2016 Jeep Renegade: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
429 NHTSA owner complaints · 2 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
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The cheap crossovers: Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass and Renegade, used, including 2016 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 429 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 42.9
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Understanding the vehicle is not under wheel stud recall but it needs to be. The exact same thing happened to my Renegade as the recall states. At the Jeep dealer because the wheel came off when my wife was driving. Towed to Jeep dealer and all stud/ nuts are stressed and stretched and causing this life threatening situation. Wrong tourque specs published. Luckily my wife wasn’t hurt or killed. I have attached pictur…
In the past year, I have already had to replace the bulb for the "daytime running light" on the front passenger side of my Renegade. Now, the light has just popped back onto my dashboard for the 3rd time stating that the light is out again for the 3rd time in a year. I have also noticed several other Renegades in my area driving with the same exact light out on their vehicle as well. The first 2 times I took my vehic…
Electrical warning lights turn off and on on panel. Fob stopped working and car became immobilised blocking traffic. Car towed by AAA to an AAA recommended repair shop, has been there one week, diagnosis leads back to fob and programming/ electrical system. Battery checked and was not an issue. Fob and electrical programming systems is the issue. I will have itemized receipts once fob/programming work is complete…
Recalls: 2 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 16E013000 | Suspension:Rear | Daystar Products International, Inc. (Daystar) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement rear control arm brackets included in Daystar's 2015-2016 Jeep Renegade 1.5" spacer kit, part KJ09168BK, shipped from Daystar to distributors between October 27, 2015 and November 5, 2015. |
| 16V545000 | Trailer Hitches | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jeep Renegade vehicles manufactured August 25, 2014, to June 25, 2016, equipped with a factory-installed optional trailer hitch package. The trailer hitch assembly may have been attached with only a single fastener per side, not three per side as required. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 25 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,450 · EPA range 241 mi
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine172 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System119 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other75 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train73 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Vehicle Speed Control29 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
- Exterior Lighting27 complaints · typical job: Headlamp assembly or lighting-module replacement (1.5 h labour + parts)$360–$1,380
Other Jeep Renegade years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Jeep Renegade?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (172 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2016 Jeep Renegade a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 46/100, computed from 429 NHTSA complaints and 2 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2016 Jeep Renegade's most common problem?
172 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2016 Jeep Renegade sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2016 Jeep Renegade cost to run per year?
About $5,334 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $26,672 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2016 Jeep Renegade have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for the 2016 Jeep Renegade, 0 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 18/02/2016. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2016 Jeep Renegade really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 429 complaints, 2 recalls on record
- 429 NHTSA complaints on record (42.9/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (13.2/yr)
- 2 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems