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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

Power Train complaints

41 reports
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74,711 miles · Aug 9, 2017
Power TrainFire

THE 2005 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT WAS A TOTAL LOSS AFTER IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND SEVERELY DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT JUST HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED THE DAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE TRANSMISSION ISSUES DESPITE THE NEW TRANSMISSION (INCLUDING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING AND A LOSS OF…

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THE 2005 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT WAS A TOTAL LOSS AFTER IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND SEVERELY DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT JUST HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED THE DAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE TRANSMISSION ISSUES DESPITE THE NEW TRANSMISSION (INCLUDING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING AND A LOSS OF POWER WHILE GOING UPHILL). WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE DRIVER RAN FROM THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THERE WAS A FIRE UNDERNEATH THE CAR - NEAR THE TRANSMISSION PAN. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES WITHIN 2 MINUTES. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. AN INVESTIGATION WILL BE COMPLETED TO DETERMINE IF A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK CAUSED THE FIRE. THE JEEP WRANGLER WAS A RIGHT HAND DRIVE THAT WAS BEING USED ON THE MAIL ROUTE THE DAY THAT THE FIRE OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI #11013992

72,000 miles · Apr 7, 2016
Power Train

VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. THIS STARTED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN TOWN AND NOW ONLY RUNS IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. DIAGNOSTIC CODE P0765 (SHIFT SOLENOID D) IS THE ONLY CODE SHOWING. OTHER (03-05) JEEPS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10854232

75,000 miles · May 18, 2015
Power TrainFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN THE FRONT END AND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE SA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN THE FRONT END AND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE SAFELY AND NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND INFORMED THE FIRE ORIGINATED WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10717036

121,000 miles · May 16, 2015
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

SO WAS DRIVING MY JEEP WHEN I STOPED LOST ALL OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO 0 PRESSURE WHEN ACCERLERATED OIL PRESSURE WENT BACK BUT CONTINUES TO DROP TO 0 WHEN STOPPED I HAVE REPLACE THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH WITH NO CHANGE .I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH MOST 2005 HEEP WRANGLERS SO MY QUESTION IS IS WHEN …

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SO WAS DRIVING MY JEEP WHEN I STOPED LOST ALL OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO 0 PRESSURE WHEN ACCERLERATED OIL PRESSURE WENT BACK BUT CONTINUES TO DROP TO 0 WHEN STOPPED I HAVE REPLACE THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH WITH NO CHANGE .I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH MOST 2005 HEEP WRANGLERS SO MY QUESTION IS IS WHEN IS ENOUGH /ENOUGH WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO RECALL AND DO THE RIGHT THING?

NHTSA ODI #10716863

82,000 miles · May 12, 2015
EnginePower Train

MY JEEP STARTED MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING. THE MORE GAS I GAVE IT THE LOUDER IT GOT AND NOW IT IS UN DRIVABLE DUE TO A DISTRIBUTOR OIL PUMP. BIGGEST PROBLEM IS ALL THE JEEP PARTS PEOPLE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PART IT WAS AND NOW THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY IN THE SYSTEM NOR CAN THEY TELL ME WHEN THEY CAN HAVE ME ONE. THERE IS…

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MY JEEP STARTED MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING. THE MORE GAS I GAVE IT THE LOUDER IT GOT AND NOW IT IS UN DRIVABLE DUE TO A DISTRIBUTOR OIL PUMP. BIGGEST PROBLEM IS ALL THE JEEP PARTS PEOPLE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PART IT WAS AND NOW THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY IN THE SYSTEM NOR CAN THEY TELL ME WHEN THEY CAN HAVE ME ONE. THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS, STAND UP AND DO RIGHT FOR US JEEPERS!

NHTSA ODI #10716055

64,000 miles · Jan 14, 2015
Power Train

THE BUSHING THAT ATTACHES THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER LINKAGE CABLE BROKE AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS RENDERED INOPERABLE. THIS SITUATION HAS HUNDREDS OF INCIDENTS DETAILED ON THE INTERNET AND JEEP SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THE EFFECTED VEHICLES SINCE THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURER PART. CHRYSLER/JEEP IS BE…

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THE BUSHING THAT ATTACHES THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER LINKAGE CABLE BROKE AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS RENDERED INOPERABLE. THIS SITUATION HAS HUNDREDS OF INCIDENTS DETAILED ON THE INTERNET AND JEEP SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THE EFFECTED VEHICLES SINCE THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURER PART. CHRYSLER/JEEP IS BEING DISHONEST WITH CONSUMERS BY SAYING THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THE PROBLEM, YET THE PARTS MANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE AND JEEP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE, IS THE DEFECTIVE SHIFTER TUBE SLEEVE NYLON INSERT THAT CRACKS. THIS IS ALSO WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE JEEP FORUMS. JEEP IS AWARE THAT BOTH PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE FOR OWNERS. PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10672363

80,000 miles · Jun 10, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10516118

51,000 miles · Dec 7, 2012
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE CABLE BROKE. UNABLE TO START VEHICLE WITH TRANSMISSION SELECTED IN EITHER "PARK" OR "NEUTRAL." SHIFT LINKAGE CABLE REPLACED BY DEALER, NOT UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10487681

38,000 miles · Jun 13, 2012
Power Train

AROUND JUNE 2010, I PARKED THE VEHICLE IN A HOSPITAL PARKING LOT. UPON RETURNING TO VEHICLE, SHIFT LEVER JUST FLOPPED BACK AND FORTH. COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. HAD JEEP TOWED TO JEEP DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE SHIFTER CABLE AT A COST OF OVER $300.00. TWO WEEKS AGO, JUNE 2012, WHILE DRIVING, JEEP SHIFTER BROKE AGAIN WHILE L…

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AROUND JUNE 2010, I PARKED THE VEHICLE IN A HOSPITAL PARKING LOT. UPON RETURNING TO VEHICLE, SHIFT LEVER JUST FLOPPED BACK AND FORTH. COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. HAD JEEP TOWED TO JEEP DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE SHIFTER CABLE AT A COST OF OVER $300.00. TWO WEEKS AGO, JUNE 2012, WHILE DRIVING, JEEP SHIFTER BROKE AGAIN WHILE LOCKED IN DRIVE. SAME DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SHIFT CABLE BUSHING. ANOTHER $100. I CALLED JEEP/CHRYSLER AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. FUNNY, SINCE THERE ARE MANY WEBSITES ABOUT THIS VERY, ONGOING, PROBLEM WITH JEEP SHIFTER CABLES. IN MY OPINION, THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THERE IS NO WARNING OF FAILURE. IF IT HAD OCCURRED A DAY PRIOR, I COULD HAVE BEEN BACKING DOWN THE BOAT RAMP! I FEEL A RECALL, OR AT LEAST, A NOTIFICATION TO JEEP OWNERS, SHOULD BE INITIATED BY JEEP/CHRYSLER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10461416

25,000 miles · May 15, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFT LINK FELL OFF AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD TO CLIMB UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO SHIFT IT INTO GEAR; WHERE HE RAN THE RISK OF THE VEHICLE ROLLING OVER HIM. THE DEALER W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFT LINK FELL OFF AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD TO CLIMB UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO SHIFT IT INTO GEAR; WHERE HE RAN THE RISK OF THE VEHICLE ROLLING OVER HIM. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THERE WERE NO RELATED COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY WOULD PAY A PORTION OF THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25000.

NHTSA ODI #10458518

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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