AI Damage2018 Jeep Renegade: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Jeep Renegade filed 444 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. The maker issued 237 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 444
- involving a crash
- 16
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 237
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 43% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 30% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 20% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 13% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 4% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 3% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 2% of all complaints
- Engine: 189 complaints (43% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
- Electrical system: 131 complaints (30% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 99.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 91 complaints (20% of all).
- Powertrain: 58 complaints (13% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 24.
- Service brakes: 20 complaints (5% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.4 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 7 complaints
- automatic, 9-speed
- manual, 6-speednamed in 5 complaints
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 444 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 189 | 3 | 9 |
| Electrical system | 131 | 1 | 99 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 91 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 58 | 0 | 24 |
| Service brakes | 20 | 3 | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 16 | 0 | 1 |
| Visibility | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 11 | 1 | 5 |
| Fuel system | 10 | 0 | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Air bags | 9 | 9 | 5 |
| Electronic stability control | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| Structure | 6 | 3 | 19 |
| Engine and cooling | 5 | 0 | 29 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Airbags went off for no reason causing me to lose control of vehicle putting my life at risk. My insurance adjustor/investigator said they can't retrieve the info from airbag computer. I am being ticketed because the sheriff's department doesn't believe me.
I was coming up to a red light with a car stopped ahead of me and trying to brake but my brakes did not effectively slow my car so I rear ended the car in front of me going about 10mph or 15mph and his car had zero damage but my car would not turn off (push to start was not working) and my engine burst into flames and…
Constant engine stalling at highway speeds and normal speeds causing all engine power to cease in my vehicle leaving it to the mercy of my brakes which lock up upon power loss and makes it extremely difficult to stop.
The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated the vehicle caught on fire and was extinguished by the police who was on the scene. The driver sustained very bad injuries and was transported by ambulance to the hospital. The passenger sustained injuries and was also transported by ambulance to the hospital.
The day after the accident, vehicle stalls once while driving. The following day, vehicle drives as if putting in gas while in park, but is still able to drive along with stopping and going while accelerating. Now, the vehicle cannot accelerate past 15 mph, and still hold the problems previously mentioned.
Dr said I had broken cartledge throughout my chest and sever swelling as there was a failure in the airbag and only the steering wheel and seat belt stopped me. W/ o the air bag my lower back skipped forward in the seat as my upper chest slammed into the wheel and ripped back into the seat after.
I was driving down the interstate at a low speed due to traffic being backed up and my vehicle started stalling as I was driving at a lower speed. The week before I was driving at a low speed in a parking garage and my vehicle stalled while driving.
Backup camera screen went out 2 months after purchasing. I googled and multiple forums including Reddit had 2018 renegade owners reporting the same thing Definitely a safety issue when half the screen is out.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 122 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 6% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Renegade has 154 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 444, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC)…
Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning…
- High Voltage Air Conditioning Refrigerant Dye
- Verify "Z" part number availability. Order a "Z" part number for all Exchange Orders
Warranty, Mopar, Customer pay and Service contract. Order a "68" part number for New unsold units only.
- Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges…
Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates.
- Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges…
Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates
- Verify Reman part number availability. Order the "R" part number for all orders
- "2.4L Excessive Oil Consumption XS1 Warranty Extension The customer may describe one or more of the following
● Oil pressure low indicator lamp illumination between oil changes. ● Excessive oil consumption This bulletin involves performing an oil consumption verification test and possibly replacing the long block. "
- "2.4L Excessive Oil Consumption XB1 Warranty Extension The customer may describe one or more of the following
● Oil pressure low indicator lamp illumination between oil changes. ● Excessive oil consumption. This bulletin involves performing an oil consumption verification test and possibly replacing the long block."
- "Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood,…
"Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates. NOTE: Verify current…
- "Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC)…
"Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning…
- SOS and Assistance Call Not Working After Radio Exchange Unit Installed
- Air Bag Warning Lamp Illumination Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination
Upon further investigation the technician may find one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) has been set: ? B0050-1D - Driver Front Buckle Switch - Out of Range (Active or Stored). ? B0050-13…
NHTSA lists 237 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Jeep Renegade?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 444. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (31%), infotainment or screen glitches (21%), warning lights, check engine (18%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Jeep Renegade?
NHTSA lists 237 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Jeep Renegade from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.