Reliability of the 1.4 Turbo

Discussion in 'Renegade Stock Tech' started by Meest, Apr 5, 2019.

  1. Meest

    Meest New Member

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    Minnesota
    Hi All,

    I have been doing a LOT of research as of late because I am contemplating buying a 2016 Sport (4x4) with the 1.4T and 6-Speed. I am primarily concerned with reliability and I have tried my best to dig up as much as I can on the 1.4 turbo. Funny enough, I have actually owned a 2013 Abarth (sold about 2 years ago due to needing something with more space).

    I don't plan to do any serious off-roading. Really just looking for something that offers 4-doors, ground clearance, 4wd for Minnesota winters, and a manual transmission. Larger tires would certainly be a must, though..

    I have only ever owned vehicles with standard transmissions, so the 2.4/9-speed really does not interest me. Are there any glaring issues with the 1.4T/6-Speed combination in the Renegades?

    I tried the search function but there is not a ton of information out there, so I'm sorry if I missed something!
     
  2. sport renegade guy

    sport renegade guy New Member

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    nw illinois
    im so glad i got my 2016 jeep renegade sport 4x4 1.4t , have just over 10k miles and no problems , all stock
     
  3. Aestiace

    Aestiace Member

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    I have over 30K on my 2016 Latitude 4x4 with the 1.4L and I have had no issues so far. I have added the GFB diverter valve and some larger A/T tires and I love it! The turbo and manual transmission make it so much more fun to drive. I have had it on some moderate off-road trails as well and it is a champ (definitely have to have more aggressive tires than what comes stock though).
     
  4. Kevin R Schillerstrom

    Kevin R Schillerstrom New Member

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    I have the latitude 4x4 6-speed. It definitely is a fun car to drive. Haven't had any problems as of yet, but I've only got around 2k miles. Only thing I can think of is the turbo lag if that would bother you. Nothing that a good launch wouldn't fix haha.
     
  5. Lonny Buttke

    Lonny Buttke New Member

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    Mines a 18 sport 1.4T 6 speed manual with 21k, no troubles until the rear differential and TPU needed replacing just after rolling past 21K.
    Lite off roading , nothing any 2wheel drive vehicle could not handle. Maybe a total of 3 miles of off road.
    Dealership mechanic has no explanation as to how or why both self destructed.
    All covered under warranty.
     
  6. Captain Commando

    Captain Commando New Member

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    I own a 17 Latitude 1.4T 6 speed manual with about 15,000 miles, all stock, that I bought new. I have had no mechanical problems at all. It is a hoot to drive, fast enough to be fun but not so fast to get into trouble. Works very well in the snow and on light trails. I wouldn't shy away because of reliability.
     
  7. persquank

    persquank Active Member

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    Hello and welcome.

    Mine has over 68,000 miles now. I have done a lot of modification and would say I drive/shift aggressively. The engine and transmission have been rock solid. Only problems have been self inflicted. This engine is not only in the Abarth, but the dodge dart and the 124 spider as well. After market support is abundant as well as forum/DIY knowledge. I'm still hoping the clutch and pressure plate fro the dart will fit, but I haven't had a need to replace mine yet. The 4wd works great for the snow, but better tires are a must.
     
  8. Nerdsmith

    Nerdsmith Member

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    I think all of us 1.4L 4x4 owners can say, that this thing is fun to drive. The motor def is a bit small for the weight but as soon as the turbo kicks in, it has a nice pull to it that has gotten me out of tight places. Huge amount of aftermarket support for the 1.4L.. there is even a stage 2 upgrade kit for the 1.4L that is supposed to produce 230HP. Biggest issue with the motor is the turbo lag, and the throttle response. All can be fixed or remedied, with after market parts. Transmission is great, shifts are really good and the range on each gear feels like a sports car. The biggest issue with this transmission is the Clutch, definitely needs a clutch upgrade if you are going to do offroading... The clutch for the darts should be the same.. I know clutchmasters has a 6 puck clutch upgrade specifically for the renegade on their website, which i will be getting once i need to replace. Im pretty sure its the exact kit the 1.4L darts are using. Would be nice if the Manual got a lower first gear ratio for better offroad. From my own research the manual do better in certain situation compared to auto. Mostly with soft terrains like mud and sand. The AT shines on the rocks though. Anyways my 15 cents.
     
  9. Sleepy

    Sleepy Member

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    Hello fellow 6MT owners, does this clutch pedal seem too high compared to yours ? Everything works fine AFAIK ...
     

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  10. agentlossing

    agentlossing Member

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    I totally concur with this assessment. I would say the only "issues" for my 2016 1.4t at just over 20K miles are the way the engine and turbo act at cold temps before warming up (a little hesitation in addition to normal turbo lag), which unfortunately is the majority of my commute (I live 2 min from work, hahah). Once the engine is warm it's fine however. I'll echo the clutch thing - it has performed very well for me, despite being a kind of noisy clutch, but I don't slip it at all, and if you're planning on that kind of rough handling then you could end up like a few people I've seen online who have burned their clutches quite quickly. Normal people, not fringe cases, seem to do fine! My Sport is a very fun, stripped-back vehicle that has been excellent thus far.
     
  11. Newadventurer

    Newadventurer Member

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    65,000 miles on our 1.4T and it has been great. Only problem is it is kind of easy to smoke the clutch off-roading. But it does great in the snow. If you get bigger tires keep an eye on the weight because it will feel sluggish it they get too heavy.
     
  12. Andy Persona

    Andy Persona New Member

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    Turn off your traction control. It applies brake to the slipping tire, making you slip the clutch more to keep the engine from stalling out. First time I took mine offroad I smelled burning clutch. Turn off TC and ESC if offroad. Then it should feel normal and your clutch will thank you. Also interesting you should mention big tires. The previous owner had big LT tires on it, which I replaced with car rated AT tired (Hercules Terra Tracs) which was a great decision in terms of gas mileage as well as pickup
     
    Newadventurer likes this.
  13. Viking

    Viking New Member

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    I had a 1.4T with my first Renegade. I traded her on a trailhawk with the 2.4 and must admit the 1.4T seemed to be a lot smoother and more power than the 2.4. I never had any issues with the 1.4T at all except for the clutch not fully disengaging and grinding gears while shifting. The engine is a jewel and I was averaging around 33.2 MPG. My 2.4 is only getting around 28MPG.
     

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