Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Jeep Wrangler 2-Dr 4X4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES AND BURNT TO THE GROUND.THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY TRANSMISSION FLUID BOILING OUT OF A VENT AND HITTING THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE
WHILE TURNING RIGHT FROM A STOP SIGN ON TO A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH 55 MILE AN HOUR SPEED LIMIT I BEGAN TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC WHEN SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF FIRST GEAR CAUSING A LOUD BANGING AND SHIFTIER VIOLENTLY JUMPING BACKWARDS OUT OF MY HAND AND CAUSING MY JEEP TO STOP ACCELERATING ONLY A FEW FEET FROM THE STOP SIGN AND INTO TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY GET THE TRANSMISSION BACK INTO FIRST GEAR AND MERGE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS AND NEVER COULD I GET IT TO HAPPEN WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN TO GET SERVICED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE MORE I DROVE THE JEEP THE MORE OFTEN THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR, UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2018 WHEN IT WOULD JUMP OUT OF GEAR ALMOST EVERY TIME I STARTED FROM A DEAD STOP. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE ANYWHERE WITHOUT BEING NERVOUS THAT THE NEXT TIME I TRIED TO START FROM A DEAD STOP I WOULD EITHER BE BROADSIDED OR REAR ENDED BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. I UNDERSTAND THAT JEEP HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT I HAVE WAITED FOR PARTS SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS REPAIR FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND POSSIBLY WILL BE IN IN ABOUT 10 MORE DAYS ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES ALL OF THEM FOR OVER 200,000 MILES EACH HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH INTERNAL GEARS AND SYNCHRONIZERS. THE JEEP HAS BEEN SERVICED AND IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF NOT USED FOR TOWING OR ANY OTHER HEAVY LOADING. I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE DONE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM, I DO BELIEVE THAT JEEP HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THEM. THANKS.....
MY JEEP HAS BEEN JUMPING OUT OF GEAR. IN TRAFFIC, DRIVING IN 1ST GEAR, AT ABOUT 5-10 MPH, FLAT TERRAIN IN A STRAIGHT DIRECTION, IT JUMPS OUT OF GEAR. MY JEEP HAS JUMPED OUT OF GEAR IN INTERSECTIONS WHEN I AM STARTING FROM A STOP, FLAT TERRAIN, GOING STRAIGHT OR TURNING, IT WILL JUMP OUT OF FIRST AS I AM ACCELERATING, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. WHEN STOPPING AT A SIGN OR RED LIGHT, AS I START IN 1ST GEAR IT WILL AGGRESSIVELY JUMP OUT OF GEAR CAUSING ME TO ROLL BACK WHEN ON A HILL, WHERE I HAVE ALMOST RUN INTO THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY MOPAR " NUMBER: 21-001-10 REV. A GROUP: TRANSMISSION DATE: APRIL 20, 2010" I TOOK MY JEEP TO HAVE THE GEAR FIXED ON 04/16/2018 THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER, NOT ARRIVING TO THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL 05/10/2018 AND IT WAS FINISHED ON 05/18/2018. I AM CONVINCED THE BACK ORDER OF MY PARTS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY OTHER JEEP OWNERS. THE DEALER FOUND MY 1ST GEAR SYNCHRONIZER WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED IT
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP IN A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISION, THE JEEP WILL AT TIMES JUMP OUT OF GEAR WITH A VIOLENT JERK AND LOUD SOUND. THIS COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO REACT OR A VEHICLE BEHIND TO REAR END THE NOW NOT MOVING VEHICLE WHILE THE JEEP DRIVER RECOVERS.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. THIS OCCURS WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION AS THE CLUTCH IS RELEASED. THIS OCCURS WHEN GOING STRAIGHT AND TURNING. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN ENTERING A ROADWAY WITH OTHER TRAFFIC. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EARLY JEEP JK WRANGLERS.
SYNCHRO PROBLEM 'JUMPS VIOLENTLY OUT OF 1ST GEAR [JOG] SINCE 35K MILES
THIS AFFECTS 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THE CAR VIOLENTLY POPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. THEY EVEN ISSUED A TSB ON IT. IT HAS DONE THIS MULTIPLE TIMES BUT I ALMOST HAD A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT LAST WEEK WHEN PULLING OUT ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY FROM A STOP. THIS WILL GET SOMEONE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED.
THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION/STICK SHIFT CONSTANTLY VIOLENTLY POPS OUT OF 1ST AND 3RD GEAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE ACCELERATING CAUSING A SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER MUST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN TRAFFIC OR HAVE THE VEHICLE CONTINUE TO ROLL FORWARD (OR BACKWARD IF ON AN UPSLOPE) WHILE TRYING TO RE-ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. UNLESS AND UNTIL THE DRIVER IS ABLE TO RE-ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION, THERE IS NO ACTIVE CONTROL OVER THE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE SPEED OR AVOID A POTENTIAL COLLISION. THIS CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS DAMAGE AND/OR INJURY TO THE VEHICLE, DRIVER, DRIVERS OF OTHER VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUING PROBLEM SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. MANUFACTURE ISSUED A TSB (#21-001-10 REV. A) REGARDING THIS ISSUE CAUSED BY BAD A SYNCHRONIZER ASSEMBLY. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY B/C IT HAPPENED LESS FREQUENTLY THEN AND DEALER COULDN'T INDEPENDENTLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. NOW THAT IT HAPPENS CONSTANTLY THE DEALER REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM B/C THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A KNOWN DANGEROUS DEFECT BUT THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO CORRECT IT.
MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND I HAD TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, REMOVED MY KEYS, AND WALKED AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. UPON WALKING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING FORWARD BY ITSELF. MY VEHICLE ROLLED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING 4,000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGES TO THE OTHER VEHICLE. NO MAJOR DAMAGES OCCURRED TO MY VEHICLE.
THE JEEP JUMPS OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING ALMOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT WITH THE CAR BEHIND ME! *TR
MANUAL TRANS POPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHEN STARTING OFF FROM STOP. DID NOT HAPPEN OFTEN AT FIRST. OVER COURSE OF TIME IT HAPPENED MORE AND MORE. TOOK TO DEALER 5/8/2013 WITH 76800 MILES AS IT WAS HAPPENING ALMOST DAILY. THEY FIXED IT BY ADJUSTING SHIFTER BOOT ( I THINK THERE IS A CHRYSLER TSB ON PROBLEM) AND IT WAS OKAY FOR ABOUT 90 DAYS AND IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. DEALER HAS BEEN WONDERFUL BUT THEIR HANDS ARE TIED.THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR
THERE IS A WIDELY EXPERIENCED (THOUGH UNACKNOWLEDGED BY CHRYSLER) ISSUE CONCERNING FAILURE TO START ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS JK. WHILE IN PARK, TURNING THE KEY WILL PRODUCE A SINGLE CLICK BUT NOT CRANK. IF YOU PUSH THE SHIFT LEVER, WHILE IN PARK, UP A LITTLE MORE, OR, MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER INTO NEUTRAL, THE VEHICLE STARTS. THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE IS A POORLY DESIGNED, EASILY FATIGUED TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR (TRS), AND/OR A WEAK GROUND OF THE SAME. *TR
POPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR. WHEN YOU START OUT IN 1ST GEAR IT WILL POP OUT, CAUSING THE JEEP TO STALL IN TRAFFIC. VERY DANGERS!!! *TR
OCCASIONALLY MY TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY "POPS" OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHEN I AM MOVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. I HAVE NOW MADE A HABIT OF HOLDING THE SHIFT LEVEL INTO 1ST GEAR AND SOMETIMES IT FORCES MY HAND AND THE SHIFT LEVER OUT OF GEAR NO MATTER HOW HARD I AM PUSHING THE SHIFT LEVER. *TR
WHEN AT COMPLETE STOP AND PROCEEDING TO DRIVE FORWARD, THE JEEP POPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR WITH A LOUD BANG, AND THEN IS USUALLY A LITTLE STIFFER TO GET INTO SECOND. THIS HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE USED ALMOST 3 WEEKS AGO. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IF I WERE CROSSING TRAFFIC AND POPPED INTO NEUTRAL, I COULD BE T-BONED AND BADLY HURT. THANKS. *TR
I CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE THE CORRECT DATE OF THE FIRST OCCURANCE, BUT SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THIS JEEP I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP MORE THAN 10 TIMES FOR A WATER LEAK ( THE MAJOR ISSUE ). THEN RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT IT I WAS COMING OFF OF THE BAY BRIDGE IN MARYLAND, AND THE STREERING STRUT BROKE CAUSING DIFFICULTY STEERING. THE PRESSURE PLATE IN THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD, THE GAS TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED, MY SEAT BROKE TWICE, THE BOOT AROUND THE GEAR SHIFT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. IT WAS JUST IN THE SHOP ON FRIDAY TO HAVE THE WATER LEAK IN THE DOOR AND ROOF REPAIRED AGAIN. I TRIED TO FILE FOR THE LEMON LAW WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED AND THEY TOLD ME MY VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH CHRYSLER TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF ALL I HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND THEY GET ME AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER ( BIG DEAL ) THEY ACT LIKE THEY COULD CARE LESS. I WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT HE HAD GONE TO A MEETING THE OTHER DAY AND THAT CHRYSLER HAD "BIG PROBLEMS", APPARENTLY THEY HAVE DISCOVERED THE WINDSHIELDS ARE OFF BY 1/8 OF AN INCH CAUSING ALL THESE VEHICLES TO LEAK! SHOULDNT THAT BE A RECALL. I HAVE LOST MORE TIME FROM WORK AND MORE HEADACHES WITHOUT A CAR THAN ENOUGH. THEY SHOULD BUY THIS VEHICLE BACK FROM ME AT THE PRICE I SCREWED BUYING IT! *TR
I HAVE A 2008 JEEP RIGHT HAND DRIVE WRANGLER THAT I USE ON MY MAIL ROUTE. I BOUGHT IN 2010, SO FAR I CONSIDER IT TO BE A LEMON, I HAVE HAD TROUBLE STARTING IT AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE COOLING LINES TO THE TRANSMISION FIXED AND NOW MY AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON,. *TR
AT 13K MILES I WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR A NEW CLUTCH. THIS IS MY SECOND JEEP, SO I CLEARLY KNOW HOW TO DRIVE IT. AT THIS LOW MILEAGE THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE AND HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS. JUST OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. JEEP REFUSED TO EVEN DISCUSS THE MATTER. WHEN I RETURNED A CALL IN THEIR FINDINGS I WAS REPEATEDLY READ THE E-MAIL I SENT AND NOTHING WAS EXPLAINED. MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE LOANER OVER THE WEEKEND, THEN TRIED TO FORCE ME TO PAY FOR IT. THE CLUTCH EXPLODED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR. *TR
WRANGELR RUBICON 2 DR STALLING AT INTERSTATE / HIGHWAY SPEED, STARTED DOING THIS AT APPROX 10,000 MILES. STARTED DOING THIS 152 MILES IN TO A 320 MILE TRIP AND DID THIS NUMEROUS TIMES BETWEEN 10,000 AND 10,090 MILES WERE I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE INTERSTATE AS THE VEHICLE ENGINE QUIT COMPLETELY OR SOMETIMES YOU COULD PUMP THE GAS AND THE ENGINE WOULD COME BACK TO LIFE, BUT NOT OFTEN. FILLED UP WITH GAS AT 10,090, THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD GOTTEN BAD GAS HOWEVER IT HAPPENED AGAIN APPROX 68 MILES INTO THE NEW FULL TANK OF GAS AND CONTINUED HAPPENING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WERE I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND IT WOULD DIE. JEEP RESTARTED EVERYTIME, SOMETIMES IT WOULD TAKE NUMEROUS TIMES TO RESTART. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS. I LIMPED TO MY DESTINATION ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT MOST CHYRSLER/JEEP DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE CLOSED ON SATURDAYS SO LOOKS LIKE I AM STUCK UNTIL MONDAY TO GET IT TO A DEALER IN A DIFFERENT STATE FROM WHERE I LIVE. CAN'T BELIEVE IT. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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