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2018 Jeep Renegade problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
62%
261 of 422 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

62% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2018 Jeep Renegade are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.

Worse than 83% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 20 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 59%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2018 Jeep Renegade have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 261 of 422 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Jeep Renegade concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (62%), and the largest group is filed under engine (189). For comparison, the 2017 scores 73% and the 2019 scores 33%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
261
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
442
this model year
Fires reported
8
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
2
16 crashes · 13 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE189 · 43%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM131 · 30%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER94 · 21%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM90 · 20%
POWER TRAIN58 · 13%
SERVICE BRAKES20 · 5%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
no data
2015
67%
321 of 511
2016
61%
237 of 430
2017
73%
385 of 565
2018
62%
261 of 442
2019
33%
22 of 79
2020
56%
30 of 62
2021
25%
15 of 67
2022
58%
14 of 26
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2018 compares with other Jeep Renegade years

Of the 8 Jeep Renegade years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 3rd-worst on engine and transmission share (62%). The worst is the 2017 (73%), the best the 2021 (25%). By volume, the 2018 drew 442 complaints (261 drivetrain), against 565 for the 2017 and 79 for the 2019.

Jeep Renegade years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2018 Jeep Renegade

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2018 Jeep Renegade said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE07/29/2021FIRE1 INJURED
The contact owned a 2018 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, she smelled a burning odor and noticed dark smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that as she opened the driver’s side door to exit the vehicle, the engin…

One of 261 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2018 Jeep Renegade fuel system recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Jeep Renegade involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump18V731000 · Oct 2018

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Jeep Renegade 4X2 flex fuel/E85 vehicles equipped with a 2.4L engine. In certain operating conditions such as high power demand in conjunction with high altitude and/or high ambient temperatures, a manufacturing error in the fuel pump assembly may result in a loss of fuel pressure.

Risk: A loss of fuel pressure can cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began April 26, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall…

1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
electrical system: wiring: front underhood18V524000 · Aug 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2018 Jeep Renegade? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2018 Jeep Renegade

Does the 2018 Jeep Renegade have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 261 of 422 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Jeep Renegade concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (62%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2018 Jeep Renegade?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Jeep Renegade is engine: 189 of 442 complaints (43%) name it, followed by electrical system (131) and fuel/propulsion system (90). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2018 Jeep Renegade reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 62% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 83% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Jeep Renegade years we score, it ranks 3rd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Jeep Renegade?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Jeep Renegade involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total: 18V731000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Jeep Renegade years are better?

Among the Jeep Renegade years we track, the 2021 (25%), the 2019 (33%) and the 2020 (56%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (62%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/jeep-renegade

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.