1993 Jeep Wrangler 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 1993 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 system3325.8%
- Brakes2015.6%
- Engine1914.8%
- Seat belts1310.2%
- Transmission129.4%
- Electrical64.7%
- Visibility64.7%
- Body & structure53.9%
- Interior & seats43.1%
- Suspension32.3%
- Steering21.6%
- Heating & air conditioning21.6%
- Exterior lighting10.8%
- Powertrain (other)10.8%
- Other / unspecified10.8%
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
Was filling up with gas when I noticed it was leaking out the bottom of the vehicle
HELLO, I PURCHASED A USED JEEP IN MAY 2018. ONCE I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE JEEP, MY MECHANIC MENTIONED THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL. SO, I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER ABOUT REPAIRING THE RECALL DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T HELP ME BECAUSE THE JEEP WAS TO OLD AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS ON HAND. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL THE JEEP RECALL CENTER, WHICH I DID... AND AND THEY TOO TOLD ME THE SAME THING... TOO OLD AND NO PARTS ON HAND. THEY ALSO TOLD ME TO CALL AUTO PARTS STORES TO SEE IF THEY HAD THE PARTS AND MAYBE THEY WOULD REIMBURSE ME AND MAYBE NOT. SEEMS TO ME, THEY'RE MAKING ME DO THEIR JOB AND NOT ATTEMPTING TO TAKING CARE OF AN OPEN RECALL. AND PLEASE NOTE: THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 1993 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V041000(Parking Brake); however, the part to do the repair was not yet available. No further information was available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
PARKING BRAKE FOOT PEDAL ASSEMBLY DEFECTIVE. WAS REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO BASED ON MANUFACTURER RECALL. SAME PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING: BRAKE WILL RELEASE BY ITSELF, AT FIRST WAS OCCASIONAL, NOW IS ALL THE TIME, MAKING THE PARKING BRAKE INOPERABLE. DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLY. *TR
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
AC LINE RUBBING AGAINST FENDER. IT FINALLY BROKE DOWN THE LINE CAUSING IT TO LEAK WITH EXTREME PRESSURE. REPLACE LINE AND MADE A BRACKET TO HOLD LINE AWAY FROM FENDER. *JB
THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED ON A NHTSA RECALL. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED, PER THE DEALER. MANUFACTURED WAS CONTACTED, AND CONSUMER HAS BEEN INFORMED THAT RECALLS WERE A ONE TIME REPAIR AT NO COST. NO RECALLS FOR THE PART MENTIONED. *AK
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TWO FRONT SEAT BELTS. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACED. TS
PLASTIC PART THAT HOLDS BELT BUCKLE IN PLACE IS DETERIORATING AND DOES NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN. *AK
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
ATTENDED A MOTOCROSS RACE ON 7-07-02 WHERE I HAD TRACKSIDE PARKING WHICH WAS ON A VERY STEEP HILL.PARKED VEHICLE AND LEFT IN FIRST GEAR AND SET PARKING BRAKE.WAS IN VIEW OF VEHICLE FOR MOST OF RACES.NOTED AS RACES PROGRESSED INTO THE AFTERNOON AND MORE PEOPLE ARRIVED THAT THERE WAS SOME SITTING IN FRONT OF VEHICLE(MAYBE 5 OR SO IN LAWN CHAIRS). AS I APPROACHED VEHICLE TO RETRIVE COOLER OUT OF THE REAR,I NOTICED IT ROLLING TOWARD ME I RAN UP THE HILL ( MAYBE 20 FEET OR SO) AND REACHED IN AND CRANKED STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT(AS WHEEL WAS NOT IN FULLY LOCK POSITION YET TILL I TURNED IT TO THE RIGHT) AND JEEP ROLLED INTO A TREE MISSING THE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF IT AND ME.NOTE; HAD SOFT TOP AND SOFT DOORS OFF SO GRABING STEERING WHEEL WAS FAIRLY EASY ATHOUGH DID NOT GET MUCH TURN BEFORE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. UPON INSPECTION( AFTER HITTING TREE AND STOPPING) I NOTICED PARKING BRAKE WAS RELEASED!! UPON ENTERING THIS WEB SITE I SEE THAT THERE IS A RECALL # 02V041000 ON THIS VEHICLE. ON 2/11/2002 WHY HAVENT I BEEN NOTIFIED!!!! IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS I I WOULD NEVER HAVE PARKED ON THAT STEEP OF HILL TO BEGIN WITH!! HOW MANY PEOPLE IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE WE ARE NOTIFIED BY THE MFG!!( I TAKE IT MINE IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE AS THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED) I HOPE NONE OF THE OTHER CASES HAD MORE DIRE OUTCOMES! THANK-YOU DOUG BREWER. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A HILL IN REVERSE, ENGINE WAS OFF. SHIFTED LEVER AND IT POPPED INTO NEUTRAL, ROLLING BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED AND TRANSMISSION WAS IN REVERSE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DISENGAGED AND TRANSMISSION CAME OUT OF REVERSE INTO NEUTRAL DURING THE ACCIDENT. *YH
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
STARTER FAILED TWO TIMES. *ET
ELECTRICAL: NOTICED GAUGE WAS READING ZERO THEN IT CAME UP. NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE HOOD, VEHICLE STILL RUNNING. PUT THE FIRE OUT, REMOVED TERMINAL FROM BATTERY TO STOP VEHICLE FROM RUNNING.CHECKED CABLES/ALTERNATOR, AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN THE DEFROST STEAMS THE WINDOWS THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER/MOISTURE THAT ENTERS THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. CREATES A VISIBILITY HAZARD, FOGS ALL WINDOWS. WATER ALSO DRAINS ONTO FLOORBOARDS. PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGING IS VERY INTERMITTENT. NEVER CAN TELL IF IT WILL HOLD. RELYING SOLELY ON REVERSE GEAR FOR HOLDING VEHICLE. HAVE RAN OUT OF GAS TWICE WITH FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM. GOES ALL THE WAY UP WHEN FILLED, BUT WILL NOT GO BELOW 1/4 OF A TANK. CONSISTENT PROBLEM. SHIFTING INTO FIRST OFTEN REQUIRES FIRST SHIFTING INTO FIFTH THEN BACK TO 1ST IN ORDER TO ENGAGE. OH, FORGOT TO MENTION, PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK, INTERMITTENT ALSO. *AK
STARTER FAILED TWO TIMES. *ET
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DOORS DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. MR *TS
SUNVISOR CONNECTS TO THE WINDSHIELD, AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO SWIRL IT. CONSUMER HAS TO USE BOTH HANDS TO PULL DOWN OR TO SWIRL. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM OR REPLACE THE PART. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK .ET.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULDN'T LOCK. DEALERSHIP ORDERED A NEW LATCH FOR DOOR. LATCH WAS THE WRONG PART. CURRENTLY, SHE COULDN'T OPEN THE DOOR AT ALL. THEN, THEY REPLACEDIT AGAIN, AND SHE COULD OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE. THIRD TIME DOOR WAS COMPLETLY BROKEN. DOOR DIDN'T OPEN AT ALL. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHEN THE DEFROST STEAMS THE WINDOWS THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER/MOISTURE THAT ENTERS THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. CREATES A VISIBILITY HAZARD, FOGS ALL WINDOWS. WATER ALSO DRAINS ONTO FLOORBOARDS. PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGING IS VERY INTERMITTENT. NEVER CAN TELL IF IT WILL HOLD. RELYING SOLELY ON REVERSE GEAR FOR HOLDING VEHICLE. HAVE RAN OUT OF GAS TWICE WITH FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM. GOES ALL THE WAY UP WHEN FILLED, BUT WILL NOT GO BELOW 1/4 OF A TANK. CONSISTENT PROBLEM. SHIFTING INTO FIRST OFTEN REQUIRES FIRST SHIFTING INTO FIFTH THEN BACK TO 1ST IN ORDER TO ENGAGE. OH, FORGOT TO MENTION, PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK, INTERMITTENT ALSO. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE VIBRATES AT 65 MPH AND OVER.
REAR AXLE; WHEN TURNING, REAR TIRE BINDS UP LOCKING W/BANGING. SOME COMPONENTS OF ASSEMBLY REPLACED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE OVERHEATS. *SD
STEERING WHEEL MAKES NOISE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
AC LINE RUBBING AGAINST FENDER. IT FINALLY BROKE DOWN THE LINE CAUSING IT TO LEAK WITH EXTREME PRESSURE. REPLACE LINE AND MADE A BRACKET TO HOLD LINE AWAY FROM FENDER. *JB
A/C FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEADLIGHTS FREQUENTLY GO OUT. (SECOND VEHICLE ON 505686) *DH
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT DRIVESHAFT LOCKED UP AND FRONT/REAR AXLE BROKE, VEHICLE WENT UP IN MID AIR, AND CAME TO A STO. *AKP
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
FOUR WHEELS ON VEHICLE ARE BEGINNING TO RUST THROUGH THE METAL. *AK
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 .