2012 Jeep Wrangler Reliability
The 2012 Jeep Wrangler has 836 owner complaints and 10 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and steering. Compared with other Wrangler model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Wrangler's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
836
NHTSA owner complaints
10
Recall campaigns
22
Complaints citing a crash
19
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Jeep Wrangler complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2011 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 282 | 34% |
| Steering | 204 | 24% |
| Engine | 173 | 21% |
| Electrical system | 148 | 18% |
| Air bags | 128 | 15% |
| Service brakes | 52 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 52 | 6% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 42 | 5% |
2012 Jeep Wrangler recalls
10 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11V528000 | Nov 2, 2011 | Air bags — frontal | Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 right hand drive (rhd) Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured from February 1, 2007, through October 10, 2011. Some vehicles may be equipped with driver's airbag clockspring assemblies that could experience a… |
| 13E010000 | Feb 25, 2013 | Equipment | Quadratec, Inc. is recalling certain aftermarket accessory, driver-side, Ultimate Floor Liners part numbers 14254.0301 07, 14254.0301 08, 14254.0301Q, 14254.0302 07, 14254.0302 08, 14254.0302Q, 14254.0303 07, 14254.0303 08, 14254.0303Q, 14254.0309 07,… |
| 13V176000 | May 7, 2013 | Air bags | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Jeep Wrangler right-hand drive vehicles manufactured February 1, 2007, through October 10, 2011. The affected vehicles have airbag clockspring assemblies that could experience broken… |
| 13V234000 | Jun 4, 2013 | Steering — hydraulic power assist / hose, piping, and connections | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Jeep Wrangler vehicles equipped with a 3.6L engine and an automatic transmission and manufactured January 23, 2011, through February 23, 2013. The power steering line may contact and wear… |
| 14V631000 | Oct 8, 2014 | Electrical system | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to July 19, 2013. Corrosion in the exterior heated power mirror electrical connector may result in an electrical short. |
| 16V288000 | May 11, 2016 | Air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Right Hand Drive Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to May 2, 2016. The clockspring assembly may become contaminated with dust and cause the air bag circuit to fail. |
| 16V352000 | May 24, 2016 | 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 2500, 2006-2009 RAM…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 18V021000 | Jan 9, 2018 | 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, Georgia, Hawaii,…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 19V018000 | Jan 15, 2019 | 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 driver's frontal air bag,…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 19V680000 | Sep 26, 2019 | Seat belts — front / anchorage | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2018 Jeep Wrangler right hand drive vehicles. The driver's seat belt buckle mounting strap may fracture and separate from the seat frame. |
How the 2012 compares with nearby Wrangler years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Wrangler analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 686 | 11 | Fuel / propulsion system | Caution |
| 2011 | 485 | 11 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2012 (this page) | 836 | 10 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
| 2013 | 657 | 7 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
| 2014 | 658 | 4 | Engine | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2012 Jeep Wrangler
- 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.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 10 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2012 Jeep Wrangler can be better or worse than its model year. 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.
2012 Jeep Wrangler reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Jeep Wrangler reliable?
The 2012 Jeep Wrangler has 836 owner complaints and 10 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and steering. Compared with other Wrangler model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Wrangler's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2012 Jeep Wrangler problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Jeep Wrangler are powertrain / transmission (282), steering (204), engine (173), electrical system (148). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Jeep Wrangler have recalls?
NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2012 Jeep Wrangler, including 11V528000 (air bags — frontal) and 13E010000 (equipment). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Jeep Wrangler compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 485 complaints and 11 recalls (solid); the 2013 has 657 complaints and 7 recalls (caution). The 2012 has 836 complaints and 10 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 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.
More Jeep Wrangler research
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 Wrangler, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.