2021 Jeep Renegade: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
66 NHTSA owner complaints · 2 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Read the guide
The cheap crossovers: Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass and Renegade, used, including 2021 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 66 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 13.2
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
I was driving down the road and the car turns off. Everything turns off, no lights, no nothing and it won't crank again. And then I had to call a wrecker truck and the oil was on top of the motor and back of the tailpipe. I couldn't even get it out of the road. I am so thankful my granddaughter was not in there And I'm glad I wasn't on the interstate cuz if I was that would have been bad
The component that failed, or I think is failing is the forward collision warning thing on my car. If the component actually went off, I could have cause a multiple car crash depended on who was behind me while I was driving. It has been reproduced by multiple drivers based on my research. The vehicle component has been inspected by police, lemon law firms and manufacturers and confirmed that it is an issue. No warni…
The fuel line was rubbing against another pipe between the engine and firewall, causing it to leak, spraying gas all over the engine including the exhaust. In my opinion if this hadn’t happened in traffic where you could smell it but on the interstate I hate to think what may have happened. I’ve looked on the jeep renegade forums and there seems to be other people who have experienced the same problem. …
Recalls: 2 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 24V510000 | Air Bags:Frontal | 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. |
| 24V918000 | Exterior Lighting:Back Up Lights | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Renegade vehicles. The incorrect bumper reverse light assembly may have been installed. |
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 27 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,300
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.
- Electrical System26 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other20 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Engine9 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Forward Collision Avoidance9 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Air Bags7 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
- Power Train6 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
Other Jeep Renegade years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Jeep Renegade?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (26 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2021 Jeep Renegade a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 82/100, computed from 66 NHTSA complaints and 2 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2021 Jeep Renegade's most common problem?
26 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2021 Jeep Renegade sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 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 2021 Jeep Renegade cost to run per year?
About $3,920 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $19,602 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 2021 Jeep Renegade have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for the 2021 Jeep Renegade, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 03/07/2024. 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 2021 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.
Moderate evidence — 66 complaints, 2 recalls on record
- 66 NHTSA complaints on record (13.2/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (13.2/yr)
- 2 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems