2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Not shifting properly
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2016 Grand Cherokee report: not shifting properly. CarComplaints.com lists 9 owner complaints, average mileage 13,450 miles.
NHTSA has 78 owner complaints for the 2016 Grand Cherokee in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11720847 (filed 02/27/2026): “Tone wheel failure resulting in vehicle not operating as intended. required repair of which fca stated the repair was not covered by the recall issued against the vehicle.…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11716970 (filed 02/10/2026): “The contact owns a 2016 jeep grand cherokee. the contact stated that while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the transmission remained stuck in first gear. the contact shifted to neutral(n) and shifted back to drive(d), and the vehicle responded as int…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: trained my foot to work with shift, how about that? (2 reports) ignition coil (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Diagnosis needs a scan tool; repair or replacement needs a lift, transmission jack and the manufacturer's fluid fill/relearn procedure. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $250 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
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