YearToAvoid

2016 Jeep Wrangler Steering Problems

NHTSA lists 28 steering complaints for the 2016 Jeep Wrangler, 6% of its 460 total complaints for the year, with no related recall on file. The dominant pattern owners describe is the so-called death wobble, with median mileage at failure around 30,000 miles.

Steering complaints
28
6% of 460
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
30,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe the front end and steering wheel shaking violently at highway speeds, often called the death wobble, sometimes triggered by hitting a pothole or minor bump.
  • Some report the wobble recurring repeatedly, in one case up to eight times, mainly at speeds of 45 mph or higher.
  • Others note the steering sticks briefly then jerks when turning, in addition to the shaking episodes.
  • One owner reported a defective steering column module that kept the turn signal from disengaging after use.
  • A separate complaint described the vehicle becoming difficult to steer while shaking abnormally at 40 mph, with normal operation returning once stopped.

When 2016 Jeep Wrangler steering complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 6, 2017, latest Sep 13, 2026.

2016 Jeep Wrangler steering complaints: complaints filed per month3Mar 2017Feb 2019Jun 2020Oct 2021Sep 2022Aug 2023Jul 2025Jul 2026
28 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2017 to Sep 2026; peak Sep 2020 (3).

Steering recalls for the 2016 Jeep Wrangler

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Steering complaints by Wrangler model year

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

  1. 200558 (9%)
  2. 200686 (12%)
  3. 2007138 (25%)
  4. 2008156 (18%)
  5. 200965 (17%)
  6. 201066 (10%)
  7. 201158 (12%)
  8. 2012204 (24%)
  9. 2013167 (26%)
  10. 201426 (4%)
  11. 201529 (6%)
  12. 201628 (6%)
  13. 201719 (6%)
  14. 20181,115 (61%)
  15. 2019445 (60%)
  16. 2020238 (39%)
  17. 2021250 (27%)
  18. 202282 (21%)
  19. 202356 (15%)
  20. 202468 (9%)
  21. 20253 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Jeep Wrangler steering system reliable?
NHTSA lists 28 steering complaints for the 2016 Wrangler, 6% of the 460 total complaints filed for the year. There is no related recall on file for this issue.
What is the death wobble on the 2016 Jeep Wrangler?
It is a pattern described by owners where the steering wheel and front end shake violently, usually at highway speeds after hitting a bump or pothole. Multiple sample complaints describe this happening repeatedly on the same vehicle.
At what mileage do steering problems occur on the 2016 Wrangler?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for steering complaints on this model year is 30,000 miles.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Jeep Wrangler steering issue?
No related recall is listed in the NHTSA data for the 2016 Wrangler's steering complaints.
How does the 2016 Wrangler compare to other years for steering complaints?
The 2016 model's steering complaints are 6% of its total complaints, similar to 2015 and 2017, but much lower than the 2018 and 2019 model years, which show 61% and 60% shares respectively.

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.