The Lemon Index2016 Jeep Wrangler.
The 2016 Jeep Wrangler is about average by owner complaints: 166 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 85, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 18 mpg combined. The best Jeep Wrangler year is 2015.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 100 YouTube videos about the 2007–2018 Jeep Wrangler (JK), 30.1M views. The 2016 is the same Jeep.
What owners say it costs
- Other repairs (parts or shop quote)$3008 videos · most $50–$1,000Hear it ▶
- Transmission$1,4004 videos · most $280–$2,000Hear it ▶
- Tires$3,0002 videos · most $2,000–$4,000Hear it ▶
Dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos (median, so one wild number can't swing it). Not verified sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Most-watched topics
- Death wobble & steering4.3M views
JK 2.5 Ton Steering Kit Install (07-18) — Core 4x4CORE 4X4 · 2.7M views · 10 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door1.2M views
Jeep NO HEAT Fast Pinpoint / Fix Wrangler JK Temperature Blend door actuatorNoNonsenseKnowHow · 592K views · 4 videos - Oil leaks & gaskets935K views
Jeep Wrangler JK JKU - Oil Cooler Filter Housing Replacement 3.6L Pentastar Doorman 926-876ATEM OFFROAD · 231K views · 7 videos - Cooling system594K views
How to change the coolant in your JK. DIY Jeep Coolant FlushJK Jeep · 154K views · 5 videos
Show 4 more
- Intake, EGR & engine sensors508K views
Jeep JK First 5 Mods | Top 5 Mods For Your Wrangler JK - Throttle OutExtremeTerrain Jeep · 508K views - Driveshaft, axles & 4x4433K views
How To Run 40" Tires on Stock JK Axles; Ultimate JK Axle BuildBig Tire Garage · 175K views · 3 videos - Brakes & ABS420K views
How to fix ABS & Traction Control Light Jeep Wrangler JK | Wrangler ABS & Traction Control Light OnThe Odyssey · 223K views · 2 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors420K views
DIY DOOR HANGER for Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator Trucks - Works for JL / JT and JK too!Wayalife · 205K views · 3 videos
Before you buy, watch
Top 5 Problems Jeep Wrangler JK SUV 3rd Generation 2007-20181A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 1.3M views
How Reliable Is a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon After 50,000 miles? Long-Term 2018 Wrangler ReviewEdmunds Cars · 820K views
2007-2017 Jeep Wrangler JK Comprehensive Buyer's GuideThe Fast Lane Car · 685K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 462 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Jeep Wrangler year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 18K to 66K miles on the car (238 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- brakes complaints mostly came at 20K–54K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 25K–71K miles
- airbags complaints mostly came at 16K–80K miles
Recalls 5
- airbags 2024
Debris contamination may cause the clockspring to fail, preventing the driver's air bag from deploying in a crash.
- seat belts 2019
The driver's seat belt buckle mounting strap may fracture and separate from the seat frame.
- airbags 2019
Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Show all 5 recalls
- airbags 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).
- airbags 2016
The clockspring assembly may become contaminated with dust and cause the air bag circuit to fail.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Jeep told dealers about
Jeep sent dealers 195 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- "pentastar oil filter adapter before replacing this part, please call any one of the following…
- Two Underhood Relays Not Capped and Unsecured This bulletin involves inspecting the wiring…
- Hands Free Module - Convergence Telematics Module (CTM) Before replacing the Hands Free Module…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- ClosedElectrical overstress2019–2024
- ClosedSeat belt buckle bracket failure2019
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep Wrangler 4DR 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★☆☆ |
| Jeep Wrangler 2DR 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★☆☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.6L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Dealer refuses to make recall repairs free of charge, want us to pay hundreds of dollars to remove and reinstall wench. Tried last summer as well same result.
2016 Jeep Wrangler owner · NHTSA complaint 11144688
More owner reports
Manual gear lever spins making the vehicle impossible to shift. Happened overnight.
NHTSA complaint 10885273
Jeep stalls when put into reverse, then has trouble shifting from an idle, such as taking off from a stop light.
NHTSA complaint 11267373
Quick answers
Is the 2016 Jeep Wrangler reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 85; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Jeep Wrangler year by this measure is 2015.
What are the most common 2016 Jeep Wrangler problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (22%), airbags (21%) and engine (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Jeep Wrangler have?
5 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Jeep Wrangler get?
18 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2016 Jeep Wrangler problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 18,000 and 66,200 miles. The middle report was at 40,000 miles, from 238 complaints.
Does the 2016 Jeep Wrangler have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 22% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2016 Jeep Wrangler cost in fuel a year?
About $3550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Jeep Wrangler have?
3.6L 6-cyl.
What Jeep Wrangler year is better than the 2016?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2015, 2017 and 2011.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works