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1999 Jeep Wrangler

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Jeep Wrangler do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 265.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
213Owner complaints

Model-year median: 265

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1999 Jeep Wrangler

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 213 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 53 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 50 reports
  • Air Bags: 22 reports
  • Structure: 21 reports
  • Power Train: 20 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
1996401
1997265
1998213
1999251
2000170
2001108
2002
Compare all Wrangler years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
53Engine And Engine Cooling
50Air Bags
22Structure
21Power Train
20
All reported categories
Visibility
13Service Brakes, Hydraulic
11Unknown Or Other
9Seat Belts
7Vehicle Speed Control
6Fuel System, Gasoline
5Suspension
5Tires
5Equipment
4Exterior Lighting
4Steering
3Interior Lighting
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Wheels
2Engine
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Parking Brake
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Air
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

108 reports with mileage · 105 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports6 fire reports9 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
75,000 miles · Dec 22, 2007
Exterior Lighting

INTERNAL CONTACTS FAILURE IN TURN SIGNAL SWITCH RENDERS TURN SIGNALS, HEADLIGHTS, AND HAZARD WARNING INOPERATIVE. PROBLEMS WITH THIS SWITCH HAVE ALSO CAUSES OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IN SOME CASES, THIS ALSO DRAINS THE BATTERY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ON JEEP WRANGLERS AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE SWI…

Read full complaint

INTERNAL CONTACTS FAILURE IN TURN SIGNAL SWITCH RENDERS TURN SIGNALS, HEADLIGHTS, AND HAZARD WARNING INOPERATIVE. PROBLEMS WITH THIS SWITCH HAVE ALSO CAUSES OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IN SOME CASES, THIS ALSO DRAINS THE BATTERY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ON JEEP WRANGLERS AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10212581

43,100 miles · Mar 30, 2005
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V117000 CONCERNING INSTRUMENT PANEL SCREWS. OWNER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE TURNED ON. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10117118

57,000 miles · Oct 27, 2004
Exterior Lighting

WHEN THE HEADLIGHT LIGHT SWITCH WAS TURNED ON ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE GAUGES MALFUNCTIONED. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE DEFECT AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL 99V117000 FOR INSTRUMENT PANEL SCREWS, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10097878

Mileage unknown · May 12, 2003
Exterior Lighting

THE 2 REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK AT ALL. HOWEVER, THE REAR HIGH MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT FUNCTIONED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10019603

Recall campaigns

1

99V117000 · Unknown Or Other

May 6, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE LEFT SIDE AND RIGHT SIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL WIRING GROUND ATTACHMENT SCREWS COULD LOOSEN OVER TIME.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE LEFT SIDE SCREW LOOSENS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES MAY NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE HEADLAMPS ARE TURNED ON. IF THE RIGHT SIDE SCREW LOOSENS, THE DEFROSTER BLOWER MOTOR MAY NOT FUNCTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE GROUND SCREWS, DRILL A NEW PILOT HOLE ADJACENT TO THE ORIGINAL HOLE, AND THE SCREWS WILL BE REINSTALLED IN THE NEW HOLES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

1

RQ99011 · Instrument Panel Ground Screw

Opened Jun 1, 1999 · Closed May 30, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WIRING GROUND ATTACHMENT SCREWS CAN LOOSEN

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.

Go deeper into Jeep Wrangler problems

Jeep Wrangler transmission problems →Jeep Wrangler electrical problems →