The 2016 Cherokee (KL platform) is notorious for its ZF 9-speed automatic transmission issues and surprising engine failures on the 2.4L Tigershark, which can grenade internals at shockingly low mileage. The electrical system also has chronic quirks tied to wiring harness routing and module communication faults.
ZF 9-Speed Transmission Shudder, Harsh Shifts, and Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 30,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Severe shudder or vibration during acceleration, especially 20-40 mph, Hunting between gears or refusing to downshift, Harsh clunking into gear from a stop, Transmission enters limp mode, throws codes P0730, P0734
Fix: Early cases were addressed with software updates and fluid changes (3-4 hours), but many need valve body replacement (8-10 hours) or complete transmission rebuild/replacement (12-16 hours). FCA extended warranty on some units but many are out of coverage now.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 for fluid/software; $2,500-4,500 for valve body; $4,500-7,000 for reman transmission
Symptoms: Loud knocking or ticking from lower engine, especially on cold start, Metal shavings in oil, oil consumption increases dramatically, Check engine light with misfire codes or low oil pressure warning, Catastrophic failure: sudden loss of power, engine seizes
Fix: Root cause is often oil-cooler failure contaminating oil with coolant, or PCV system issues causing sludge. Once bearings spin or pistons score, you're looking at short block replacement (18-22 hours) or full engine swap (20-24 hours). Used engines run $2,000-3,500, reman $4,000-5,500.
Estimated cost: $5,000-8,500 including labor
Transmission Oil Cooler Leak and Cross-Contamination
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid in coolant reservoir (milky/pink coolant), Coolant in transmission (burnt smell, slipping gears), Overheating transmission or engine temp spikes, Check engine light with transmission temp codes
Fix: The oil cooler is integrated into the radiator end-tank on many units. Failure allows cross-contamination. Requires radiator replacement (3-4 hours) plus complete transmission fluid flush and filter (2-3 hours). If contamination goes undetected, transmission damage follows.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000 for cooler/radiator and flush; add $3,000-5,000 if transmission is damaged
Rear Differential and Driveline Vibration/Failure (AWD Models)
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking or whining noise from rear on acceleration or deceleration, Vibration at highway speed that feels like it's coming from the rear, AWD malfunction light, loss of AWD engagement, Fluid leaking from rear differential or power transfer unit (PTU)
Fix: Multiple recalls addressed rear axle shaft and differential failures. PTU (front of driveshaft) also fails due to inadequate fluid capacity and no service interval. PTU replacement is 4-6 hours, rear diff rebuild 6-8 hours, axle shafts 3-4 hours per side.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,200 for PTU; $1,800-3,000 for rear diff; $600-1,000 per axle shaft
Electrical Gremlins: Wiring Harness Chafing and Module Failures
Common · medium severity
Symptoms: Random warning lights (ABS, airbag, traction control) that come and go, Intermittent no-start or accessories not working, Radio/Uconnect system freezing or rebooting randomly, Tailgate wiring harness chafing causes backup camera or liftgate failures
Fix: Rear wiring harness routing near liftgate hinge is poorly designed and chafes through. Common fix is re-routing and sleeving (2-3 hours). Body control module (BCM) and powertrain control module (PCM) also fail intermittently; replacement 1-2 hours but module cost is high.
Estimated cost: $400-800 for harness repair; $800-1,500 for BCM/PCM replacement
Active Grille Shutters Stuck Closed Causing Overheating
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Engine overheating in stop-and-go traffic or on hot days, Check engine light with codes P0598, P0599 (grille shutter performance), AC blows warm at idle, No visible airflow through grille even when hot
Fix: Motorized shutters behind grille fail in closed position (common with road salt/debris). Replacement involves bumper removal and shutter actuator swap (2-3 hours). Not covered under powertrain warranty on most.
Estimated cost: $500-900
Owner tips
Change transmission fluid every 40,000-50,000 mi regardless of 'lifetime fill' claim — ZF 9-speed needs fresh fluid to survive.
Service PTU fluid every 30,000 mi on AWD models with Mopar ATF+4 — this is not in the owner's manual but prevents $2,000 failures.
Monitor oil consumption on 2.4L engines closely; if burning more than 1 qt per 3,000 mi, investigate PCV valve and oil cooler before catastrophic damage occurs.
Check coolant color regularly — any pink or milky appearance means oil cooler has failed; address immediately to save transmission.
Avoid the 2016 Cherokee unless you're getting a 3.2L V6 model with documented transmission service history at a steep discount — the 2.4L and ZF 9-speed combo is a ticking time bomb that can cost more to fix than the vehicle is worth.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Be the first to unlock repairs for the 2016 Jeep Cherokee
Procedures haven't been generated for this vehicle yet. Become the founding sponsor and we'll generate expert-grade, step-by-step repair walkthroughs for every common job on it — free for every mechanic and DIYer who looks it up after, forever.
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.
Consequence: 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · 23V302000
2023-04-27
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power or loss of park function.
Consequence: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 11, 2023. Owners may contact FCA USA LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 45A. This recall expands previous recall number 20V-343.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT · 20V343000
2020-06-11
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a two-speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU). Relative movement in the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) between the differential input splines and the transmission output shaft may cause some input spline teeth to wear off, which may eventually cause a loss of engagement between the transmission and the differential inside the PTU. If this occurs, power cannot be transferred between the front wheels and the transmission which results in a loss of drive while the vehicle is in motion and a loss of the Park function while stationary.
Consequence: A loss of drive can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning. A loss of the Park function can cause unintended vehicle rollaway which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update that will maintain vehicle propulsion by engaging rear wheel drive and prevent rolling in Park by activating the electronic parking brake if a failed input spline occurs. This recall began July 14, 2020. Owners may contact FCA USA LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is W47.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · 18V332000
2018-05-17
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.
Consequence: 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.
EQUIPMENT · 17V824000
2017-12-21
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
Consequence: If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403 or Kidde customer service service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Chrysler's number for this recall is T82.
SEATS · 16V590000
2016-08-10
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured July 29, 2013, to February 5, 2016. The seat fasteners on the first or second row seats may not have been tightened to the proper torque specification.
Consequence: Loose fasteners may allow the seats to move, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupants in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seats or seat sets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during September 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall S63.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT · 16V284000
2016-05-11
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured October 3, 2015, to March 22, 2016. The right halfshaft may have been incorrectly manufactured causing it to fracture without warning.
Consequence: A fractured halfshaft may disconnect from the drive axle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right halfshaft, free of charge. The recall began on June 30, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler's customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's recall number is S39.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT · 16V287000
2016-05-11
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured September 30, 2015, to October 2, 2015. The left halfshaft may have been incorrectly manufactured causing it to fracture without warning.
Consequence: A fractured halfshaft may disconnect from the drive axle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left halfshaft, free of charge. The recall began on June 30, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler's customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's recall number is S38.
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.
Consequence: 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.
Building an app?
Free API access to all this data — 50 requests/day, no card required.