Top 3 Problems 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owners Deal With
The Grand Cherokee is one of the most popular midsize SUVs. This versatile vehicle can easily go from suburban streets to wilderness trails. But a new Jeep SUV isn’t cheap. So, if you’re considering a used model, specifically a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee, be aware of its top three problems and how much they cost to fix.
What are the 3 biggest 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems?
According to CarComplaints.com, these 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems could cause the most trouble for owners:
- Unintended acceleration
- Warping and peeling leather trim
- Improper shifting
They’re all significant issues, two of which directly affect the SUV’s operation. Let’s look at what to expect with each problem.
What’s the solution for unintended acceleration in this Jeep SUV?
Only one owner has reported unintended acceleration in the Grand Cherokee to CarComplaints.com, but that doesn’t discount the fact that this issue is scary. The owner said that after they shifted the SUV into reverse, it unexpectedly accelerated without their pressing the gas pedal. It caused more than $5,500 worth of damage to the vehicle when it hit a parking pillar.
So far, no fix has been offered for unintended acceleration, possibly because it has affected only a tiny number of Jeep SUVs. Unfortunately, the expected cost to fix this problem is about $8,000, and it can happen early in the ownership period at 2,000 miles. This is the most severe of the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems but is the rarest of the top three issues.
Where is the leather a problem in the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Many owners report the leather covering the dashboard begins to unglue and form wrinkles or bubbles. Eventually, the leather warps or peels across the entire dashboard, making an otherwise high-end SUV look like a junkyard car. This problem typically appears around 60,000 miles in 2011 to 2014 Grand Cherokee models with leather interiors, such as the Overland and Limited trims. However, owners of 2016 models have also reported the issue in their SUVs.
In addition, one owner claimed the warped leather didn’t allow the passenger airbag to deploy correctly. Loose leather covering might not seem like a safety issue. Indeed, “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) won’t investigate the problem because it doesn’t pose a ‘safety’ risk,” JeepProblems.com reports.
Furthermore, owners say the automaker and dealerships won’t pay to replace the leather because the vehicle is out of warranty. “The dash itself will probably run you around $1,100, and that doesn’t include the labor involved,” JeepProblems.com says.
How can you fix a Grand Cherokee that won’t shift properly?
Improper shifting is a safety issue, so you might think it’s more severe than warped leather. However, it ranks lower on the CarComplaints.com severity scale. That’s probably because the cost to replace the ignition coil is about $250, making this an affordable fix for the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Still, the problem occurs at an average of only 13,450 miles.
Two owners reporting this problem said they trained their feet to work with the faulty shift. At best, that’s a temporary fix to what could be a permanent problem in affected Jeep SUVs. Some owners have claimed it’s a recurring issue their dealerships won’t help solve.
