2016 Jeep Cherokee electrical system problems

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

185 owners have reported electrical system problems with the 2016 Jeep Cherokee, 22% of all complaints about this model year. The typical problem appeared around 54,000 mi.

Electrical System complaints
185
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Related recalls
3
Median mileage
54,000 mi

Specific components reported

Electrical System covers: Battery, wiring, infotainment, instrument cluster, communication and software.

ComponentComplaints
Electrical system179
Electrical system:instrument panel:speedometer/odometer4
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel1
Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery1

Electrical System complaints across Jeep Cherokee years

2042014177201518520162372017139201823920193520202320218202212026
Electrical System complaints by model year. The 2016 is highlighted.

Mileage when the problem appeared

3Under 10k1110k–30k2830k–60k2160k–100k9100k–150k1150k+
Complaints that list mileage, grouped by odometer reading.

Related recalls

  • Recall 23V338000May 11, 2023132,099 vehiclesPark outside
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK · STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a power liftgate. An electrical short in the power liftgate module may lead to a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off.

    Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will relocate the power liftgate module and add a water shield. In addition, dealers will inspect for corrosion and replace the module and electrical connectors, if necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 1, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 49A. This recall supersedes recalls 15V-393 and 15V-826. Vehicles repaired under the prior recalls will still need to have the new remedy performed.

  • Recall 18V332000May 17, 20184,815,661 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.

    Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.

  • Recall 15V826000Dec 9, 201532,784 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK · STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 18, 2015, to September 10, 2015 and equipped with the power liftgate option. In the affected vehicles, water may leak into the Power Liftgate Control Module and result in a high resistance short circuit.

    Risk: A short circuit in the module increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the module and connectors for corrosion, replacing the damaged components as necessary. The mastic shield will be removed and the module will be covered with a water shield. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R67. This recall is superseded by NHTSA recall 23V-338.

What owners say

  1. Filed Sep 3, 2026FLElectrical SystemEngineOther / Unknown
    I was driving home from work, the digital display (center)!showed my speed at 82m/h and revving the engine, the actual speedometer showed the actual speed I was doing of 32m/h…(right side of display). Computer reading lights and license plate light not working, yet they are. Took to repair shop and they could only reset, but it returned almost immediately. Gear shift malfunction. The lights on the gear shift and the alert in the display saying gear shift malfunction… all…
    NHTSA complaint #11761867 · source
  2. Filed Jul 16, 2026NEAirbagsElectrical System
    The vehicle show code B0020-13. This is a fault in the wiring system for the airbags. Caused by Jeep engineering being bad. This has nothing to do with how is driven or used and is a massive safety issue and shuts the entire airbag system down. It requires fix 10-001-20. This issue is so common they have issued a bulletin. The fix is $1100. The fact that this isn't covered by Chrysler is an abomination to safety and is absolutely ridiculous. Then being allowed to not fix air…
    NHTSA complaint #11750881 · source
  3. Filed Jun 16, 202690,003 miCOElectrical System
    Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 86,778 and at the time of the vehicle's oil change, it was discovered that on the last oil change the mileage was 90,003.
    NHTSA complaint #11744614 · source
  4. Filed May 12, 2026NCElectrical SystemTransmission & Drivetrain
    Within two years of owning this jeep, the rear differential has failed, the battery has failed twice, they didn’t include the extra battery in this jeep that EVERY other model has so it needs a new battery every two years like clockwork to keep the power systems running normally. It’s needed new spark plugs after four failed at once. Now it has the service 4WD light back on even though supposedly there isn’t any recalls still. I’ve never owned a car that has needed as much…
    NHTSA complaint #11737233 · source
  5. Filed May 6, 2026110,000 miILElectrical SystemTransmission & Drivetrain
    The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that on several occasions while either of her children were driving at various speeds, the transmission warning light illuminated. On one occasion, the FWD warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The contact added that the vehicle then lost power and did not accelerate as intended during each occasion. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and restarted each time, after which it resumed normal…
    NHTSA complaint #11736054 · source
  6. Filed Apr 22, 2026SCElectrical System
    There is an open recall for 2014 -2016 Jeep Cherokees for a problem with the power liftgate module. My vehicle is a 2016 Cherokee but it is not included in the recall. The liftgate module in my vehicle is being replaced right now for the same issue in the recall , water intrusion. I would like to know why vehicle is not included in the recall .
    NHTSA complaint #11733088 · source
  7. Filed Apr 22, 2026MDElectrical SystemOther / Unknown
    Intermittent 4wd servicing displaying with no error codes when diagnosed. Loss of acceleration when displayed. Additionally there is a small vapor leak that cannot be found and the
    NHTSA complaint #11733086 · source
  8. Filed Feb 23, 2026SCElectrical SystemEngineTransmission & Drivetrain
    Beginning in late October 2025, my 2016 Jeep Cherokee North Edition began experiencing a recurring electronic shifter and transmission malfunction. The vehicle displays a “Service Shifter” warning (with an A! with a circle arrow and the check engine light is on) and shakes violently upon shifting; it's straight up psychologically unnerving. This issue creates a significant safety hazard because the vehicle may not shift accordingly, consequently increasing the risk of…
    NHTSA complaint #11719852 · source
  9. Filed Feb 20, 2026MIElectrical System
    While stopped at stop signs or stop lights the emergency parking break will engage and unable to turn off with out restarting vehicle.
    NHTSA complaint #11719370 · source
  10. Filed Jan 13, 2026139,000 miWIElectrical SystemEngine
    The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the message "Shift to Park(P)” was displayed, and several other warning lights were illuminated on the instrument cluster. The failure had occurred while exiting a parking lot and turning left. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle stalled and stalled while accelerating and changing lanes. There were no…
    NHTSA complaint #11710603 · source
  11. Filed Jan 11, 2026TXElectrical SystemEngineSteering
    UNKNOWN: Not had problems since I got it. 66000 miles on it and now it’s losing electrical power at random. I’ll be driving normally, but my dash will go black, all lights go out and the engine will go into neutral. When I let off the throttle and coast, it will come back to life and go back to normal.
    NHTSA complaint #11710202 · source
  12. Filed Dec 9, 2025NYElectrical SystemTransmission & Drivetrain
    So I was driving to work one morning and I pulled into the parking lot, put my car in park and a few mins after I get a message/ alert on my dash saying “service shifter”…. Indicating It’s the p1c86-1D, an electrical issue with the shifter display circuit. I took it to the dealership I bought it from (Della Chevrolet) they did a diagnosis. They said I needed to replace the whole shifter and if I did I’d have to pay over $1000 for them to do it and it wouldn’t be covered if…
    NHTSA complaint #11704104 · source

Other 2016 Jeep Cherokee problem areas

Back to all 2016 Jeep Cherokee problems →

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology