Common Failures Of The Jeep Renegade: Problems, Breakdowns And Disadvantages

The Jeep Renegade is an affordable, practical and efficient compact SUV. It’s one of those cost-effective cars that most first-time buyers should go for. But not everything is rosy, in this post we are going to show you everything about the common failures of the Jeep Renegade .

Most people choose the Renegade for its versatility, durability, and all of its driver-assist features.

How good is the Jeep Renegade?

The Jeep Renegade is not an all bad car. It has a predicted reliability score of 80 out of 100, which isn’t bad at all. The Renegade is not as popular as the Jeep Wrangler.

But it can still have a good performance. You will enjoy driving it, especially the Trailhawk trim which is quite remarkable. The Trailhawk can navigate any terrain or tough weather conditions. But if you’re looking for a fast SUV, you shouldn’t buy the Renegade.

Common Jeep Renegade Failures

Although the Jeep Renegade is a good car, Renegade models prior to the 2022 Renegade have some issues. The Renegade isn’t a perfect car, but it’s much better than other models.

With that being said, in this article, we will share some common Jeep Renegade problems.

Let’s look at some Jeep Renegade problems:

1. Suspension failures

One of the first problems with the Jeep Renegade is its inconsistent suspension. Since 1996, the Jeep Renegade has had a couple of suspension complaints.

A car owner revealed that the tie-rod on a Renegade broke while driving down the highway. The driver was unable to steer the vehicle, causing the car to swerve and crash into a telephone pole.

A driver said the Renegade did not issue any warnings. But he stopped completely. When the driver stepped on the accelerator, he had the feeling of not receiving gas.

Another driver revealed that the Renegade made a loud noise that raised the front end. While he was trying to process that, the vehicle did something else that the driver hadn’t expected. The Renegade, which was only going 40 or 45, swerved and hit a pole. Jeep recalled the Jeep Renegade to address its rear suspension problem.

Signs that your Jeep Renegade has suspension problems:

• You will notice your Renegade bounce
• Your vehicle may swerve to one side
• Your car will make a strange noise when you go over a speed bump or curve.

Possible solution

• Take your Jeep Renegade to the technical service when you see any of the above signs.
• The first sign of trouble is the best time to take your Jeep Renegade in for a steering and suspension service.
• It would help if you also consider replacing your suspension components such as shocks and struts. This will improve control and handling of your Renegade.

2. Electrical problems in the renegade

The Renegade’s electrical system is also a major concern for some vehicle owners. A couple of drivers have logged various electrical complaints about the Renegade.

Problems range from motors that won’t turn to multiple electrical failures . You should expect to deal with any of those failures as soon as your vehicle reaches 16,550 miles.

Other drivers complain about the infotainment system malfunctioning at times. Some owners report that their Renegade’s infotainment screen goes blank without warning. If they try to play audio or access driver assistance features, they won’t be able to do either of those things.

Cause

The UConnect firmware is causing the problem . This inconvenience is mainly due to a glitch that only a technician can fix.

Solution

This is not a serious problem. Jeep drivers with firmware issues may request a reset or update to fix the infotainment issue.

3. Large oil consumption

Some drivers complain about the Jeep Renegade’s 2.4L Tigershark 4-cylinder engine as having a defect that consumes too much motor oil . Total engine oil consumption in the Jeep Renegade capacity vehicle is typically 1 quart (0.946 liters) at 2,000 miles for the first 50,000 miles.

For vehicles with more than 50,000 miles, the acceptable oil consumption for engines should be 1 quart (0.946 liters) in 750 miles. The Renegade’s 2.4L engine can hold 5.5 quarts of oil. This compact SUV could consume up to a quart of oil every 1,000 miles.

Compounding the problem is that the engine could stall if the oil level is much below 3.5 quarts. As a result, oil levels often drop without displaying the low oil indicator light. This means that your Renegade’s engine is likely to be damaged.

Causes

Experts suspect that a design flaw is responsible for the Renegade consuming too much engine oil. They rule out bad piston rings, causing oil to leak past the rings and burn during combustion.

Possible solution

Jeep has not fixed this problem yet. But if your Jeep has this problem, you can take it to your nearest Jeep dealer to have your vehicle looked at.

4. Transmission problems

Some Jeep Renegade drivers complain of transmission problems. According to these owners, the Jeep Renegade has shift delays, or the gear sometimes squeaks during acceleration . The transmission causes the vehicle to shake on the road or even make hissing noises.

This can be quite dangerous or annoying. The 2019 model tends to have transmission issues. But there are also some newer models with this drawback. In addition, the Renegade has a standard nine-speed automatic transmission.

However, it still requires you to find the right gears. Other drivers find the Renegade’s shifting relatively slow, especially if you want to access more turbo power.

One concerned owner said the Jeep Renegade sometimes overloads forward. Then the driver will begin to hear harsh, harsh shifts when the ” automatic ” transmission shifts, which he noticed while driving the Renegade.

One person told NHTSA that the 2020 Jeep Renegade Sport began showing transmission issues in the snow. The vehicle lost control when the driver switched the car to 4WD snow mode. The driver further stated that error messages appeared, and the vehicle was put into FWD.

The Renegade skidded. Luckily the driver slid towards the top of the hill and not towards the edge. To remedy this problem, Jeep had to do software updates on them . Unfortunately, the withdrawal process was not fast enough. Most drivers had to wait months for Jeep to recall their vehicles.

Jeep has addressed several issues with the transmission. However, in Manufacturer’s Communication Number 18-118-16, Jeep advised technicians to reprogram the PCM to eliminate false alerts.

Causes

Technicians investigated the issue and discovered that these transmission failures were caused by a loose connection. They also suspected manufacturing electrical problems.

common signs

• Sudden or abrupt stop of the car in the middle of the road
• Other users reported a sudden shutdown. Or unusual jerks forward.
• Gears can shift to ” neutral ” or ” park mode “
• Sudden up and down gear changes
• Higher gears can also shift or slip into lower gears.

Possible solutions

Jeep recommends that you check your Renegade’s transmission for wear, and do so regularly. Also, you should check the transmission fluid in your Renegade and replace it only with Jeep-approved fluid.

The Renegade can also resolve this issue with a PCM reset.

5. Engine problems

Engine problems on the Jeep Renegade vary from model to model. Even so, most drivers report rattling noises, stalling, excessive oil consumption, and other problems.

The 2017 Jeep Renegade appears to have engine trouble . Renegades with the 2.4L engine are prone to fuel pump assembly failure under certain conditions.

Once the fuel pump fails, the Renegade will start to shut down. Once this happens, your Renegade needs a new engine or an overhaul. Drivers should also consider replacing crucial parts of the Jeep Renegade.

An owner of the 2017 Jeep Renegade had seen on several occasions, while driving at various speeds, the ” check engine ” light. The driver took the car to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed that the coolant fan was off center and the fuse needed to be replaced. However, that could not fix the problem.

signs

• Your vehicle may shut down
• The Renegade can consume too much oil.
• Knocking or rattling noise from the engine.

6. Excessive exhaust emissions

The Jeep Renegade has failed several emissions tests due to its excessive emissions. This problem has been confirmed by many Renegade drivers.

Many US states regularly conduct emissions tests on all legally registered vehicles. If your vehicle’s exhaust emissions are above the permitted levels, the test will be discontinued.

Once your Renegade fails emissions testing, you will have to pay for repairs to reduce tailpipe emissions.

Causs

Smoke is not always a good indicator that something is wrong with your Renegade. Some of the causes are as follows:

• A leak in the valve covering the gasket may be responsible for producing emissions
• An oil can drip on a hot manifold
• The motor may have a problem.

7. Irregular vehicle blackouts

Another problem that you should expect from a Jeep Renegade is that it dies occasionally . However, not all Jeep Renegades have this problem. This issue seems to be prominent on the 2015 Jeep Renegades.

Your Jeep should run like a well-oiled machine, and when it shuts down without warning, it can leave you stranded on the side of the road.

The next day you can drive just fine as if nothing had happened the day before. Just for everything starts to get worse when you slow down and it will stop. Experts advise that you immediately contact a mechanic if the engine stalls at low speed.

One of the drivers who owned a 2015 Jeep Renegade said the Renegade was constantly shutting down without warning. The driver experienced this three times before taking the Renegade to a local shop for service. Fortunately, the mechanic was able to help the driver.

Causes

The possible causes of the shutdown are the following:

• Low fuel pressure , faulty fuel injectors and damaged fuel pump
• The car has a malfunction of the automatic transmission
• The Renegade has a bad oxygen sensor.
• Your vehicle may have a clogged or restricted EGR valve
• There are loose or frayed wires in the wiring harness
• The vehicle has a faulty idle air control actuator.

Solution

Unfortunately, Jeep technicians cannot pinpoint the solution to the problem. (If there is any new information, we will update it here.) However, if this problem persists, call a highly qualified mobile mechanic to come and look at your Renegade. The mechanic will determine the source and cause of the shutdown condition.

Final thoughts

Finally, you can continue driving your Jeep Renegade. Especially if you’re looking for an affordable compact SUV, there’s no better car than a Renegade.

You’ll love everything about it, from Renegade’s generous cargo space that seats five passengers, to its easy-to-use driver-assist features.

The best Jeep Renegade that we recommend is the Renegade with a turbocharged engine and an 8.4-inch touchscreen . In order for your Renegade to last a long time, we recommend that you have it serviced regularly.