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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

Visibility complaints

5 reports
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35,000 miles · Jan 3, 2008
Visibility

I HAVE A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND IT IS THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD. ON DECEMBER 13, 2007 THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THERE WERE TWO CRACKS (POSSIBLY INITIATED FROM ONE POINT BELOW THE MOLDING). THE CRACKS STARTED ON THE BOTTOM JUST OFF CENTER AND WENT UP ABOUT TWO INCHES AND THEN CURVED 90 DEG…

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I HAVE A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND IT IS THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD. ON DECEMBER 13, 2007 THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THERE WERE TWO CRACKS (POSSIBLY INITIATED FROM ONE POINT BELOW THE MOLDING). THE CRACKS STARTED ON THE BOTTOM JUST OFF CENTER AND WENT UP ABOUT TWO INCHES AND THEN CURVED 90 DEGREES AND WENT HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THE JEEP WARRANTY BOOK SAYS IT COVERS DEFECTS IN THE GLASS FOR ONE YEAR OR 12,000 MILES. SINCE MY JEEP WAS PAST THIS POINT MY INSURANCE COVERED IT. THEY HAD SAFELITE AUTOGLASS PUT IN A NEW WINDSHIELD ON DECEMBER 27, 2007. SIX DAYS LATER' ON JANUARY 2, 2008 ON MY WAY TO WORK THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD WAS LESS THAN ONE WEEK OLD! THIS TIME THERE WERE THREE CRACKS. ONE WENT STRAIGHT UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD TO THE TOP, MOLDING TO MOLDING. THE OTHER TWO WERE SIMILAR TO THE FIRST TIME. THEY BEGAN AT THE BOTTOM, WENT UP TWO INCHES AND TURNED 90 DEGREES AND BECAME HORIZONTAL CRACKS. THE CRACKS COULD HAVE INITIATED FROM A SINGLE POINT BELOW THE MOLDING. THIS TIME THE CRACKS STARTED MORE TOWARD THE CENTER, ABOUT 4 INCHES CLOSER TO THE DRIVER SIDE THAN THE FIRST CRACKED WINDSHIELD. THE AUTO GLASS TECHNICIAN SAID THAT CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ARE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH JEEP WRANGLERS. I HAVE READ ONLINE FORUMS AND A LOT OF JEEP OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. ALSO, A CO-WORKER HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HIS JEEP. HE WENT THROUGH 2 WINDSHIELDS IN 3 YEARS. IT SOUNDS LIKE A SYSTEMATIC SAFETY ISSUE WITH JEEP WRANGLERS. I HOPE THAT JEEP WILL CORRECT THIS QUALITY DEFICIENCY BEFORE ANYONE GETS HURT. I CALLED THE JEEP CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T CORRECT THEIR DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. IF THE WINDSHIELD CRACKS OR 'SPIDER WEBS' WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THIS ISSUE COULD LEAD TO A SEVERE ACCIDENT AND/OR DEATH IF IT HASN'T ALREADY.*CN

NHTSA ODI #10213581

36,500 miles · Aug 21, 2007
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility

WIRING OVERHEATING AND MELTING BLOWER MOTOR FAN SWITCH AT 36,500 MILES. WIRING OVERHEATING AND MELTING MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FOR TURN SIGNALS, HEADLAMPS, HAZARDS, ETC... AT 37,800 MILES. UNKNOWN CAUSE FOR EITHER FAILURE. REPLACED BLOWER MOTOR CONTROL SWITCH ASSEMBLY AFTER FAILURE MYSELF AS IT WAS ONLY $25 USD AND 10 MINUTES TIME.…

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WIRING OVERHEATING AND MELTING BLOWER MOTOR FAN SWITCH AT 36,500 MILES. WIRING OVERHEATING AND MELTING MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FOR TURN SIGNALS, HEADLAMPS, HAZARDS, ETC... AT 37,800 MILES. UNKNOWN CAUSE FOR EITHER FAILURE. REPLACED BLOWER MOTOR CONTROL SWITCH ASSEMBLY AFTER FAILURE MYSELF AS IT WAS ONLY $25 USD AND 10 MINUTES TIME. NOW THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IS DOING THE SAME - MELTING AND CAUSING HEADLAMPS TO FAIL. IS THERE A VOLTAGE CONTROL PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO CAUSE THESE FAILURES? WILL THE REPLACED PARTS FAIL AGAIN? WILL A FIRE RESULT THE NEXT TIME? *TR UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10200395

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2006
Visibility

REAR PLASTIC WINDOW CRACKED IN COLD WEATHER. TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND PLASTIC WINDOWS CANNOT BE TOUCHED IN COLD WEATHER. NOTHING IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THIS POLICY. DEALER ADVISED NOT TO REMOVE SNOW/ICE, BRUSH WINDOW, TOUCH WINDOW, OR CONTACT WINDOW WITH WATER IN COLD WEATHER. DEALER EMPLOYEE STATED…

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REAR PLASTIC WINDOW CRACKED IN COLD WEATHER. TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND PLASTIC WINDOWS CANNOT BE TOUCHED IN COLD WEATHER. NOTHING IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THIS POLICY. DEALER ADVISED NOT TO REMOVE SNOW/ICE, BRUSH WINDOW, TOUCH WINDOW, OR CONTACT WINDOW WITH WATER IN COLD WEATHER. DEALER EMPLOYEE STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT TOUCH A PLASTIC WINDOW UNLESS THEY WARM THE PLASTIC UP FIRST. JEEP WILL NOT REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY, STATING ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD IN NOT BEING ABLE TO WASH VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER OR REMOVE SNOW/ICE. THIS LEAVES NO VISIBILITY OUT OF REAR WINDOW. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10175346

900 miles · Mar 9, 2006
Power TrainVisibility

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GEARS WHICH OCCURS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. WHILE THE SHIFTER WAS IN FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE IT SLIPPED TO NEUTRAL. THERE WAS A WHIRLING NOISE PRESENT WHEN THE SHIFTER WAS IN REVERSE AND A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE OTHER GEARS. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GEARS WHICH OCCURS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. WHILE THE SHIFTER WAS IN FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE IT SLIPPED TO NEUTRAL. THERE WAS A WHIRLING NOISE PRESENT WHEN THE SHIFTER WAS IN REVERSE AND A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE OTHER GEARS. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED A SECOND TIME. THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE GEAR LEAKAGES AND DETERMINED THE TAB ON THE FAN BLOWER HAD BROKEN AND WAS CAUSING THE WHIRLING NOISE. THE BLOWER FAN IS GOING TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10152270

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

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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