2017 Jeep Renegade Steering Problems

I am reporting a safety issue with my 2017 Jeep Renegade. Since approximately 2022, my vehicle has repeatedly stalled while I am driving. When this happens, the battery light and multiple warning lights come on across the dashboard. Messages such as "Shift to Park" appear, the steering becomes very difficult to control, and the brakes become hard to use. This creates a dangerous situation because the vehicle loses power while I am operating it on public roads. After the vehicle stalls, it often struggles to restart and may require multiple attempts before starting again. The problem has occurred on numerous occasions and has continued despite multiple repair attempts. I have replaced approximately five alternators and three batteries, but the problem continues. I also maintain my vehicle regularly and receive routine oil changes. When I contacted Jeep regarding this issue, I was told that a low oil condition could cause the vehicle to shut off. However, I advised that my vehicle receives regular maintenance and that the oil level was not low when these incidents occurred. The ongoing stalling issue has caused me significant concern because it affects my ability to safely steer and stop the vehicle. I believe this condition presents a safety hazard to myself, my passengers, and others on the road. I am requesting that this issue be investigated. In addition to the repeated stalling issue, I have experienced ongoing charging system problems. Despite replacing approximately five alternators and three batteries, the battery warning light continues to appear, and the vehicle has tested at low charging voltage while running. The problem remains unresolved despite multiple repair attempts. I am concerned that there may be an underlying electrical, charging system, wiring, or power distribution defect that has not been properly identified or repaired. I have repeatedly reported these concerns because the vehicle continues to lose power while driving.

NHTSA ID

11743991

Incident

Dec 23, 2022

Random warning messages and lights. Power steering fails, as does the power brakes. Usually, as I'm driving, it begins with airbag warning message. Then, the warning messages increase: Front collision, lane departure, blind spot, brake, power steering. While all of these things are happening I hear my doors lock, and unlock. Finally, I lose my power steering, and power brakes, like what would happen if the car has stalled. However, it is still running. Recently, after losing the power steering and brakes, I stopped and with the car still running, I could not put up my windows.

NHTSA ID

11674927

Incident

Jul 17, 2025

When driving my Jeep many times at the speed of 29 mph, my vehicle jerks violently and shifts hard. I am concerned when this happens as I am in forward motion when this occurs that it could cause a safety issue or Hazzard.

NHTSA ID

11452920

Incident

Nov 1, 2021

Vehicle shuts off while driving as well as taking turns. Just shuts off with no warning. After it shuts off the lightning bolt in parentheses (electronic throttle control system) comes on, then goes away. Car shows as still running, but won't move. The low oil gauge comes on and then car stops moving. Very unsafe for vehicle to just "stop moving" or "shut off" in the middle of driving, or in the middle of an intersection. When this happens, I have to put the car in park, turn it off and then start it again. It usually takes several attempts to get it to start. It happens when I’m going at a slow rate of speed.

NHTSA ID

11447441

Incident

Jan 13, 2022

While driving on a busy freeway the car started violently jerking to the left. I slowed and moved to the right lane as the jerking became more and more frequent. By the time I made it to the next exit the car had become difficult to control. As I took the next exit the power steering failed completely. I've had the car to the dealership and a second mechanic. both say it is a failure of the Electronic Control Unit and the steering column needs to be replaced. I barely managed to get the car off the freeway. I hate to think what could have happened had this occurred on a twisty road rather then a fairly straight stretch of freeway. I had no warning. first indication of the problem was the car jerking to the left. Warning lights didn't come on till power steering failed about a mile down the road.

NHTSA ID

11435749

Incident

Sep 21, 2021

I was driving in right lane,40-45MPH, heard a very loud bang (not a tire), front end of jeep lifted UP, then began veering to the right heading off the road. I was unable to break or turn steering. Next thing, I woke up from being knocked out, hit a pole, 3 witnesses heard the bang as well - one witness told police, all 3 air bags went off. Emergency services were summoned. Car totaled. Pole is still standing upright. Fortunately I did not die or get seriously injured. Emergency services said if I had hit the tree next to pole, the outcome of my injuries would have been totally different. Car was towed to auto repair center and they had never seen collision damage such as this. Insurance company notified. Police report made at time of accident.no driver citations. a few days later I contacted jeep company, told them they needed to send someone out to look at this damage, because someone is going to die! They had a third party come out to the collision repair shop and get black box information/examined vehicle. A few days later, I received a carefully worded letter from Jeep that they saw NO SUSPENSION or STEERING issues to be the reason for the accident. Only the BANG, VEHICLE UPLIFT ON RIGHT SIDE, HITTING POLE. NO warning lights were on. This car was purchased new in 2/2018. I just hit the 30,000 miles, new tires on vehicle for 3 months and had only 2,000 miles of usage on them. The vehicle was in excellent condition and always maintained 100%. Even the Farmer's Insurance inspector stated car was in showroom condition. Rim broke in half along inner seam, no blowout evidence, tie rod broke in half, ball joint shaft inside of the knuckle (broke inside of it), pivot still in lower control arm. Have photos/police report/pics. NO OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED. HUSBAND HAD TO HELP TOW TRUCK DRIVER SLIDE THE SUSPENSION UNDER VEHICLE TO TOW IT. I can send upon request insurance company docs and letter from JEEP upon request.

NHTSA ID

11433335

Incident

Jun 19, 2021

THESE ARE THE FAILURES THAT SHOWED ON THE PANEL; 1.- HILL START ASSIT NOT AVAILABLE 2.- DYNAMIC STEERING TORQUE NOT AVAILABLE 3.- ESC SYSTEM SERVICE 4.- STEERING COLUMN TENDS TO BE HARD TO MOVE

NHTSA ID

11413543

Incident

Jul 10, 2019

Mileage

15,534 mi

MY ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING MODULE IS EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL ISSUES AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

11385382

Incident

Dec 11, 2020

Mileage

69,000 mi

I HAVE TRIED TO GET IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE TO GET MY FUEL PUMP FIXED. I FINALLY DID TODAY. BUT CAN'T GET IN UNTIL NEXTA FRIDAY. MY CAR HAS STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD TO WRECK INTO MAILBOXES STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND ALMOST BE HIT BECAUSE MY CAR STOPS WORKING. I CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER. MY CAR IS A DANGER

NHTSA ID

11374225

Incident

Nov 12, 2020

Mileage

5 mi

BOUGHT NEW 2017 JEEP RENEGADE, HAVE VEHICLE TO TWO DEALERS SO FAR GOING TO THIRD NEXT WEEK. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TIRES THREE TIMES SO FAR IN 30,000 MILES. STEERING POPS AND PULLS WHEN TURNING, DO NOT FILL SAFE DRIVING IT. DEALERS KEEP SAYING IT IS FIXED BUT IS NOT, THINK THEY ARE STUMBLING UNTIL WARRANTY IS GONE, BEEN GOING ON SENCE AROUND 12,000 MILES. IN MOTION AND TURNING. CUNKING OFF THE TIRE ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE.

NHTSA ID

11373089

Incident

Aug 9, 2018

Mileage

18,000 mi

STATES "PARKING LIGHT" IS OUT AND IT IS AND I CANNOT REPLACE IT. IT ALSO SHAKES WHEN I GET UP TO 70 MPH.

NHTSA ID

11361118

Incident

Sep 25, 2020

Mileage

70,000 mi

SUNDAY, 2 JUN 2019 @ APPROXIMATELY 1900 ME AND MY FRIEND WERE RETURNING HOME FROM FISHING, GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A LIGHT GRAVEL ROAD INSIDE A WILDLIFE STATE PRESERVE. WHILE MAKE STARTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME WHICH MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I SLAMMED THE BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO FREE THE STEERING WHEEL IN TIME TO TURN HARD RIGHT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE AND COMING TO A STOP INCHES BEFORE GOING INTO THE RIVER. MY CAR WAS HANGING OFF THE BANK WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ROLLING OVER INTO THE RIVER, MY FRIEND AND I HAD TO EXIT OUT OF THE PASSENGER DOOR FOR THE FEAR OF A POSSIBLE ROLLOVER. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE ANY WARNING LIGHTS (HILL ASSIST, ABS WARNING, ETC) AS EVERYTHING HAPPENED VERY FAST. I CURRENTLY HAVE A ACCIDENT CLAIM IN WITH MY INSURANCE AND THE JEEP DID SUSTAIN DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER FRONT TIRE. I WILL NOT KNOW THE RESULTS UNTIL TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY BUT FROM THE INITIAL LOOK, IT APPEARS THAT MY POWER STEERING FUILD IS LEAKING OUT AND ONTO MY AXLE AND ROTOR. AT THIS TIME IT IS UNCLEAR IF THIS ISSUE WAS CAUSED BEFORE OR AFTER THE IMPACT INTO THE RIVER BANK. AFTER THE TOLL TRUCK PULLED ME OUT I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BACK HOME HOWEVER I WAS HEARING A FLIPPING NOISE COMING FROM MY DRIVER FRONT TIRE. I AM NOW VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, AS THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS BODILY HARM. PICTURES WILL BE UPLOADED LATER AS I HAD LOST MY PHONE IN THE RIVER A D HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEM FROM MY FRIEND YET.

NHTSA ID

11218214

Incident

Jun 2, 2019

Mileage

15,000 mi

WHEN TURNING ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD, SLIGHTLY UP HILL, FROM A COUNTY HIGHWAY INTO A DRIVEWAY AND EXPERIENCING SLIGHT WHEEL SPIN, THE VEHICLE LOST 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND POWER STEERING. THE ESC SYSTEM BECAME DISABLED AND ERROR CODES "SERVICE HILL START ASSIST", "SERVICE ESC SYSTEM" AND "DYNAMIC STEERING TORQUE SERVICE REQUIRED" WERE DISPLAYED AS A MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SCREEN AND THE ESC DISABLED LIGHT WAS TURNED ON. THIS CAUSED MOMENTARY LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

11196106

Incident

Apr 13, 2019

Mileage

11,051 mi

STEERING LOCK UP. ON TWO OCCASIONS WE'VE HAD THE STEERING LOCK UP ON OUR 2017 JEEP RENEGADE TRAIL HAWK. FORTUNATELY, ONE HAPPENED AT A STOP SIGN AND THE OTHER OCCURRED WHEN WE DROPPED THE VEHICLE OFF AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP, OUR JEEP WAS ALSO EXPERIENCING ILLUMINATION OF MULTIPLE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHTS. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL (T50 / NHTSA 17V-485) THAT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES THE MALFUNCTIONING INDICATOR LIGHTS IN THE 2017 RENEGADE. HOWEVER, IT ONLY APPLIES TO RENEGADES BUILT FROM 9 JUN 2017 THROUGH 18 JUL 2017. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR VEHICLE WAS BUILT OUTSIDE OF THIS WINDOW AND THE SERVICE MANAGER WILL NOT REPROGRAM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER UNLESS IT IS IN THE VIP AS AN OPEN RECALL FOR THIS SPECIFIC RENEGADE. I HAVE CALLED JEEP CUSTOMER CARE TWICE ON THIS ISSUE AND WE STILL HAVE NO RESOLUTION.

NHTSA ID

11171818

Incident

Jan 19, 2019

Mileage

40,000 mi

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WITH 4 PASSENGERS ON INTERSTATE 83 IN PENNSYLVANIA WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD CLUNK, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SHE HAD LOST MOST ABILITY TO STEER. SHE FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO STOP ON THE SIDE.THANK GOD EVERYONE WAS SAFE - THIS COULD HAVE ENDED TERRIBLY. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC AND WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR, THE BCM WENT BAD AND THEY ARE REPLACING (UNDER WARRANTY). THE VEHICLE IS A 2017 AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000 MILES ON IT. HOW DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE A RELIABLE, SAFE OPTION. THIS WHOLE THING COULD HAVE ENDED DIFFERENTLY. YOU CANNOT BE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AND ALL THE SUDDEN HAVE YOUR CAR STOP RUNNING. CHRYSLER MAY WANT TO DIG A LITTLE FURTHER AND SEE IF IT IS A RECALL ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11151243

Incident

Nov 8, 2018

Mileage

17,000 mi

TTHE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON NEICE CAUSEING HER TO GO TOWARDS THE RIGHT SIDE, AND BACK TIRES LOCKED UP AND CAUSED HER TO SPIN.. EVENTUALLY GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER DRIVER! IT COULD HAVE KILLED HER, SHE COULDNT DO A THING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP SO OTHERS WONT BE HURT OR WORSE KILLED. SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TO AN APPT. DOUGLAS GA

NHTSA ID

11115100

Incident

Jul 31, 2018

Mileage

3,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP RENEGADE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND A SEVERE VIBRATION WAS FELT. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND JERKING WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TURLOCK CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (1600 AUTO MALL DR., TURLOCK, CA), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 287.

NHTSA ID

11103832

Incident

May 4, 2018

Mileage

287 mi