Recall 16V799 affects 88 2017 Jeep Cherokee vehicles for improper driver's knee air bag inflator welds. Repair is free at any franchised Jeep dealer.
Jeep recall 16V799 covers 88 2017 Cherokee SUVs because improper welds on the driver's knee air bag inflator can keep the air bag from inflating correctly. If the air bag does not inflate in a crash, injury risk increases, and the dealer repair will be free once Jeep makes it available.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The driver's knee air bag in the 2017 Jeep Cherokee sits low in the instrument panel, near the driver's knees. Its inflator is the small metal device that fills that air bag during a crash, so the bag reaches the right shape and pressure at the right moment.
On affected Cherokees, the inflator weld was not made correctly at the supplier plant after maintenance on the welding equipment. The weld was shifted inward, leaving the inflator outside the intended build specification. If the weld does not hold as designed during deployment, the driver's knee air bag does not inflate properly.
There is no warning sign before failure. The vehicle will not tell the driver that the knee air bag inflator has an improper weld before a crash occurs.
Who's affected?
| 2017 Jeep Cherokee | air bag system |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 88 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2017 Jeep Cherokee is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
An underinflated driver's knee air bag gives less protection for the driver's legs and raises the risk of injury in a crash. There is no warning sign listed, so confirm your VIN and schedule service when the dealer repair opens. Repair will be free at any franchised Jeep dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017 Jeep Cherokee is included in this recall.
- Watch for the owner notice Jeep mailed on November 9, 2016, or call Jeep customer service at 1-800-853-1403 if you never received it.
- Contact a franchised Jeep dealer and ask when the free driver's knee air bag module replacement is available.
- Reference recall number 16V799 when you call so the dealer can match the driver's knee air bag module repair to your Cherokee.
- Drive with extra caution until the repair is complete. The defect involves inflator welds that stop the driver's knee air bag from properly inflating in a crash.
What happens at the repair
Because the final remedy is still listed as under development, do not assume the dealer can complete the repair today. Once the repair is available, a Jeep technician will replace the driver's knee air bag module. The dealer repair will be free, with parts and labor covered under the recall. If you already paid out of pocket for a related knee air bag repair, the owner letter requests that you send the original receipt or other proof of payment to the company for reimbursement review.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 2, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 9, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
| November 15, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| November 15, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 18, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V799?
Recall 16V799 covers 88 2017 Jeep Cherokee vehicles with improper welds on the driver's knee air bag inflator. The defect can keep the knee air bag from inflating correctly in a crash, increasing injury risk. Jeep dealers replace the driver's knee air bag module for free.
What should I do if my 2017 Jeep Cherokee is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Cherokee is included in recall 16V799. If it is, contact a franchised Jeep dealer and ask for the driver's knee air bag module replacement. Reference recall number 16V799 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the remedy for recall 16V799 is a free replacement of the driver's knee air bag module at a franchised Jeep dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is higher injury risk in a crash. If the driver's knee air bag does not inflate correctly, it does not give the intended protection for the driver. The fix is to have a Jeep dealer replace the affected knee air bag module for free.
What if I bought my Jeep Cherokee used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2017 Jeep Cherokee is included, then call a franchised Jeep dealer with recall number 16V799.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V799000 |
|---|---|
| Jeep customer service | 1-800-853-1403 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V799 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V799000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →