fractured from a small rock strike at low speed.
2020 Jeep Renegade complaints: complaints filed per month7Jul 2020May 2021May 2022Feb 2023Nov 2023Sep 2024Apr 2025Dec 2025
87 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2020 to Mar 2026; peak Oct 2024 (7).

2020 Jeep Renegade recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V510000Jul 3, 2024Seat Belts337,128 vehicles

    Seat belts:front

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia, 2018-2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, 2019-2023 Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, and 2024 Fiat 500E vehicles. A seat belt buckle switch sensor may be improperly connected, preventing the front seat air bag from deploying as intended.

    Risk: A front seat air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will repair the connection, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning August 27, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 82B.

  2. NHTSA 20V191000Sep 10, 2020Collision Avoidance & Cameras319,610 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 8.4" or 12" radio displays. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

    Risk: The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W30-W37.

  3. NHTSA 19V909000Dec 19, 2019Brakes1,353 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X vehicles. The right rear brake caliper could have been fractured during the casting process.

    Risk: A cracked right rear brake caliper can fail, reducing braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the right rear brake calipers, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VE8.

2020 Jeep Renegade fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,600
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
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.

2020 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
2018Avoid88442225
2019Good3879425
2020Caution5062325
2021Good2567225
2022Best1326226

All Jeep Renegade years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Jeep Renegade reliable?
NHTSA lists 62 complaints for the 2020 Renegade with a complaint index of 50, ranking it 5th worst among 9 model years — a "Caution" year relative to other Renegade years.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Jeep Renegade?
Engine issues lead complaints at 37% (23 complaints, median failure mileage 7,000), followed by electrical system problems at 24% (15 complaints, median mileage 20,000).
Does the 2020 Jeep Renegade have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2020 Renegade, covering seat belt buckle switch sensors, collision avoidance/camera software, and right rear brake calipers that could fracture during casting.
How does the 2020 Renegade compare to other Renegade years?
The 2020 model's complaint index of 50 is better than 2015 (75), 2016 (63), 2017 (100), and 2018 (88), but worse than 2019 (38), 2021 (25), 2022 (13), and 2023 (0).
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Jeep Renegade?
EPA rates the 2020 Renegade at 25 mpg combined (22 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600.

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.