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The 2020 Jeep Renegade is an SUV that’s meant for adventures. The automaker claims that the newest models offer “fun on four wheels.” On the other hand, customers seem to spend all their time at the dealership dealing with a failing electrical system, a malfunctioning engine, a defective powertrain and bad service brakes.
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NHTSA Complaints for the 2020 Jeep Renegade
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| Electrical System | |
| Seat Belts | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Power Train | |
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Air Bags | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Tires:tread/belt |
Problems with the Electrical System
As one of the top automakers, everyone expects this Renegade to have a reliable electrical system, but that doesn’t seem to be the case at all.
One Edmunds review states:
“This 2020 Jeep Renegade that I purchased with 11 miles. I was never told that this vehicle needed a software upgrade when I purchased it. This vehicle would not turn off during the first 30 days of me having the vehicle. The start button was like jelly. The windows on the vehicle there’s air in the windows the car uses a lot of gas. The vehicle also drives very roughly. I was told when I took the vehicle in that in order for me to be comfortable I would have to undo the battery wait 5 minutes and then I could probably start the car at that point in time.
And we must remember this was a brand new car a 2020 with 11 miles on it when I purchased it I am not a happy customer. So when my attorneys try to get Chrysler to do the buyback they refuse to do that. So they did do the software upgrade and they told me that if and when it happens again bring it back. …I am driving a vehicle that I am not comfortable with and making large payments this is unacceptable. I will never own another Chrysler Jeep Dodge or Fiat vehicle in my life and I will tell everybody else that I know not to own one.”
According to NHTSA Campaign Number 20V191000, over 300,000 vehicles have a rearview camera image that continues displaying even though the vehicle isn’t in Reverse. This distraction only leads to a possible accident, putting Renegade owners and others at risk. That doesn’t sound like a lot of “fun” unless dealing with insurance companies is on the top of peoples’ bucket lists.
Problems with the Engine
The engine appears to be just as defective, which is a shame because Jeep was once a leader in performance.
Another Edmunds review points out, “What a POS. I couldn’t wait to ditch it for so many reasons. Engine is weak, engine starts and stops at lights providing little confidence that it will restart. Sport mode shifters backwards from most other mfgrs. Android Auto that constantly froze. Just a poor 3 day experience.”
There has been a proposed class action lawsuit against FCA USA LLC because this Renegade model, along with others, seems to use an excessive amount of oil. Plus, these motors tend to shut down unexpectedly during operation. The affected vehicles include the 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir II engine. In this case, the only “fun” that can be expected is running to the auto parts store yet again for more motor oil. It could be an adventure, maybe.
Problems with the Transmission
The powertrain works in conjunction with the engine, but with both systems defective, it’s amazing the Renegade can drive anywhere.
One NHTSA complaint states, “So I have a 2020 Jeep Renegade Sport. Had no issues with it up to today but I was climbing the gravel hill to my house in about 4 inches of snow. I was in 4WD snow mode and lost everything. Error messages popped and got kicked into FWD. Jeep went sliding, luckily I slid into the upward side of the hill and not over the edge. Got these errors. Dynamic Steering Torque service required Service Electronic Power Steering Service Hill Start Assist system Traction Assist Turned Off/Light On Could not get 4WD to reset that day but the next morning all codes and errors were gone. I’m lucky there were no other vehicles and that I didn’t slide over the edge. Dealer is checking vehicle for cause of issue.”
Jeep hasn’t been hiding issues. Service Bulletin #18-046-21 discusses how some drivers are dealing with trouble restarting the SUV after the engine was running for five to ten minutes. The problem can be resolved with a PCM reprogramming, but who wants to deal with that? Instead, it’s time for customers to find more “fun” on another set of four wheels.
Problems with the Brakes
Finally, it’s become clear that the service brakes on the 2020 Jeep Renegade are causing major problems.
Another NHTSA complaint points out, “The accident happens within 7 days of purchasing the car, driving in a parking lot at 15 miles per hour. When I hit the brakes to stop this triggered the accelerator, and the car speed went out of control. The more I tried to brake the machine, the more speed it took, crashing head on against a tree. With such a force that the car now is totaled. This model was recalled in Brazil due to the same mechanical problem. I could have died or killed people if I was going on a highway or driving at a normal speed. This [SUV] is a death trap and needs to be recalled. Its main duty is to prevent possible death and human misery of innocent people. The most important component of a vehicle: breaks did not work, instead triggered the acceleration of the vehicle.”
Again, there’s an important recall to look at. NHTSA Campaign Number 19V909000 shows that the right rear brake caliper could have fractured during the casting process and still put on the vehicles. With this defect, the caliper could fail, which lessens the braking performance and increases the chance that an accident could occur. At this point, it’s time to be a Renegade and choose a new brand that cares more about safety and well-being of its customers.
Your Lemon Law Legal Rights
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Jeep pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Complaint Data
| Category | Seat Belts |
| Date | Feb 25, 2023 |
| State | NY |
| Description | front passenger ancher pretensioner(failed) |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine, Seat Belts |
| Date | Dec 06, 2022 |
| State | NC |
| Description | The contact owns a 2020 jeep renegade. The contact stated while driving 20 mph and approaching a stop light, the vehicle lost motive power without warning. The contact stated that the seat belt tightened causing a bruise. The contact was able to pull over. The contact attempted several times to jump-start the vehicle however, the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not under warranty and that the contact had to pay out-of-pocket for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 48,577. |
| Category | Tires:tread/belt |
| Date | Oct 06, 2022 |
| State | AZ |
| Description | The contact owns a 2020 jeep renegade equipped with dunlop tires, tire line: signature 2, tire size: 23/60/r17, dot number: n6ktjr1r. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, there was a flapping sound coming from the rear driver's side of the vehicle. The contact was able to get home safely however, after inspecting the tires, the contact became aware of tread separation on the driver's and passenger's side rear tires. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the tire manufacturer would be contacted and notified of the failure. The tires were also taken to a tire shop and the contact was informed that the tires were defective. The tires were not replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 25,000. |
| Category | Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts |
| Date | Aug 26, 2022 |
| State | MO |
| Description | The contact owns a 2020 jeep renegade. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for an oil change and tire rotation, the service mechanic discovered that the front passenger's side wheel lug nuts had swollen and was extremely difficult to remove while attempting to remove the tire. The contact indicated that two mechanics were needed to loosen the lug nuts. The cause of the failure was not determined. The lug nuts were replaced. The contact was concerned that if there was a flat tire it would be difficult to remove the tire with the faulty lug nuts. The manufacturer was not yet contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was 16,200. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jul 26, 2022 |
| State | NC |
| Description | The backup camera failed after being replaced one month ago. The safety of others is at risk because if I have a blind spot that the backup camera usually shows, I am at risk of accidentally hitting someone or something. It has not been inspected since it stopped working. The camera started lagging around two weeks ago which could have also put someone in danger. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine |
| Date | Jul 11, 2022 |
| State | NY |
| Description | In april 2022, to my surprise the car first stalled on me while I was driving. The “pressure coolant high†was warning light that appeared on the screen when this happened. To start the car, I had to put it in park and then push the ignition button to get it started again. I continued my drive thinking it was a computer error because my coolant level was normal. Where it should be . A few minutes later, it happened again. And I repeated the same process to get it started. Knowing this was a serious issue , as I was driving with my child in the car, I made an appointment with the manufacturer to have it serviced. Three days later, the dealership “nothing's wrong the car. A terminal on the battery was loose and it's ready for pick up.†a few weeks later, the intermittent stalling began occurring again. However, it's frequency became increasingly worse. It would stall unexpectedly as I am driving on highways, main roads, side streets; while the start/stop option is on and when it is turned off. All dangerous factors. In addition, to the “pressure coolant high†other warning lights came on: “parking brake alert†, “check engineâ€, “batteryâ€, “throttle failureâ€. Then, the engine failed to come on at start-up . I would have to push the ignition button multiple times for the car to start. I took the car back to the dealership on june 29th, 2022 for the second time. After, I having the vehicle for 3 days they informed me that my car needed “a new battery and an oil change.†I had to plead with them to run more diagnostics on the renegade because this is more than a replacement battery issue. My safety, my family's safety, and the safety of other drivers are at risk because I never know when this car will stall on me as I am driving. Unexpectedly, I can get hit from behind by a driver on the highway who is not expecting me to stop out of nowhere. In researching, I've found that has been a known issue since 2015. |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
| Date | May 09, 2022 |
| State | WV |
| Description | The contact owns a 2020 jeep renegade. The contact stated while driving approximately 2 mph, the emergency automatic braking independently activated and the vehicle came to a complete stop. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 41,000. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine, Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | May 04, 2022 |
| State | IL |
| Description | Went to pass someone car wouldn't shift or pick up in speed several times, on interstate as well as on highways. Expressed concern to dealer, didn't perform testing, cleared codes. Getting gas, vehicle didn't recognize shut off gas spilled everywhere all over the vehicle and the parking lot today shut off 4x while driving. 2 times jeep threw vehicle into park via the emergency break while driving. 2 times jeep just shut down and stopped. Had trouble starting aging after just shutting off. Vehicle being towed to another dealer today |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Jan 15, 2022 |
| State | WA |
| Description | So I have a 2020 renegade sport. Had no issues with it up to today but I was climbing the gravel hill to my house in about 4 inches of snow. I was in 4wd snow mode and lost everything. Error messages popped and got kicked into fwd. Jeep went sliding, luckily I slid into the upward side of the hill and not over the edge. Got these errors. Dynamic steering torque service required service electronic power steering service hill start assist system traction assist turned off/light on could not get 4wd to reset that day but the next morning all codes and errors were gone. I'm lucky there were no other vehicles and that I didn't slide over the edge. Dealer is checking vehicle for cause of issue. |
| Category | Air Bags, Seat Belts |
| Date | Jan 13, 2022 |
| State | NY |
| Description | Seatbelts did not stop me from hitting the dashboard/steering wheel when car hit us from behind |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Jan 02, 2022 |
| State | PA |
| Description | Problem began on 1/1/22. I was out running errands when vehicle lost acceleration power, check engine light came on followed by a service transmission light. My vehicle is less than a year old with under 8000 miles on it and is regularly maintained. There is no foreseeable reason for it to be having problems |
| Category | Power Train:automatic Transmission |
| Date | Aug 30, 2021 |
| State | TX |
| Description | The contact owns a 2020 jeep renegade. The contact stated while driving approximately 40-50 mph, the vehicle was jerking without warning. The contact's husband who is a mechanic informed her that the transmission was slipping. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where they failed to provide a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 24,813. |
| Category | Tires |
| Date | Aug 23, 2021 |
| State | PA |
| Description | The front passenger side blew out at my rim and came through the side. My back passenger side tire is splitting right at the rim where the front one blew out. 215/60 r 17 is the tire size. The belts are dislocating I believe and that's why they blew out the way that they did |
| Category | Engine, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jul 31, 2021 |
| State | MN |
| Description | Was driving and entering onto a freeway going about 40-50mph. I was able to reach 60 mph on freeway. All of a sudden the thing where car shuts off when stopped at light that came on and then check engine light and then had to slow down however after slowing I was not able to go above 40 mph and had to try to get over to pullover. I let my car sit for a couple hours and when I put it in drive and accelerated my front end was smoking and extremely hot. When I was able to open hood everything was hot opened oil cap as I had a puddle of oil now under my car smoke came pouring out of where you put oil. Not sure if connected but the month prior my car was being fixed for a blower motor and at that time was leaking oil. I had an issue previously on a chevy malibu where blower vacuum motor broke and caused broke piece to go into engine fan which then needed engine replacement. It is currently being diagnosed however all they can tell me is that I need a new engine likely and they can't get enough compression to diagnose cause. This is dangerous with the amount of oil lost in that short amount of time. It should be noted it was just in for an oil change 2 wks prior to the incident at the jeep dealership where I bought the vehicle. |
| Category | Electrical System, Power Train |
| Date | Jul 26, 2021 |
| State | VA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2020 jeep renegade. The contact stated that after turning the vehicle off and exiting the vehicle, it was later discovered that the vehicle was still running. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who disconnected the battery and reset the vehicle to correct the problem. The contact indicated that the failure continued intermittently. Also, while driving a burning odor was present coming from the vents when turning the air conditioning on. The contact was informed that the burning odor was caused by debris under the vehicle. After removing the debris, the failure continued. Also, while driving the vehicle would pull, jerk and not properly accelerate. The transmission was serviced for the failure. No further information was available. The failure mileage was 20,000. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine |
| Date | Jun 25, 2021 |
| State | RI |
| Description | My 2020 jeep renegade would not shut off the evening of 6/22/21. The jeep road service tech tried unhooking the battery but that did not shut it down. He thought that holding the key fob directly over /on the push start button it would shut it down. It did not. He then, at the suggestion of my father removed the 15 amp fuel fuse and that finally stopped the car. He then towed it to the dealer paul bailey chrysler/jeep. They noted that the battery cable was loose and I explained that the tow truck person tried the battery at first. They said they reset the rfh ? I believe its located in the computer circuit. They road tested and said they never saw that happen before and I took it home. 6/24/21. So far so good. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | May 10, 2021 |
| State | UT |
| Description | The pcv will only work in one direction on the crankshaft/camshaft intake! |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | May 09, 2021 |
| State | UT |
| Description | Camshaft pcv-(pressure control valve) doesn't work properly=(in wrong direction). Asking for a recall. Can cause accident because of low idle and improper vacum in brakes causing them to fail. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | May 09, 2021 |
| State | UT |
| Description | The pcv-(pressure control valve) works like a diaphragm breathing in and out, which then blocks liquid from entering the air intake and manifold. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Apr 01, 2021 |
| State | AL |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2020 jeep renegade. The contact stated that the vehicle windshield was defective. The contact stated that when driving at approximately 10mph a small rock hit the windshield and caused the windshield to fracture. The vehicle was taken to hendrick chevrolet 1620 montgomery highway, hoover, al 35316 phone number (205) 994 -6473, for inspection. The dealer advised than an object hit the windshield and the windshield needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 9,000. Li |
| Category | Air Bags |
| Date | Dec 14, 2020 |
| State | IN |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2020 jeep renegade. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph another vehicle turned in front of his vehicle and caused the contact to crash into the passenger side. The air bags did not deploy and the vehicle was towed from the crash site. The contact and his passenger both had to be transported to the hospital with severe bruises caused by the seatbelts. A police report was filed. The entire front of the vehicle was damaged and the estimate for the repairs from the independent mechanic's was around ,500. The vehicle was unrepaired. The dealer and manufacturer had not been contacted yet. The failure mileage was 11,900. *bf*jb |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Dec 09, 2020 |
| State | NC |
| Description | On 4 separate occasions, traveling around 45-60 mph, the engine went into what was described as "limp mode" and the speed decreased to 20 mph with the tach reading ~6500 and was not able to attain and maintain safe traveling speeds. The first three occasions were on a rural road, twice in a slight curve and once in a straight away. It felt like the car had been rear-ended and then was not able to achieve highway speeds (which I turn right onto from my road). The fourth occasion was after the transmission was replace and while getting up to speed on the highway. The engine registered the car as being in second gear, while it was physically in drive and was unable to get above 45 mph while revving ~7000. It should also be stated that the loaner vehicle also a 2020 jeep renegade had a similar incident resulting in "limp in" and having to be towed back to the dealership. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Oct 21, 2020 |
| State | FL |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2020 jeep renegade. The vehicle would suddenly stall at various speeds, however, the vehicle would restart. The check oil warning light illuminated. The contact stated that a few days after, while turning right at approximately 10 mph into the gas station the vehicle suddenly stalled again causing the vehicle then to roll backwards into an oncoming traffic causing the vehicle's rear end to hit another vehicle. A police report was filed. There were 0 injuries. The vehicle was not towed at the time of the crash, however, the vehicle was towed from the contact's home to the dealer (joey accardi chrysler, dodge, jeep, ram 909 s federal hwy, pompano beach, fl 33062; (954) 943-6700) who stated that they were unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 4,300. |
| Category | Service Brakes, Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Aug 14, 2020 |
| State | MD |
| Description | Tl* the contact owned a 2020 jeep renegade. The contact stated while driving 15 mph and approaching a stop sign, when depressing the brake pedal but the vehicle accelerated forward. The contact stated she turned the steering wheel to the left to prevent crashing into metal object but drive into a field and crashed into a tree. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did deploy. The contact did not sustain major injuries but stated she was bruised and unable to walk due to the impact from the crash. The contact stated she was taken to the hospital by an ambulance for medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The insurance adjuster deemed the vehicle a total loss. The contact called local dealer bayside chrysler dodge jeep ram of annapolis (1797 west st, annapolis, md 21401, (410) 263-2341). The manufacturer has been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200. See also 11349253. *dsy*dt*jb*ln*dt*jb*jb*dt manufacturer states that accident was caused by pedal mis-application. *dl |
| Category | Service Brakes, Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Aug 14, 2020 |
| State | MD |
| Description | The accident happens within 7 days of purchasing the car , driving in a parking lot at 15mile/ hour , when I hit the breaks to stop this triggered the accelerator , and the car speed and went out of control , the more I tried to break the machine the more speed it took , crashing head /on against a tree . With such a force that the car now is totaled . This model was recalled in brasil due to the same mechanical problem . I could have died or killed people if I was going on a highway or driving to a normal speed . This viejo le is a dead trap and it needs to be recalled . Is migh duty to prevent posible deads and human misery of inocent people . The most important component of a vehicle : breaks did not work. Instead triggered the acceleration if the vehicle . This happen in annapolis md 21401 in a parking lot of a marina . See also odi 11349261. *dsy |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jul 21, 2020 |
| State | CA |
| Description | I was park at a public parking spot(post office) waiting for my friend, the engine was running. When my friend got to my car, I press the brake to put the car in reversed. It reversed about 3 feet and suddenly stop. I went and put my foot on the brake and switch it to drive and it wont go forward either . My friend got out and check front and back to see if something was blocking the tires from moving forward or reverse. There was nothing. I decided to put the car in park again. The ebrake button lights was not on nor any indicator in the dashboard. But once I pressed the button. It released the car and was able to moved again. Also my car showed a warning sign twice in the dashboard saying "parking brakes need service" but I tried to contact my dealer 2 consecutive days and wont answer or return my call back. And my car whistles starting at 40mph highway or city street. |
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About the Author:
Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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