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2004 Jeep Wrangler

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Jeep Wrangler do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 265.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

164 reports with mileage · 28 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.

  • Steering. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 26 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 reports7 fire reports9 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

16 reports
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33,000 miles · Jul 22, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2004 JEEP WRANGLER'S FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED.*MR *NM

NHTSA ODI #10130246

2,000 miles · May 8, 2005
Parking BrakePower TrainService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

I DRIVING MY JEEP AND WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BY A MERCEDES THAT WAS MOVING 35MPH. I WATCH THE WHOLE SCENE COMING THROUGH MY FRONT SOFT TOP GLASS WINDOW. MY FACE HIT THE SOFT TOP WINDOW AND BROKE MY NOSE PRETTY BAD ACCORDING TO DR. CHARLES SHAFFER (MY SURGIEON). BY THE WAY THE SOFT TOP AND UPPER DOOR HALFS WERE THE FACTORY E…

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I DRIVING MY JEEP AND WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BY A MERCEDES THAT WAS MOVING 35MPH. I WATCH THE WHOLE SCENE COMING THROUGH MY FRONT SOFT TOP GLASS WINDOW. MY FACE HIT THE SOFT TOP WINDOW AND BROKE MY NOSE PRETTY BAD ACCORDING TO DR. CHARLES SHAFFER (MY SURGIEON). BY THE WAY THE SOFT TOP AND UPPER DOOR HALFS WERE THE FACTORY EQUIPPED "WILLY'S EDITION" MODEL SPECIFIC WHICH ARE SUPPLIED TO DAILMER CHRYSLER BY HERTZ. BLOOD WAS EVERYWHERE AND TOOK 3 HOURS TO COMPLETELY STOP THE BLEEDING. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT BY THE WAY. I HAD TO HAVE SURGERY TO MY NOSE AND SEVERAL FOLLOW UP SESSIONS. I FEEL VERY LUCKY THAT IT WAS A MERCEDES THAT HIT ME BECAUSE THEY ARE ABLE TO CRUSH VERY WELL. HIS VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND HAD NECK PAIN AND I DROVE HOME WITH A BROKE NOSE, BENT REAR AXLE SHAFT (BEND WAS OUTSIDE OF THE AXLE BEARING, WHICH MAKES ONE OF MY REAR BRAKES USELESS), DAMAGED FACTORY ROCKER PANEL (WILLY'S EDITION MODEL SPECIFIC), DAMAGED BODY, REAR FENDER FLARE, I ALSO HAD TO STRAIGHTEN AND REWELD THE BODY MOUNT THAT TORE OFF THE FRAME( THERE ARE 3 BODY MOUNTING POINTS THAT ARE CLEARLY VISIBLE BETWEEN THE 2 DRIVERS SIDE WHEELS, THE MOUNT CLOSEST TO THE REAR TIRE WAS TORN OFF THE FRAME) PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK ME MORE QUESTIONS AT (704) 506-4592.

NHTSA ODI #10120194

10 miles · Jan 21, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

JUST STARTED WITH POWER LOSS FROM SHOW ROOM FLOOR,CAM REPLACED LIFTERS REPLACED BREAKS STICKING TO THE POINT WHERE THE JEEP IS HARD TO MOVE SAYS IT IS BECAUSE OF RUST USED DAYLY,TIMING OUT 15 DEGREES FRONT AND REAR DIF LEAKING WITH METAL SHAVINGS INSIDE MECHANIC SAYS DANA PROBLEM GRINDING RIGHT FRONT AXEL NOISE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10107655

49,000 miles · Dec 4, 2004
SeatsService Brakes, HydraulicStructure

FRONT BRAKE VIBRATE VIOLENTLY,AND HAVE BEEN CHANGED 4 TIMES WITHIN THE 1.5 YRS I HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK. MY DRIVERS SEAT FRAME IS CRACKED (THE METAL FRAME) I USE A PILLOW TO KEEP IT STREIGHT BECAUSE IT LEANS TO THEE LEFT DUE TO THE WELD CRACK IN THE FRAME. I HAVE GOTTEN NO WHERE WITH 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND SHELLED OUT WELL OV…

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FRONT BRAKE VIBRATE VIOLENTLY,AND HAVE BEEN CHANGED 4 TIMES WITHIN THE 1.5 YRS I HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK. MY DRIVERS SEAT FRAME IS CRACKED (THE METAL FRAME) I USE A PILLOW TO KEEP IT STREIGHT BECAUSE IT LEANS TO THEE LEFT DUE TO THE WELD CRACK IN THE FRAME. I HAVE GOTTEN NO WHERE WITH 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND SHELLED OUT WELL OVER 2.000 DOLLARS ON ROTORS AND BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES HARDLRY WORK ALSO I CAN PULL I=THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT EVEN SLOW DOWN THE FRONTS DO ALL THE WORK AND IT HAS BEEN IN FOR BRAKE REPAIRS BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT SHOPS. THERE MUST BE A RECALL BECAUSE THIE IS A SEVERE DANGER AND IS GOING TO REALLY CAUSE A PROBLEM OR WORSE DEATHS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10102148

2,000 miles · Apr 26, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

GOT IN VEHICLE. PUT RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKE, PUT CAR IN DRIVE, TOOK MY FOOT OFF BRAKE AND THEN IMMEDIATELY REAPPLIED IT AS CAR PULLED IN FRONT OF ME. WRANGLER BEGAN CREEPING FORWARD AND I APPLIED MORE PEDAL PRESSURE ONLY TO FIND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING HARDER. HIT CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THOUGHT I HAD MY RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKE WHEN IN …

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GOT IN VEHICLE. PUT RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKE, PUT CAR IN DRIVE, TOOK MY FOOT OFF BRAKE AND THEN IMMEDIATELY REAPPLIED IT AS CAR PULLED IN FRONT OF ME. WRANGLER BEGAN CREEPING FORWARD AND I APPLIED MORE PEDAL PRESSURE ONLY TO FIND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING HARDER. HIT CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THOUGHT I HAD MY RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKE WHEN IN FACT, MOST OF MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR. WHY ARE THESE PEDALS SO CLOSE? I'M NORMALLY A LEFT FOOT BRAKER SO THIS ISN'T A BIG ISSUE, BUT IN THE CASE, I USED MY RIGHT FOOT AND ENDED UP HAVING MY RIGHT FOOT ON BOTH PEDALS. VERY POOR DESIGN AND DANGEROUS, IN MY OPINION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10067837

5,500 miles · Apr 6, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

RIGHT FRONT BRAKES SEIZED ON MY WAY HOME. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10065661

Official recalls

1

04V048000 · Equipment:other:labels

Feb 3, 2004

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A RECENT SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING ERROR, THE TIRE, WHEEL, AND INFLATION PRESSURE INFORMATION WAS INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE VEHICLE OWNER WOULD NOT BE AWARE OF THE TIRE, WHEEL, AND INFLATION PRESSURE INFORMATION FOR THEIR VEHICLE.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CORRECTED TIRE CERTIFICATION LABEL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

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

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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