IllustrationVEHICLE 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.
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
What owners actually said
650 reportsNEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER RE: OIL PUMP FAILURES, BUT A RECALL EXISTED ON THIS VEHICLE. NOTICE WAS APARENTLY SENT IN MARCH 2005 TO OWNERS, BUT NOTHING WAS EVER RECEIVED. RECALL WAS PERFORMED AFTER I LEARNED ABOUT IT FROM A THIRD PARTY.
2005 JEEP WRANGLER PURCHASED 4/13. ON 4/12 TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON IN TRAFFIC, VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT GEAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) IN SHOP FOR PAST 8 DAYS. DEALER STATES POSSIBLE BAD SEALS. LESS THAN 600 MILES ON VEHICLE. ALSO VEHICLE SOLD WITHOUT RECALL WORK BEING COMPLETED ON VEHICLE, VEHICLE…
Read full complaint
2005 JEEP WRANGLER PURCHASED 4/13. ON 4/12 TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON IN TRAFFIC, VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT GEAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) IN SHOP FOR PAST 8 DAYS. DEALER STATES POSSIBLE BAD SEALS. LESS THAN 600 MILES ON VEHICLE. ALSO VEHICLE SOLD WITHOUT RECALL WORK BEING COMPLETED ON VEHICLE, VEHICLE IS NOW PENDING RECALL WORK ON CAMSHAFT AND OIL PUMP.
TIRE INFLATION SPECIFICATION LABEL SHOWS INCORRECT TIRE PRESSURE FOR 30 INCH WHEEL GROUP.
ACCELARATOR PEDAL FELT NOTCHY AND STUCK DOWN UPON DELIVERY. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS VEHICLE TYPE. HOWEVER, UPON INSPECTION CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE'S CARPET WAS PROTRUDING, OBSTRUCTING THE PEDAL. CARPET NEEDED TO BE SECURED IN ORDER TO PREVENT FURTHER OBSTRUCTION.
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
I WAS BACKING UP AT NIGHT ON A STEEP CURVED DRIVEWAY. MY FRONT WHEELS WENT OVER THE CURB. WITH THE FRONT WHEELS OVER THE CURB, I ELECTED TO GO FORWARD OVER THE CURVE AND DOWN THE GRADE. THE BODY CLEARED THE CURB, AND I SLOWLY NEGOTIATED GOING FORWARD OVER THE CURB. THE REAR WHEELS CLEARED, AND WHEN THEY DID THE CAR BOUNCED. I …
Read full complaint
I WAS BACKING UP AT NIGHT ON A STEEP CURVED DRIVEWAY. MY FRONT WHEELS WENT OVER THE CURB. WITH THE FRONT WHEELS OVER THE CURB, I ELECTED TO GO FORWARD OVER THE CURVE AND DOWN THE GRADE. THE BODY CLEARED THE CURB, AND I SLOWLY NEGOTIATED GOING FORWARD OVER THE CURB. THE REAR WHEELS CLEARED, AND WHEN THEY DID THE CAR BOUNCED. I HEARD THE REAR BUMPER HIT THE CURB. THE RESULTING BOUNCE CAUSED THE BUMPER TO COME UP AND CRIMP THE CORNER PANELS OF THE BODY, WORSE ON THE LEFT THAN THE RIGHT. THE ACTION ALSO CRACKED THE FIBER GLASS ROOF ON THE RIGHT. NONE OF THE UNDER CAR WAS DAMAGED. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE MARK ON THE TAIL PIPE EITHER. NOTE THAT THIS WAS SIMPLY GOING OVER A CURB IN A VEHICLE LISTED AS TRAIL RATED. THE MECHANIC AT THE BODY SHOP SPECULATES THAT EITHER THE BUSHING CONNECTING THE BUMPER TO THE FRAME IS INADEQUATE OR THE EXTENDED LENGTH OF THE JEEP UNLIMITED MAKES TO TOO FLEXIBLE; IT LACKS A CENTRAL SUPPORT.*AK
PURCHASED 2005 WRANGLER RUBICON UNLIMITED ON JANUARY 14TH RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR STEERING SHUDDER AND AWFUL FRONT END HANDLING ON JANUARY 17TH AND DEALERSHIP FOUND BAD STEERING STABILIZER FROM THE FACTORY.*AK
4-WD LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER STATES THAT THEY DID TEST THE VEH AND SAID THAT THE COMPUTER HAS TO BE REPLACED. VEH. HAS LESS THEN 800 MILES ON IT. *AK
2005 JEEP WRANGLER X MODEL HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON 20 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE AS A NEW VEHICLE. ALSO, OVERWHELMING SMELL COMPARABLE TO BUTANE PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE DURING LONGER DRIVES AND ACCELERATING. JEEP WAS SERVICED 14MAR05, LIGHT IS OFF BUT SMELL STILL PERSISTS. WAS TOLD IT COULD BE COATING ON PARTS OF ENGINE OR…
Read full complaint
2005 JEEP WRANGLER X MODEL HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON 20 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE AS A NEW VEHICLE. ALSO, OVERWHELMING SMELL COMPARABLE TO BUTANE PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE DURING LONGER DRIVES AND ACCELERATING. JEEP WAS SERVICED 14MAR05, LIGHT IS OFF BUT SMELL STILL PERSISTS. WAS TOLD IT COULD BE COATING ON PARTS OF ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION BURNING OFF, BUT CAR IS WELL OUTSIDE OF BREAK-IN PERIOD WITH ABOUT 2,000 MILES ON IT. DEALERSHIP WHERE SERVICED CALLED TO SAY THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT BACK SEVERAL DAYS LATER DUE TO A CODE THAT CAME UP ON THE DIAGNOSTICS. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING SERVICED AGAIN.*AK
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.