2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

76Engine complaints

24.8%Of all 307 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN77 · 25.1%

ENGINE76 · 24.8%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM59 · 19.2%

Unspecified / other31 · 10.1%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM28 · 9.1%

Share of the 307 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee overview page.

What owners report

“ENGINE WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN NOT IN PARK. CAR WAS IN RUNAWAY CONDITION IN PARKING LOT”NHTSA complaint 11207648 — filed 05/15/2019

“THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. ALL LIGHTS ON DASH CAME ON WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT TRYING TO READ THEM…”NHTSA complaint 11207087 — filed 05/12/2019

“WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING IN DRIVEWAY IT STALLED ON THREE OCCASIONS, WAIT TEN SECONDS, PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STARTS UP. BEEN IN THE…”NHTSA complaint 11193649 — filed 04/03/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee: 76 of 307 complaints on file (24.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee have in total?

307 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 27 involved a crash, 7 involved a fire, 18 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.