IllustrationWHEN IDLING AND SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE RADIATOR COOLING FAN CONSTANTLY WOBBLES AND GRINDS AGAINST THE SHROUD.
2015 Jeep Renegade
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Renegade years
Owner complaints for the 2015 Jeep Renegade are substantially higher than the model-year median of 79.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Renegade years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1480–25K
12325–50K
8850–75K
2375–100K
13100–150K
5150K+
400 reports with mileage · 111 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 170 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 161 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 129 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports8 fire reports1 injury reports
Power Train complaints
170 reportsWHEN DRIVING IF YOU HAVE TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY THE RENEGADE WILL ESSENTIALLY IDLE AND HESITATE BEFORE JERKING FORWARD. HAPPENS SPECIFICALLY WHEN HAVING TO CHANGE GEARS. HAS NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT NUMEROUS TIMES.
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHIFTS HARD AND JERKS OUT OF THE FIRST 1 TO 2 GEARS.
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, (I HAD SWITCHED THE VEHICLE TO REVERSE AND HAD BEGUN MOVING), MY RENEGADE SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL AND STOPPED BACKING UP. I TRIED SWITCHING BACK INTO PARK AND INTO REVERSE AGAIN BUT INSTEAD THE VEHICLE REPEATED THE ISSUE BY GOING INTO NEUTRAL INSTEAD OF REVERSE. I HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE …
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WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, (I HAD SWITCHED THE VEHICLE TO REVERSE AND HAD BEGUN MOVING), MY RENEGADE SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL AND STOPPED BACKING UP. I TRIED SWITCHING BACK INTO PARK AND INTO REVERSE AGAIN BUT INSTEAD THE VEHICLE REPEATED THE ISSUE BY GOING INTO NEUTRAL INSTEAD OF REVERSE. I HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE PROPERLY.
VEHICLE WAS IN FORWARD MOTION MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. DASHBOARD ALERT CAME ON THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE STOPPED BEFORE IT COULD BE SHIFTED. HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE, SHIFT TO PARK, TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON BEFORE IT WOULD SHIFT BACK INTO D…
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VEHICLE WAS IN FORWARD MOTION MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. DASHBOARD ALERT CAME ON THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE STOPPED BEFORE IT COULD BE SHIFTED. HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE, SHIFT TO PARK, TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON BEFORE IT WOULD SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE.
HESITATING, ROUGH SHIFTING AND STALLING. WILL HESITATE SO BAD WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, AND GOING INTO 2ND GEAR (9 GEAR TRANS) THAT I'VE BEEN REAR ENDED, IN TRAFFIC, BECAUSE MY CAR HAS ESSENTIALLY STOPPED. ONLY 41,000 MILES. WORST IS WHEN FULLY STOPPED AND ARE ONLY SLIGHTLY ACCELERATING TO ABOUT 15 MPH. SUCH AS…
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HESITATING, ROUGH SHIFTING AND STALLING. WILL HESITATE SO BAD WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, AND GOING INTO 2ND GEAR (9 GEAR TRANS) THAT I'VE BEEN REAR ENDED, IN TRAFFIC, BECAUSE MY CAR HAS ESSENTIALLY STOPPED. ONLY 41,000 MILES. WORST IS WHEN FULLY STOPPED AND ARE ONLY SLIGHTLY ACCELERATING TO ABOUT 15 MPH. SUCH AS IN TRAFFIC, A PARKING LOT, OR TURNING. HAS STALLED IN MIDDLE OF A INTERSECTION WHILE TURNING. WON'T RESTART FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINS HAS BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES. THEY'VE "FIXED IT" EACH TIME. HAVE FINALLY APPROVED A NEW TRANS
HARD SHIFTS IN THE FIRST FEW GEARS ( HARD JURKS) AND ALSO CLUNKS.. WHEN MOVING SHIFTER INTO AND OUT OF PARK, NUTERUAL, REVERSE AND DRIVE IT CLUNKS.. HESITATES TO SHIFT WHEN STOPPED OR SLOW MOVING. WHEN ON HIGHWAY HAS ALOT OF DRAGGED HAS HARD TIME KEEPING SPEED AND WHEN PASSING IT TAKE THE VEHICLE FEW SECONDS TO SPEED UP, HAVE TO…
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HARD SHIFTS IN THE FIRST FEW GEARS ( HARD JURKS) AND ALSO CLUNKS.. WHEN MOVING SHIFTER INTO AND OUT OF PARK, NUTERUAL, REVERSE AND DRIVE IT CLUNKS.. HESITATES TO SHIFT WHEN STOPPED OR SLOW MOVING. WHEN ON HIGHWAY HAS ALOT OF DRAGGED HAS HARD TIME KEEPING SPEED AND WHEN PASSING IT TAKE THE VEHICLE FEW SECONDS TO SPEED UP, HAVE TO PUSH PEDDLE TO THE FLOOR AND AFTER FEW SECONDS IT FINALLY SPEEDS UP. IN CRUISE CONTROL ITS CONSTANTLY HAVING A HARD TIME KEEPING ITS SPEED CONSTANTLY JUMPING INTO HIGHER GEARS TO CATCH UP TO THE SET CRUISE SETTING. EVERY TIME I TAKE IT TO THE SHOP AND ASK WHATS GOING ON THEY SAY ITS HOW THE JEEP RENEGADE WAS MADE, ITS NORMAL FOR IT TO DO ALL THIS.
THE TRANSMISSION OF MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DOING HARD SHIFTS AND, AT TIMES, NOT SHIFTING AT ALL WHEN THE GAS PETAL IS PRESSED WHICH HAS SUBSEQUENTLY HAS ALMOST CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENTS. THE RPM GAUGE ROTATES EXCEEDINGLY HIGH TO THE POINT OF THE FEELING OF STALLING OUT BEFORE THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY SHIFTS INTO GEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN IN H…
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THE TRANSMISSION OF MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DOING HARD SHIFTS AND, AT TIMES, NOT SHIFTING AT ALL WHEN THE GAS PETAL IS PRESSED WHICH HAS SUBSEQUENTLY HAS ALMOST CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENTS. THE RPM GAUGE ROTATES EXCEEDINGLY HIGH TO THE POINT OF THE FEELING OF STALLING OUT BEFORE THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY SHIFTS INTO GEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN IN HIGH TRAFFIC, STOP AND GO ROADS SUCH AS CITIES WHERE BREAKING AND ACCELERATING ARE FREQUENT. WHEN THE VEHICLE DOES FINALLY SHIFT INTO GEAR, IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HIT BECAUSE IT LURCHES FORWARD IN SUCH AN EXTREME AND FORCEFUL MANNER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN COMPLAINED UPON BY MANY 2015 RENEGADE OWNERS AND UPON BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE, ARE TOLD ITS 'JUST THE WAY THE CAR IS BUILT' OR 'IT'S PERFORMING AS IT'S SUPPOSED TO'. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND INVESTIGATED FOR A SOLUTION BEFORE HARM COMES TO THE OCCUPANTS OR OTHER NEARBY MOTORISTS.
THE TRANSMISSION IS CAUSING SAFETY ISSUES. WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A VERY SLOW CRAWL OR STOP, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO SOUNDS OR ANY INDICATION THAT ITS ABOUT TO SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. ALSO, WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A VERY SLOW CRAWL OR STOP, THE VEHICLE LAGS AND JOLTS FORWARD. FEELS LIKE SOME…
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THE TRANSMISSION IS CAUSING SAFETY ISSUES. WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A VERY SLOW CRAWL OR STOP, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO SOUNDS OR ANY INDICATION THAT ITS ABOUT TO SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. ALSO, WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A VERY SLOW CRAWL OR STOP, THE VEHICLE LAGS AND JOLTS FORWARD. FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HAS HIT YOU FROM BEHIND. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO SOUNDS OR ANY INDICATION THIS IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. THIS ALSO HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. THERE WERE A FEW NEAR-ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF OR LUNGING IN INTERSECTIONS. IT HAS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS AND FREEWAYS.IT WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO SURVEY. IT DIED IN THEIR PARKING LOT TWICE. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS THE OIL, THE BATTERY, ELECTRONICS, OR THAT IT WAS DRIVEN AWKWARDLY, ETC. THEY HAVE HELD THE VEHICLE FOR OVER 30DAYS, DID SOFTWARE FIXES, CHANGED THE OIL, CHANGED THE BATTERY. I ALSO WENT THROUGH THE CHRYSLER DISPUTE RESOLUTION. WHICH WAS UNFAVORABLE TO MYSELF DUE TO DEALERSHIP CLAIMING NOTHING WAS WRONG. DEALERSHIP DID NOT NOTATE TRUE EXPERIENCES WITH THE VEHICLE TO CHRYSLER. VEHICLE STILL STALLED AND LUNGED THEREAFTER. I REFUSED TO DRIVE IT DUE TO SAFETY REASONS AND HAD DEALERSHIP BUY IT BACK AT BLUEBOOK VALUE SO THAT I COULD PURCHASE A SAFE RELIABLE VEHICLE. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION. I DID NOT CLAIM INTO THE CLASS ACTION SUIT BECAUSE AT THE TIME, I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.
THE VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALSO WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING, I WOULD PUT THE SHIFTER BACK IN DRIVE AND IT WOULD MAKE A LOUD BANGING NOISE OF SOME SORT. I DEFINITELY DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE WHATSOEVER.
Official recalls
316V545000 · Trailer Hitches
Jul 20, 2016
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jeep Renegade vehicles manufactured August 25, 2014, to June 25, 2016, equipped with a factory-installed optional trailer hitch package. The trailer hitch assembly may have been attached with only a single fastener per side, not three per side as required.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Without the proper amount of fasteners, the trailer hitch assembly may separate from the vehicle, and any towed vehicle may no longer be properly connected, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install two additional fasteners per side, free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S62.
16V529000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Jul 12, 2016
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee and 2015 Chrysler 200, Jeep Renegade, RAM ProMaster, and 2016 Fiat 500X vehicles equipped with 9-speed automatic transmissions. The transmission sensor clusters may have insufficient crimps in the transmission wire harness, and as a result, the transmission may unexpectedly shift to neutral. On August 29, 2016 Chrysler added the 2016 Fiat 500X vehicles to this recall.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module and the Transmission Control Module and if necessary replace the transaxle range sensor wire harness, free of charge. The recall began on November 7, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S55.
15V508000 · Electrical System:cybersecurity
Aug 12, 2015
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015 Jeep Renegade vehicles manufactured September 18, 2014, to June 25, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with radios that have software vulnerabilities that can allow third-party access to certain networked vehicle control systems.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Exploitation of the software vulnerability may result in unauthorized remote modification and control of certain vehicle systems, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify and mail affected owners a USB drive that includes a software update that eliminates the vulnerability, free of charge. Optionally, owners may download the update to their own USB drive from http://www.driveuconnect.com/software-update/ or take their vehicle to a Chrysler dealer for immediate installation. In an effort to mitigate the effects of this security vulnerability, Chrysler has had the wireless service provider close the open cellular connection to the vehicle that provided unauthorized access to the vehicle network. This measure may not have been implemented on all vehicles and does not address access by other means that will be remedied by the software update. The recall began on September 30, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R45.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1RQ15004 · Software Security Vulnerability
Opened Jul 24, 2015 · Closed Jan 5, 2016
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:software
On July 23, 2015, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) launched Safety Recall 15V-461 to remedy security vulnerabilities in approximately 1.4 million model year (MY) 2013 through 2015 vehicles equipped with Uconnect head units (HU) 8.4A (RA3 radio) and 8.4AN (RA4 radio) manufactured by Harman International.On July 24, 2015, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query, RQ 15-004, to investigate HU security vulnerabilities and remedy effectiveness in the recalled population and to determine whether similar units have been supplied for use in other FCA vehicles.In an August 11, 2015 letter, FCA submitted a second Part 573 safety recall report expanding the scope of the Uconnect RA4 model radio to include additional 7,810 MY 2015 Jeep Renegade vehicles manufactured from September 18, 2014 through June 25, 2015 (Recall 15V-508).Scope analysis indicated that Uconnect radios installed in FCA vehicles not included in recalls 15V-461 or 15V-508 (subject recalls) are not equipped with built-in cellular access or short range wireless communication features and, thus, do not contain the security vulnerabilities addressed by the subject recalls. SUBJECT VEHICLES: MY2014 through 2015 Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Cherokee sport utility vehicles; MY2013 through 2015 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500 and 4500/5500 pickup trucks; MY2013 through 2015 Dodge Viper vehicles; and MY2015 Chrysler 200, 300, Jeep Renegade, Dodge Charger and Challenger vehicles.According to FCA, long and short range wireless vulnerabilities identified in the recalled vehicles could allow unauthorized third-party access to, and manipulation of, networked vehicle control systems.Successful exploitation of the vulnerabilities, coupled with reverse engineering of networked microprocessor control modules, could result in unauthorized manipulation of vehicle control systems. This unauthorized manipulation of vehicle controls and systems could expose the driver, vehicle occupants or other highway users to an increased risk of injury.FCA and its network provider, Sprint, conducted a nationwide campaign to block access to a radio communications port that was unintentionally left open.On July 27, 2015, short range wireless vulnerabilities were also blocked.Finally, third party security evaluation and regression testing identified vulnerabilities that were either remedied by Sprint or through updates to the FCA Uconnect software.ODI identified a total of 30 complaints or field reports on unique vehicles submitted by FCA (29) or received by NHTSA (1) alleging incidents of theft from a vehicle or anomalous performance that the owner alleged were caused by, or may have been caused by, remote hacking.Twenty-six (87%) of these reports were submitted after a magazine article was published on July 21, 2015, describing the remote hacking of an FCA vehicle by researchers who were able to affect the operation of various vehicle control systems, including the service brakes, steering, throttle and ignition.Most of the complaints involved vehicle systems that were not safety critical (e.g., complaints related to radio, navigation system, or air-conditioning control) and did not affect vehicle control.Three complaints reported engine stalls.One owner reported sudden unintended acceleration allegedly related to hacking.None of the complaints or field reports reviewed involved the steering and braking vehicle control effects demonstrated by the research hackers prior to the recall.There were no confirmed incidents of hacking in any of the records reviewed by ODI.The remedies completed by Sprint and FCA appear to have eliminated vulnerabilities that mi