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The Jeep Renegade is one of the most popular subcompact vehicles on the market. Despite not having the best reputation, the vehicle has a good reliability rating overall. However, the 2018 Jeep Renegade has some notable issues. Out of all of them, the touchscreen display going out is one of the most annoying and inconvenient. This is something people in search of a used Jeep Renegade should know. 

The 2018 Jeep Renegade infotainment system is finicky 

2018 Jeep Renegade in dark blue
2018 Jeep Renegade | Marco Destefanis/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

The touchscreen infotainment system in the 2018 Renegade is one of the most complained about parts of the SUV. The most widespread problem is that it’s inoperable the first 2-3 minutes of starting the vehicle. The screen provides a safety message and a way to bypass it, but the button to leave the safety message does not work. 

As a result, drivers can’t do anything involving the infotainment screen. This includes using the backup camera, which could also be a safety issue. In addition, the system is sometimes finicky about connecting to Bluetooth. Many users have also reported that settings, such as time and units, will randomly update. For example, the temperature units will often change from Fahrenheit to Celsius. 

Touchscreen failure is an annoying issue 

2018 Jeep Renegade touchscreen
2018 Jeep Renegade | Stellantis

One of the biggest 2018 Jeep Renegade problems is that the screen has a tendency to fail. Some owners notice the problem around 5,000 miles on the odometer. However, some people experience it much later. Essentially, while driving, the screen goes gray and starts to deluminate. 

With this problem, sometimes the screen is completely gray, and other times it has colorful lines across it. However, after a while, it becomes completely unusable. Some owners have experienced the screen working again after the vehicle has been off for a while. Unfortunately, the screen does the same after being on during the next trip in the Renegade.  

It should be noted that in addition to the backup camera, you can’t adjust the temperature when the screen does this. Drivers also can’t see the current time, and this issue also makes navigating harder because you can rely on seeing a map. Based on what customers have been told by mechanics, replacing the system is the best way to fix the problem.

Other Jeep Renegade problems

According to Consumer Reports, the 2018 Jeep Renegade has two recalls. One of the recalls is over the electrical system due to a malfunctioning voltage regulator. This system failure causes the vehicle to stall or not start. The other recall is regarding the fuel system. This came as a result of reduced fuel pressure and stalling. 

There is much to appreciate about the Jeep Renegade. It has a unique look that stands out on the road. However, it has some fairly serious and annoying issues, especially regarding the 2018 model. To the automaker’s credit, it seems later models have improved. However, used Jeep Renegade models aren’t highly suggested. 

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