Jeep Wrangler Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some, but not unusually many. Owners have filed 1,834 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Jeep Wrangler. For the Jeep Wrangler, that's 0.42 transmission complaints per 1,000 sold across the 2015–2022 cohorts, close to the 0.28 median of the 53 models we can rate. The worst years are 2012, 2013 and 2024.
Transmission complaints
1,834
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
0.42
2015–2022 cohorts
Share of all complaints
14.7%
of 12,448 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
9
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Jeep Wrangler transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline), and per 1,000 vehicles sold where a published U.S. sales figure exists. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Per 1,000 sold | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100 | — | 8% | 10 | 09V436000 | 11 |
| 2009 | 66 | — | 10.2% | 4 | — | 11 |
| 2010 | 68 | — | 9.9% | 10 | 12V21600011V145000 | 17 |
| 2011 | 40 | — | 8.2% | 4 | 11V145000 | 20 |
| 2012WORST | 282 | — | 33.7% | 5 | — | 37 |
| 2013WORST | 230 | — | 35% | 7 | — | 38 |
| 2014 | 88 | — | 13.4% | 7 | — | 29 |
| 2015 | 51 | 0.25 | 10.6% | 3 | — | 25 |
| 2016 | 73 | 0.38 | 16.2% | 0 | — | 18 |
| 2017 | 50 | 0.26 | 16% | 8 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | 170 | 0.71 | 9.5% | 14 | 23V11600021V02800020V12400018V280000 | 81 |
| 2019 | 81 | 0.36 | 10.8% | 7 | 23V11600021V02800020V124000 | 91 |
| 2020 | 47 | 0.23 | 7.6% | 2 | 23V11600021V02800020V124000 | 145 |
| 2021 | 149 | 0.73 | 15.4% | 11 | 24V57200023V11600021V028000 | 141 |
| 2022 | 69 | 0.38 | 16.7% | 2 | 23V64100023V116000 | 97 |
| 2023 | 53 | — | 14.1% | 3 | 23V64100023V116000 | 70 |
| 2024WORST | 203 | — | 20.8% | 2 | — | 57 |
| 2025 | 14 | — | 16.7% | 1 | — | 23 |
- Per 1,000 sold = complaints ÷ published U.S. calendar-year sales × 1,000. Calendar-year sales stand in for the model-year cohort. A dash means no published figure or fewer than 5,000 sold, too small to divide by.
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Jeep Wrangler transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 1,834 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Jeep Wrangler years to avoid for the transmission
2012 Jeep Wrangler
282 transmission complaints (33.7% of the year's 836). Most often described: hesitation or delayed engagement.
2013 Jeep Wrangler
230 transmission complaints (35% of the year's 657). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts.
2024 Jeep Wrangler
203 transmission complaints (20.8% of the year's 977). Most often described: loss of power or limp mode.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Jeep Wrangler years to avoid.
Jeep Wrangler transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Jeep Wrangler model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 24V572000 · 2024-08-01 · 2021 models
The software for the powertrain control module may cause an engine stall, which can result in a loss of drive power.
- 23V641000 · 2023-09-18 · 2022–2023 models
The rearview camera may fail to display the rearview image and the reverse lights may not illuminate when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 111,…
- 23V116000 · 2023-02-23 · 2018–2023 models
The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
- 21V028000 · 2021-01-28 · 2018–2021 models
The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
- 20V124000 · 2020-03-03 · 2018–2020 models
The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
- 18V280000 · 2018-05-01 · 2018 models
An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission.
- 12V216000 · 2012-05-16 · 2010 models
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SKID PLATE, WHICH IS CLOSE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, CAN COLLECT DEBRIS.
- 11V145000 · 2011-03-01 · 2010–2011 models
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 12, 2010, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10, 2010. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A DEGRADATION OF FASTENER TORQUE FOR VARIOUS FRONT AND REAR AXLE ATTACHMENTS TO THE CHASSIS…
- 09V436000 · 2009-11-05 · 2008 models
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2008 JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2006 THROUGH JULY 2008, EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE WARNING SYSTEM.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2012 Jeep Wrangler have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 282 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2012 Jeep Wrangler, 33.7% of all 836 complaints for that year. The most common description is "hesitation or delayed engagement" (8 complaints). 5 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2013 Jeep Wrangler have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 230 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2013 Jeep Wrangler, 35% of all 657 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (12 complaints). 7 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2024 Jeep Wrangler have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 203 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2024 Jeep Wrangler, 20.8% of all 977 complaints for that year. The most common description is "loss of power or limp mode" (62 complaints). 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Jeep Wrangler years have the most transmission complaints?
2012 (282), 2013 (230) and 2024 (203), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so compare the per-1,000-sold column too.
What are the most common Jeep Wrangler transmission problems?
In the 1,834 transmission complaints, owners most often describe loss of power or limp mode (9.3%), jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (5.5%) and hesitation or delayed engagement (3.2%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Dividing by sales shows how often owners complain relative to how many were sold, which makes models of different sizes comparable.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Jeep Wrangler model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration