2016 Jeep Cherokee: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Oct 5, 2026 · Transmission · OK · fire

Warning message of 4 Wheel drive overheating and disengaging. a few minutes later a loud pop occurred, and flames overtook the engine and drive train. I pulled off the road and the fire department came and put out the fire. It is a total loss. I believe that this is a safety recall but I was never notified of any repairs needed.

Filed Mar 6, 2026 · 76,000 miles · NH · fire

The contact owned a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that twenty minutes after her husband parked and turned off the vehicle in a parking lot, the vehicle caught fire while unoccupied. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she noticed sparks coming from beneath the rear driver's side taillight before the vehicle caught fire. The fire consumed half of the vehicle, causing extensive damage. The firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire. There were police and fire department reports filed. The fire department informed the contact that the fire was caused by an electrical failure. The vehicle was towed to a collision center, but was not yet deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

Filed Jun 30, 2025 · 133,000 miles · IL · fire

The contact owned a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that around 5AM, when parked on the driveway the day before in the evening, the contact's wife heard abnormal noise from a window and discovered the vehicle had caught on fire. As a result of the fire, two other vehicles and the contact's residence were damaged. The vehicle was unoccupied during the fire. A fire inspector informed that the fire was an electrical one near the battery and fuse panel. The fire was extinguished by the fire department with water and foam. A fire department report was filed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,000.

Filed Mar 5, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · OR · fire

I parked my vehicle at 6pm on February 15th. at 2:45 pm I awoke to a loud explosion outside my bedroom window. There was a very large fire, and it was my car. I was in shock we could only watch from our window as the fire department arrived and put out the fire which was spreading to the carport and mailboxes near my parking spot. It also burned a truck parked next to mine. both cars a total loss. My insurance company sent someone to tow my vehicle, but the tow truck driver refused saying the vehicle was untowable, due to the massive damage. the next day a neighbor informed me that he got the whole incident on video start to finish. 'The video shows my engine igniting while off and had been parked for over 6 hours. In the video you see a small flame start under the hood near the windshield wipers. the flame then grew and grew!!!! until the car was completely engulfed in flames. I also had a full tank of gas!!! Once the fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. the whole thing was melted to the concrete. the engine laying on the ground. A TOTAL LOSS!!!!

Filed Feb 24, 2025 · Engine · 127,000 miles · OR · fire

The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied at 3 AM, the contact noticed a loud popping sound outside the contact's window. The contact inspected and noticed the vehicle caught on fire. The contact stated the flames were coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the fire spread and damaged the vehicle that was parked beside the contact's vehicle owned by the neighbor. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked in a residential apartment parking lot when the fire occurred. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The Police arrived, however, no report has been filed as of yet. There were no injuries sustained. The contact stated that both vehicles were towed to a local tow yard. In addition, both vehicles were condemned to total loss. The origin of the fire was undetermined however video surveillance showed that the fire started from the front area. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

Filed Jan 26, 2025 · Transmission · NY · fire

*While driving vehicle on highway heard a loud noise and grinding sound and PTU exploded and *was not able to maneuver vehicle properly. *Fluid that was leaking out . Caused fire . Once car turned off this stopped flames .This could have been a very dangerous situation if it had not gone out for us and others on the highway. * we brought the vehicle to our mechanic who diagnosed it and said there was a problem to bring it to the Jeep dealer who also diagnosed the same problem. * it is currently still at the Jeep dealer . Because there are no parts available, which makes us wonder if this has happened to many other people.. * there were no warning, lamps or messages that came on.

Filed Jun 21, 2023 · Body, Electrical · 100,000 miles · AR · fire

The contact owned a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that she had parked the vehicle in the driveway near the garage of her friend's residence, and 10 minutes later, she was informed that the vehicle had caught on fire. The contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire from the front seats onward. The contact stated that the fire expanded to the garage, causing the whole residence to catch on fire. The contact stated that the five adults and two children, who were occupying the residence immediately exited the residence. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. A fire department report was filed. The contact did not recall whether a police report was filed. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was totaled. There was no further information provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The manufacturer later informed the contact that the case had been closed as they were unable to investigate the remains of the vehicle. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number:Â 23V338000 (Electrical System, Structure), however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Jun 20, 2023 · Body, Electrical · 78,000 miles · WV

The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an unknown speed, there was smoke coming from the liftgate. Fellow motorists alerted her son of the failure as he pulled over and allowed the liftgate to cool down. The contact stated that her son was able to drive the vehicle home without further incidence; however, the liftgate failed to open. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure; however, the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V338000 (Electrical System, Structure). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 78,000.

Filed Mar 14, 2023 · Engine · WV

Engine oil cooler failure, had to be replaced. Known issue per 3 techs. Leaks oil onto engine and exhaust. No warning, just the smoke and smell of burning oil. Occurred at 73,200 miles more or less.

Filed Jan 9, 2023 · Brakes, Driver assistance · VA

When I was driving my 2016 Jeep Cherokee Limited through the grocery store parking lot today to pick up my groceries at the front of the store, my emergency parking brake suddenly came on and made my car skid to an abrupt stop. Fortunately, the pickup truck behind me did not run into the back of my car. A message on my dashboard said to depress the brake and then the emergency brake button to release the emergency brake. I did that, but as soon as I tried driving forward, the emergency brake kept automatically turning on and abruptly stopping my car. I was blocking traffic, so I had to turn the steering wheel to enter the closest available parking spot by repeatedly releasing the emergency brake and lurching forward a few feet before being abruptly stopped by the automatic emergency brake over and over again until the car was safely out of the way. I had to call the grocery store to have them hold my groceries and then call a friend to drive me home because it is Sunday and all the service garages are closed. Thank God I was not out on the highway. I recently complained to the Jeep dealership that it appears the previous recall repair to fix water leaking into the back of my car has failed, but they said there is no further recall for that. Now I see there are several owners with this same emergency brake problem that is most likely related to the leaking water. The previous recall said the car is unsafe and could catch on fire due to wires shorting. It is unbelievable that Jeep is not recalling these cars again to truly fix this very problem they previously admitted is very dangerous!!! The previous recall did not fix the problem of water leaking into the rear tailgate and now my car is malfunctioning and has standing water in the trunk. Dear God help me.

Filed Aug 9, 2021 · TX · fire

I had my car parked in a public parking garage for a few hours, and it suddenly caught on fire on the backside of the car. There were no warning lights or anything like that before hand. The whole back of the car is burned and the cars on either side of me were damaged as well. The fire department had to come put the fire out. I don't know for sure, but it sure seems like it might have been the same Power Liftgate short circuit issue that the 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokees got recalled for

Filed Sep 13, 2019 · Electrical · 55,000 miles · OH · fire

Three days after buying this jeep cherokee limited I was sitting in my driveway with the car in park running when I started to smell something burning, the cabin filled with smoke to the point that I called 911 and dispatched my local fire department, they could not determine the location of the smoke, I was able to drive it to the dealership with all windows down in 18 degree weather, the dealer found "burn marks" on the cabin air filter and all they did was to remove the cabin air filter and that was it? Car make me feel unsafe as no repair or diagnostic of burning or smoke has been done. Car lost power with the A/C running last week while at the car wash, I had to turn off the A/C to get it up to speed. Also while sitting idling at mcdonalds pickup window a strong smell of gasoline was detected by the lady serving my meal, my girlfriend and others in line waiting, took it to the dealer and of course they found "nothing". Going to get rid of this thing before it catches fire.