Jeep Wrangler Reliability
Quick answer
The Jeep Wrangler has 3.56 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold across the 2015–2022 model years. In CarWhere's ranking of 26 SUVs by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Wrangler places 23rd: one of the highest complaint rates in that group. Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 12,512 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and the electrical system, and NHTSA lists 67 recall campaigns. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2008 and 2018–2023 as years to avoid. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
By CarWhere Research · Last reviewed 2026-11-10 · Source: NHTSA
3.56
Complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022)
12,512
NHTSA owner complaints (2008–2026)
67
Recall campaigns
7
Years to avoid
Most-reported Jeep Wrangler problems
NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, by the component owners named, filed 2007–2026. A complaint can name more than one component. The last three columns count complaints that report a crash, a fire or an injury.
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crash | Fire | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 3,203 | 26% | 49 | 7 | 21 |
| Electrical system | 2,902 | 23% | 37 | 137 | 23 |
| Engine | 2,271 | 18% | 29 | 133 | 15 |
| Powertrain / transmission | 1,842 | 15% | 33 | 62 | 15 |
| Air bags | 1,390 | 11% | 106 | 4 | 83 |
| Suspension | 1,241 | 10% | 11 | 1 | 6 |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 1,124 | 9% | 12 | 20 | 7 |
| Service brakes | 883 | 7% | 64 | 16 | 15 |
Of all 12,512 complaints, 294 (2%) report a crash, 340 (3%) a fire and 178 (1%) an injury.
For 2020-and-newer models (3,450 complaints), the most-reported areas are the electrical system (1,501), the engine (1,069), steering (733), the transmission (534).
Jeep Wrangler complaints by model year
Where problems concentrate. Year flags come from CarWhere's years-to-avoid analysis, which compares each Wrangler model year with the model's other years. The full year-by-year verdicts are on the years-to-avoid page.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1,255 | 9 | Air bags | Avoid |
| 2009 | 650 | 7 | Air bags | — |
| 2010 | 686 | 11 | Fuel / propulsion system | — |
| 2011 | 485 | 11 | Air bags | — |
| 2012 | 836 | 10 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2013 | 657 | 7 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2014 | 658 | 4 | Engine | — |
| 2015 | 481 | 3 | Service brakes | — |
| 2016 | 464 | 5 | Service brakes | — |
| 2017 | 312 | 5 | Service brakes | — |
| 2018 | 1,829 | 14 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2019 | 749 | 9 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2020 | 619 | 12 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2021 | 966 | 15 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2022 | 414 | 15 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2023 | 381 | 14 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2024(new) | 975 | 11 | Electrical system | — |
| 2025(new) | 83 | 4 | Electrical system | — |
| 2026(new) | 12 | 3 | Electrical system | — |
Raw counts are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and older years have had longer to collect complaints. Years marked "new" have had less than three years on the road. — = not flagged either way.
Jeep Wrangler recalls
NHTSA lists 67 recall campaigns across Jeep Wrangler model years 2008–2026. The ones below cover the most model years (campaigns with a park advisory first). Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Model years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V018000Jan 15, 2019 | 2010–2016 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 25V741000Oct 30, 2025 | 2020–2025 | Electrical system — propulsion system / traction battery | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Jeep Wrangler 4Xe and 2022-2026 Grand Cherokee 4Xe vehicles. The high voltage battery may fail internally and lead to a vehicle fire while parked or driving.NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 26V363000Jun 4, 2026 | 2021–2025 | Steering — hydraulic power assist / pump | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Jeep Wrangler, Wrangler 4XE, and Jeep Gladiator vehicles. The electric hydraulic power steering pump wiring may overheat and cause a vehicle fire, even when the vehicle is parked with…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 18V021000Jan 9, 2018 | 2009–2013 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida,…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 16V352000May 24, 2016 | 2008–2012 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
Best and worst Wrangler years
- Years to avoid: 2008 and 2018–2023.
- No model year stands out as clearly better than the rest.
- 2024–2026: too new to judge fully; complaint counts are still building.
Jeep Wrangler years to avoid: the verdict for every model year →
What to inspect on a used Jeep Wrangler
Based on the components owners report most. None of these replaces an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: check the VIN for open recalls; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any Jeep Wrangler can be better or worse than the model's record. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
Jeep Wrangler reliability FAQ
Is the Jeep Wrangler reliable?
The Jeep Wrangler has 3.56 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold across the 2015–2022 model years. In CarWhere's ranking of 26 SUVs by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Wrangler places 23rd: one of the highest complaint rates in that group. Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 12,512 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and the electrical system, and NHTSA lists 67 recall campaigns. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2008 and 2018–2023 as years to avoid. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
What are the most common Jeep Wrangler problems?
In NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, the most-reported areas are steering (3,203), the electrical system (2,902), the engine (2,271) and the transmission (1,842). For 2020-and-newer models, the most-reported areas are the electrical system, the engine and steering. One complaint can name more than one component, and complaints are unverified owner reports.
What years of the Jeep Wrangler should you avoid?
CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2008 and 2018–2023 as years to avoid. Each model year is compared only with other Wrangler years: complaints are adjusted for time on the road, and serious ones (engine, transmission, brakes, steering, fuel system, or a reported crash, fire or injury) count double, with a smaller adjustment for recall campaigns.
How long does a Jeep Wrangler last?
In CarWhere's lifespan study, 0.8% of 58,265 used Wrangler listings in the US had passed 200,000 miles and 5.7% had passed 150,000. Among those 10+ years old, 2.8% are past 200,000 miles. Maintenance history matters more than the model average for any one car.
How many recalls does the Jeep Wrangler have?
NHTSA lists 67 recall campaigns covering Jeep Wrangler model years 2008–2026. The one covering the most model years is 19V018000 (air bags, 2010–2016). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How do I check a specific used Jeep Wrangler?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
How we measure Wrangler reliability
- Complaints are every NHTSA owner complaint filed for the Jeep Wrangler, model years 2008–2026, across all the body-style and trim names NHTSA files them under, de-duplicated by complaint number. They are unverified owner reports.
- Complaints per 1,000 sold divides the 5,834 complaints for the 2015–2022 model years by 1,640,416 vehicles sold in the US in those calendar years (published sales figures), times 1,000.
- The SUVs ranking uses the same complaints and sales, weights serious complaints double and adjusts for vehicle age, then compares 26 models. See the full ranking.
- Year flags compare each Wrangler model year only with other Wrangler years, so they say which years to prefer, not how the Wrangler compares with other models.
- This is federal complaint and recall data, not a survey and not comparable to Consumer Reports or J.D. Power ratings. It does not estimate repair costs.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints and NHTSA recall campaigns (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-11-10; published U.S. sales figures; CarWhere years-to-avoid analysis.
More Jeep Wrangler research
Jeep Wrangler reliability by model year: