Jeep Renegade: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Jeep Renegade problems by model year, from 2,202 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2017 (73%, 385 drivetrain complaints), 2015 (67%, 321 drivetrain complaints) and 2018 (62%, 261 drivetrain complaints). 7 of the 8 Jeep Renegade years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 4 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2021 (25%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2021 (25%) to 2022 (58%), up 33 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2017 drew the most drivetrain complaints (385 of 1,285 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2023 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Jeep Renegade year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Renegade | very high | 67% | 321 | 511 | 2/8 | 4 |
| 2016 Renegade | very high | 61% | 237 | 430 | 4/8 | 2 |
| 2017 Renegade | very high | 73% | 385 | 565 | 1/8 | 3 |
| 2018 Renegade | very high | 62% | 261 | 442 | 3/8 | 2 |
| 2019 Renegade | elevated | 33% | 22 | 79 | 7/8 | 4 |
| 2020 Renegade | high | 56% | 30 | 62 | 6/8 | 3 |
| 2021 Renegade | no elevated signal | 25% | 15 | 67 | 8/8 | 2 |
| 2022 Renegade | high | 58% | 14 | 26 | 5/8 | 2 |
| 2023 Renegade | too few to score | – | 5 | 20 | – | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Jeep Renegade years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Jeep Renegade engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Jeep Renegade involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 14 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2016 | 16V529000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2015 |
| Feb 2018 | 18V131000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2017 |
| Oct 2018 | 18V731000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2017–2018 |
11 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2015 | 15V508000 | electrical system: cybersecurity | 2015 |
| Feb 2016 | 16E013000 | suspension: rear | 2015–2016 |
| Jul 2016 | 16V545000 | trailer hitches | 2015–2016 |
| Aug 2017 | 17V485000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2017 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V524000 | electrical system: wiring: front underhood | 2018 |
| Apr 2019 | 19V287000 | air bags: air bag/restraint control module | 2019 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V438000 | air bags: air bag/restraint control module | 2019 |
| Dec 2019 | 19V909000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2020 |
| Sep 2020 | 20V191000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2019–2020 |
| Jul 2024 | 24V510000 | air bags: frontal | 2019–2022 |
| Dec 2024 | 24V918000 | exterior lighting: back up lights | 2021–2022 |
What the free pages leave out on the Jeep Renegade
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Jeep Renegade
What are the worst years for the Jeep Renegade?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Jeep Renegade years are the 2017 (73% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2015 (67% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2018 (62% of relevant complaints, very high). 7 of 8 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Jeep Renegade?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Jeep Renegade years are the 2021 (25%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Jeep Renegade have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 8 scored years, 1,285 of 2,018 relevant NHTSA complaints (64%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022.
Is the Jeep Renegade reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 7 of 8 Jeep Renegade years we score have an elevated complaint share and 1 do not. Pooled across those years, 64% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Jeep Renegade?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Jeep Renegade years we track, out of 14 in total: 16V529000 (Jul 2016, 2015), 18V131000 (Feb 2018, 2017), 18V731000 (Oct 2018, 2017–2018). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.