Skip to content
Electronic stability controlPart report

2016 Jeep Cherokee Electronic stability control Problems

Complaints
30about this part
Share
2%of 1,412 total for the year
Median mileage
32,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 30 complaints about the electronic stability control of the 2016 Jeep Cherokee, 2% of the 1,412 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 32,000 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“While drive the power shifter messaged appeared, every time I turned the car off the light would go off then while driving would come back on effecting the way the vehicle drove. Took to the dealership replace a sensor now my engine is knocking and hard shifting. I kept up on oil changes and other maintenance the care is only at 44k for the miles.”

NHTSA complaint #11266958, filed 2019-10, 35,000 miles

“I was driving down a hill at about 20 MPH when my vehicle started stuttering and then shut off. The car pulled up a message on the dash that said, ' vehicle must be in park to start the vehicle'. This was absolutely terrifying. I placed the car in park and then restarted the vehicle. This has happened 2 more times since then. Car is scheduled to be serviced.”

NHTSA complaint #11111763, filed 2018-07, 22,000 miles

“My dash is displaying 'service shifter' and my lights by my shifter are all lit up beside the reverse. It began doing it only in reverse but now, 9 months later, is doing it at any given point. I did a scan on it and it says has to do with the 'transmission control module' and 'electronic control module'.”

NHTSA complaint #11325246, filed 2020-05, 90,000 miles

“I was on my way to work and two miles into my commute I noticed that a message appeared on my dash. It is ( service shifter) message. My shifter has red lights illuminated on all the selections in the shifter. I own a 2016 Jeep Cherokee 75th edition, with about 58,0000 miles. I believe a lot of folks are experiencing this issue, which could potentially be a hazard while driving.”

NHTSA complaint #11210584, filed 2019-05, 2 miles

“Over the last 2 weeks, while driving my Jeep has lost power. No warning light or anything, my Jeep just dies. It will say shift into p, then select gear after I have lost power. My lights/radio/bluetooth all still work, but I can not break nor accelerate nor steer. I was nearly t-boned this am, and nearly rear ended last week.”

NHTSA complaint #11132986, filed 2018-10, 22,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Electronic stability control: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202010%
2019272%
2018152%
2017423%
2016302%
2015513%
2014883%
200121%
200010%
199910%
199710%
199610%
199520%
199310%

Other parts of the 2016 Jeep Cherokee

Transmission and drivetrain
635 complaints
Other or unknown
316 complaints
Engine
314 complaints
Electrical system
298 complaints
Brakes
103 complaints
Vehicle speed control
76 complaints
Steering
54 complaints
Fuel system
44 complaints
Body and structure
33 complaints
Air bags
31 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
29 complaints
Suspension
21 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Jeep Cherokee

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology