Jeep Renegade owners filed 2,200 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for model years 2015–2025 (see the Car Problem Index for all 60 models), and NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns for the same years. The 2017 Jeep Renegade drew the most complaints (564); across all years, owners complain most about engine (39% of complaints).
Key findings
- Most-complained model year: 2017, with 564 complaints, led by engine (268) and 3 recalls. A raw count, not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long they have been on the road.
- Complaints vs recalls: Engine drew 850 complaints but one recall. Complaint areas and recall campaigns are counted separately: a complaint does not say whether a recall applies to it.
- Over-the-air fixes: recall 20V191000 can be repaired by a software update, without a dealer visit (1 of 14).
- Model years with the most complaints, against this model's median model year: 2015 (6.5 times the median year's complaints), 2016 (5.4 times the median year's complaints), 2017 (7.1 times the median year's complaints), 2018 (5.6 times the median year's complaints). More cars sold or more years on the road also raise counts.
- Lowest reported mileage: complaints naming speed control / acceleration that gave a mileage came at a median 15k mi. This is the odometer reading in the complaint, not when the part typically fails.
- Fire and crash reports: 34 complaints mention a fire and 79 a crash, with 62 injuries reported.
Jeep Renegade complaints and recalls by model year
| Model year | Complaints | Top problem areas |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 4 recalls | 511 | Transmission / powertrain (170), Engine (161), Electrical system (129) median 35k mi · 8 crashes · 8 fires |
| 2016 2 recalls | 429 | Engine (172), Electrical system (119), Transmission / powertrain (73) median 36k mi · 9 crashes · 10 fires |
| 2017 3 recalls | 564 | Engine (268), Electrical system (148), Fuel system (119) median 28k mi · 23 crashes · 5 fires |
| 2018 2 recalls | 442 | Engine (190), Electrical system (131), Fuel system (90) median 16k mi · 16 crashes · 8 fires |
| 2019 4 recalls | 79 | Electrical system (26), Engine (15), Air bags (9) median 28k mi · 9 crashes · 1 fire |
| 2020 3 recalls | 62 | Engine (21), Electrical system (14), Transmission / powertrain (7) median 11k mi · 10 crashes · 1 fire |
| 2021 2 recalls | 67 | Electrical system (26), Automatic emergency braking / collision warning (9), Engine (9) median 22k mi · 3 crashes · 1 fire |
| 2022 2 recalls | 26 | Electrical system (12), Engine (11), Transmission / powertrain (6) median 12k mi · 1 crash |
| 2023 2 recalls | 20 | Electrical system (10), Automatic emergency braking / collision warning (5), Seat belts (5) median 13k mi |
One recall campaign often covers several model years, so the recall column adds up to 24, more than the 14 separate campaigns. Newer years have had less time to collect reports.
Most-reported Jeep Renegade problems, and what they cost to fix
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Recalls | Median mileage | Estimate the repair |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 850 | 39% | 1 | 33k mi | Engine overhaul cost |
| Electrical system | 615 | 28% | 3 | 28k mi | Alternator / electrical repair cost |
| Transmission / powertrain | 423 | 19% | 1 | 27k mi | Transmission repair cost |
| Fuel system | 286 | 13% | 1 | 25k mi | Fuel pump repair cost |
| Brakes | 111 | 5% | 1 | 16k mi | Brake repair cost |
| Speed control / acceleration | 109 | 5% | 0 | 15k mi | — |
| Exterior lights | 87 | 4% | 1 | 43k mi | Headlight replacement cost |
| Air bags | 84 | 4% | 3 | 30k mi | — |
Top problem areas only; one complaint can count twice.
What Jeep Renegade owners report
Owners’ own words; dollar figures are what they reported.
Engine
Outside temperature sensor fail in temperature under 31 degrees which causes check engine light to come on and disables four wheel drive to engage while driving in snowy conditions.
2015 model-year owner, NHTSA complaint 11451305
As I was driving my Jeep made a noise and started to overheat. I had it towed to the dealership and they informed me that it would be $600 to replace. I researched this and there are hundreds of affected Jeep owners. There is no recall but my car could have caught fire. It's outside of the basic warranty as well. This needs investigated asap!
2016 model-year owner, NHTSA complaint 11092114
Related recalls: 18V131000 (2017): An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
850 owners reported engine problems; the engine overhaul cost calculator shows what the fix costs where you live.
Electrical system
The radio head unit (display monitor) has failed. I can not use backup camera, safety and security alerts. This problem is common across all Jeep renegades. No recall has been provided. These units cost $2,000 to replace at the dealer.
2018 model-year owner, NHTSA complaint 11595916
Notification on dashboard that driver tail light, blinker, and brake lights were not on and need to be serviced. Took the vehicle to dealership. Bulbs were replaced and still not working. Was quoted that the connector and pigtail would need to be replaced with an estimate of $700. It is safety concern to try and switch lanes without a working indicator.
2017 model-year owner, NHTSA complaint 11494074
Related recalls: 18V524000 (2018): A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash. 17V485000 (2017): If the malfunction indicator lamps illuminate at incorrect times, the driver may be unaware when a true malfunction occurs, increasing the risk of a crash. 15V508000 (2015): Exploitation of the software vulnerability may result in unauthorized remote modification and control of certain vehicle systems, increasing the risk of a crash.
615 owners reported electrical system problems; the alternator / electrical repair cost calculator shows what the fix costs where you live.
Transmission / powertrain
On 4 occasions now since owning my Jeep Renegade the vehicle will jerk, check enhine light comes on, and the vehicle will lock in 3rd gear. I try to switch to manual shift and will not shift. I purchased this vehicle with 50 miles, and now over 28,000 miles with reoccurring problems.
2017 model-year owner, NHTSA complaint 11170104
Related recalls: 16V529000 (2015): If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, there is an increased risk of a crash.
423 owners reported transmission / powertrain problems; the transmission repair cost calculator shows what the fix costs where you live.
Jeep Renegade recalls
Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for your car’s open recalls.
| Campaign | Announced | Model years | System | Risk (NHTSA's wording) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24V918000 | 2024-12-10 | 2021–2023 | Exterior lights | The incorrect reverse lights may have reduced visibility, and not alert pedestrians and other drivers that the vehicle is backing up, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 24V510000 | 2024-07-03 | 2019–2023 | Air bags | A front seat air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash. |
| 20V191000 (OTA) | 2020-09-10 | 2019–2020 | Backup camera / rear sensors | The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 19V909000 | 2019-12-19 | 2020 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | A cracked right rear brake caliper can fail, reducing braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 19V438000 | 2019-06-11 | 2019 | Air bags | The miscalibrated ORC may incorrectly deploy the air bags during a frontal crash, increasing the risk of injury. |
| 19V287000 | 2019-04-10 | 2019 | Air bags | Deactivated passive safety features can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash. |
| 18V731000 | 2018-10-17 | 2017–2018 | Fuel System, Gasoline | A loss of fuel pressure can cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 18V524000 | 2018-08-09 | 2018 | Electrical system | A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash. |
| 18V131000 | 2018-02-22 | 2017 | Engine and cooling | An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. |
| 17V485000 | 2017-08-02 | 2017 | Electrical system | If the malfunction indicator lamps illuminate at incorrect times, the driver may be unaware when a true malfunction occurs, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 16V545000 | 2016-07-20 | 2015–2016 | Trailer Hitches | Without the proper amount of fasteners, the trailer hitch assembly may separate from the vehicle, and any towed vehicle may no longer be properly connected, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 16V529000 | 2016-07-12 | 2015 | Transmission / powertrain | If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, there is an increased risk of a crash. |
| 16E013000 | 2016-02-18 | 2015–2016 | Suspension | If the axle moves there could be an increased risk of a crash. |
| 15V508000 | 2015-08-12 | 2015 | Electrical system | Exploitation of the software vulnerability may result in unauthorized remote modification and control of certain vehicle systems, increasing the risk of a crash. |
What this data can and can't tell you
2,200 unverified owner reports, not adjusted for sales. Method.
Other Jeep models in the index
- Jeep Cherokee (7,347)
- Jeep Wrangler (6,869)
- Jeep Grand Cherokee (4,849)
- Jeep Compass (2,469)
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation consumer complaint files (nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-25; NHTSA recalls database (nhtsa.gov/recalls), retrieved 2026-09-23. Model years 2015–2025. Free to cite with a link to this page.