The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a grinding sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the PTU was faulty and needed to be replaced. The PTU was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The vehicle later experienced transmission failures and failed to properly accelerate or reverse as needed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. Additionally, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message “Service 4WD” was displayed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 25,749.
2016 Jeep Cherokee: complete transmission failure
20 of the 1,415 complaints about the 2016 Jeep Cherokee describe complete transmission failure.
- owner complaints
- 20
- of this car's complaints
- 1%
- typical mileage
- 21,000
- recalls
- 4
Is there a fix? There are 4 recalls and 79 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Complete transmission failure by model year
What owners say
Transmission was replaced at 20k miles it has still continue to stall while driving causing hard shift and stalling in the middle of the road almost causing accidents.
I have had my jeep since 2020, in September 2024 my "Service Transmission" notification displayed on the jeep. I took it a Jiffy Lube for a transmission service in which aftermarket fluid was put in the transmission and the filters were not replaced. The "Service Transmission" notification came back on in November, was taken into a mechanic that confirmed the Transmission Temperature Sensor had gone bad. The open recalls were repaired by a Jeep Dealership following the issues due to the recalls potentially having fixes for the "Service Transmission errors". Following that mechanic, it was taken to a dealership that diagnosed the Temperature Sensor and replaced the sensor and serviced the transmission. During the test drive, they noticed the transmission was jumping. After looking into it, they discovered that the transmission wasn't firing correctly. My friends with similar jeep transmissions, if not the same, are experiencing the same exact issues with the temperature sensor and transmission failures. There were no accidents reported, just issues directly related to the transmission.
The PTU in our Jeep, was replaced once in 2021. In February of this year I go a notice from Chrysler extending my warranty on my 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk 4WD to 15 years/unlimited miles. It also mentioned some of the failure indicators were sudden power decrease and a banging noise, which we were experiencing, and instructed contact your dealer for a get a diagnosis regarding the issue. We took the vehicle to the dealer and they said they couldn't find the problem. [XXX], my wife was driving when she heard a clunk and grinding noise, we immediately to the vehicle to the dealer where it was determined that the PTU failed and resulted in a Transmission failure. We were told the warranty didn't cover the mating flanges between the PTU and the Transmission, where the bolts broke. Chrysler Customer Care agreed with them and would not cover the cost of the repairs. It is my contention that either Chrysler is continuing to out a defective product, or the dealer failed to properly torque the flange bolts when the PTU was replaced in 2021. Not sure if it is possible for the federal safety agency to inspect my vehicle for possible defects and a cause as to why the flange bolts would break. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contacts mother owns 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH and making a right turn, the vehicle stalled with an abnormal noise coming from the front. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a power transfer unit and transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The independent mechanic related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign number: 23V302000 (Power Train). A dealer was contacted and informed that the vehicle was Canadian and refused to repair the vehicle. Several other dealers were contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was Canadian and could not assist. The manufacturer FCA USA was contacted and informed the contact that they could not force the dealer to repair a Canadian vehicle. The contact also called FCA Canada who informed him they could not assist him as the vehicle was no longer registered in Canada. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
Transmission failed in vehicle with only 96K miles. When attempting to accelerate, car would not switch gears properly and this hinder the ability to gain speed. We had an original diagnosis that the input output sensor needed to be replaced, and after weeks and several thousand dollars, we were told that the part still failed and a whole new transmission needed to be put in.
Vehicle had been running fine .Then coming home from work Friday came up to a yield sign went to press on gas heard a noise then car drifted to a stop wouldn't move in drive or reverse was able to drift to side of the road. Was a lot of traffic driving by wasn't able to inspect the car. Called for a tow truck they got my car on a flatbed and took vehicle to dealership were I bought vehicle. They looked at jeep next day said it needs a new transmission. I've read about a lot of people having issues with the zf 9 speed transmission. If this were to happen on a highway someone could be killed or seriously injured. Chrysler, jeep have been having problems since 2014-15 with the 9 speed transmission they were supposed to have fixed the problems in 2016 but sounds like there fix was unsuccessful. Thank you
While driving on the freeway transmission went out without any warning or signs. Was going 65 mph in the fast lane and engine rpm went up but speed dropped to 35 mph almost getting rear ended and barely made it to the emergency lane.
received message on dashboard service transmission after 22,700 miles and bringing car to delearship where car was purchased and has been serviced I was just informed transmission is out need new transmission. This is my second Jeep at the same dealership with transmission being a faulty one, also with less than 25,000 miles
The transmission failed at highway speed, there was no acceleration. when traffic slowed it did not down shift allowing acceleration. Safety is at risk for obvious reasons when you cannot get up to speed on a free way or when you get off the free way and cannot accelerate at a light. The problem has reoccurred again yesterday while on the freeway. The car has not been inspected yet. There was a yellow light that came on and a message that stated Transmission Needs Serviced.
While driving on a city street, I was stopped at a stoplight. Pressed on gas when light turned green and transmission light came on, service transmission message appeared on in-dash driver communication center. Vehicle would not go into second gear. Messages would not clear from instrument panel. I was able to pull vehicle into a parking lot. Turned car off. After letting it set for 5 min, turned car back on messages still there. I wanted to see if the vehicle would change gears, so I drove it a little distance and it did change gears. I drove it to the dealership. Was informed today, that they were able to verify the transmission error codes. Current fix is a new transmission valve body. Vehicle had exactly 48k miles on it when dropped off at dealership. I had previously complained to dealer about hard - jerking shifts and they just reassured me it was because of the 9-speed transmission optimizing its shifting.
The transmission failed while driving 60mph on the highway. It would not accelerate so I had to pull over to the side of the road. I turned the car off for a few minutes and then restarted it. This seemed to reboot the system and I was able to drive home. I took the car to the dealer and was told it was a "glitch" and the vehicle appeared to be working properly to them so no repair was done. A few months later it happened again except turning it off and on only worked for a few miles before happening again. I took it back to the dealer and they said it was due to a software update. What kind of car shuts down on the highway due to a software update!!! This issue put my family in extremely dangerous situations and jeep refuses to own up to having a faulty transmission.
Service bulletins that may apply
- D-26-20
- ID-26-40
- Service 4wd Light On, AWD System Service Required Message Illuminated
- MIL/check engine lamp comes on after performing U90 recall PCM software update.
- FCA Caribbean Warranty Bulletin ID-23-11 (XJ1) Power Transfer Unit (PTU)
- Customer Satisfaction Notification W20 Reprogram Powertrain Control Module
- Powertrain Control Module.
- Customer Satisfaction Notification W84 Powertrain Software Update
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 23V302000 · Recall details
Power train: driveline: differential unit
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 20V343000 · Recall details
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 16V284000 · Recall details
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 16V287000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2016 Jeep Cherokee transmission failure
Is complete transmission failure a common problem on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee?
20 of 1,415 owner complaints about the 2016 Jeep Cherokee (1%) mention complete transmission failure. The model year with the most reports is 2014.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee?
There are 4 recalls and 79 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee
Stalling 148Check engine light 125Loss of power 90Warning lights 90Jerking 59Oil consumption 50Won't shift 42Hesitation 33Grinding brakes 30Won't start 24Harsh shifting 23Adaptive cruise 20Engine failure 20Slipping 20Headlights 18Overheating 17No deployment 16Fire or smoke 16Misfire 15Water leak 15Steering lock-up 13Knocking 12Power steering loss 12Wipers 12Key fob 11Rollaway 8Brake failure 7Start-stop 7Fuel pump 6ABS 5Airbag light 5Screen failure 5Sudden acceleration 5
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