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2005 Jeep Wrangler

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Wrangler years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Jeep Wrangler are substantially higher than the model-year median of 265.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

533 reports with mileage · 117 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.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 346 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports9 fire reports10 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

22 reports
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35,000 miles · Jan 5, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other

I PURCHASED MY JEEP IN MAY OF 2005. SINCE THAT TIME THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND THE O2 SENSOR REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. I TRULY FEEL THERE HAS BEEN A MALFUNCTION IN THESE SENSORS, SINCE I TALK TO OTHER JEEP OWNERS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. CAN YOU FIX THIS UNDER A RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298366

86,000 miles · Jan 3, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

2005 JEEP WRANGLER (TJ IN CANADA). CHECK GAUGES LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. DROVE TO GET OFF AT EXIT. CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. GEARS ON OIL PUMP WERE STRIPPED AND NO OIL GOT TO ENGINE -AS A RESULT ENGINE SEIZED. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT IT SEEMS THAT THE SER…

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2005 JEEP WRANGLER (TJ IN CANADA). CHECK GAUGES LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. DROVE TO GET OFF AT EXIT. CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. GEARS ON OIL PUMP WERE STRIPPED AND NO OIL GOT TO ENGINE -AS A RESULT ENGINE SEIZED. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT IT SEEMS THAT THE SERIAL # ON MY OIL PUMP IS NOT WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE BULLETIN. AT 138,000 KM I HAVE TO REPLACE AN ENGINE (OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253671

60,422 miles · Nov 3, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

RECENTLY PURCHASED 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING, DRIVERS KNEE WILL INADVERTENTLY BUMP THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND ITS STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 3 WEEKS. WE CANNOT BE THE ONLY CONSUMER HAVING THIS PROBLEM...THIS IS A SET-UP FOR A FATALITY. I SEE NO RECALL ON THIS... *…

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RECENTLY PURCHASED 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING, DRIVERS KNEE WILL INADVERTENTLY BUMP THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND ITS STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 3 WEEKS. WE CANNOT BE THE ONLY CONSUMER HAVING THIS PROBLEM...THIS IS A SET-UP FOR A FATALITY. I SEE NO RECALL ON THIS... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10247548

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

I BOUGHT MY 2005 JEEP UNLIMITED WITH 6,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVEN TIMES TO HAVE IT FIXED. MY MAJOR COMPLAINT IS IT SURGES OUT OF CONTROL WHEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES FROM A STOPPED POSITION. IT DOES IT IN DRIVE AND IN REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO SOLUTION. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM W…

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I BOUGHT MY 2005 JEEP UNLIMITED WITH 6,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVEN TIMES TO HAVE IT FIXED. MY MAJOR COMPLAINT IS IT SURGES OUT OF CONTROL WHEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES FROM A STOPPED POSITION. IT DOES IT IN DRIVE AND IN REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO SOLUTION. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING ONCE I HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD,AS SMALL AS THE REFLECTORS THAT LINE THE MIDDLE OF STREETS. THERE ARE TIMES THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES SO HARD THAT I HAVE TO LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THEY HAVE REPLACED MY STEERING STABILIZER ARM,I'VE HAD THE ROTORS TURNED I'VE REPLACED THE BRAKES.REPLACING THE STABILIZER ARM SEEMED TO HELP FOR A SHORT TIME. MY OTHER ISSUE WITH THIS LOVLEY DEATH TRAP OF MINE IS WHEN I RUN THE A/C THE WHOLE THING BOGS DOWN LIKE I'M PULLING AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER OUT OF A DITCH. THE DEALERSHIP SOLUTION WAS TO COME IN AND TEST DRIVE ANOTHER JEEP TO SEE IF I "ACTUALLY HAVE A PROBLEM". WHEN I TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY KEEP IT FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS AND THE PROBLEMS ARE STILL THERE.MY ADVICE TO OTHER JEEP OWNERS WITH THESE PROBLEMS IS TO ALWAYS TAKE THE BACK ROADS AND ALWAYS LEAVE A CAR LENGTH OF SPACE ALL THE WAY AROUND YOUR JEEP, AND NEVER USE THE A/C!THESE PROBLEMS BEGAN AT ABOUT 10,000 MILES AND MY JEEP JUST ROLLED OVER32,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10204306

900 miles · Aug 6, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

2005 RUBICON-2480 MILES. ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR THE 8TH TIME. DEALER CHECKED WITH DIGITAL READER WHICH IDENTIFIES "SMALL EVAPORATIVE LEAK". FIRST TIME, TIGHTENED GAS CAP, BUT DEALER HAD TURNED OFF THE INDICATOR LIGHT WITH THE READER. THIRD OCCURRENCE DEALER SCHEDULED CHECK OF EXHAUST AND CLEAN AIR SYSTEM, ALL TES…

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2005 RUBICON-2480 MILES. ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR THE 8TH TIME. DEALER CHECKED WITH DIGITAL READER WHICH IDENTIFIES "SMALL EVAPORATIVE LEAK". FIRST TIME, TIGHTENED GAS CAP, BUT DEALER HAD TURNED OFF THE INDICATOR LIGHT WITH THE READER. THIRD OCCURRENCE DEALER SCHEDULED CHECK OF EXHAUST AND CLEAN AIR SYSTEM, ALL TESTED FINE. LAST 4 TIMES I DISCONNECTED BATTERY UNTIL LIGHT RESET. DEALER HAS CHANGED HANDS, AND JUST SCHEDULED FOR ANOTHER CHECK, MENTIONED REPLACING GAS CAP. THIS APPEARS TO BE A NUISANCE ISSUE RATHER THAN A SERIOUS DEFECT. I WISH THEY COULD FIX IT ONCE AND FOR ALL. I AM NOT SURE HOW THIS NEW DEALER WILL SUPPORT THE WARRANTY ISSUES. FORMERLY THEY WERE GREAT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10164624

300 miles · Sep 28, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

ODI 10137688 FOLLOW UP KUDOS TO JEEP FOR STANDING BY THEIR PRODUCT, THEY ARE CURRENTLY REPLACING THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND I AM HOPEFUL THIS REMEDIES THE OVERWHELMING EXHAUST SMELL COMING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. HOPE THE PAINT ISSUE GOES AS WELL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10138074

300 miles · Sep 26, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

BOUGHT NEW 2005 JEEP WRANGLER X 8/3/05 TOOK ON TRIP AND SOON WAS OVERWHELMED WITH BUTANE/EXHAUST SMELL IF WINDOWS OR VENT WAS OPEN; EVENTUALLY CAME LEAKING THROUGH AC. SMELL BAD ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU NAUSEOUS WHICH EVENTUALLY BECAME NUMB NOSE/LIPS AND BURNING EYES FOR TWO HOURS AFTER DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS FLUFFED, I…

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BOUGHT NEW 2005 JEEP WRANGLER X 8/3/05 TOOK ON TRIP AND SOON WAS OVERWHELMED WITH BUTANE/EXHAUST SMELL IF WINDOWS OR VENT WAS OPEN; EVENTUALLY CAME LEAKING THROUGH AC. SMELL BAD ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU NAUSEOUS WHICH EVENTUALLY BECAME NUMB NOSE/LIPS AND BURNING EYES FOR TWO HOURS AFTER DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS FLUFFED, I.E., COULD HAVE BEEN A PLASTIC BAG, ONLY SMELL WAS NEW CAR SMELL, ETC., THEY EVEN CLAIMED TO HAVE DRIVEN IT WITH WINDOWS DOWN. THIS WAS IMPOSSIBLE SO I SENT MY HUSBAND THERE AND SERVICE MANAGER EXPERIENCED THE BURNING EYES AND NAUSEA DURING RIDE. CALLED JEEP AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T DISCUSS ANY SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS, REFERRED ME TO DEALERS. 2ND FIX ATTEMPT 9/15/05 @1344 MILES RESULTED IN "NO FAULT CODES IN SYSTEM, PERFORMED FUEL SYSTEM MONITOR TEST READING NOT IN SPECS, EXCESSIVE FUEL THROUGH SYSTEM." CHANGED SOFTWARE, WROTE "ROAD TESTED VEHICLE, HAS SLIGHT RESIDUE ODOR. CAT CONVERTER BAFFLES HAVE SOME INTERIOR FUEL COATING THAT WILL NEED TO BE BURNED OFF. WILL TAKE ABOUT 500 MILES OF DRIVING TO BURN ALL COATING FROM INSIDE OF EXHAUST SYSTEM." I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT "50 MILES". THEY ALSO HAD TO REPAINT THE SPIDERWEB /DEFECT PAINT TO THE TUNE OF $454. BACK IN 9/22/05 @ 1508 MILES AS PAINT WAS DETERIORATING ALL OVER. SENT FOR FULL REPAINT QUOTE ($3353- HAVE TO WAIT FOR JEEP ZONE MGR OK) MPG HAS DECLINED FROM 19 TO 17 AFTER 2ND SERVICE VISIT. TODAY 9/26/05, THE 3RD TRIP IN ON SMELL AFTER AGREEING TO TRY A SHORT TRIP. SAME RESULT/SYMPTOMS; I NEVER WILL GET THE HARD TOP OFF. TOLD SERVICE DO NOT RETURN IT UNTIL THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, SEALS, EXHAUST, WHATEVER, NO LONGER SMELLS. NOW THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STICKS IN THE SPARE TIRE/WAS INOPERABLE, APPARENTLY MANUFACTURER PUT ON THE WRONG BLADE VIA SERVICE. ALSO WAS TOLD THAT I WAS THE ONLY WRANGLER X WITH THE EXHAUST/BUTANE SMELL PROBLEM BUT SEE ANOTHER AS EARLY AS 3/10/05. I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXCUSE I'LL HEAR ON THIS THE 3RD ATTEMPT, BUT WONDER IF SMELL IS CARBON MONOXIDE RELATED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10137688

1,000 miles · Sep 26, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or OtherVisibility

BUTANE EXHAUST SMELL OVERCOMES DRIVER/PASSENGERS MALFUNCTIONING REAR WIPER PAINT FAILING. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10137675

90 miles · Aug 6, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

WHILE TEST DRIVING, AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK, I WAS ASSURED THAT IT WOULD BE FIXED BY TIME OF PICK UP (JULY 11). THE AIR WORKED WHEN I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. AIR CONDITIONING GAVE OUT 2 WEEKS LATER, TOOK IN FOR REPAIR AND THEY SAID THE HOSE WAS CRACKED. WHEN I PICKED IT UP AFTER THE AI…

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WHILE TEST DRIVING, AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK, I WAS ASSURED THAT IT WOULD BE FIXED BY TIME OF PICK UP (JULY 11). THE AIR WORKED WHEN I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. AIR CONDITIONING GAVE OUT 2 WEEKS LATER, TOOK IN FOR REPAIR AND THEY SAID THE HOSE WAS CRACKED. WHEN I PICKED IT UP AFTER THE AIR CONDITIONER REPAIRS, I DIDN'T EVEN LEAVE THE PARKING LOT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 28 DAYS AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 10 DAYS. DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO MAKE RESTITUTION.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10131819

8 miles · Jul 11, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingTires

VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH DRIVABILITY AND SAFETY ISSUES WITH ITS SUSPENSION ALONG WITH GOODYEAR TIRES BEING OUT OF ROUND AND/OR MANUFACTURED WITH INTERNALS NOT CORRECTLY MOLDED IN TIRE.

NHTSA ODI #10128284

Official recalls

1

05V460000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Oct 6, 2005

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 42RLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE CUP PLUG THAT RETAINS THE PARK PAWL ANCHOR SHAFT MAY BE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. IF THE SHAFT MOVES OUT OF POSITION, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE 'PARK' POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL AWAY AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSIONS AND INSTALL A BRACKET TO ENSURE THE PARK PAWL ANCHOR SHAFT IS RETAINED IN THE PROPER POSITION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 28, 2005. OWNERS MAY 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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