2016 Jeep Wrangler: Transmission failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2016 Wrangler report: transmission failure. CarComplaints.com lists 6 owner complaints, average mileage 21,450 miles.
NHTSA has 74 owner complaints for the 2016 Wrangler in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11763902 (filed 09/13/2026): “When i was coming to a stop at a stoplight, my vehicle started to violently wobble almost having me to loose control. i was unable to slow down when pressing the brakes and almost hit vehicles in front of me.this has happened numerous times and i have had my t…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11749312 (filed 07/09/2026): “I was driving down the road in a snow storm when all of a sudden the vehicle started swirling all over the road. i pulled over and looked underneath and something was hanging down. i had no choice but to drive it slow less than 10mph to make it home as it was …”
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: replace transmission (2 reports) replace heads (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
No sourced cost range: get a written quote after diagnosis.
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .