RoadVitals

1988 Jeep Wrangler

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
50
Latest Oct 1, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
6
Latest Aug 27, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
9
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
14

Overview

Our database contains 50 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Jeep Wrangler, most frequently naming the fuel system, brakes and interior & seats categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 9 NHTSA investigations name it; and 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Fuel system1630.8%
  • Brakes917.3%
  • Interior & seats713.5%
  • Engine713.5%
  • Electrical47.7%
  • Seat belts47.7%
  • Visibility35.8%
  • Powertrain (other)11.9%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

6 campaigns cover this model year

View all 6

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07E064000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Aug 27, 2007
34,000 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.
The risk: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
The remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
06E026000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Mar 23, 2006
61,944 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
PRO-A MOTORS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
04E041000

EQUIPMENT

Jun 7, 2004
80 units potentially affected
The defect: BESTOP AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS,MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 27 AND MAY 20, 2004, DESIGNED FOR USE WITH THE BESTOP HARDTOP MADE FOR THE 1986-1995 AND 1997-2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK BECAUSE THE LATCH BRACKET MISPOSITIONS THE ROTARY LATCH TO THE COCKPIT COVER. AS A RESULT, THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE ROOF RACK. THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.
The risk: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE COCKPIT COULD CAUSE INJURY BY STRIKING PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE OR COULD BECOME A DISTRACTION OR AN OBSTACLE TO OTHER DRIVERS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: BESTOP WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BESTOP CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT (800) 845-3567.
BESTOP, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

RQ97016ClosedRecall Query

FUEL LEAKAGE

Opened Oct 27, 1997
Closed Jun 30, 1998

ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 REPORTS ON FUEL LEAKAGE AND 3 REPORTS ON ALLEGED REMEDY FAILURE REPORTS

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPLed to recall 94V106000
PE95020ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SEAT BACK FAILURE

Opened Mar 27, 1995
Closed Jul 28, 1995

There is no summary currently available

SEATS
EA94031ClosedEngineering Analysis

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE

Opened Aug 30, 1994
Closed Sep 30, 1997

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PE94037ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE

Opened Apr 26, 1994
Closed Aug 30, 1994

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 50
Fuel system
Filed Oct 1, 2010

WHEN FILLING MY 1988 JEEP WRANGLER WITH GASOLINE, THE GASOLINE TANK WILL OVERFLOW WITH GASOLINE BEFORE THE PUMP WILL SHUT-OFF. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I FILL UP, REGARDLESS OF ORIENTATION OF THE VEHICLE (I.E. UP HILL, DOWN HILL, LEVEL). THE ONLY WAY I CAN TRY AND PREVENT THIS HAZARDOUS SITUATION FROM OCCURRING IS TO TRY AND PREMATURELY STOP THE FLOW OF GASOLINE. SINCE I HAVE TO GUESS AT HOW MUCH GASOLINE IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE FILL UP, AND I'M NOT ALWAYS CORRECT, THIS DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. BECAUSE THIS OCCURS, IT HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH THE PLASTIC SURROUNDING THE GASOLINE FILLER AND THE PAINT BENEATH IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10358727
Incident
Aug 15, 2010
Mileage
116,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 12, 2010
Crash reported

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 1988 JEEP WRANGLER. I HAVE ONLY HAD IT FOR A FEW WEEKS. I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT SOMETIMES WHEN I ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, IT FAILS AND RELEASES. EVERYTIME IT WOULD HAPPEN, IT WOULD HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY AND I WOULD SIMPLY RE-ENGAGE IT, EXCEPT FOR THIS LAST TIME IT HAPPENED. I HAD MY JEEP PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. WHILE I WAS AT SCHOOL, THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED AGAIN AND DISENGAGED. MY JEEP, THEN, ROLLED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AND HIT A TREE IN MY BACKYARD. THIS HAPPENED JUST THE OTHER DAY AND IT IS STILL IN THE SAME POSITION AS I FOUND IT WHEN I CAME HOME. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX IT YET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10319262
Incident
Mar 8, 2010
Mileage
98,261 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 5, 2002

CONSUMER STATED WATER LEAKED THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. TS *JB

NHTSA ID
8023823
Incident
Jan 1, 1989
Mileage
5,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 9, 2002

1989 AND NEWER HAVE BEEN RECALLED, WHAT ABOUT MY 1988? MR

NHTSA ID
768286
Brakes
Filed Jul 7, 2002
Crash reported

HAVE REPLACE PARKING BRAKE ASSY TWICE SINCE PURCHASED. CRASH WAS INTO MY HOUSE WHEN PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGED IN DRIVEWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
763903
Visibility
Filed May 24, 2001

WINDSHIELD FRAME SEVERELY RUSTED AFTER WINDSHIELD FRAME REPLACED BY DEALER ON TSB 271T . BOTH DEALER AND CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SUPPORT REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE INHERENT METAL FAILURE OF REPLACEMENT FRAME ESPECIALLY WHEN PROVEN THAT THE ORIGINAL CAR BODY EXHIBITS NO RUST WHILE THE REPLACEMENT FRAME INSTALLED AT A LATTER DATE EXHIBITS SEVERE RUST.*AK

NHTSA ID
745864
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
Brakes
Filed Sep 18, 2000
Crash reported

THE PARKING BRAKE ON MY JEEP HAS A TENDANCY TO DISENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING. BEFORE I WAS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, IT DISENGAGED IN A PARKING LOT AND CAUSED MY JEEP TO ROLL BACK ONTO A NEW FORD MUSTANG, CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE, AND APPEARING ON MY INSURANCE RECORD AS A FAILURE ON MY PART TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE.

NHTSA ID
731804
Incident
Apr 1, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 11, 2000

THE SEAT TRACKS ON THE JEEP WRANGLER MODEL FAIL, WITH THE METAL TEARING WHERE A BOLT FASTENS INTO THE SEAT. THIS CAUSES SEAT INSTABILITY AND CAN CAUSE WRECKS OR INJURIES. I FOUND OUT MORE THAN 70 OF THE SAME PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER, WITH NO DATE FOR ARRIVAL GIVEN. MY FIRST TRACK BROKE LAST YEAR, MY SECOND YESTERDAY. I'VE HAD AN ORDER IN FOR BOTH FOR A MONTH NOW. I BELIEVE THE HIGH NUMBER OF ORDERS SHOWS A DANGEROUS, POTENTIALLY DEADLY RISK TO DRIVERS WHERE THE MODEL IS SOLD. *AK

NHTSA ID
718595
Incident
Feb 9, 2000

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

D-20-02 Rev. A

EQUIPMENT

DIPAP Requirements - Addition of Jeep Wrangler (JL/JK) and Jeep Gladiator (JT) Hard Top and Targa Top Panel Replacements - All Dealers (Rev. A)

RCL/622

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

UNKNOWN

RCL/623

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

UNKNOWN

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Jeep Wrangler by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027000—
2026820—
2025604060.8
202466611167.5
202333714265.9
202237615468.9
202190115365.6
202059912266.1
20197299259.8
20181,79914562.0
20173085370.1
20164555369.8
20154643369.3
20146514465.2
20136497461.6
201283110663.1
201148311663.7
201068511663.4
20093687459.6
20088739859.7
2007555101062.7
20067303152.8
20056492046.6
20041923051.7
2003984052.7
20021086055.2
20011707057.2
20002515160.9
19992135156.7
19982656054.6
19974017053.4
1996210—
19952023362.9
19941514563.0
19931085563.0
1992776661.1
1991768460.6
19907971066.7
1989627970.4
1988Viewing506970.5
19873881074.2
1986111—
1985001—
1984001—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.