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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

What owners actually said

192 reports
91,500 miles · Mar 19, 2016
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

AT 91,500 MILES THE PCM FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME. I AM NOT CERTAIN WHEN THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED, BUT IT WAS SHOWN TO HAVE BEEN FLASHED PREVIOUSLY. THIS ISSUE SURFACED IN THE FORM OF A STALL OUT AT A LIGHT. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM AN IDLE POSITION THE ENGINE STALLED. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, TURNING OVER THE E…

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AT 91,500 MILES THE PCM FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME. I AM NOT CERTAIN WHEN THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED, BUT IT WAS SHOWN TO HAVE BEEN FLASHED PREVIOUSLY. THIS ISSUE SURFACED IN THE FORM OF A STALL OUT AT A LIGHT. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM AN IDLE POSITION THE ENGINE STALLED. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, TURNING OVER THE ENGINE WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY GIVING IT GAS, THE VEHICLE TURNED OVER. ACCORDING TO THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AMONG '04 JEEP WRANGLERS THAT THEY HAVE ENCOUNTERED RECENTLY (12 YEARS AFTER MARKET AND 2 YEARS COMPLETELY OUT OF WARRANTY). NO ONE CAN FIND A REPLACEMENT PCM BECAUSE THEY ARE NO LONGER MANUFACTURED, AND IT WAS CHRYSLER'S RECOMMENDATION THAT CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE GO TO A SCRAP YARD TO FIND A REPLACEMENT (LIKELY TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE). AS A CUSTOMER I AM APPALLED THAT WE ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY BATTERY CHARGED TO 20 VOLTS AND COULD HAVE EXPLODED.

NHTSA ODI #10850515

39,000 miles · Jan 27, 2016
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE HUB BEARING AND AXLE SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND WAS REPAIRED AT 41,846, 46,297, 52,000 AND 55,600 MILES. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE HUB BEARING AND AXLE SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND WAS REPAIRED AT 41,846, 46,297, 52,000 AND 55,600 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

NHTSA ODI #10822621

100,000 miles · Nov 30, 2015
SteeringSuspensionWheels

WHILE MOVING DOWN HIGHWAYS 40 TO 65MPH IVE NOTICED THAT WHENEVER I HIT POT HOLES OR BUMPS MY CAR IMEDIATELY GOES INTO A MAJOR WOBBLE LIKE I HAVE A FLAT TIRE, HOWEVER AS SOON AS I TAP MY BRAKE IT STOPS. MY FRIEND TOLD ME THIS IS A DEATH WOBBLE FACTORY RECALL BUT JEEP DEALERS TELL ME MY CAR VIN ISNT INCLUDED. WHY NOT SINCE IT HAS …

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WHILE MOVING DOWN HIGHWAYS 40 TO 65MPH IVE NOTICED THAT WHENEVER I HIT POT HOLES OR BUMPS MY CAR IMEDIATELY GOES INTO A MAJOR WOBBLE LIKE I HAVE A FLAT TIRE, HOWEVER AS SOON AS I TAP MY BRAKE IT STOPS. MY FRIEND TOLD ME THIS IS A DEATH WOBBLE FACTORY RECALL BUT JEEP DEALERS TELL ME MY CAR VIN ISNT INCLUDED. WHY NOT SINCE IT HAS THE PROBLEM?!

NHTSA ODI #10807552

140,000 miles · Sep 8, 2015
Unknown Or Other

JEEP HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD. HUSBAND NOTICED WHILE CHANGING OIL, FRAME ROT WAS VISIBLE IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. LATER TOOK TO LOCAL AUTOBODY SHOP THAT CONFIRMED FRAME IS ROTTED FROM INSIDE OUT. RECOMMENDS NEW FRAME AND TO NOT DRIVE IT DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. HE STATED THIS IS VERY COMMON IN JEEPS AND THAT I SHOULD FILE A VEHICLE …

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JEEP HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD. HUSBAND NOTICED WHILE CHANGING OIL, FRAME ROT WAS VISIBLE IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. LATER TOOK TO LOCAL AUTOBODY SHOP THAT CONFIRMED FRAME IS ROTTED FROM INSIDE OUT. RECOMMENDS NEW FRAME AND TO NOT DRIVE IT DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. HE STATED THIS IS VERY COMMON IN JEEPS AND THAT I SHOULD FILE A VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ODI #10762357

105,000 miles · Aug 23, 2015
Suspension

JEEP "DEATH WOBBLE" BETWEEN 50-60 MPH. I'VE CORRECTED ISSUE 3X OVER THE YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #10758649

37,000 miles · Jul 26, 2015
Unknown Or Other

I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. THE ENGINE STARTED TO RACE AT VERY HIGH R.P.M.'S FOR NO REASON. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING WITH HARD BRAKE PRESSURE AND QUICKLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS HAS HA…

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I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. THE ENGINE STARTED TO RACE AT VERY HIGH R.P.M.'S FOR NO REASON. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING WITH HARD BRAKE PRESSURE AND QUICKLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 5 ADDITIONAL TIMES SINCE THEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I CHECK FLOOR MATS, GAS PEDAL MOVEMENT AND EVEN ATTEMPTED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO BOTH THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME WHICH WAS IMPOSSIBLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO COMMON FACTOR TO THESE INCIDENTS. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY WARNING LIGHTS OR CODES.

NHTSA ODI #10743557

112,056 miles · Jun 23, 2015
SteeringSuspension

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT ANYWHERE ABOVE 40MPH AND HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD SENDS THE VEHICLE INTO A VIOLENT SHAKE/WOBBLE. THIS DOES NOT STOP UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS SLOWED DOWN TO BELOW 40. THE JEEP IS COMPLETELY STOCK. NO LIFT, NO BIGGER TIRES.

NHTSA ODI #10726915

114,565 miles · May 11, 2015
SteeringCrash

MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON NORMAL DRY PAVEMENT WHEN THE CASTING THAT ANCHORS THE TIE ROD TO THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL SNAPPED OFF. THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING IT TO GO OFF THE PAVED ROAD SURFACE AND CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE ORIGINAL FACTORY SUSPENSION AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE …

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MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON NORMAL DRY PAVEMENT WHEN THE CASTING THAT ANCHORS THE TIE ROD TO THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL SNAPPED OFF. THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING IT TO GO OFF THE PAVED ROAD SURFACE AND CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE ORIGINAL FACTORY SUSPENSION AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE HAS NEVER BEEN MODIFIED.

NHTSA ODI #10715738

98,000 miles · Dec 15, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 02/04/15*LJ UPDATED 6/8/2015*JS

NHTSA ODI #10664298

98,000 miles · Dec 14, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline

I DROVE TO THE GAS STATION ONE MORNING FILLED MY GAS TANK WHEN I GOT HOME AND PARKED ON THE DRIVE WAY; I GOT OFF THE JEEP I SMELLED GAS WHEN I LOOKED BACK BEHIND THE JEEP I SAW GAS RUNNING DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK . …

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I DROVE TO THE GAS STATION ONE MORNING FILLED MY GAS TANK WHEN I GOT HOME AND PARKED ON THE DRIVE WAY; I GOT OFF THE JEEP I SMELLED GAS WHEN I LOOKED BACK BEHIND THE JEEP I SAW GAS RUNNING DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK . [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10664147

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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