2016 Jeep Wrangler: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
459 NHTSA owner complaints · 5 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The JK Wrangler (2007–2018) has a moderate, consistent record — the 2011–2017 years score between 60 and 79 — with the usual Jeep electrical complaints and, on the earlier Pentastar engines, cylinder-head problems. The JL Wrangler launched for 2018 and its first year has the highest complaint count of any Wrangler on file: the 'death wobble' steering oscillation, welds on the frame, and the 2.0-litre turbo engine. Read the full note on the model page. 2016 specifically: a year the record favours — 459 complaints, score 71/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler: the years the record supports, including 2016 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 459 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 45.9
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
ABS Control Module stopped working with several warning lights showing on dash display. After 12 months the dealer is unable to supply a replacment part or a possible date when a new part might be available.
The ABS module on my jeep has failed. I've been put on a list to get a replacement part but have been on the list for 10 months with no indication of when my parts order will be fulfilled. The failed ABS module caused the BRAKE, ABS and TCS warning lights to be on. I am driving a vehicle under unsafe conditions and the manufacturer does not care.
ABS Brake Sensor is on and the ABS Module needs to be replaced, however there are a lot of other people out there with this same issue and nobody can keep up with the parts to fix the problem. This should be a recall for all Jeeps 2009-10018
Recalls: 5 campaigns (5 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 16V288000 | Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Right Hand Drive Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to May 2, 2016. The clockspring assembly may become contaminated with dust and cause the air bag circuit to fail. |
| 16V734000 | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured June 16, 2015, to August 14, 2016. In certain crash conditions, the front impact sensor wiring may be pulled until it detaches before a signal can be received by the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC). |
| 24V196000 | Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) (Stellantis) is recalling certain right hand drive 2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Debris contamination may cause the clockspring to fail, preventing the driver's air bag from deploying in a crash. |
| 19V018000 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode. |
| 19V680000 | Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2018 Jeep Wrangler right hand drive vehicles. The driver's seat belt buckle mounting strap may fracture and separate from the seat frame. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size 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 18 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,400
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.
- Service Brakes136 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Engine88 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Air Bags77 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
- Power Train73 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Electrical System56 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other54 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
Other Jeep Wrangler years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Jeep Wrangler?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Service Brakes (136 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2016 Jeep Wrangler a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 71/100, computed from 459 NHTSA complaints and 5 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2016 Jeep Wrangler's most common problem?
136 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2016 Jeep Wrangler sit in the Service Brakes group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $580–$1,140 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 Wrangler cost to run per year?
About $6,341 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $31,708 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 Wrangler have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for the 2016 Jeep Wrangler, 5 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 11/05/2016. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2016 Jeep Wrangler 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 — 459 complaints, 5 recalls on record
- 459 NHTSA complaints on record (45.9/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (52.1/yr)
- 5 recall campaigns, 5 touching safety-critical systems