Post its introduction in 2014, the Jeep Renegade has gotten all praises from Jeep lovers and the vehicle has a proven reliability aspect too, unlike most of its stablemates. Since its launch year, the vehicle has not been completely trouble-free and its powertrain saw the majority of the complaints from the customers followed by its electrical systems. The 2019 Renegade is doing better than its previous models so far with three recalls and 20 complaints to its name. The compact off-roader carries a base price tag of $22,275 and rivals the Honda HR-V, the Ford Escape, and the Mazda CX-3.
Jeep Renegade user complaints and problems
Safety problems
- Infotainment system malfunction: A few reports regarding the infotainment system of the 2019 Jeep Renegade were lodged by the owners. In a report, the complainant stated that the radio failed to work. Another report mentioned that right from the day of delivery the system had software issues that made driving quite distracting. In one instance, the clock of the infotainment display kept on switching to the metric unit display. After several visits to the dealership, the issue recurred.
Engine problems
- Excessive oil burning: Two incidents were reported regarding the excessive oil burning problem. In one report, the owner stated that the 2.4-liter motor of this Renegade was consuming abnormally high amounts of engine oil. After several refills, both manually and at the dealership, the engine continued to burn excessive oil. The owner further stated that upon researching on the internet on a few unofficial forums, there were several unofficial complaints regarding the same issue as well. The other report mentioned that the powertrain refused to shift after a cold start and after driving for a significant distance. These issues were also caused by the affected vehicle burning through excessive engine oil.
- Radiator leak: One owner complained that after completing about 5,700 miles on his Jeep Renegade, the main radiator and the auxiliary radiator of the vehicle leaked. The leakages resulted in overheating and damage to the engine. The vehicle required a complete engine replacement.
- Transmission failure: In this case, the owner mentioned that while driving the vehicle stalled suddenly. Upon several restart attempts, the engine failed to turn over. Upon further inspection at the dealership, both the transmission and the transmission module failed and required replacement.
2019 Jeep Renegade recalls
|
S.No. |
Recall Date |
NHTSA Campaign ID |
Issues noticed |
Additional remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
April 10, 2019 |
19V287000 |
ORC module May Disable Safety Features |
Deactivated passive safety features can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the ORC module software, free of charge. The recall began on May 2, 2019. |
|
2 |
June 11, 2019 |
19V438000 |
Incorrect ORC Calibration |
The miscalibrated ORC may incorrectly deploy the airbags during a frontal crash, increasing the risk of injury. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ORC. The recall began on September 24, 2019. |
|
3 |
April 2, 2020 |
20V191000 |
Rearview Image Can Remain on Display/FMVSS 111 |
The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began on April 27, 2020. |
Should you buy a used Jeep Renegade?
In the recent past, FCA vehicles have collected a bad name for their reliability issues but the Renegade is still far from it. The vehicle makes for a preferable option if you’re looking for a compact and rugged crossover on a budget that is also adequately capable of taking on some dirt roads too. Going via the used car route, you need a trusted dealership and a thorough inspection of the used Renegade you’ll opt for.
