2016 Jeep Renegade Problems – A Good Purchase… Or, Maybe Not?

2016 Jeep Renegade Problems – A Good Purchase… Or, Maybe Not?

Are you planning on purchasing the 2016 Jeep Renegade and are you desperately trying to learn the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems? If this is the case and you want to purchase a Renegade, then you are at the right place because there will be a lot to cover when it comes to this model and its problems.

As you probably know, doing proper market research before you go out there and make a purchase is key. You don’t want to get a basket case, you want to get a good and reliable vehicle that you are going to enjoy driving on a daily basis.

Frankly, there are a ton of cars that are spending more time in the mechanic’s shop rather than on the roads. And you probably want to stay away from a car like that. You don’t want problems in your life. And car-related problems can be really big. They can drain you mentally as well as drain your wallet from all of these expensive repairs that will be needed for the problem to get sorted out.

That’s why we are here to help you out when it comes to purchasing a used car. But even if you already own a Renegade, you will still find this article pretty useful.

First, we are going to cover the basics of the Renegade and learn what it is. Then we will learn the engines and transmissions used in the Renegade. Later, we will learn the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems and see if the Renegade is a good purchase. Lastly, we will list some of the alternatives available. So, buckle up and follow along.

What Is The 2016 Jeep Renegade?

Before we dive into the specs and the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems, let’s first take a look at the basics of the Jeep Renegade. Let’s learn what type of vehicle this is and more about its target market.

The Jeep Renegade belongs in the subcompact crossover SUV class which is also known as the B-segment. These are vehicles that look like regular crossovers but are relatively smaller than a mid-size class car. Making them extra appealing for a wider audience that doesn’t want something really big.

The Jeep Renegade was introduced in 2014 for the 2015 year model and is manufactured in Italy, Brazil, and China. Meaning that the Renegades in the US are imported. Yep, that’s right, the Renegade is not a US product, even though it is a Jeep.

2016 Jeep Renegade Problems

In fact, it is based on a Fiat platform. Also known as FCA Small Wide 4×4. What is good though is that the Renegade is sharing a lot of parts with vehicles like the Fiat 500X and Fiat Tipo. Which are really good vehicles.

The Renegade still keeps the classic Jeep look. Even though it is not a Jeep underneath the skin. The front grille with the big round headlights makes it very Jeep-looking. Not to forget that it also keeps that boxy shape, standard in a lot of Jeep products.

What is also good, is that it comes with an AWD mode as an option. So, if you spec out one with AWD you will get a decently capable off-roader that will tackle a lot of obstacles with ease. But more on that in a bit when we will cover the trims. Then, we will discuss the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems and learn what types of problems the Renegade is facing.

2016 Jeep Renegade Specs

Now before we dive deeper into the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems, let’s learn more about the specs of the Renegade. We will learn the basics of the Renegade as well as the trim levels and engines that were offered in the Renegade.

What is important though, is that the Renegade is a small subcompact SUV that is in production since 2015. Meaning that this model is aging and hopefully soon we will see the second generation of it.

The Renegade is offered in the US in different trim packages. There is the Sport, Latitude, Longitude, Altitude, Limited, and the Trailhawk which is the top trim for the US market.

The Trailhawk is probably the model that you are after since it has everything from the Latitude trim and more. Namely, bigger wheels and tires, a lift kit, skid plates (which can be useful to have the skid plate to protect catalytic converter), 4×4 badges. This model is a much more capable vehicle than any other Renegade on the road. Especially when it comes to off-road use. But what are the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems? More on that in a bit after we learn more about the engines and transmissions used in the Renegade.

Engines & Transmissions Used In The Renegade

Before we dive into the 2016 Jeep Renegade, let’s first learn more about the engines and transmissions used in the 2016 Renegade.

In the base models, the engine of choice was a 1.4L straight-4 turbocharged engine. This engine was quite peppy since it had a turbo on it. It produced about 160hp and 184lb-ft of torque. A respectable number for an engine of this size.

But what you really wanted when you wanted to get a new Renegade in 2016 was the 2.4L straight-4 engine also known as the Tigershark engine. This engine was naturally aspirated and produced about 189hp and 175lb-ft of torque.

2016 Jeep Renegade Problems

In terms of transmission, there were two transmissions available on the 2016 Renegade. One of them was the 6-speed manual. While the second transmission was a 9-speed ZF automatic transmission. Perfect for fuel economy. And that’s what we are going to cover next before we dive into the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems.

Fuel Economy

Now before we dive into the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems. Let’s also discuss the fuel economy of the Renegade. This will be quite useful for you if you plan to get a used 2016 Renegade.

Namely, the 1.4L engine offered a decent fuel economy. Getting about 24 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway with a combined fuel economy of about 27 mpg.

The 2.4L engine offered a similar fuel economy to the 1.4L. Precisely, it got 21 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway and overall 24 mpg combined fuel economy.

It is probably not the best in its class and some of the Honda and Toyota vehicles can get better fuel economy. But is still relatively good.

Safety Of The Jeep Renegade

The Jeep Renegade got an average rating of 4 stars according to the NHTSA. It performed slightly worse than its competition.

On the IIHS tests, the Renegade performed similarly. Overall, the safety of the Renegade is slightly worse than the one found in its competitors like the CH-R and the HR-V. Still, the Renegade is a good purchase. But what about the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems? More on that in the following chapters.

2016 Jeep Renegade Problems

Now we came to the important bit and that is the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems. This content will be very useful for people who want to get a Renegade from 2016 since you will learn from which problems you need to be aware of.

As you already know, some problems can cost thousands to fix. And you probably don’t want to end up in a situation like this and pay so much money on a vehicle.

2016 Jeep Renegade Problems

This money can be spent elsewhere on more fulfilling things, like going to dinner in a restaurant or going to the movies.

That’s why we are going to focus on the main problems with the Renegade. These are the 2016 Jeep Renegade engine problems as well as the transmission problems. Since they are the most expensive to fix. So, buckle up and follow along.

2016 Jeep Renegade Engine Problems

Now let’s discuss the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems. In terms of engine problems, we will stick to both of these engines and we will mention which is the engine we are talking about in the introduction of the problem.

1. 2.4L Tigershark Oil Consumption Problem

One of the biggest problems with the 2.4L engine is the excessive oil consumption that this engine has. What does this mean?

Well, this means that this engine loves to drink oil. Not excessively but enough to be noted by a lot of owners.

What happens, in reality, is that the oil starts sipping after 100k miles or so into the combustion chamber and starts to burn. This is not an ideal situation. But you need to understand it and be aware of it.

Especially if your engine continues burning oil and a lack of oil occurs. If you have a lack of oil, you will notice increased wear and tear in the internals of the engine and reduced compression.

The rod bearings will get eaten up as well as the rings of the pistons. Bad situation. In this situation, the whole engine will fail and you will need a new engine.

That’s why whenever you own a 2.4L Tigershark engine, you need to observe the oil consumption more often than usual if you don’t want to end up with a broken engine. Top off the engine oil when needed and you will be good to go. Not a very serious issue. But still, a somewhat serious thing that could ruin your Renegade ownership if you are not aware of this problem.

So, what are the other 2016 Jeep Renegade problems? Well, we will cover them in the following chapters.

2. 2.4L Tigershark Oil Leak Problems

One of the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems is also the oil leaks that are happening on the 2.4L engine. These oil leaks are usually coming from the oil pan gasket.

As you know these cars age, they go through countless cycles of heating up and cooling down. So, at one point the gasket material that is sealing the oil pan starts to degrade. When this oil pan gasket or valve cover gasket material starts to degrade, there are oil leaks that will develop on this engine.

The important thing when you have this problem is to notice if there are leaks and replace the gasket with a new one. Then you will solve the problem.

Oil pan gaskets and valve cover gaskets are not that expensive and this problem can be solved with less than $300 at a shop or $100 for a gasket and fresh oil and filter.

What is important though, is to notice it on time. Since the engine could starve from oil like in our previous example. These symptoms are a burning smell coming from the exhaust, leaks on the ground of your parking spot, low oil pressure, visible leaks from the top of the engine.

Beware of these symptoms when you are having this engine and you will hopefully avoid possible engine failure or stalling. And that is something that we are going to cover next in our list of 2016 Jeep Renegade problems.

3. 2.4L Tigershark Engine Stalling Problems

The next problem in the long list of 2016 Jeep Renegade problems that we are going to cover is the stalling issue on the 2.4L engine.

Yep, another problem with this engine that is probably quite attributed to the previous two problems. As you know, the internal combustion engine has to have some compression level that is good for work. If it doesn’t the engine will stall.

And when it comes to this engine, there are a ton of reports that are indicating stalling issues in traffic. Their Renegade simply stalled on the highway or the boulevard.

Some of the owners affected reportedly solved this problem with a software update. While some of them reportedly solved it by fixing leaks from gaskets and other defects that allow oil to sip from and cause loss of compression inside of the engine.

Either way, when discussing the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems, you need to be aware of this problem as well.

2016 Jeep Renegade Transmission Problems

When we discuss the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems we cannot avoid talking about the transmission issues. More precisely the 9-speed automatic transmission.

The 9-speed is manufactured by ZF. They are a German transmission manufacturer and although they make good transmissions, the 9-speed is not one of their best products.

The transmission in terms of mechanicals is quite good. The aspect where it is lacking is in the software department.

As we all know in modern cars, everything is computerized and programmed. So, are the transmissions. And the 9-speed is not so well sorted out.

There are a number of issues concerning this transmission when it comes to shifting gears. Most people noticed hard shifting since day one. Other problems are inconsistent shifting, lurching, loss of power.

These problems are appearing mostly when the driver is speeding up or slowing down. At constant speeds, there are no big problems.

This problem was sorted by many with a software update in the dealership. Some of the owners are still trying to solve it. Overall, the timing of the transmission is really messed up and before you purchase one of these 9-speed automatics, make sure that the transmission is well sorted out and it shifts well.

The best thing you can do is to perform a test drive to make sure that nothing is wrong with it. But not a short one. Make sure that you test the consistency of shifting in this transmission and if everything works smoothly. If it does, you can go ahead and buy it. If not, get another Renegade with a manual transmission.

Overall, these are the main 2016 Jeep Renegade problems. They are not that serious. But more on that in the following chapter where we will cover the reliability of the Renegade and we will give our score.

Jeep Renegade Overall Reliability

We learned about the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems. Now let’s see what is the overall reliability of the Jeep Renegade. Buying a vehicle that is reliable is key for you as a new owner and we are going to help you out with that.

Based on the information that we have gathered on the Jeep Renegade, we can say that the Renegade is an average performer in most situations. It is not a vehicle that is exceeding when it comes to fuel economy, safety, reliability. But only an average vehicle. That’s why we give it a score of 3 out of 5 stars.

Compact crossover 4x4 off-road 4WD reliability engine transmission

There are minor things that are ruining its overall performance when it comes to the reliability factor. The oil consumption and oil leaks are quite notorious and can make a lot of owners frustrated.

Not to forget the problems with the automatic transmission. Everybody wants a transmission that has smooth shifts and does not want to own something that is shifting abruptly and ruins your comfort. There are no overly expensive problems as a whole, at least. But it’s the little details that count.

When getting a Renegade, the best thing would be to go for the 1.4 turbo engine. It might be lower displacement. But it has much fewer problems than the 2.4L when it comes to oil consumption and other issues.

Not to mention that this engine often comes with a 6-speed manual which performs really well. Overall, that’s all when it comes to the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems. Now let’s focus on some of the alternatives that are out there since there is not only the Renegade that is offered on the second-hand market. There are a ton of other good cars as well.

Jeep Renegade Alternatives

We learned about the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems and we have drawn our own conclusion of whether the Jeep Renegade is reliable and a good purchase. Now let’s focus on the alternatives to the Jeep Renegade. As you know there are a ton of other vehicles that belong in the same category as the Renegade and can be considered to be relatively good replacements for this model.

Honda SUV Crossover CR-V HR-V Toyota CH-R

In the following chapters, we are going to mention some of the few alternatives that are out there. We will primarily focus on cars that are good and don’t have any major issues.

Toyota CH-R 2018

The Toyota CH-R Is a vehicle of similar size as the Renegade. This model is probably one of the best ones Toyota has to offer and it is well put together.

This model includes a 2.0L straight-4 engine with a CVT transmission that is really good and you will not have to worry about rough shifts like the ones we covered in the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems.

Also when it comes to safety, this model is better than the Renegade and delivers quite a bit more protection for the driver and the occupants. But what is bad is that this model is a bit more expensive than the 2016 Jeep Renegade. Primarily because it is a quite newer model than the Renegade.

Honda HR-V 2016

Another great alternative to the 2016 Jeep Renegade is the Honda HR-V. The Honda HR-V is probably one of Honda’s best models out there.

The Honda has everything you really need in a car. Looks, fuel economy, reliability, safety, and comfort. A great alternative to the Renegade.

The HR-V comes packed with a 1.8L engine that is making 141hp. Which is plenty for a model of this size. In addition to this, there is a CVT transmission. And as you know, Honda’s CVTs are one of the best in the market.

Much better than the ZF 9-speed that we covered in the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems previously. Overall, a good buy and a great value for a car. My personal favorite from this class.

Facts about the 2016 Jeep Renegade:

  1. The 2016 Jeep Renegade is a compact SUV that costs between $13,125 to $16,825, making it cheaper than other SUVs in its class.
  2. The Renegade has serious engine and transmission issues that often show up within 150,000 miles, resulting in frequent and expensive repairs.
  3. The transmission is rough while shifting gears, visibility is limited due to large pillars, and the suspension is overly firm.
  4. The overall rating of the 2016 Renegade is 5/10, with low owner satisfaction scores and many mechanical problems that are expensive to fix.
  5. Interior materials are more luxurious than other compact SUVs, and the front seats are comfortable with better than average cargo space.
  6. The 2016 Renegade has a 4/10 reliability rating with many engine and electrical problems. Models from 2019-2022 are more reliable.
  7. The fuel economy is good, with up to 27 MPG and lower gas costs compared to the average at $227 per month.
  8. Numerous check engine lights are common, along with problems related to engine starting, and shifting hard between gears.
  9. The Renegade has two recalls, one for a rear control arm bracket weld issue and the other for the trailer hitch assembly.
  10. The 2016 Jeep Renegade is not a good value due to its many expensive problems, with worse than average depreciation and annual maintenance costs.

Conclusion To 2016 Jeep Renegade Problems

In this article, we have covered quite a bit when it comes to the 2016 Jeep Renegade. First, we learned the basics of this model and to which class of vehicles it belongs. The Renegade is a subcompact crossover SUV.

Then we covered the specs of the Jeep Renegade and we learned what engines the Renegade is using as well as the fuel economy and the overall safety of this vehicle.

Then we covered the main topic and that was the 2016 Jeep Renegade problems where we elaborated in-depth on the engine and transmission issues that this vehicle has. After, we gave out opinion on the Renegade. Lastly, we have covered some of the alternatives that are available on the market.

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