2008 Jeep Wrangler 4-Dr 4X4 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Jeep Wrangler 4-Dr 4X4, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Fuel system19824.8%
- Airbags14017.5%
- Electrical10112.6%
- Steering8410.5%
- Suspension688.5%
- Engine415.1%
- Driver assistance253.1%
- Powertrain (other)243.0%
- Body & structure212.6%
- Other / unspecified212.6%
- Brakes202.5%
- Transmission182.3%
- Exterior lighting131.6%
- Visibility111.4%
- Interior & seats70.9%
- Tires & wheels60.8%
- Seat belts10.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
JEEP SPITS FUEL BACK OUT WHEN YOU FILL UP THE TANK. NOT JUST A SMALL AMOUNT EITHER, A GOOD AMOUNT ALL OVER THE JEEP AND THE FLOOR.
EVERY TIME I REFILL MY GAS TANK IT OVERFLOWS ALL OVER THE GROUND. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I OWNED THE CAR IN 2010 TO MOST RECENTLY YESTERDAY ON 3/12/19. BASED ON PRODUCTION THERE ARE MORE THE 2.1 MILLION JEEP WRANGLERS ON THE ROAD ACCORDING TO PRODUCTION NUMBERS. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A DECENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE IF IT OCCURS ON MOST IF NOT ALL JKS. ANY JK OWNER I HAVE TALKED TO HAS THIS SAME ISSUE. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FAILED ASPECT OF THE VEHICLE
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
JEEP TIPM FAILURE NUMEROUS TIMES. HEADLIGHTS STOP WORKING COMPLETELY, AIRBAGS REPORTEDLY NON WORKING, WINSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO, HORN BLOWS ON ITS OWN. DOOR LOCKS CYCLE ON THEIR OWN. ENGINE WONT SHUT OFF WITH THE KEY UNLESS UNHOOKING THE BATTERY.
TIPM- DOOR LOCKS SHORTED OUT, FUEL PUMP QUITS STRANDING THE VEHICLE ON THE STREET, WILL NOT RESTART WITHOUT PULLING AND RESETTING THE IOD FUSE, CAUSES AIRBAG LIGHT TO FLASH FAULT, REAR WIPER QUITS. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE OR UNABLE TO BE USED. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW AND WOULDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT THIS IF THROUGH RESEARCH I HAD NOT FOUND HOW MANY FAILURES EXPERIENCED BY MANY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THIS PARTS FAILURE RATE. PARKED THE VEHICLE AND WHEN WENT TO RESTART IT IT WOULD NOT RESART, THEN THE DOORS STARTED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING REPEATEDLY LOCKING ME OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEYS IN IT. I RESET THE IOD FUSE AND IT STARTED. THEN GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE WARNING LIGHTS IN THE DASH STARTED FLASHING, AIRBAG, TCS, ANTI THEFT, TIRE PRESSURE, ABS, STABILITY CONTROL ALL CAME ON THEN VEHICLE SHUT OFF. IT WOULD START THEN RUN FOR A FEW SECONDS AND DIE. THROUGH RESEARCH I FOUND THIS TO BE RELATED TO THE ANTI THEFT IN THE TIPM-. TRIED REPLACING THE DOOR LOCK FUSE AND IT STARTED ARCING AND SMOKING. VEHICLE IS PARKED NOW WITH A TIPM- ON ORDER. AS STATED PREVIOUSLY, I BOUGHT THIS JEEP NEW AND IF IT WAS NOT SUCH A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH CHRYSLER PRODUCTS I WOUL NOT THINK MUCH ABOUT A PART FAILURE AT TEN YEARS.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
ISSUES STARTED WITH VEHICLE NOT ABLE TO START AND INABILITY TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. BATTERY WOULD TEST GOOD. AFTER DISCONNECTING BATTERY, VEHICLE WOULD START AS USUALLY. ISSUE BEGAN TO ESCALATE WITH OIL LIGHT AND ESP LIGHT RANDOMLY LIGHTING UP ON THE DASH. FINALLY, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND ESP LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND ACCELERATOR WAS UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. I HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS WITH NO RESOLUTION. I AM NOW REPLACING THE COMPUTER IN HOPES THAT IT WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUES. I HAVE HAD THE JEEP IN FOR AUTO SERVICE 5 TIMES SINCE JANUARY.
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CAUSING STARTING PROBLEMS, ISSUES WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND NO LIGHTS ON DASH OR HEADLIGHTS/BREAK LIGHTS. AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING ALL LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD WILL TURN OFF AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON ON THEIR OWN. THE HEADLIGHTS AND BREAK LIGHTS WILL ALSO NOT WORK. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND RADIO WILL STILL FUNCTION. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM OR SOLUTION.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
PURCHASED 2008 JEEP WRANGLER AND AT AROUND 3600 MILES NOTICED SEVERE STEERING ISSUES. STEERING WAS WANDERING AND HAS BECOME ERRATIC. EXCESSIVE SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT, EXCESSIVE JIGGLES ON SMALL BUMPS AT LOWER SPEEDS. DANGEROUS STEERING AT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY TO THE EXTENT THAT VEHICLE SWERVES INTO NEXT LANE UNEXPECTEDLY. JEEP REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH 2008 AND 2009 STEERING ISSUES THAT INVOLVESTEERING GEAR BOX, SHAFTS AND BALL JOINTS. SECOND OPINION FROM OUTSIDE AGENCY STATED GEAR BOX IS JUNK, SHAFTS NEED REPLACEMENT DUE TO FAULTY ENGINEERING FROM CHRYSLER. MANY MANY JEEP OWNERS ARE HAVING THESE ISSUES AND INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS TO DUE TO THE FAULTY STEERING ON THESE VEHICLES. *JS
DRIVING 40 MPH OR OVER WILL CAUSE CAR TO HARSHLY SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE. COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON A FREEWAY AS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR TO STOP SHAKING IS TO COMPLETELY STOP. BECAUSE OF ALL THE SHAKING CAUSES OTHER SUSPENSION AND WHEEL PROBLEMS. BOLTS ON SUSPENSION AND WHEEL START TO LOOSEN UP CAUSING ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR JEEP WRANGLERS FROM 2006 TO PRESENT.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING 40 MPH OR OVER WILL CAUSE CAR TO HARSHLY SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE. COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON A FREEWAY AS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR TO STOP SHAKING IS TO COMPLETELY STOP. BECAUSE OF ALL THE SHAKING CAUSES OTHER SUSPENSION AND WHEEL PROBLEMS. BOLTS ON SUSPENSION AND WHEEL START TO LOOSEN UP CAUSING ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR JEEP WRANGLERS FROM 2006 TO PRESENT.
DEVELOPED DEATH WOBBLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES AN HOUR. IN RESEARCHING I SEE CHRYSLER SAYS THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I CAN ASSURE YOU IT IS. IT IS A DESIGNED FLAW ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS I HAD LOOK AT IT. A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT COVER. I LUCKILY SOMEHOW KEPT THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL DESPITE THE STEERING SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY, SO BAD THE VEHICLE LIFTED OFF THE ROAD AND SKIDDED SIDEWAYS.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
JEEP HAS MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES. JEEPS TIPM MODULE HAS CAUSED THE JEEP TO DIE WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCE LACKING POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO OFF AND SEEMS TO BRAKE ITSELF. I REPLACED ITNLESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING IT IS GOING OUT AGAIN. ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH PCM AND PART IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER.
RANDOMLY THE JEEP WILL COMPLETELY GO CRAZY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WITH FLUID RUN, BLINKERS, HORN, AND ----> THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. I LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS. I CALLED THE LOCAL JEEP DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL CHRYSLER. I DID SOME RESEARCH IN JEEP FORUMS ONLINE AND FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE JEEP WRANGLERS FROM 2007 FORWARD. JEEP HAS A RECALL FOR THE MOST RECENT MODELS, BUT NO RECALL FOR THE PREVIOUS YEARS TO INCLUDE MINE. I'M REALLY CONFUSED HOW THIS HAPPENS TO SO MANY JEEP WRANGLERS AROUND MY YEAR, BUT THERE ARE NO RECALLS. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND DEFINITELY FOR OTHER VEHICLES AROUND.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
ISSUES STARTED WITH VEHICLE NOT ABLE TO START AND INABILITY TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. BATTERY WOULD TEST GOOD. AFTER DISCONNECTING BATTERY, VEHICLE WOULD START AS USUALLY. ISSUE BEGAN TO ESCALATE WITH OIL LIGHT AND ESP LIGHT RANDOMLY LIGHTING UP ON THE DASH. FINALLY, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND ESP LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND ACCELERATOR WAS UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. I HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS WITH NO RESOLUTION. I AM NOW REPLACING THE COMPUTER IN HOPES THAT IT WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUES. I HAVE HAD THE JEEP IN FOR AUTO SERVICE 5 TIMES SINCE JANUARY.
JEEP HAS MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES. JEEPS TIPM MODULE HAS CAUSED THE JEEP TO DIE WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCE LACKING POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO OFF AND SEEMS TO BRAKE ITSELF. I REPLACED ITNLESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING IT IS GOING OUT AGAIN. ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH PCM AND PART IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE STICK SHIFTER THAT IS STICK CONSTANTLY CAUSES IT TO POP OUT OF FIRST AND SECOND GEAR WHEN I AM DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY AND HAS BEEN A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THOSE BEHIND ME IN TRAFFIC, AT A LIGHT OR IN A FOUR WAY STOP BELIEVE I AM ACCELERATING WHEN IN FACT I HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT OF EITHER GEAR BACK TO NEUTRAL. I HAVE HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS WITH VEHICLES ALMOST REAR ENDING ME AND FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND THOSE OF OTHERS I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. USUALLY, I WOULD ADDRESS THIS MYSELF BUT AFTER READING COUNTLESS BLOGS AND CONCERNS THIS IS WORTHY OF A RECALL COMPLAINT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS CONCERN REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD BECAUSE THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM BUT JEEP DRIVERS TEND TO THEIR OWN VEHICLES RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS.
TRANSMISSION FLUID OVERHEATED CAUSING A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NO WARNING LIGHT CAME ON.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
HOOD BOUNCES ( FLUTTERING ) DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. REALLY NOTICEABLE WITH GUST OF WIND FROM PASSING CARS
HOOD FLUTTERS WHILE DRIVING
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING 40 MPH OR OVER WILL CAUSE CAR TO HARSHLY SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE. COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON A FREEWAY AS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR TO STOP SHAKING IS TO COMPLETELY STOP. BECAUSE OF ALL THE SHAKING CAUSES OTHER SUSPENSION AND WHEEL PROBLEMS. BOLTS ON SUSPENSION AND WHEEL START TO LOOSEN UP CAUSING ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR JEEP WRANGLERS FROM 2006 TO PRESENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER 4X4. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED, THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE TOW BAR COULD FAIL DUE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E044000 (EQUIPMENT). THE CONTACT WAITED MONTHS TO RECEIVE THE PART; HOWEVER, GATOR CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (840 S HARBOR CITY BLVD, MELBOURNE, FL 32901, (877) 707-5664) STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2008 JEEP WRANGLER HAD A SAFETY RECALL AFFECTING THE FRONT FENDER WELLS RUBBING THE HARD BRAKE LINES THREE YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THE JEEP NEW. THIS PAST WEEK (4/28/2018) AS I WAS TRAVELING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD MY BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND MY ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE. AFTER DOWN SHIFTING AND PULLING THE E-BRAKE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP I HAD NOTICED THE BRAKE LINE WHERE IT WAS CONTACTING THE "FIXED" FENDER WELL HAD RUSTED OUT AND BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING, SENDING BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND RESULTING IN MY JEEP BRAKES NOT WORKING. THE INITIAL "FIX" THAT JEEP USED TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM WAS CUTTING THE FENDER WELL WIDER TO NOT TOUCH THE BRAKE LINES BUT OBVIOUSLY THE THREE YEARS IT WAS MAKING CONTACT WAS ENOUGH TO DETERIORATE THE INTEGRITY OF THE LINE AND THEN OVER THE YEARS RUST HAD DEVELOPED AND WEAKENED THE METAL TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN ONLY DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND AS APPOSED TO IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY ROAD. BRAKE LINES SHOULD NOT CORRODE AND FAIL IN UNDER 10 YEARS.
TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM) ITEM HAS FAILED , CAUSING ME TO REPLACE OTHER PARTS DIAGNOSED BY PCM AS BEING FAULTY, BUT REPLACING THOSE PARTS RESULTED IN SAME ERROR CODES. ACTUAL FAULT FOUND TO BE A FAILING TIPM. I HAVE CONSTANT ERROR CODES, RANDOM HORN, OR LACK OF HORN, RANDOM ACTUATING OF STABILITY CONTROL CAUSING ONE CORNER OF JEEP TO BRAKE SUDDENLY AND GIVING THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT. RANDOM POWER AND FUEL ECONOMY PROBLEMS. SPENT +$600 IN PARTS THAT DID NOT FIX WHAT JEEP SAID WAS PROBLEM, WHEN PROBLEM IS TIPM GIVING THE PROBLEM. JUST WAITING TO SEE IF BURSTS INTO FLAMES, AS HAVE SMELLED HOT WIRES COMING FROM IT RECENTLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE STATIONARY AND IN WHILE MOTION.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
POPS OUT OF 1ST GEAR 2-4 TIMES A DAY. *KB
I BOUGHT A USED 2008 4 DOOR JEEP WRANGLER JUST OVER 2 MONTHS AGO. IN THIS TIME I HAVE NOTICED EVERY TIME WE FILL UP WITH GAS, NO MATTER WHAT GAS STATION WE USE, GAS SPILLS EVERYWHERE. ALSO, THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED AFTER A MONTH OF HAVING THE JEEP. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY. WE HAD TO PAY THE FOR THE TEST AND THEN WE REPLACED THE BATTERY OURSELVES, A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE JEEP WOULD NOT START AGAIN! I PUT THE JEEP IN NEUTRAL AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. SO NOW AT LEAST ONCE A DAY I HAVE TO PUT THE JEEP IN NEUTRAL TO START IT. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT IT IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO DRAIN MY BATTERY AGAIN AND I AM GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING BATTERIES. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND BOTH OF THESE ARE "KNOWN" AND "COMMON" PROBLEMS, YET WHEN I CONTACTED JEEP THEY ACT LIKE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT AND TELL ME I NEED TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND PAY TO HAVE THEM RUN MORE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ON IT! NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. *KB
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CAUSING STARTING PROBLEMS, ISSUES WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND NO LIGHTS ON DASH OR HEADLIGHTS/BREAK LIGHTS. AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING ALL LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD WILL TURN OFF AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON ON THEIR OWN. THE HEADLIGHTS AND BREAK LIGHTS WILL ALSO NOT WORK. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND RADIO WILL STILL FUNCTION. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM OR SOLUTION.
THE LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON AND OFF EITHER STATIONARY OR WHILE DRIVING. THE BLOWER MOTOR, FLASHERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, HORN, AND THE WIPERS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY EITHER STATIONARY OR WHILE DRIVING. EITHER THE BATTERY NEEDS TO BE DISCONNECTED OR THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD NEEDS TO BE JIGGLED BEFORE IT WOULD STOP. SCHEDULED TO GO IN THE SHOP FRIDAY FOR THE REPAIR. ODDLY ENOUGH THE DEALERSHIP HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS WILL CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR WORSE IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CAUSING STARTING PROBLEMS, ISSUES WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND NO LIGHTS ON DASH OR HEADLIGHTS/BREAK LIGHTS. AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING ALL LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD WILL TURN OFF AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON ON THEIR OWN. THE HEADLIGHTS AND BREAK LIGHTS WILL ALSO NOT WORK. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND RADIO WILL STILL FUNCTION. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM OR SOLUTION.
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 40 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN COMPLETE POWER LOSS INCLUDING BRAKES, STEERING, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. HORN STARTED CONSTANTLY GOING, FRONT AND REAR WIPERS GOING. TURNED KEY OFF AND REMOVED, BUT EVERYTHING WAS STILL GOING LIKE A POSSESSED CAR. HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO GET EVERYTHING TO SHUT OFF. MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME IT IS LIKELY A FAILURE OF THE CAR'S TIPM, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH JEEPS AND OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES. CALLED FCA AND THEY WON'T STSAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, SAYING IT'S NOT ASN ISSUE.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS ON 75 SOUTH BOUND GOING 70 MPH. I HAD JUST GOTTEN ON THE INTERSTATE FROM THE BRUCE B DOWNS ENTRANCE. AFTER THE RIGHT LANE ENDED I SWITCHED TO THE MIDDLE LANE. COMING UP TO FLETCHER EXIT, THE GEARS CHANGED. ALMOST LIKE THE CAR GAVE OUT. I LOOKED DOWN, I DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING. ON MY WAY TO LOOK BACK UP I SEE SMOKE FROM THE HOOD AND SMOKE THROUGH THE RARE VIEW MIRROR. GREY SMOKE IN THE FRONT AND BLACK IN THE BACK. I LOOKED DOWN AT THE GAGES AND IT WAS OVER HEATING. LOOKED TO MY LEFT, NO CARS, PULLED OVER TO THE LEFT EMERGENCY LANE. AS I OPENED MY DOOR, THE FIRE WAS ALREADY SPITTING OUT FROM THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. I GRABBED MY PHONE. AS I'M WALKING AWAY, THE FIRE WAS GROWING ENGULFING THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WITHIN MINUTES, LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVED ON SCENE AND WE WATCHED THE WHOLE VEHICLE GO UP IN FLAMES. AT FIRST 2 FIRE TRUCKS PUT OUT THE FIRE. ONCE THEY LEFT AND WE WERE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE, IT CAUGHT FIRE AGAIN. THE STATE TROOPER HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COME BACK OUT. BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED, THERE WASN'T A NOISE OR A LIGHT BLINKING TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE FELT THE SAME AS IT ALWAYS DID. EVERYTHING JUST HAPPENED FAST AND ALL AT ONCE. I NEVER GOT ANY RECALL NOTICES. I HAD THE JEEP FOR 2 MONTHS. INSURANCE COMPANY NEVER DID AN INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT TO INVESTIGATE. I NEVER CALLED CHRYSLER BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE PROOF WHO WAS AT FAULT. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEING AN ISSUE WITH JEEPS UNTIL I BOUGHT MY NEW CAR AND THE SALES REP LOOKED ME IN THE EYES TOLD ME IT WAS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. IT HAPPENED TO 2 OF HIS FORMER CLIENTS. TOLD ME CHRYSLER WON'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT CAN'T BE PROVEN.
MY JEEP VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO A DANGEROUS DEFECT COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS HOOD LIFT, HOOD FLUTTERING OR WIND BUFFETING. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN ENCOUNTERING AN ONCOMING VEHICLE, A HEADWIND OR CROSSWIND, THE VEHICLE'S HOOD WILL RAPIDLY LIFT AND DROP UP TO 2 INCHES AT A TIME UNTIL THE TURBULENCE HAS PASSED. CHRYSLER / JEEP HAS ALWAYS CALLED THIS A "CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE". WHEN THIS EVENT OCCURS THE DRIVER'S VISION IS DANGEROUSLY DIVERTED FROM A LONG VIEW OF THE ROAD AHEAD TO ONE OF FIXATING ON THE HOOD MOVEMENT ITSELF. OF INTEREST IS THE FACT THAT JEEP WRANGLERS SOLD INTO THE EUROPEAN MARKET REQUIRE A HOOD LOCK THAT IS REPORTED TO FIX THIS DEFECT (JEEP PART 8221046AB). IT IS MY BELIEF THAT TO CURE THIS PROBLEM IN THE US MARKET, JEEP SHOULD OFFER THIS SAME PART AT NO COST TO OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE THIS DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
HIT SMALL BUMP ON EXPRESSWAY CAUSING 2008 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY LIKE THE WHEELS WERE LOOSE. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY GET OFF THE EXPRESSWAY TO CHECK WHEELS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BY THE INITIAL REACTION IS TO SLOW DOWN AND WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CHAIN REACTION (CRASH). AFTER INSPECTING VEHICLE SHAKING HAD STOPPED. *TR
TIRE VALVE FAILURE IN JEEP WRANGLERS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ACROSS THE ONLINE CHAT BOARDS. I OWN A 3 YEAR OLD JEEP WRANGLER AND THE TIRE VALVE CRUMBLED IN MY HANDS WHEN TRYING TO INFLATE THE TIRE TO CORRECT PRESSURE. APPARENTLY THE METAL USED IN THE TIRE VALVE DEGRADES EASILY AND EVEN THE DEALERSHIP IS WELL AWARE OF THIS CONSTANT REPAIR. AFTER FAILURE OF THE TIRE VALVE, THE TIRE DEFLATES QUICKLY. IT CAN START WITH A HAIRLINE CRACK DOWN THE VALVE STEM OR JUST BREAK OFF ACROSS THE VALVE BY THE TIRE RIM. IT IS A TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE FAILURE AND CAN BE INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS IF IT FAILS AT THE WRONG TIME. THE VALVE STEM IS HOOKED UP TO A TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM SO THE APPARATUS IS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. THE REMEDY IS TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF EACH TIRES VALVE SYSTEM WITH AN EXACT REPLICA OF THE FIRST FAULTY PART. THE FAILURE OF THIS ITEM IS CONCERNING AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *KB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT PULL OUT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .