2018 Jeep Renegade Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2018 Jeep Renegade most often describe the engine stalling or shutting off while driving or when slowing to a stop, frequently linked with low engine oil; many complaints say the vehicle burned more oil than expected between changes, with some saying the dealer performed an oil consumption test. Electrical complaints are also common, mostly about the infotainment/radio screen and charging or start-stop warnings, and a smaller group describes hard or erratic transmission shifting.

1. 1
   Engine

   Excessive engine oil consumption

   • 104 complaints (23%)
   • median 20,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (63 state mileage)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners report the engine using noticeably more oil than expected between changes, in some cases needing to add a quart or more over short distances, with the low oil pressure light coming on or the engine stalling when the level drops. Complaints describe dealers adding oil, sending owners away, or performing an oil consumption test; a few say the engine was ultimately replaced. A service bulletin covers 2.4L oil consumption testing and a warranty extension. Reported from as low as a few thousand miles up to about 130,000 miles; many complaints fall between 18,000 and 85,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt smell, and ask whether an oil consumption test has been done or the 2.4L warranty extension applies to this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car will stall without any indication that the oil is low. Loss of power also accrues. I almost got hit by a car for losing power. The dealership says its normal for the car to use oil. But never told me when I bought the car I need to check it. This is a huge safety concern.”

   NHTSA complaint #11365878, filed 2020-10, 24,000 miles

   “I bought my Jeep Renegade in august of 2018. Not even a month of driving later (2,000 miles), I was on the side of the highway because the engine stalled and then gave me a low oil pressure warning. When I took the vehicle into the dealership they said it was too early to do an oil change and to come back at 10,000 miles. I had to fill the vehicle with 2 quarts of oil to keep it running. I then ran into the same problem at the 7,000 mile mark where I stalled on the side of the road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11364496, filed 2020-10, 30,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 195 complaints (44%)
   • median 18,730 mi at 2.2 yrs old (130 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the vehicle losing power and shutting off while driving, at stops, or when slowing for a turn, sometimes with a "shift to park" message and several attempts needed to restart. Complaints say dealers often could not reproduce the problem or found no stored codes, and in some cases the vehicle was towed in. A few complaints mention a hard jolt or shudder around the same time. Mostly reported between roughly 15,000 and 90,000 miles, at both low and highway speeds.

   What to check: Ask whether the vehicle has ever stalled and whether the PCM/TCM was reflashed or any diagnosis was done; a test drive that includes slowing to a stop can help surface it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving downhill 55 MPH at an approximate altitude of 5500ft on hwy 80 west in wyoming, my vehicle completely lost all power, engine shutdown and dashboard message said shift to park. Very scary and dangerous situation that I was able to control. I proceeded to park the vehicle on the side of the hwy and shifted to park. I waited for about 15 minutes not knowing what to do. I decided to turn the engine on, which it did, shifted to drive, and drove to the nearest hwy exit. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11342873, filed 2020-08, 42,000 miles

   “I was on my way to work, driving about 30 MPH, and all of a sudden, some d light came on, & then all the lightd came on & then I recieved a message that I need to switch my gears & my tire locked up & my car just shut down. I was not able to turn my car back on. After several attempts to push my start button, after finally getting it to turn back on it stalled out again. I was able to get it to turn on again then I made it home. I started reading blogs & it said to check your oil. I checked it and it was completely empty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11317191, filed 2020-03, 2,400 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Hard or erratic transmission shifting

   • 26 complaints (6%)
   • median 29,000 mi at 2.7 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe hard, jerky shifts that feel like a bump from behind, erratic shifting at cruising speed, and a grinding or whining noise when shifting from park to reverse on a cold start. Some complaints say the PCM and TCM were reflashed but the behavior returned, and one describes loss of speed with a "service transmission" message. A few also note jolting during acceleration or deceleration. Mostly reported between about 17,000 and 55,000 miles.

   What to check: Drive from cold and note any clunk or whine going into reverse, and ask whether any transmission software updates or fluid service have been performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought this car new, this car is currently at 33596miles. Recently had noticed some really hard jerky shifting, so hard it feels like someone had bump into the rear of my car. When I start up the car cold, shift from park to reverse I can hear this harsh grinding, whining noise.”

   NHTSA complaint #11331384, filed 2020-06, 33,420 miles

   “The Jeep sometimes stalls when coming to a stop. It'll say that the car needs to be placed in park, you attempt to start it, the Jeep struggles to start. Eventually it will start. The Jeep also makes a hard jolt sometimes in higher speeds. It has been noticed to do this when the Jeep is accelerating to cruising speed. Sometimes it is noticed when de accelerating.”

   NHTSA complaint #11408351, filed 2021-04, 106,600 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Infotainment screen freezes, goes black, or misbehaves

   • 30 complaints (7%)
   • median 24,500 mi at 3.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Complaints describe the center screen freezing on the backup camera view, going black, or refusing to operate the radio and other panel controls, sometimes needing a restart. Others report the rear camera image distorted or color-shifted, or settings such as units changing on their own, and that dealers could not diagnose or fix the problem. Some owners say climate, defroster, and Bluetooth features activate without being touched. Reported from very low mileage (a few thousand miles) up to about 85,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Try the radio, backup camera, climate controls, and Bluetooth in turn during a test drive, and ask whether any radio software updates have been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The backup camera screen was stuck on the viewing screen on the dash. I shifted the car in park and was driving and it was just a frozen view from the rear camera. I could not operate the radio or any other equipment. I pulled into a parking space a few minutes later and shut the car off. I restarted the car a few minutes later and the screen was black, I could not operate the radio or any other equipment controlled by the panel. I called the dealer who said I should bring it in the next day. I took it home and parked it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11297782, filed 2020-01, 7,200 miles

   “Started vehicle (after it sat all night) and all units were displayed in metric. Checked settings and us units were still selected. Had to select metric units, exit menu, enter menu and reselect us units. This has happened multiple times since 2018. Sometimes it happens after sitting all night, sometimes it happens while driving the vehicle. Dealership is aware, but cannot diagnose or fix problem. Last date of occurrence will be used.”

   NHTSA complaint #11341139, filed 2020-07, 25,000 miles

Buying note. Give this model year a careful check for oil use and stalling: verify the oil level and service history, and ask about oil consumption testing and any software updates for the transmission, battery sensor, or radio. A test drive that includes cold starts, stopping, and highway speed is worth doing before deciding.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.