RoadVitals

1988 Jeep Wrangler Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Jeep Wrangler, 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 system1630.8%
  • Brakes917.3%
  • Interior & seats713.5%
  • Engine713.5%
  • Electrical47.7%
  • Seat belts47.7%
  • Visibility35.8%
  • Powertrain (other)11.9%
  • Transmission11.9%

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

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.

16
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Oct 1, 2010

VEHICLE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A CRACK IN THE FUEL LINE. *AK

NHTSA ID 520875 · filed Sep 19, 1997
All 16 reports naming fuel system →

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

9
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Mar 12, 2010

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

NHTSA ID 768286 · filed Oct 9, 2002
All 9 reports naming brakes →

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

7
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Feb 11, 2000

HAD TO REPLACE SEAT BACK BECAUSE OF FAILURE, SEAT BACK IS BREAKING AGAIN. TT

NHTSA ID 973652 · filed Oct 19, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

7
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FUEL FUMES.NO LEAKS. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID 846011 · filed Sep 20, 1999

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED.

NHTSA ID 535756 · filed Mar 20, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

INTERMITTENT STALLING DUE TO ENGINE FAILURES. ALSO REPLACED IGNITION. *AK

NHTSA ID 523197 · filed Nov 4, 1997

WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ENGINE STALLING, PULLED TO SIDE, NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER BODY, FIRE SPREAD FROM ENGINE TO CAB, VEHICLE TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID 806002 · filed Jan 28, 1997

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.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH WILL NOT BUCKLE.

NHTSA ID 535855 · filed May 18, 1998

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RECEPTICLE IS BROKEN AND WILL NOT LATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID 979559 · filed Feb 22, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 8023823 · filed Dec 5, 2002

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 · filed May 24, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING REAR AXLE FELL OFF. TT

NHTSA ID 969316 · filed Jul 24, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE MOUNT THAT HOLDS THE TRANSMISSION IN PLACE IS HELD ON WITH TWO BOLTS, BOTH HEADS SHEARED OFF; ALSO, REPLACED LEAKING ENGINE VALVE COVER. *AK

NHTSA ID 803939 · filed Nov 13, 1996

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

Data on this page last refreshed .