Jeep WRANGLER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15,330 owner complaints analyzed
92 distinct recall campaigns
39,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 8,413 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3,444 of 15,330 complaints (22.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 3,303 | 21.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1,806 | 11.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1,391 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1,163 | 7.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1,002 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 647 | 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 3444 |
| Electrical System | 2706 |
| Engine | 2146 |
| Power Train | 1788 |
| Suspension | 1476 |
| Air Bags | 1366 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1284 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1224 |
Steering: 3,444; Electrical System: 2,706; Engine: 2,146; Power Train: 1,788; Suspension: 1,476; Air Bags: 1,366; Unknown Or Other: 1,284; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1,224
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3154 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1847 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1579 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 896 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 712 |
| 150,000 and above | 225 |
Under 25,000: 3,154; 25,000 to 49,999: 1,847; 50,000 to 74,999: 1,579; 75,000 to 99,999: 896; 100,000 to 149,999: 712; 150,000 and above: 225
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3,154). 6,917 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 170 |
| 1996 | 73 |
| 2000 | 207 |
| 2001 | 214 |
| 2002 | 238 |
| 2003 | 212 |
| 2004 | 144 |
| 2005 | 105 |
| 2006 | 104 |
| 2007 | 123 |
| 2008 | 97 |
| 2009 | 95 |
| 2010 | 488 |
| 2011 | 610 |
| 2012 | 603 |
| 2013 | 579 |
| 2014 | 975 |
| 2015 | 749 |
| 2016 | 692 |
| 2017 | 522 |
| 2018 | 876 |
| 2019 | 1368 |
| 2020 | 851 |
| 2021 | 593 |
| 2022 | 620 |
| 2023 | 814 |
| 2024 | 863 |
| 2025 | 1393 |
| 2026 | 952 |
1995: 170; 1996: 73; 2000: 207; 2001: 214; 2002: 238; 2003: 212; 2004: 144; 2005: 105; 2006: 104; 2007: 123; 2008: 97; 2009: 95; 2010: 488; 2011: 610; 2012: 603; 2013: 579; 2014: 975; 2015: 749; 2016: 692; 2017: 522; 2018: 876; 2019: 1,368; 2020: 851; 2021: 593; 2022: 620; 2023: 814; 2024: 863; 2025: 1,393; 2026: 952
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3,303 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1,806 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1,391 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 966564 · 1995-06-09 (June 9, 1995)
WHILE DRIVING, BOLT ATTACHING AXLE BRACKET TO FRONT TRACK BAR BROKE; INTERFERRED WITH STEERING LINKAGE; DIFFICULT TO STEER. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 966564 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8020616 · 2002-10-10 (October 10, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE ARE SOME BOLTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ARE COMING LOOSE. CONTACTED DEALER. MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8020616 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11055305 · 2017-12-18 (December 18, 2017)
I ORDERED PRONTO BRAKE DRUM PART NUMBER BD80003. THE PART NUMBERS ARE CASTED INTO THE PART. THE DRUMS WERE DIFFERENT AND ONE OF THEM CAUSES THE WHEEL TO FREEZE. THE SOURCE OF THE PARTS FOR THE RETAILER SAID IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE RETAILER RESHIPPED THE PARTS 3 TIMES, EACH TIME THE DRUMS RECEIVED WERE DEFECTIVE. I WAS FORCED TO SWITCH TO ANOTHER BRAND.
Owner-reported narrative. 212,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11055305 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8021145 · 2002-10-18 (October 18, 2002)
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. MR SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8021145 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 962608 · 1995-03-27 (March 27, 1995)
THE FUSES IN THE WIRING HARNESS ARE NOT WORKING. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 802227 · 1996-09-11 (September 11, 1996)
WHILE DRIVING THE COMPUTER CHIP THAT RUNS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT OUT, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802227 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 961797 · 1995-03-13 (March 13, 1995)
FIVE SPEED. CRACKS DEVELOPED IN TRANSMISSION MOUNTING BRACKET. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 961797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8013531 · 2002-07-09 (July 9, 2002)
EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASES INTERMITTENTLY ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE HAS MANUAL TRANSMISSION ,AND THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. CONSUMER CANNOT EVEN ENGAGE EMERGENCY BRAKE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8013531 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 487276 · 1995-10-30 (October 30, 1995)
FUEL PUMP CAUGHT FIRE(RECALL 94V106000). *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 962437 · 1995-03-23 (March 23, 1995)
FUEL PUMP FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO SCHEDULE (94V-106). *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 801759 · 1996-09-20 (September 20, 1996)
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE JEEP STALLED, WENT TO OPEN THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 801759 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 968889 · 1995-07-17 (July 17, 1995)
CARBURATOR PLATE SHAFT IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AIR TO ENTER BASE OF CARBURETOR, RESULTING IN STALLING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 968889 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2010: 10; 2011: 10; 2012: 9; 2013: 6; 2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 5; 2017: 5; 2018: 14; 2019: 9; 2020: 12; 2021: 15; 2022: 15; 2023: 14; 2024: 11; 2025: 4; 2026: 3
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 25 | 5 | Not available |
| 1988 | 38 | 3 | -2 |
| 1989 | 48 | 4 | +1 |
| 1990 | 62 | 4 | 0 |
| 1991 | 51 | 6 | +2 |
| 1992 | 60 | 4 | -2 |
| 1993 | 81 | 3 | -1 |
| 1994 | 114 | 2 | -1 |
| 1995 | 140 | 1 | -1 |
| 1996 | 2 | 0 | -1 |
| 1997 | 238 | 3 | +3 |
| 1998 | 177 | 2 | -1 |
| 1999 | 205 | 1 | -1 |
| 2000 | 247 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 170 | 3 | +2 |
| 2002 | 108 | 2 | -1 |
| 2003 | 98 | 0 | -2 |
| 2004 | 192 | 1 | +1 |
| 2005 | 650 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006 | 730 | 3 | +2 |
| 2007 | 556 | 8 | +5 |
| 2008 | 873 | 7 | -1 |
| 2009 | 371 | 6 | -1 |
| 2010 | 686 | 10 | +4 |
| 2011 | 485 | 10 | 0 |
| 2012 | 834 | 9 | -1 |
| 2013 | 650 | 6 | -3 |
| 2014 | 653 | 4 | -2 |
| 2015 | 469 | 3 | -1 |
| 2016 | 459 | 5 | +2 |
| 2017 | 309 | 5 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1,815 | 14 | +9 |
| 2019 | 736 | 9 | -5 |
| 2020 | 607 | 12 | +3 |
| 2021 | 911 | 15 | +3 |
| 2022 | 383 | 15 | 0 |
| 2023 | 342 | 14 | -1 |
| 2024 | 685 | 11 | -3 |
| 2025 | 61 | 4 | -7 |
| 2026 | 9 | 3 | -1 |