Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
140–25K
1325–50K
1850–75K
1775–100K
26100–150K
15150K+
103 reports with mileage · 67 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.
Structure. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
17 crash reports16 fire reports16 injury reports
What owners actually said
170 reports
52,000 miles · Aug 4, 2014
Steering
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY ENTIRE JEEP STARTED TO SHAKE SO BADLY THAT I COULD BARELY HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I THOUGHT THAT I MAY HAVE BLOWN A FRONT TIRE BUT IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THAT. SO I STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND MAKING MY WAY TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. WHEN MY SPEED DROPPED DOWN TO ABOUT 45 MPH IT JUST STOP…
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DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY ENTIRE JEEP STARTED TO SHAKE SO BADLY THAT I COULD BARELY HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I THOUGHT THAT I MAY HAVE BLOWN A FRONT TIRE BUT IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THAT. SO I STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND MAKING MY WAY TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. WHEN MY SPEED DROPPED DOWN TO ABOUT 45 MPH IT JUST STOPPED. IT DID THAT ONE OTHER TIME APPROXIMATELY 1 YR LATER AND IT'S NEVER DONE IT AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10618864
87,000 miles · Jul 28, 2014
Structure
HIT A SMALL ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD, NOTICED A RUMBLING RIGHT AFTER. STOPPED TO CHECK - NOTICED SKID PLATE HANGING DOWN ON ONE SIDE . FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING SKID PLATE AND TRANSMISSION TO SAG. FURTHER CHECKING REVEALED FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE PLACES. IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING AN ESTIMATE OF POSSIBLE REPAI…
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HIT A SMALL ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD, NOTICED A RUMBLING RIGHT AFTER. STOPPED TO CHECK - NOTICED SKID PLATE HANGING DOWN ON ONE SIDE . FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING SKID PLATE AND TRANSMISSION TO SAG. FURTHER CHECKING REVEALED FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE PLACES. IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING AN ESTIMATE OF POSSIBLE REPAIR THOUGH THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ENCOURAGING.. APPARENTLY THIS IS VERY COMMON ON THE TJ SERIES OF WRANGLER. DISAPPOINTING, CONSIDERING A FEW WELL PLACED DRAINAGE HOLES MAY HAVE PREVENTED IT. HOPEFULLY JEEP HAS TAKEN STEPS TO PREVENT THIS HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE . I HAD A FORD F150 FOR 13 YEARS & THE FRAME WAS STILL SOLID THE DAY I PARKED IT. I REALLY ENJOY MY JEEP , BUT IT MAY BE TIME TO SWITCH. :-( UPDATED 4/24/15 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10616976
50,000 miles · Jul 9, 2014
SteeringSuspension
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM A DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY. ABOUT 2005 IT STARTED TO SHAKE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND SINCE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MOSTLY IN TOWN IT WAS NOT NOTICED VERY MUCH. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MORE IT STARTS TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND…
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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM A DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY. ABOUT 2005 IT STARTED TO SHAKE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND SINCE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MOSTLY IN TOWN IT WAS NOT NOTICED VERY MUCH. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MORE IT STARTS TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND THEN IT WILL STOP WHEN SLOWED DOWN TO AROUND 40 MPH. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 DEALERS, A MECHANIC AND A TIRE STORE. SINCE STARTING TO TRY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM I HAVE HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS DONE. THE TIRES WERE CHECKED, THE BALANCE WAS CHECKED, THE ALIGNMENT WAS CHECKED, NEW TIRES WERE PUT ON, SHOCKS WERE REPLACED, BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED, TORSION BAR CLIPS WERE REPLACED, AND I DO NOT REMEMBER THE MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WERE REPLACED OR REPAIRED. THE LAST DEALER THAT IT WAS TAKEN TO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT HE COULD FEEL THE SHAKE BUT HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS OR HOW TO FIX IT. HE SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE IT TO A FRAME SHOP. SINCE THEN I FOUND OUT THAT OTHER WRANGLERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT EVEN HAS A NAME. THEY CALL IT THE "DEATH WOBBLE." WHEN THIS STARTS THE VEHICLE SHAKES ALL OVER THE AND THERE IS LITTLE CONTROL UNTIL YOU GET THE VEHICLE UNDER 40. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10609443
92,000 miles · Jun 22, 2014
Structure
ALL JEEP WRANGLERS FROM 1987-2006 HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE FRAMES RUSTING OUT CAUSE THEM TO BE UNSAFE FOR DRIVING ON PUBLIC ROAD UNLESS THE FRAME IS REPAIRED OR REPLACED, MY FRAME ON MY 2001 JEEP RUSTED OUT WITH ONLY 92000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE FRAME NOT BEING PREPED, PAINTED, AND DESIGNED PROPERLY ALLOWING WAT…
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ALL JEEP WRANGLERS FROM 1987-2006 HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE FRAMES RUSTING OUT CAUSE THEM TO BE UNSAFE FOR DRIVING ON PUBLIC ROAD UNLESS THE FRAME IS REPAIRED OR REPLACED, MY FRAME ON MY 2001 JEEP RUSTED OUT WITH ONLY 92000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE FRAME NOT BEING PREPED, PAINTED, AND DESIGNED PROPERLY ALLOWING WATER TO SIT IN THE FRAME BECAUSE THERE ARE NO DRAIN HOLES AT THE LOWEST POINT OF THE FRAME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10605039
90,000 miles · Apr 18, 2014
Power TrainStructure
REMOVED TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER TO REPLACE CLUTCH. FOUND COMPLETE BOTTOM OF FRAME RUSTED FROM INSIDE SO AS TO MAKE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SINCE HAVE FOUND THAT NEW FRAME IS NOT AVAILABLE AND IF A USED FRAME IS FOUND IT TO IS RUSTED AS TO BE DANGEROUS. HAVE CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I WORK IN COLLISION REP…
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REMOVED TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER TO REPLACE CLUTCH. FOUND COMPLETE BOTTOM OF FRAME RUSTED FROM INSIDE SO AS TO MAKE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SINCE HAVE FOUND THAT NEW FRAME IS NOT AVAILABLE AND IF A USED FRAME IS FOUND IT TO IS RUSTED AS TO BE DANGEROUS. HAVE CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I WORK IN COLLISION REPAIR AND FIND THIS TO BE A SERIOUS FAULT. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED QUICKLY BEFORE A DEATH OCCURS. MY SON'S JEEP WOULD KILL HIM IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10583590
125,000 miles · Apr 18, 2014
Electrical System
KEY DISENGAGES AND FALLS OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10583471
55,471 miles · Jul 10, 2013
Tires
TIRE TREAD SEPARATION ,AT 60MILES PER HOUR IN 110 DEGREE WEATHER AT 19292 MILES OF USE ONE TIRE COMPLETELY THREW THE TREAD 3 OTHER TIRES STATED TO DISPLAY TREAD SEPARATION. ONE TIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND REPLACED BY THE DEALER WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED PN 04/17/2009 UNDER ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY THE OTHER 3 TIRES THEY REF…
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TIRE TREAD SEPARATION ,AT 60MILES PER HOUR IN 110 DEGREE WEATHER AT 19292 MILES OF USE ONE TIRE COMPLETELY THREW THE TREAD 3 OTHER TIRES STATED TO DISPLAY TREAD SEPARATION. ONE TIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND REPLACED BY THE DEALER WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED PN 04/17/2009 UNDER ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY THE OTHER 3 TIRES THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT ASROAD HAZARD DAMAGE AND WOULD ONYLY PRO RATE A REPLACEMENT COST .
NHTSA ODI #10524236
140,000 miles · Apr 10, 2013
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE FRAME BEING RUSTED AND CORRODED FROM THE FRONT CONTROL ARM TO THE REAR CONTROL ARM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE FRAME BEING RUSTED AND CORRODED FROM THE FRONT CONTROL ARM TO THE REAR CONTROL ARM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10505863
71,005 miles · Dec 26, 2012
StructureSuspensionWheels
I WAS DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS AND NOTICED AN UNUSUAL NOISE UNDER MY JEEP AND GOT OUT TO CHECK IT OUT AND FOUND THAT MY FRAME HAD CRACKED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WHERE THE CONTROL ARM IS WELDED TO THE FRAME. AFTER LOOKING MORE CLOSELY, THE FRAME HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND IS A HOLE HAS DEVELOPED FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 INCH…
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I WAS DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS AND NOTICED AN UNUSUAL NOISE UNDER MY JEEP AND GOT OUT TO CHECK IT OUT AND FOUND THAT MY FRAME HAD CRACKED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WHERE THE CONTROL ARM IS WELDED TO THE FRAME. AFTER LOOKING MORE CLOSELY, THE FRAME HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND IS A HOLE HAS DEVELOPED FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 INCHES ALONG THE CENTER OF THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME RAIL AND UP AND THROUGH WHERE THE CONTROL ARM BRACKET IS WELDED TO THE FRAME. THERE IS ONLY ABOUT 1 INCH OF WELD STILL HOLDING ON THE OUTSIDE BRACKET. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE HOME. FROM THE LOOKS OF THE RUST, THE ENTIRE FRAME COULD BUCKLE AT ANY TIME. I AM NOT A ROCK CRAWLER AND DO NOT ABUSE MY JEEP. IT IS ALL STOCK AND HAS REALLY ONLY BEEN DOWN DIRT ROADS AND NOT TRAILS. UPON SEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND THAT MANY OTHER WRANGLER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING A SIMILAR PROBLEM SEVERAL ACTUALLY HAD THEIR CROSSOVER SUPPORT FOR THE TRANSMISSION FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I KNOW THESE VEHICLES ARE 10 YEARS OLD BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FRAME HERE. THIS IS UNSAFE AND CERTAINLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT OR DESIGN OVERSIGHT. AFTER ALL, IT IS A JEEP WHICH IS EXPECTED TO GET SOME USE OFF ROAD. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF I TRULY SPENT SOME TIME OFF ROAD. PLEASE TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO AT LEAST LET OWNERS KNOW THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM. I NORMALLY DON'T LOOK UNDER MY VEHICLE AND THIS COULD HAVE EASILY GONE UNNOTICED AND COMPROMISED THE ENTIRE FRAME STRUCTURE IF I HAD AN ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10490066
136,000 miles · Oct 15, 2012
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED TWICE AND THE ENGINE SEAL WAS ALSO REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED TWICE AND THE ENGINE SEAL WAS ALSO REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED, CAUSING PISTONS 3 AND 4 TO FAIL. IN ADDITION, THE RADIATOR FLUID BEGAN TO DRAIN ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,000. ..UPDATED 11/28/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE HEAD WAS CRACKED. UPDATED 12/03/12
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.0L ENGINE ONLY, THE DESIGN OF THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLDS COULD ALLOW DEBRIS TO ACCUMULATE AT THE #3 CYLINDER LOCATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MANIFOLD SHIELD TO MODIFY THE AIR FLOW CHARACTERISTICS AND TO PREVENT THE ACCUMULATION OF DEBRIS IN THE AREA OF THE #3 CYLINDER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 13, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WATER AND IMPURITIES CAN ENTER INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH A REDESIGNED SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." SOME OF THE OWNER'S MANUALS FOR THESE VEHICLES ARE MISSING INSTRUCTIONS THAT PROVIDE A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE, INCLUDING DIAGRAMS, FOR PROPERLY ATTACHING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM'S TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER ANCHORAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ATTACHED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE CHILD.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADDENDUM TO THE OWNER'S MANUALS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗