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2016 Jeep Wrangler Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2016 Jeep Wrangler carries 5 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering inflator module and anchorage. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “ABS control module internal fault (C2200).” Jeep vehicles use the Oil Change Indicator system to signal when oil is due. Wrangler and Gladiator owners who actually use 4WD off-road should treat the schedule below as Schedule A (severe) — water crossings, sand, and rock crawling demand differential and transfer case service at half the published intervals. Grand Cherokee and Cherokee follow the standard Mopar schedule.

5 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Campaign #19V018000 · Jan 15, 2019

Issue: 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.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 4, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V01.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Campaign #19V680000 · Sep 26, 2019

Issue: 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.

Risk: A separated or severed seat belt buckle strap will result in an inoperable seat belt, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt buckle, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed November 19, 2019. Owners will received a second letter and the recall began March 26, 2020. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is VA6.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

Campaign #16V734000 · Oct 13, 2016

Issue: 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).

Risk: If the ORC module does not receive a signal from the front impact sensor, both frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the front impact sensor wiring and relocate the impact sensor branch, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S76.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Campaign #16V288000 · Nov 5, 2016

Issue: 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.

Risk: Failure of the air bag circuit may prevent the driver's frontal air bag from deploying in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clockspring, wheel back cover, and column shroud, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S40.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE

Campaign #24V196000 · Mar 14, 2024

Issue: 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.

Risk: An air bag that does not deploy in a crash can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the clockspring, steering wheel back cover, and steering column shrouds, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 27B.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2016 Jeep Wrangler.

1 active NHTSA investigation

Source: NHTSA

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

    Action #EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021

    From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 200…

    View on NHTSA →

Reported to NHTSA

ABS control module internal fault (C2200)

SERVICE BRAKES

95 NHTSA complaints · 2022-03 → 2026-07

“The ABS module (68259556AD) on my 2016 JKU is not working (code C2200) and the part is not available anywhere. I tried buying online and reaching out to a dealership, but everyone acknowledges Stellantis doesn’t have the part available. There are posts on Jeep forums from 2023”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11732536
“In February of 2024, my ABS, traction control and brake warning lights came on. This disables the ABS, traction control and cruise control. After scanning the vehicle for codes, there is a C2200 internal fault for the ABS control module. Making sure it is not a sensor issue, I”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11683730
“Jeep Wrangler Unlimited ABS, Brake, & Traction Control warning lights all came on at once while driving. Once jeep stopped vehicle went into limp mode limiting power and MPH to less than 30 MPH. Which is a huge safety problem when all the roads to and from out house are 45 MPH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11687428

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front brake caliper binding and brake line restriction

SERVICE BRAKES

10 NHTSA complaints · 2021-09 → 2025-06

“Left front brake caliper not releasing. Replaced caliper and brake pads, problem still exist. After some research found that there has been an issue with brake line. Apparently the mounting bracket on the line has in some cases pinched the line restricting fluid flow causing”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11667897
“I am reporting a dangerous brake part on all of the later model wranglers. The front brake lines collapse because of a clamp holding the brake line. This happened to our 2016 Jeep Wrangler willys edition it is garaged and only has 25,342 miles. The dealer wanted 2700 to redo all”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11432220
“Had right front brakes, caliper and rotor replaced two times in the past 6 months. Same problem. At times, brakes feel like they are stuck and will not release. Standard transmission and there is no roll back on inclined driveway. Drove it 5 miles home when it started messing”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11539022

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Cylinder misfire with rocker arm and camshaft wear

ENGINE

7 NHTSA complaints · 2022-11 → 2024-05

“75,000 MILES, ENGINE TICKING ON COLD START, ENGINE LIGHT FOR CYL 2 MISFIRE, ENGINE CHUGS AND HAS LOW ACCELERATION. DEALER REPLACED ROCKER ARM UNDER OWNER'S EXTENDED WARRANTY. DID NOT FIX PROBLEM AND NOW ARE DISASSEMBLING ENGINE. READ MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH SAME PROBLEM, CLASS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11518067
“The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard a tapping sound under the hood of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and indicated that the rocker arm and the camshaft”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11499392
“P0302 code popped up all four rocker arms on left cylinder need to be replaced. Jeep had normal oil change 50k miles”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11491858

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Oil filter housing and oil cooler cracking

ENGINE

16 NHTSA complaints · 2021-08 → 2025-11

“Oil filter housing/Oil cooler cracked. Dealership says its a common problem on 2014+ jeeps with 3.6 liter engine yet Jeep hasn't issued a recall. Dealer stated that this seems to happen around 50,000 miles on vehicle. No warning lights came on, noticed smoke coming from under”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11427730
“Oil Housing Unit crack. Just bought vehicle used. Weather dropped to 28 degrees and oil housing unit cracked. All oil poured out of vehicle and would not hold any oil when more was added. Took vehicle to Jeep dealer and they confirmed that the PLASTIC piece that was the original”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11499201
“Oil filter housing is made of plastic and over time the plastic, exposed to heat cycle and elements from being under the plenum, becomes brittle and cracks. The cracks in the oil filter housing create a susbtantial oil leak that drips engine oil onto the exhaust and is a”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11566095

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Steering wheel clock spring failure

AIR BAGS

17 NHTSA complaints · 2021-09 → 2025-12

“The airbag light came on, then went off. This happened for a while, meanwhile, the horn stopped working and the controls in the steering wheel were incapable of anything for the radio. I was informed it was a bad steering clock spring and it needed to be replaced. Part #”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11618464
“The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the contact attempted to blow the horn and no sound came from the horn. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to steer and the controls on the steering wheel were inoperable”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11498201
“I had someone cut me off on the highway, I went to honk my horn & it didn't work. I then also noticed that my steering wheel control buttons did not work, or light up either. Upon investigation I found out that those are all symptoms of the clockspring not working properly &”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11644420

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stalling and power loss while driving

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE

9 NHTSA complaints · 2022-04 → 2026-07

“My 2016 jeep wrangler jk will just stop running all power is lost, it's happened on the freeway as well as around town multiple times.. I get no codes. Once I can pull off the hiway it has always started back up after removing key and placing key back in ignition it starts”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11710238
“As I drive, the car loses the ability to accelerate. It then passively stalls and the automatic steering locks up. All electrical inside the car still stays on. I put the car in park and it restarts on the first key turn. It has happened up to 3 times in a trip, but it is”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11525150
“2016 Jeep Wrangler intermittently misfires then immediately loses power and dies. Also loses power steering at the same time. It almost caused an accident and is a big safety concern. Now I drive in the right lane in case I have to hurry and pull off the side of road. I turn the”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11508891

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment in a crash

AIR BAGS

7 NHTSA complaints · 2022-06 → 2025-06

“The contact owned a 2016 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle driving at high speeds rear-ended the contact's vehicle, causing her vehicle to flip over twice; however, no air bags were deployed. The contact sustained a”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11531292
“Stopped at traffic light. Hit from behind, into vehicle in front of said vehicle. Air bags did not deploy. Police report filed; insurance representative, jeep dealership all have inspected. No warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the failure. Rear ended at traffic”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11572931
“I ran into a truck that stopped in the middle of the road, The impact was hard. My airbags didnt deploy. My chest is hurting”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11468135

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 2 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 8,000 mi

Pentastar 3.6L: SAE 0W-20 every 8,000 miles. Wrangler 392 6.4L HEMI: SAE 5W-20 every 8,000 miles. EcoDiesel 3.0L: 10,000 miles. 4xe plug-in hybrid: 8,000 miles or annually.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 8,000 mi

Rotate tires every 8,000 miles. Wrangler with 33+ inch off-road tires: rotate every 5,000 miles to prevent uneven wear from solid axles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 8,000 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and parking brake every 8,000 miles. Wrangler and Gladiator pads wear faster than Grand Cherokee due to higher curb weight per axle.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Front Differential Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Replace front differential fluid every 60,000 miles. Wrangler off-road use (water crossings, sand): inspect every 30,000 miles for water contamination.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Rear axle fluid every 60,000 miles. Limited-slip differentials require Mopar friction modifier. Wrangler Rubicon with locking differentials: same schedule.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD)

Every 60,000 mi

Replace transfer case fluid every 60,000 miles. Use Mopar ATF+4 for NV3500 and NV245. Wrangler Rock-Trac: 60,000 mi normal, 30,000 mi with regular off-road use.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Brake Fluid

Every 24,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 2 years regardless of mileage. Wrangler off-road use accelerates moisture intake — annual fluid testing recommended.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid (ZF 8HP)

Every 60,000 mi

Severe service: ZF 8HP fluid every 60,000 miles. Normal: 120,000 miles. Use Mopar ATF+4 — never substitute.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Wrangler driven in dust or sand: inspect at every oil change and replace early.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Pentastar 3.6L: 16 spark plugs total, replace at 100,000 miles. Wrangler 392 6.4L HEMI: 16 plugs at 100,000 miles. EcoDiesel: glow plug inspection only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Mopar HOAT Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

Mopar HOAT (purple) for gas engines: first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000. Do not mix with green or orange coolants.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 20,000 miles. Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, and Compass: behind the glove box. Wrangler/Gladiator: optional cabin filter on later models only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

91 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

28

complaints mentioning a crash

15

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2016 Jeep Wrangler reflects Jeep's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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