2001 Jeep Wrangler Body & structure Problems

MY JEEP WAS MAKING GRINDING SOUNDS WHEN I SHIFTED GEARS. AT FIRST IT WAS JUST A QUICK GRIND (METAL AGAINST METAL). THEN IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS THIS LAST WEEK WENT BY. IT BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND IT WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD.LUCKILY I DIDN'T DRIVE IT MUCH. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID I WAS LUCKY- MY TRANSMISSION(?) WAS TILTED AND SITTING ON SOMETHING AND THAT WAS CAUSING THE NOISE (THE LUCK WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T FALL ALL THE WAY DOWN). THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM FROM PRESTIGE HI-TECH IS "CHECK FOR NOISE/ GRINDING IN DRIVETRAIN. FRAME BADLY RUSTED OUT, CROSS MEMBER UNDER TRANSFER CASE, BOLTS PULLED OUT OF RUSTED FRAME." I WAS THEN TOLD IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VISUALLY IT IS IN GREAT CONDITION WITHOUT RUST ON THE BODY. PRESTIGE SAID BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME ARE RUSTED THROUGH BECAUSE OF POOR DESIGN. THERE WERE NO HOLES FOR TRAPPED WATER TO ESCAPE THROUGH.

NHTSA ID

11258675

Incident

Sep 25, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP WRANGLER. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME WAS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ID

11110632

Incident

Jun 25, 2018

Mileage

107,000 mi

MY JEEP FRAME RUSTED OUT, FORCING US TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE IN 2015. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, FEMALE, NEVER WENT OFF-ROAD WITH IT AND IT WAS GARAGE KEPT. LESS THAN 90,000 MILES ON IT TODAY. UPSET THAT I CANNOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF THE FRAME AND CANNOT FIND FRAME TO REPLACE IT. I STILL OWN IT AND STILL WAITING TO FIND A FRAME FOR IT. NOW SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. EXCELLENT CONDITION, EXCEPT FOR THE FRAME! SEE PHOTO AS PROOF.

NHTSA ID

11096825

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTED CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FALL OUT. ALMOST MADE MY SON CRASH INTO A TREE AFTER LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11090323

Incident

Apr 26, 2018

Mileage

5 mi

FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED ONLY 90K MILES. THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED BECAUSE THE STRUCTURE HOLDING IT UP WAS BOLTED TO THE FRAME AND BECAUSE THE ENTIRE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED IT CANT BE FIXED. ITS SO BAD A NO BODY SHOP WILL FIX IT, RUST KIT IS NO HELP WITH HOW BAD THIS FRAME IS RUSTED. THIS IS COMPLETELY RIDICULES THAT A FRAME IS THIS BADLY RUSTED AT 90K MILES.

NHTSA ID

11046953

Incident

Nov 9, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

THIS 2001 JEEP WRANGLER TJ FAILED NY STATE SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO FRAME RUST. PURCHASED NEW ON 06/01/2001 FROM A JEEP DEALERSHIP IN LINDENHURST, NY AND ONLY HAS 116,097 MILES ON A 4.0 ENGINE. THIS TUBULAR FRAME RUST IS PREMATURE DUE TO LACK OF "WEEP HOLES" THAT ALLOWS WATER TO EXIT THE FRAME, THEREBY PROMOTING RUST FROM THE INSIDE, OUT AND IS COSTLY TO REPAIR (SEE ATTACHMENT). NOTE... TOYOTA HAS HAD SIMILAR "RUSTY FRAME" ISSUES, BUT TOYOTA HAS DONE THE "RIGHT THING". SEE WRITE-UP AND VIDEO HERE: HTTP://AUTOWEEK.COM/ARTICLE/RECALLS/TOYOTA-FRAME-SETTLEMENT-COULD-COST-COMPANY-34-BILLION ... I LOVE MY WRANGLER, BUT IF JEEP REFUSES TO HELP WITH THIS (WIDE SPREAD) RUSTY FRAME ISSUE, I MAY VERY WELL MAKE A TOYOTA MY NEXT PURCHASE! THIS IS NOT JUST A CUSTOMER SERVICE ISSUE, THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE!!!

NHTSA ID

10979803

Incident

Jan 18, 2016

Mileage

116,000 mi

COMPLETE CORROSION THROUGH THE FRAME JUST BEHIND THE REAR UPPER AND LOWER TRAILING ARMS MOUNT LOCATIONS. TWO LARGE HOLES APPROXIMATELY 1" IN DIAMETER. STRESS CONCENTRATIONS DUE TO CORRODED METAL AND CYCLICAL FATIGUE HAS CAUSED CRACK PROPAGATION AND CONNECTION OF THE TWO HOLES WITH ONE ANOTHER.

NHTSA ID

10979294

Incident

Apr 19, 2017

Mileage

175,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION TO THE FRAME. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO RECOMMENDED SOLUTION TO PREVENT THE CONDITION THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 06/13/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

10972199

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

FRAME RUSTED COMPLETELY

NHTSA ID

10926130

Incident

Nov 14, 2016

I HAVE A 2001 JEEP WRANGLER WITH ONLY 89,000 MILES. THE ENTIRE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE IS RUSTED OUT AND THE TRANSFER CASE HAS FALLEN OFF. I'M UNABLE TO DRIVE IT IS SO UNSAFE!! I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT A VEHICLE ONLY 15 YEARS OLD WOULD BE IN THIS CONDITION!! I WILL BE GETTING AN ATTORNEY!! APPARENTLY THERE IS NOT PROPER HOLES FOR DRAINAGE IN THE FRAME AND IT HAS CAUSED THE WATER TO POOL AND RUST OUT THE FRAME. I STILL OWE $6000 ON THIS VEHICLE! I WILL NEVER BUY A JEEP AGAIN! I CALLED CHRYSLER AND BECAUSE IT'S SO FAR OUT OF WARRANTY AND NO RECALLS THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME...UGH

NHTSA ID

10903089

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

Mileage

89,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN IT LOST CONTROL ON A WET ROAD. THE CAR SLID ACROSS THE ROAD, OVER A SMALL DITCH, AND HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE CAR BOUNCED FROM THE TREE AND SWIPED THE DRIVERS SIDE WITH ANOTHER TREE AND FINALLY BOUNCING BACK TOWARDS THE ROAD. THE ROAD WAS SLIGHTLY CURVED DOWNHILL IN A SMALL TOWN. I ATTEMPTED TO USE MY BRAKES WHILE OUT OF CONTROL BUT THEY WERE INEFFECTIVE. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE THUNDERSTORMS ON AND OFF, RAINING IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THE AIRBAG IS THE SAFETY RISK. THE CAR HIT THE TREE IN THE CENTER OF THE GRILL WHICH CRACKED THE RADIATOR, TWISTED THE MOTOR MOUNTS, DAMAGED THE SUSPENSION, FOLDED THE FRAME AND SEVERAL OTHER FRACTURES. THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED, BOTH A BODY SHOP AND THE TOWING COMPANY SAID IT SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE CAR IS CONSIDERED TOTALED. I WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. INJURY'S TO THE DRIVER INCLUDE BROKEN RIBS, SPRAINED ANKLE, BRUISED MUSCLES, AND A CUT ON MY FOREHEAD THAT REQUIRED 5 STITCHES AMONG A FEW MORE MINOR INJURY'S. I ALSO BELIEVE THE TALL STEERING WHEEL KEPT ME FROM BEING EJECTED.

NHTSA ID

10892672

Incident

Jul 28, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

2001 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT, FRAME IS RUSTING FROM INSIDE OUT DUE TO IMPROPER DRAINAGE HOLES. CURRENTLY WITH 139,000 MILES THE CENTER SKID PLATE/TRANSFER CASE MOUNT IS READY TO DROP OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT CONTROL ARM HAS ALSO BROKE OFF REQUIRING ESTENSIVE REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID

10888483

Incident

Jul 15, 2016

Mileage

139,400 mi

THIS IS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THE FRAME IS PRETTY MUCH COMPLETELY ROTTED AWAY BASICALLY SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT IT IS COST ME ALMOST $4000 TO GET THE FRAME REPAIR OF REPEATABLY. ONE SUCH TIME MY TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE ACTUALLY FELL OUT BECAUSE THE SKID PLATE ROTTED OUT FOR BOLTS ON. THIS SPECIFIC REPAIR COST ME ALMOST $3000 TO FIX AS I HAD TO GET ANOTHER TRANSFER CASE AND A NEWPORT OF RAIL MADE. I ALSO HAVE MY REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS RUST OFF OF THE FRAME DESTROYING MY REAR AXLE . THAT WAS ANOTHER $2000 REPLACEMENT. I HAVE SEEN INSTANCES AT THE SHOP WHERE PORTS OF FALLING OFF OF THESE VEHICLES DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE. I RESPECT THE TOYOTA RECALL THE RUSTED FRAMES AND I THINK IT'S FINALLY TIME TO MAKE CHRYSLER DO THE SAME . THEY HAVE KNOWN THIS IS AN ISSUE SINCE THE 80S AND CONTINUE TO DO THIS.

NHTSA ID

10838872

Incident

Aug 22, 2015

Mileage

131,000 mi

(*NOTE: I LIVE IN CT, USA. I PARK MY JEEP IN THE GARAGE WHEN IT SNOWS, AND IN THE DRIVEWAY THE REST OF THE TIME.) WHILE RETRIEVING SOMETHING OUT OF THE BACK SEAT, I STEPPED UP ON THE RUNNING BOARD (AKA. SIDE STEP) AND AS I LEANED IN, IT RIPPED RIGHT OUT OF THE FRAME. WITHIN A MONTH OF THIS, MY SKID PLATE ROTTED OUT OF THE FRAME AND LEFT MY TRANSMISSION UNSUPPORTED AND MY UNIVERSAL JOINT HANGING AT 30 DEGREE ANGLE. I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC, WHO TOLD ME TO TAKE IT STRAIGHT TO A BODY SHOP. IT'S BEEN THERE TWO WEEKS NOW! I PURCHASED 2 SKID PLATE MOUNT REPLACEMENTS WHICH THEY ARE WELDING ON RIGHT NOW. *NOTE: I'D UPLOAD PICTURES OF MY FRAME, BUT MY JEEP IS STILL IN THE SHOP. SO... (ATTACHED) ARE SOME PICTURES OF THE RUNNING BOARD AND RUSTED-OUT MOUNTS.

NHTSA ID

10788093

Incident

Oct 12, 2015

Mileage

94,000 mi

THE FRAME ON THE TJ MODEL YEARS WRANGLERS ARE MADE IN A BOX DESIGN WITH NO DRAIN HOLES AT THE BOTTOM SO WHEN WATER OR OTHER CORROSIVES GET IN THEY ARE TRAPPED AND THIS MAKES THE FRAME RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT. BY THE TIME THIS IS DETECTED IT'S TO LATE ,THE FRAME IS UNSAFE AND WON'T PAS INSPECTION. DON'T WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED BECAUSE OFF THIS VERY UNSAFE DESIGN, DO SOMETHING NOW.

NHTSA ID

10783503

Incident

Oct 10, 2015

THE FRAME HAS RUSTED TO A UNSAFE CONDITION BECAUSE OF BAD METAL AND BAD DESIGN.

NHTSA ID

10781842

Incident

Sep 10, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING I NOTICED A BURNT ODOR SMELL FROM THE DASH AREA. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS RUNNING ON HIGH BLOWER AND ON THE MAX SETTING OF INTERNAL AIR FLOW. THE BLOWER STOPPED WORKING SHORTLY AFTER THIS HAPPENED. UPON INSPECTION OF THE BLOWER SWITCH I FOUND THE SWITCH HAD STARTED TO BURN AND MELT AT THE CONNECTION FOR THE MAX BLOWER SPEED. I HAVE REPLACED THE SWITCH TWICE NOW WITH THE SAME PROBLEM,THE CIRCUIT NEEDS A RELAY IN IT TO PREVENT THE BLOWER SWITCH FROM OVER HEATING AND CAUSING THE WIRE FROM BURNING UP. AT NO TIME WAS THE FUSE BLOWN ON THE CIRCUIT.

NHTSA ID

10744371

Incident

Aug 14, 2004

Mileage

15,000 mi

THE WRANGLER FRAME IS EXTREMELY PRONE TO RUST AND IS VERY EASILY ROTTED OUT OVER THE YEARS. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW ON CHRYSLERS PART. THERE ARE NO DRAINAGE POINTS AT THE LOWEST PARTS OF THE FRAME WHICH HOLDS IN WATER AND ROAD SALT AND ACCELERATES RUST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10704337

Incident

Apr 1, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10679118

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

Mileage

110,000 mi

DRIVING OVER A RAILROAD TRACKS, HEARD A POP. DISCOVERED THE FRAME BY THE TRAILER ARM, ON RIGHT HAND SIDE BECAME COMPLETELY DETACHED, AS IT HAD RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651841

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

HIT A SMALL ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD, NOTICED A RUMBLING RIGHT AFTER. STOPPED TO CHECK - NOTICED SKID PLATE HANGING DOWN ON ONE SIDE . FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING SKID PLATE AND TRANSMISSION TO SAG. FURTHER CHECKING REVEALED FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE PLACES. IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING AN ESTIMATE OF POSSIBLE REPAIR THOUGH THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ENCOURAGING.. APPARENTLY THIS IS VERY COMMON ON THE TJ SERIES OF WRANGLER. DISAPPOINTING, CONSIDERING A FEW WELL PLACED DRAINAGE HOLES MAY HAVE PREVENTED IT. HOPEFULLY JEEP HAS TAKEN STEPS TO PREVENT THIS HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE . I HAD A FORD F150 FOR 13 YEARS & THE FRAME WAS STILL SOLID THE DAY I PARKED IT. I REALLY ENJOY MY JEEP , BUT IT MAY BE TIME TO SWITCH. :-( UPDATED 4/24/15 *JS

NHTSA ID

10616976

Incident

Jul 11, 2014

Mileage

87,000 mi

ALL JEEP WRANGLERS FROM 1987-2006 HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE FRAMES RUSTING OUT CAUSE THEM TO BE UNSAFE FOR DRIVING ON PUBLIC ROAD UNLESS THE FRAME IS REPAIRED OR REPLACED, MY FRAME ON MY 2001 JEEP RUSTED OUT WITH ONLY 92000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE FRAME NOT BEING PREPED, PAINTED, AND DESIGNED PROPERLY ALLOWING WATER TO SIT IN THE FRAME BECAUSE THERE ARE NO DRAIN HOLES AT THE LOWEST POINT OF THE FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10605039

Incident

Feb 5, 2014

Mileage

92,000 mi

REMOVED TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER TO REPLACE CLUTCH. FOUND COMPLETE BOTTOM OF FRAME RUSTED FROM INSIDE SO AS TO MAKE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SINCE HAVE FOUND THAT NEW FRAME IS NOT AVAILABLE AND IF A USED FRAME IS FOUND IT TO IS RUSTED AS TO BE DANGEROUS. HAVE CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I WORK IN COLLISION REPAIR AND FIND THIS TO BE A SERIOUS FAULT. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED QUICKLY BEFORE A DEATH OCCURS. MY SON'S JEEP WOULD KILL HIM IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10583590

Incident

Apr 5, 2014

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE FRAME BEING RUSTED AND CORRODED FROM THE FRONT CONTROL ARM TO THE REAR CONTROL ARM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10505863

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

140,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS AND NOTICED AN UNUSUAL NOISE UNDER MY JEEP AND GOT OUT TO CHECK IT OUT AND FOUND THAT MY FRAME HAD CRACKED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WHERE THE CONTROL ARM IS WELDED TO THE FRAME. AFTER LOOKING MORE CLOSELY, THE FRAME HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND IS A HOLE HAS DEVELOPED FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 INCHES ALONG THE CENTER OF THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME RAIL AND UP AND THROUGH WHERE THE CONTROL ARM BRACKET IS WELDED TO THE FRAME. THERE IS ONLY ABOUT 1 INCH OF WELD STILL HOLDING ON THE OUTSIDE BRACKET. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE HOME. FROM THE LOOKS OF THE RUST, THE ENTIRE FRAME COULD BUCKLE AT ANY TIME. I AM NOT A ROCK CRAWLER AND DO NOT ABUSE MY JEEP. IT IS ALL STOCK AND HAS REALLY ONLY BEEN DOWN DIRT ROADS AND NOT TRAILS. UPON SEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND THAT MANY OTHER WRANGLER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING A SIMILAR PROBLEM SEVERAL ACTUALLY HAD THEIR CROSSOVER SUPPORT FOR THE TRANSMISSION FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I KNOW THESE VEHICLES ARE 10 YEARS OLD BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FRAME HERE. THIS IS UNSAFE AND CERTAINLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT OR DESIGN OVERSIGHT. AFTER ALL, IT IS A JEEP WHICH IS EXPECTED TO GET SOME USE OFF ROAD. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF I TRULY SPENT SOME TIME OFF ROAD. PLEASE TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO AT LEAST LET OWNERS KNOW THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM. I NORMALLY DON'T LOOK UNDER MY VEHICLE AND THIS COULD HAVE EASILY GONE UNNOTICED AND COMPROMISED THE ENTIRE FRAME STRUCTURE IF I HAD AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10490066

Incident

Dec 12, 2012

Mileage

71,005 mi