Under normal driving conditions, coolant rapidly started leaking from the engine, and vehicle started overheating. UNKNOWN component failure, vehicle is currently at an independent service station. No warnings prior to overheating.
Jeep Renegade overheating problems
102 of the 2,215 owner complaints about the Jeep Renegade describe engine overheating, most of them for the 2016 model year.
- owner complaints
- 102
- worst model year
- 2016
- typical repair cost reported
- $700
- typical mileage
- 40,000
By model year
Often reported together
Check engine light 18Fire or smoke 10Stalling 8Engine failure 5Jerking 3Grinding brakes 3Warning lights 2Tire blowout 2
Trouble codes mentioned
P0481 3U1400 1P2122 1
What owners say
This vehicle’s windows dull out and side mirrors get brown and orange spots on them. Seat Belts won’t hold your seat belt and can sometimes pop out while going down the road. It sets off the seat belt alarm and you have to keep trying to get it back in. There’s a Recall for some 2017 models, but this one doesn’t fall under the recall but has the same issues for the Engine cooling fan. Electric cooling fan won’t spin and causes the car to use up coolant and overheat. This also messes with your air conditioner and causes the inside of your car to get hot as it can only blow warm air. (Injury)The plastic for the hood prop rod easily falls off and is a safety issue when you are working under the hood as the hood can fall onto your head when this plastic piece falls off. The gear shit stops working and won’t go into reverse. The parking brake pull button is located next to the cup holders and at high risk for electric damage if the cups in the cup holder leak or have condensation and leak into that parking brake pull switch. If the battery dies, and you quickly need to move the car off of a busy highway or train track, you have to take off the entire piece of the gear shift and find something small enough to fit into the hole to pop the car into neutral or reverse. This is a huge safety risk and takes too much time in high risk areas!!
Car has 66,000 miles. Description of the Safety Defect and Incident:Component Malfunction: The radiator cooling fan motor and the low-speed resistor circuit suffered a complete internal electrical failure. The defective part is being removed and is available for inspection upon request.Safety Risk: While idling stationary in live traffic, the vehicle unexpectedly and severely overheated. This created an immediate, dangerous traffic-stall hazard that put my personal safety and the safety of surrounding drivers at risk of a collision.Professional Confirmation: The problem has been fully reproduced, diagnosed, and confirmed by a certified independent service center. Their diagnostic scan tool commands failed, and electronic connector testing proved an open resistor and a faulty, high-resistance motor.Inspections: The vehicle and component have been inspected and verified by the independent service center. No police or insurance representatives were involved as I successfully safely towed the vehicle before a collision occurred.Warning Lamps & Symptoms: There were no symptoms prior to the failure. The problem appeared suddenly while idling. The dashboard cluster flashed an "Engine Coolant Hot" message only after the temperature had already spiked into the red zone because the low-speed fan completely failed to engage. I immediately turned the engine off to prevent a catastrophic engine failure or a traffic collision.This component failure occurred prematurely at only 66,000 miles on a meticulously maintained 2018 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk. This issue directly mirrors the platform defects previously tracked under the federal safety agency Action PE19014 and the manufacturer's Customer Satisfaction Notification V54.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound while the cooling fan was in operation. The contact stated that the sound became louder over time. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with fan bearing and spindle failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that after leaving the dealer, the engine started to overheat, and the coolant temperature gauge moved into the red zone. No warning lights were illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.
I previously had this same issue August 2024 (associated complaint 11608428). My rear drivers side tail light is out completely-no brake light, reverse, turn signal, or nighttime tail light is working. I spent nearly $800 to replace part 68599920AA, as the entire motherboard was fried, as were the connectors from overheating. I’ve located several other complaints with similar issues: 11585014; 11142232; 11023686. This is clearly a defective issue with Jeep Renegades and a safety concern that should be a recall.
am writing to formally report multiple serious issues with my 2019 Jeep Renegade (VIN: [XXX] ). I take good care of my vehicle, but it has been experiencing rough shifts, lurching and jerking during acceleration, loud noises from the engine or transmission, hesitation, unexpected power loss, and it frequently displays a warning that the license plate light is off. Recently, the car overheated and required a water pump replacement, and since then it emits a burning hose smell. Additionally, the driver’s seat does not lock properly, and the radio often turns off and on by itself. These ongoing problems not only compromise the safety, reliability, and proper functioning of my vehicle but also create a significant financial burden. I am requesting an immediate inspection and resolution, and I would appreciate guidance on the next steps or the earliest available appointment for service. A prompt response is important, as these issues pose a serious safety risk while driving. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Something shot out of the engine and caused a large hole the car never overheated and oil changes were done properly. The dealership says sometimes these things just happen and is unable to tell me what shot through the engine.
The engine cooling fan failed. The vehicle was repaired by Firestone, and we have the old parts in case an inspection is needed. This failure put myself and others at risk because had I not been close to home when the engine light came on, the engine would have overheated. My daily commute is over 50 miles, and this could have caused an accident if it had happened on the highway. The problem was confirmed by a service center (Firestone). The entire fan assembly needed to be replaced since the bracket was also broken. The component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. The check engine light first came on while I was driving home from the store on 5/31/25. Then, the A/C stopped cooling. I stopped by Advance Auto Parts Store, and they checked the engine code (P0481) and advised me to purchase a fuse. When I arrived home and checked under the hood, I found that there was indeed a blown fuse. After replacing the fuse, I noticed that the fan was shaking and rattling. I then took the vehicle to the local Firestone center and they diagnosed the problem. I searched online to see if other Renegade owners had reported problems with the engine cooling fan and found that there was a recall (Recall Number: V54 - Engine Cooling Fan) for 2015 - 2017 Jeep Renegades for this same issue. However, it seems that my vehicle was not included in the recall. I am requesting that my vehicle be included in the recall so I can be reimbursed for the $1,053 that I spent on this repair.
Vehicle Started to overheat when sitting still and AC was reduced at a stop. Found the cooling fan to be unresponsive and not operating. Found CSN V54 tsb and conducted determination of it's application to my vehicle. Vehicle had the bushing style plastic heat shield from the examples and using proper scan tool, found the fan unresponsive to run command. Called dealership to schedule repair and they were adamant that it was not covered, or must have been repaired already, but did not provide proof of such repair. The unit in the vehicle is the plastic heat shield bushing style unit, not the ball bearing replacement unit.
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The exact component or system that failed is unknown at this time. Symptoms suggest an issue possibly involving the engine cooling system, idle control, or electrical systems. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle has stalled suddenly in traffic, especially when coming to a stop, putting myself and others at risk of rear-end collisions or blocking lanes unexpectedly. The overheating raises the risk of engine fires or total vehicle shutdown while driving. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The problem has been reproduced once at an independent service center, but the exact cause has not been identified. Therefore, the problem has not been fully diagnosed or confirmed. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? No, the vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. - Jeep was taken to the dealership, but they couldn't find anything. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lamps or messages appeared prior to the stalling or overheating. Symptoms first appeared during warmer months when the vehicle was idling or stopped in traffic
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling: engine
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017 Jeep Renegade vehicles equipped with a 2.4L engine. These vehicles may be equipped with a cracked oil pump housing/balance shaft module (BSM), which can cause the oil pump to fail and the engine to stall.
- Risk
- An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the oil pump for its production information, and replace the BSM as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 13, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U18.
Recall number 18V131000 · Recall details
Questions about the Jeep Renegade overheating
Which Jeep Renegade years have engine overheating problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2016 (43 complaints), 2015 (33 complaints) and 2017 (13 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix engine overheating on the Jeep Renegade?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $700 (median of 12 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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