BETWEEN 50 AND 60 MPH THE FRONT OF VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *NM
2006 Jeep Wrangler
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Wrangler years
Owner complaints for the 2006 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
624 reports with mileage · 106 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 355 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 118 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 86 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
730 reportsI WAS DRIVING MY 2006 JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON (11,000 MILES) ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN IT TOTALLY LOST POWER. IT LITERALLY SHUT DOWN. I WAS ABLE COAST TO THE CENTER MEDIUM. (THIS HAD HAPPENED JUST 4 DAYS BEFORE ALSO) I WAS ALMOST IN A CRASH AS I TRIED TO COAST TO A SAFE PLACE. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR UP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, …
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I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON (11,000 MILES) ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN IT TOTALLY LOST POWER. IT LITERALLY SHUT DOWN. I WAS ABLE COAST TO THE CENTER MEDIUM. (THIS HAD HAPPENED JUST 4 DAYS BEFORE ALSO) I WAS ALMOST IN A CRASH AS I TRIED TO COAST TO A SAFE PLACE. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR UP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I BOUGHT THE JEEP TO A JEEP DEALERSHIP NEAR BY. THEY PUT THE CAR ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, AND ON THE RACK TO CHECK IT, AND TOLD ME EVERYTHING CAME OUT FINE, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT IS A VERY VERY DANGEROUS CAR TO DRIVE. IT IS LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD AND UNDER WARRANTY. *JB
AFTER APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. PROBLEM IS VERY APPARENT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD, BUT STILL NOTICEABLE AFTER THE VEHICLE WARMS UP. WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND, IT FEELS AS IF SECOND GEAR IS NOT FULLY SYNCHRONIZED. IF IT IS DONE AT A NORMAL SHIFT…
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AFTER APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. PROBLEM IS VERY APPARENT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD, BUT STILL NOTICEABLE AFTER THE VEHICLE WARMS UP. WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND, IT FEELS AS IF SECOND GEAR IS NOT FULLY SYNCHRONIZED. IF IT IS DONE AT A NORMAL SHIFT RATE IT ACTUALLY CLIPS SECOND GEAR (AND MAKES AN ASSOCIATED CLIPPING/GRINDING NOISE). PAUSING IN NEUTRAL AND RESTING THE SHIFTER AGAINST SECOND, YOU CAN ACTUALLY FEEL TWO OR THREE GEAR TEETH GO BY BEFORE IT WILL DROP INTO GEAR. TO GET IT TO SHIFT SMOOTHLY WITHOUT CLIPPING GEAR TEETH REQUIRES A LONG ENOUGH DELAY IN NEUTRAL THAT FOLLOWING TRAFFIC ALMOST REAR ENDS THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER IS ESSENTIALLY FACED WITH THE DECISION OF DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION OR RISKING GETTING REAR ENDED. DOUBLE CLUTCHING THE VEHICLE HELPS, BUT OBVIOUSLY SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED FOR A FULLY SYNCHRONIZED TRANSMISSION. TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER AT 1164 MILES AND 1306 MILES, BUT THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS CLAIM THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY ADJUSTED AND LUBRICATED THE LINKAGE AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE MANAGER AND ANOTHER DEALER EMPLOYEE WHO DROVE THE VEHICLE HAVE NOTICED THAT SECOND GEAR DOESN'T FEEL THE SAME AS OTHER WRANGLERS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE ALSO HAD SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THEY AGREE THAT THE TRANSMISSION ISN'T SHIFTING CORRECTLY. I AM SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN AGAIN FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT VIA PHONE THE DEALER DOESN'T APPEAR TO HAVE AN IDENTIFIED CAUSE OR FIX. VEHICLE IS NOW AT APPROXIMATELY 1600 MILES AND PROBLEM IS STILL VERY APPARENT, IF NOT WORSE. THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO ODI ID NUMBER : 10156374 & 10160948. *NM
MY 2006 "TRAIL RATED" JEEP WRANGLER SE SUFFERS FROM CHEAP QUALITY, PAPER-THIN, SHEET METAL FRONT FENDERS THAT BEND FROM ROCKS THROWN FROM THE WORTHLESS GOODYEAR WRANGLER STREET-TREADED, PEBBLE THROWING TIRES!! CHEAP QUALITY!! MY JEEP HAS 8,400 EASY DRIVEN MILES, BUT NOW HAS DENTED FENDERS WITH CRACKED PAINT FINISH AND PAINT F…
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MY 2006 "TRAIL RATED" JEEP WRANGLER SE SUFFERS FROM CHEAP QUALITY, PAPER-THIN, SHEET METAL FRONT FENDERS THAT BEND FROM ROCKS THROWN FROM THE WORTHLESS GOODYEAR WRANGLER STREET-TREADED, PEBBLE THROWING TIRES!! CHEAP QUALITY!! MY JEEP HAS 8,400 EASY DRIVEN MILES, BUT NOW HAS DENTED FENDERS WITH CRACKED PAINT FINISH AND PAINT FLAKING!! I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A TOYOTA INSTEAD OF A "TRAIL RATED" JEEP THAT ISN'T "GRAVEL ROAD RATED"! *JB
ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN A BRAND NEW VEHICLE, ONCE AT 6K MILES AND AGAIN AT 11K MILES, BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS/SHAKING/PULSATING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT SPEEDS OF 50 - 55 MPH. PROBLEM CONTINUES TO REOCCUR AND ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED A THIRD TIME. VEHICLE NOW HAS 15K MILES. *NM
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING 2006 WRANGLER CLUTCH PEDAL PUSHROD. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING AN APPOINTMENT FROM THE DEALER THAT WAS CLOSEST TO HIM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FRO SOME WHERE ELSE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALER THE WAS 50 MILES AWAY TO GET THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED. *JB
BETWEEN THE SPEED 50 AND 60 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES ARE USED THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY. I HAVE HAD 2 NEW SETS OF ROTORS PUT ON THE CAR AND THE ROTORS RE-CUT TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *JB
THREE MONTH OLD JEEP WRANGLER WITH 6 SPEED. AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A FEW HOURS, REGARDLESS OF OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE, THE FIRST SEVERAL 1-2 SHIFTS UPON DRIVING IT AGAIN EXHIBIT A LOUD GRINDING SOUND WHICH CAN ALSO BE FELT THROUGH THE SHIFTER. THE TRANSMISSION IS RELUCTANT TO COME OUT OF FIRST GEAR. IT HAS TO BE PULLED…
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THREE MONTH OLD JEEP WRANGLER WITH 6 SPEED. AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A FEW HOURS, REGARDLESS OF OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE, THE FIRST SEVERAL 1-2 SHIFTS UPON DRIVING IT AGAIN EXHIBIT A LOUD GRINDING SOUND WHICH CAN ALSO BE FELT THROUGH THE SHIFTER. THE TRANSMISSION IS RELUCTANT TO COME OUT OF FIRST GEAR. IT HAS TO BE PULLED OUT OF GEAR INSTEAD OF JUST SLIDING OUT. IT THEN FEELS LIKE IT BOUNCES OFF OF SECOND GEAR, REQUIRING ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE SECOND. WHEN I FIRST GOT THE VEHICLE, IT ACTUALLY FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO FLUID IN THE TRANSMISSION. SHIFTING BECOMES MUCH SMOOTHER, I.E. NORMAL, ONCE IT HAS BEEN RUN FOR A FEW MILES, ALTHOUGH I DO FEEL IT OCCASIONALLY EVEN AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE. DEALER ROAD TESTED THE VEHICLE AND SAYS IT IS "O.K. AT THIS TIME." THIS CONDITION MAY HAVE SOME SAFETY RAMIFICATIONS IN ADDITION TO THE TRANSMISSION LONGEVITY ISSUES. FIRST GEAR IN THIS VEHICLE IS VERY LOW. I ONLY USE IT TO START ROLLING A LITTLE BIT AND THEN QUICKLY TRY TO ENGAGE SECOND. HOWEVER, I AM SO CONSCIOUS OF THE DIFFICULTY OF THIS 1-2 SHIFT THAT I EXECUTE IT VERY SLOWLY, ALL THE WHILE CRINGING AT HE THOUGHT OF THE DAMAGE I AM DOING TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE RPM'S DROP OFF SO MUCH DURING THE TIME OF THIS SHIFT THAT THERE IS LITTLE POWER AVAILABLE ONCE I ACTUALLY ENGAGE SECOND, RESULTING IN LEISURELY ACCELERATION AT BEST. ON TWO OCCASIONS ALREADY, THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME HAVE BLOWN THEIR HORNS AND NEARLY RUN UP MY BACK BECAUSE, I BELIEVE, THEY MUST HAVE THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO STOP INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE. IT IS GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE, IF THE ROAD IS LEVEL, I TAKE OFF USING SECOND GEAR INSTEAD OF FIRST UNTIL I HAVE TRAVELED SEVERAL MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO BEHAVE NORMALLY. I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS FOR 20 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN TALL GRASS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. UPON INSPECTION THE EXHAUST HEADERS WERE OBSERVED HANGING DOWN TOO LOW. AS A MECHANIC, THE CONTACT RECOMMENDED THAT A PROTECTIVE PLATE BE INSTALL TO COVER THE EXHAUST. THIS VEHICLE IS AN OFF THE ROAD VEHICLE. THE MODEL NAME IS RUBICON. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 06/01/06 THE VEHICLE'S DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT, WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH ON A CLEAR NIGHT. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE FUSE IMMEDIATELY AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED HOWEVER THE…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 06/01/06 THE VEHICLE'S DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT, WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH ON A CLEAR NIGHT. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE FUSE IMMEDIATELY AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED HOWEVER THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED. ON 06/21/06, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE REPLACEMENT HOWEVER THE REPLACEMENT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD NOT BEEN ORDERED. THE DEALER ALERTED THE CONTACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONDUCTING MORE TESTS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS BECAUSE THERE WERE SEVERAL VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
Official recalls
315V222000 · Power Train:clutch Assembly:pedal/hand Lever(motorcycle)
Apr 15, 2015
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2006 Dodge Viper and Jeep Wrangler and Liberty vehicles manufactured July 1, 2005, to July 31, 2006. In the affected vehicles, the springs within the clutch pedal position switch that prevents the vehicle from starting unless the clutch pedal is pushed down may break. As a result, the vehicle may not be started when the clutch pedal is pushed down or the engine may crank and start without the clutch pedal being pushed down causing the vehicle to unexpectedly lurch.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the vehicle unexpectedly moves there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clutch ignition interlock switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R13.
06V147000 · Power Train:clutch Assembly
May 3, 2006
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER LINKAGE ROD MAY BREAK. THIS MAY NOT ALLOW DISENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH WHEN THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNINTENTIONAL VEHICLE MOVEMENT, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND ENGINE STALLING COULD OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER LINKAGE ROD FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 7, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
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
1PE06015 · Clutch Linkage Failure
Opened Apr 20, 2006 · Closed Jun 13, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:clutch Assembly; Power Train:clutch Assembly:pedal/hand Lever(motorcycle)
ON MAY 2, 2006 DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) SUBMITTED TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) A PART 573 REPORT ADVISING THAT CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES WOULD BE VOLUNTARILY REC ALLED TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH LINKAGE COMPONENT.THE RECALL ACTION IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NO. 06V147 (DCC NO. F22).THE LINKAGE ROD BETWEEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER CAN BREAK WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED; LINKAGE ROD FAILURE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS RESULTS IN IMMEDIATE ENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH AND RENDERS THE CLUTCH PEDAL INEFFECTIVE THEREAFTER .THE 6,876 MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ACTION WERE ALL MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 11/3/2005 AND 2/13/2006.DCC WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE LINKAGE WITH A COMPONENT OF A PREVIOUS DESIGN LEVEL WHICH HAS NOT EXPERIENCED FIELD FAILURE.THE TIMING OF DCC'S ACTION HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS CLOSED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:clutch Assembly
ON MAY 2, 2006 DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) SUBMITTED TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) A PART 573 REPORT ADVISING THAT CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES WOULD BE VOLUNTARILY REC ALLED TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH LINKAGE COMPONENT.THE RECALL ACTION IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NO. 06V147 (DCC NO. F22).THE LINKAGE ROD BETWEEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER CAN BREAK WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED; LINKAGE ROD FAILURE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS RESULTS IN IMMEDIATE ENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH AND RENDERS THE CLUTCH PEDAL INEFFECTIVE THEREAFTER .THE 6,876 MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ACTION WERE ALL MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 11/3/2005 AND 2/13/2006.DCC WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE LINKAGE WITH A COMPONENT OF A PREVIOUS DESIGN LEVEL WHICH HAS NOT EXPERIENCED FIELD FAILURE.THE TIMING OF DCC'S ACTION HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS CLOSED.
Power Train:clutch Assembly:pedal/hand Lever(motorcycle)
ON MAY 2, 2006 DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) SUBMITTED TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) A PART 573 REPORT ADVISING THAT CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES WOULD BE VOLUNTARILY REC ALLED TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH LINKAGE COMPONENT.THE RECALL ACTION IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NO. 06V147 (DCC NO. F22).THE LINKAGE ROD BETWEEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER CAN BREAK WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED; LINKAGE ROD FAILURE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS RESULTS IN IMMEDIATE ENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH AND RENDERS THE CLUTCH PEDAL INEFFECTIVE THEREAFTER .THE 6,876 MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ACTION WERE ALL MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 11/3/2005 AND 2/13/2006.DCC WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE LINKAGE WITH A COMPONENT OF A PREVIOUS DESIGN LEVEL WHICH HAS NOT EXPERIENCED FIELD FAILURE.THE TIMING OF DCC'S ACTION HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS CLOSED.
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