2016 Jeep Wrangler: Heat not working properly
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2016 Wrangler report: heat not working properly. CarComplaints.com lists 2 owner complaints, average mileage 33,100 miles.
NHTSA has 2 owner complaints for the 2016 Wrangler in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11636280 (filed 01/16/2025): “The contact owns a 2016 jeep wrangler. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a significant amount of smoke coming from underneath the hood and entering the cabin of the vehicle through the a/c vents. the contact stated that the fa…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11217748 (filed 06/04/2019): “Tl* the contact owns a 2016 jeep wrangler. the contact stated that the condensation from the air conditioner was running down and rusting the bolts and gasket of the transmission fluid pan. as a result, there was an odor of burning anti-freeze. the dealer and …”
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: replacement of heater core (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Opening the A/C system requires refrigerant recovery equipment, and US EPA Section 609 certification is required to service vehicle A/C for compensation. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $3,300 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .