IllustrationKeep wobble almost caused head on collision afraid to drive vehicle over 55 mph
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Wrangler years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1010–25K
16425–50K
15650–75K
6775–100K
33100–150K
12150K+
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
Suspension complaints
51 reportsMY WRANGLER HAS SEVER RUST DAMAGE ON THE FRAME, WINDSHIELD FRAME, PASSENGER ROCKER, AND FIREWALL. THE FRAME HAS ROTTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND CAUSED THE TRANSFER CASE MOUNTING BOLTS TO PULL THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT LUCKILY I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY HEADED TO WORK. T…
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MY WRANGLER HAS SEVER RUST DAMAGE ON THE FRAME, WINDSHIELD FRAME, PASSENGER ROCKER, AND FIREWALL. THE FRAME HAS ROTTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND CAUSED THE TRANSFER CASE MOUNTING BOLTS TO PULL THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT LUCKILY I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY HEADED TO WORK. THE WINDSHIELD FRAME RUST CAUSED HOLES THAT ALLOWED WATER TO LEAK INSIDE THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE FLOOR TO RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT AS WELL. THESE ISSUES CONTINUE TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH EACH NEW REVISION TO THIS MODEL. WHEN AND WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE COMPANY TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR NEGLIGENCE?
AT 45-50 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY. IT HAS THE "DEATH WOBBLE".
JEEP DEATH WOBBLE - MINE TOO, OVER 50 MPH, RANDOM WOBBLE OTHER TIMES DRIVES SMOOTH, BUMPS DO INITIATE IT NOT ALWAYS THOUGH, READ ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA, STABILIZER IS KEY TO RESOLVING THE ISSUE AND STEERING DAMPER. I BELIEVE THIS DESIGN PROMOTES ACCELERATED WEAR OF THESE PARTS WHICH IS WHY THERE ARE REPORTS OF IT COMING BAC…
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JEEP DEATH WOBBLE - MINE TOO, OVER 50 MPH, RANDOM WOBBLE OTHER TIMES DRIVES SMOOTH, BUMPS DO INITIATE IT NOT ALWAYS THOUGH, READ ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA, STABILIZER IS KEY TO RESOLVING THE ISSUE AND STEERING DAMPER. I BELIEVE THIS DESIGN PROMOTES ACCELERATED WEAR OF THESE PARTS WHICH IS WHY THERE ARE REPORTS OF IT COMING BACK AFTER A YEAR OR SO. I'M SURPRISED THERE IS NO DEALER FIX FOR THIS, ADMITTING THE NEED FOR HEAVIER STEERING COMPONENTS. I'LL BE GETTING AFTER MARKET HEAVY DUTY JUST TO DRIVE ON THE STREET. THE FUEL ISSUE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED, HAD TO GO THROUGH 300 PLUS ENTRIES HERE TO FIND ANSWERS TO THE OPDA PROBLEM. MINE HAS NOT STARTED WITH THE FUEL ISSUE BUT AT LEAST I WILL KNOW WHAT IT IS WHEN IT DOES OCCUR.
WHILE IN MOTION ON A COUNTRY ROAD, COMMING OUT OF SOME TURNS THE FRONT END/STEARING SUDDENLY BEGAN SHAKING HARD RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO SWERVE UNTIL HITTING AN ENBANKMENT AND ROLLING MULTIPLE TIMES.
THE DEATH WOBBLE AT APPROX 60-65 MPH/ REPAIRED STEERING STABILIZER/FRONT AXEL JOINT/ RIGHT OUTER PITMAN ADJUSTMENT SLEEVE/ LEFT HAND STEERING ARM TO CONNECTING TIE ROD/ LEFT INNER TO LH ADJUSTMENT SLEEVE/ ALIGNMENT, REPAIRS COST $675, HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND STILL SHIMMIES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND DRIVING OVER A BUMP, THE FRONT TWO WHEELS STARTED TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SWAY BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFAC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND DRIVING OVER A BUMP, THE FRONT TWO WHEELS STARTED TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SWAY BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
VIOLENT FRONT END VIBRATION / WOBBLING KNOWN AS "DEATH WOBBLE". *TR
I'VE ENCOUNTERED THE TERM OF THE DEATH WOBBLE IN THE JEEP I PURCHASED. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS SOME KIND OF RECALL ON THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES. I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE JEEP AND HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT MUCH. TRYING TO FIX PROBLEMS BUT IT WILL BE EXPENSIVE. *TR
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-65 MPH, THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE UP AND DOWN UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE FAILURE TO CEASE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SPECULATED THAT THE STEERING STABILI…
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TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-65 MPH, THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE UP AND DOWN UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE FAILURE TO CEASE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SPECULATED THAT THE STEERING STABILIZER, BALL JOINTS, BRAKES, OR CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
Official recalls
105V460000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.