← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

10 reports
Clear category filter
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…

Read full complaint

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

25,000 miles · Sep 26, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I PURCHASED MY JEEP WRANGLER IN JULY OF 2005 BRAND NEW. IN JULY OF 2005 I STARTED EXPERIENCING A VIBRATING WHEN BRAKING AT SPEEDS OF 45MPH AND ABOVE. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A LOCAL TECHNICIAN WHO SAID IF HE HAD TO GUESS HE WOULD ASSUME THE ROTORS HAD 50,000 MILES ON THEM. THE FUNNY THING IS THE ONLY HA…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED MY JEEP WRANGLER IN JULY OF 2005 BRAND NEW. IN JULY OF 2005 I STARTED EXPERIENCING A VIBRATING WHEN BRAKING AT SPEEDS OF 45MPH AND ABOVE. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A LOCAL TECHNICIAN WHO SAID IF HE HAD TO GUESS HE WOULD ASSUME THE ROTORS HAD 50,000 MILES ON THEM. THE FUNNY THING IS THE ONLY HAVE HALF OF THAT AT 25,000 MILES. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIPS ARE CLAIMING THAT THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON THE BRAKES AND THE RECENT RECALL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WRANGLER AND/OR WRANGLER UNLIMITED MODELS, STATING IT ONLY APPLIES TO THE GRAND CHEROKEE EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10204229

11,000 miles · Aug 29, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

IN AUG OF 2005 AT 10,000 MILES I NOTICED A SHUDDER IN THE FRONT END WHEN STOPPING PROCEEDED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID MY ROTORS NEEDED RESURFACING WHICH THEY DID FOR FREE IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY . WITHIN A YEAR IT BEGAN AGAIN SUMMER OF 2006 WITH 35,000 MILES TOTAL ON THE VEHICLE THE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLA…

Read full complaint

IN AUG OF 2005 AT 10,000 MILES I NOTICED A SHUDDER IN THE FRONT END WHEN STOPPING PROCEEDED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID MY ROTORS NEEDED RESURFACING WHICH THEY DID FOR FREE IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY . WITHIN A YEAR IT BEGAN AGAIN SUMMER OF 2006 WITH 35,000 MILES TOTAL ON THE VEHICLE THE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS THE SHUDDER WHEN STOPPING OVER 45 MPH BEGAN AGAIN MY ROTORS WERE WARPED OF COURSE THE WARRANTY IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AFTER 12,000 MILES. NOW ONCE AGAIN AUGUST 2007 I JUST HAD THE ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED AGAIN AT 60,000 MILES . *JB

NHTSA ODI #10201164

10,000 miles · Nov 26, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THERE WAS AN UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING DURING BRAKING MAINLY AT HIGH SPEEDS OF >45 MPH AND SMALL SHAKING AT <45MPH. I KNEW IT WAS THE ROTORS BEING WARPED. THE SHAKING STARTED WHEN THERE WAS ~10000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE SERVICE PLACE AT SUBURBAN CHRYSLER JEEP AND THEY CONFIRMED THE ISSUE WITH THE ROTORS…

Read full complaint

THERE WAS AN UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING DURING BRAKING MAINLY AT HIGH SPEEDS OF >45 MPH AND SMALL SHAKING AT <45MPH. I KNEW IT WAS THE ROTORS BEING WARPED. THE SHAKING STARTED WHEN THERE WAS ~10000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE SERVICE PLACE AT SUBURBAN CHRYSLER JEEP AND THEY CONFIRMED THE ISSUE WITH THE ROTORS BEING OUT OF ROUND. ALTHOUGH THE MILAGE OF MY VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS FIXED WAS ~18000 MILES THEY STILL MACHINED THE ROTORS FREE OF CHARGE. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE 24000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM IS NON EXISTENT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10174358

9,230 miles · Nov 10, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY 2005 JEEP WRANGLER PURCHASED FROM MOOTHART JEEP WAS EXPERIENCING AN UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30-40 MPH. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM, THEY DISMISSED THE ROTORS AS THE CAUSE AND BLAMED MY A…

Read full complaint

MY 2005 JEEP WRANGLER PURCHASED FROM MOOTHART JEEP WAS EXPERIENCING AN UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30-40 MPH. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM, THEY DISMISSED THE ROTORS AS THE CAUSE AND BLAMED MY ALL-TERRAIN TIRES (WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE CAR) AND STATED THAT MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE OF THESE NEW TIRES. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ANYWAY AND THEY BLAMED STABILIZER. THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE REPLACED THE STABILIZER UNDER WARRANTY (OUT OF COURTESY). WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR AND TRIED TO DRIVE IT HOME, THE CAR WAS SHAKING WORSE THAN WHEN IT CAME IN ON THE TOW TRUCK. I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO TOLD ME THAT THE TIRES WERE TOO HEAVY FOR THE CAR. I INQUIRED ABOUT WHY A 4-WHEEL DRIVE OFF-VEHICLE CAR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE ALL-TERRAIN TIRES. HE HAD NO LOGICAL ANSWER FOR ME. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC (WHO SPECIALIZES IN TIRES) TO CHECK THE TIRES AND ANYTHING THAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS. THEY ULTIMATELY FIXED THE DEFECTIVE ROTOR, AND THE CARS RUNS FINE. HE TOLD ME THAT THE TIRES WERE FINE; IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS. DURING THIS PROCESS, I CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY TOLD ME ALL SERVICE PROBLEMS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THAT PARTICULAR DEALERSHIP. I INFORMED THEM THAT I HAD ALREADY SPOKE TO HIM AND HE REFUSED TO ATTRIBUTE THE PROBLEM TO ANYTHING ELSE BUT THE TIRES. THEY GAVE ME INFORMATION REGARDING THE LEMON LAWS IN CALIFORNIA. THE CAR HAD ONLY 9,303 MILES WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AND ONLY 1.5 YEARS OLD. THE VEHICLE CAME WITH A 7-YEAR WARRANTY, BUT THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE ROTORS ON THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10173158

26,474 miles · Nov 1, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY 2005 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED BEGAN HAVING AN INTERMITTENT SQUEAK THIS SUMMER. AT THE END OF OCTOBER THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED AND THAT THIS ITEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 26,000 MILES AND I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS THIS EARLY IN OT…

Read full complaint

MY 2005 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED BEGAN HAVING AN INTERMITTENT SQUEAK THIS SUMMER. AT THE END OF OCTOBER THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED AND THAT THIS ITEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 26,000 MILES AND I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS THIS EARLY IN OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED. I CALLED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE LINE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10172402

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

2005 JEEP WRANGLER FRONT BRAKES WERE SEVERELY WORN AND BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACING. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *JB

NHTSA ODI #10150806

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 9/11/05. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE IN A HARD MANOR, BUT SINCE THE BRAKE IS VERY CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL, MY FOOT WAS HALF ON THE GAS AND HALF ON THE BRAKE. THE JEEP TOOK OFF AS I APPLIED MORE PRESSURE. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE JEEP, I SLAMMED INTO A WOOD FENCE, THEN INTO A PARKED CAR. CAUSING MAJOR…

Read full complaint

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 9/11/05. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE IN A HARD MANOR, BUT SINCE THE BRAKE IS VERY CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL, MY FOOT WAS HALF ON THE GAS AND HALF ON THE BRAKE. THE JEEP TOOK OFF AS I APPLIED MORE PRESSURE. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE JEEP, I SLAMMED INTO A WOOD FENCE, THEN INTO A PARKED CAR. CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE. THIS IS VERY POOR DESIGN BY CHRYSLER AND DANGEROUS, LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. CHECK THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10136229

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL TO CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER. WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE THIS WEEKEND. MY SHOE GOT STUCK BETWEEN THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND HIT ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE CAUSING OVER $3600 IN REPAIRS TO THE PARKED CAR, THE ESTIMATED DAMAGE…

Read full complaint

GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL TO CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER. WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE THIS WEEKEND. MY SHOE GOT STUCK BETWEEN THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND HIT ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE CAUSING OVER $3600 IN REPAIRS TO THE PARKED CAR, THE ESTIMATED DAMAGE TO MY CAR IS THE SAME. HAVE THERE BEEN PREVIOUS SAFETY ISSUES?*JB

NHTSA ODI #10136199

1,132 miles · Apr 26, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

NOTICED CAR WAS PULLING TO ONE SIDE. THEN, I CALLED DEALER TO REPORT IT. THEY LOOKED AT CAR AND FOUND NOTHING TODAY, I WAS PUTTING A TOW HOOK ON THE REAR END AND NOTICED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING , NOT REALLY BAD BUT NOTICEABLE TO ANYONE WITH EYES THAT CAN SEE A FEW INCHES IN FRONT OF FACE. DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DRUM WAS LEAK…

Read full complaint

NOTICED CAR WAS PULLING TO ONE SIDE. THEN, I CALLED DEALER TO REPORT IT. THEY LOOKED AT CAR AND FOUND NOTHING TODAY, I WAS PUTTING A TOW HOOK ON THE REAR END AND NOTICED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING , NOT REALLY BAD BUT NOTICEABLE TO ANYONE WITH EYES THAT CAN SEE A FEW INCHES IN FRONT OF FACE. DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DRUM WAS LEAKING SIZE OF DOLLAR BILL UP TO DOLLAR SIZE ACROSS GIVE OR TAKE A HALF OF ONE TO FILL IN GAPS. 2. CAR PULLED TO ONE SIDE HARD WHEN BRAKING 3. WAS PUT ON WAITING LIST TO RESOLVE ISSUE ONLY CAR FOR ME MY WIFE HAS A PT BUT SHE USES IT FOR WORK WHEN I NEED A CAR SO THEY REALLY DON'T CARE MUCH ABOUT IT WHICH MIGHT FAIL SOON TOO. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10118513

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.

Go deeper into Jeep Wrangler problems