U.S. public vehicle records

2004 Jeep WRANGLER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

192 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

46,296 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 164 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 66 of 192 complaints (34.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	44	22.9%
Braking behavior	35	18.2%
Transmission and shifting	20	10.4%
Engine operation	9	4.7%
Electrical and battery issues	8	4.2%
Fuel system concerns	8	4.2%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering

Suspension

Electrical System

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Suspension:Front

Unknown Or Other

Fuel System, Gasoline

Power Train

Steering: 66; Suspension: 50; Electrical System: 10; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 8; Suspension:Front: 8; Unknown Or Other: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline: 6; Power Train: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 47; 25,000 to 49,999: 45; 50,000 to 74,999: 34; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 3

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (47). 28 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2022

2023

2004: 18; 2005: 15; 2006: 21; 2007: 16; 2008: 9; 2009: 8; 2010: 19; 2011: 23; 2012: 16; 2013: 6; 2014: 13; 2015: 6; 2016: 7; 2017: 5; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 4; 2022: 1; 2023: 2

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 44 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 35 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 20 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10066814 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE HIT A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, AND SUSTAINED A CUT AND BRUISES ABOVE RIGHT EYE. *AK *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066814 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10083511 · 2004-08-19 (August 19, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. *JB THE FAILURES CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT THE USE OF POWER STEERING. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083511 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10065661 · 2004-04-06 (April 6, 2004)

RIGHT FRONT BRAKES SEIZED ON MY WAY HOME. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065661 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10067837 · 2004-04-26 (April 26, 2004)

GOT IN VEHICLE. PUT RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKE, PUT CAR IN DRIVE, TOOK MY FOOT OFF BRAKE AND THEN IMMEDIATELY REAPPLIED IT AS CAR PULLED IN FRONT OF ME. WRANGLER BEGAN CREEPING FORWARD AND I APPLIED MORE PEDAL PRESSURE ONLY TO FIND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING HARDER. HIT CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THOUGHT I HAD MY RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKE WHEN IN FACT, MOST OF MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR. WHY ARE THESE PEDALS SO CLOSE? I'M NORMALLY A LEFT FOOT BRAKER SO THIS ISN'T A BIG ISSUE, BUT IN THE CASE, I USED MY RIGHT FOOT AND ENDED UP HAVING MY RIGHT FOOT ON B…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067837 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10061894 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)

NEW 2004 JEEP WRANGLER SE. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUNKS CLINKS & SOMETIMES GRINDS WHEN UPSHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. I WAS NEARLY REARENDED LAST WEEK. I WAS GOING UP A HILL FROM A STOP. WHEN I SHIFTED FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR THE SYNCROS STARTED GRINDING. NOT WANTING TO ABUSE MY JEEP, I BACKED OFF TO NEUTRAL AND WAS NEARLY REARENDED BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER AND THE FACTORY REP. THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THAT IT IS"THE NATURE OF THE BEAST", ALL OF THESE TRANSMISSION ARE A …

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061894 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10064504 · 2004-04-04 (April 4, 2004)

OIL LEAK FROM ENGINE/TRANSMISSION. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 5,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064504 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10074755 · 2004-06-03 (June 3, 2004)

I OWN A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER WITH A 4.0 I-6 ENGINE. WITHIN THE PAST 2 WEEKS, THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. THE FOLLOWING APPLIES TO ALL 3 INCIDENTS... ONCE I GOT THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY AND THUS REPLACED. THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. ALL 3 INCIDENTS OF FAILURE HAVE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS RAISES MY SAFETY CONCERN SINCE I CAN NOT ACCELERA…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,678 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074755 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10140424 · 2005-10-21 (October 21, 2005)

VEHICLE IS A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER 4X4 PURCHASED 12/04. DEBRIS ACCUMULATED UNDER THE SKID PLATE, APPARENTLY IGNITED BY EXHAUST SYSTEM. I SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE AND HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHICH I USED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DAMAGED BY THE FIRE, REPAIRS ABOUT $2,000. SKID PLATE DESIGN ALLOWS DEBRIS TO COME IN FRONT OF SKID PLATE BUT NOT BE BLOWN OUT THE BACK OR BOTTOM. I BOUGHT THE JEEP IN PART FOR ITS OFFROAD CAPABILITIES, BUT AM AFRAID TO USE IT NOW. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 890 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140424 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10142688 · 2005-11-15 (November 15, 2005)

2004 JEEP LIBERTY, GOODYEAR SR-A WRANGLER TIRE. FAILURE. APPEARS TO BE TIRE SEPARATION WITH MAJOR SECTION OF TREAD COMING OFF. BEFORE COMPLETELY SEPARATING, TIRE SECTION "BEAT" WIRING LOOSE FROM REAR END OF CAR CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORT TO DASHBOARD, REAR SIGNALS. TIRE CURRENTLY AT LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER FOR REPLACE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 23,325 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142688 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10101458 · 2004-11-09 (November 9, 2004)

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CAUSING THE OTHER DRIVERS BUMPER TO WEDGE INTO THE CONSUMERS GAS TANK. THE BACK DOOR OF THE CONSUMERS JEEP WAS TORN OFF ALONG WITH THE SPARE TIRE. THE CONSUMERS JEEP DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT FLIPPED OVER. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STURDY JEEP SAVED HER LIFE. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE SAME VEHICLE AND THE GAS TANK BLEW UP. THE CONSUMER SON BARELY ESCAPED DUE TO THE FLAMABLE SEATS. THE JEEP BURNED TO THE GROUND. *TC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101458 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10102110 · 2004-12-03 (December 3, 2004)

HARD STARTING AND STALLING. THE VEHICLE WILL CRANK AND CRANK AND WILL START SOMETIMES OR YOU MUST TURN THE KEY OFF AND TRY TO RESTART, AND WILL START THE SECOND TIME, BUT USUALLY RUNS POORLY FOR A FEW SECONDS. WILL SOMETIMES STALL WHEN PUTTIN INTO GEAR. DEALER HAS CHANGED FUEL PUMP AND PUT A SHIELD OVER ONE OF THE FUEL INJECTORS. STILL HAVING THE HARD STARTING PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102110 at NHTSA ↗