2001 Jeep Wrangler Electrical Problems

There is a known problem with the electrical wiring to the climate control panel including the blower motor fan switch. The wiring attached to the assembly gets too hot and melts the blower motor fan switch. When this happens, you are unable to turn on any heat/ac/air speeds. You are not able to select any speed to turn on the air which means you can’t use it to defrost the windshield. This can lead to a poor visibility situation. I am the original owner of my 2001 TJ and I’ve had to have this problem fixed multiple times. There are several videos & discussions about this problem in Jeep forums. Chrysler should’ve recalled it years ago..

NHTSA ID

11492073

Incident

Nov 30, 2021

TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP WRANGLER--- SPOKE WITH CHRYSLER --- CHRSYLER STATED NO RECALLS ON VEHICLE---HORN IN VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK AT ALL AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON... CONTACT WAS GIVEN NUMBER TO JEEP REGARDING AIR BAG LIGHT....0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN

NHTSA ID

11055688

Incident

Nov 14, 2017

Mileage

139,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON WHEN I SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC, THEN SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE AIR VENTS. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER ABOUT 15 MIN THE SMELL DISSIPATED AND I CONTINUED ON WITHOUT THE AIR CONDITIONING. LATER I REMOVED THE COVERS AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A FIRE IN THE PLUG THAT GOES TO THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR

NHTSA ID

11019377

Incident

Aug 19, 2017

Mileage

117,803 mi

I HAD A FIRE DUE TO A RECALLED IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS NEVER REPAIRED, I HAD NO IDEA WHEN I BOUGHT THE USED JEEP FROM THE DEALER. CHRYSLER IS NOW DENYING ANY REQUEST TO FIX THE PARTS DAMAGED BY THE FIRE

NHTSA ID

10916812

Incident

Sep 19, 2016

I LEFT MY TOP OFF OF MY JEEP WRANGLER AND IT RAINED HARD INTO THE NIGHT AND NEXT MORNING. I HEARD THE HORN GOING OFF RANDOMLY SO I RAN OUTSIDE AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH AND STEERING COLUMN WERE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I QUICKLY OPENED THE HOOD, DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THEN PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH THE HOSE. THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN AND SURROUNDING DASH AND WIRING HARNESS ARE COMPLETELY MELTED. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE THE JEEP WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY

NHTSA ID

10911086

Incident

Sep 19, 2016

Mileage

200,000 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

I HAVE A JEEP THAT HAS A FRAME THAT IS RUSTED IN THE REAR TRAILING ARMS AND WERE THE TRANSMISSION IS HELD. NO INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED YET BUT IF THIS WERE TO BREAK ON THE ROAD COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WORK FOR HYUNDAI WHO HAS A RECALL ON QUITE A FEW CARS AND SUVS FOR THE FRAME ROTTING OUT ON CARS AS OLD AS 2000 I ALSO NO TOYOTA AND NISSAN AND OTHER MANUFACTURES HAVE RECALLS ON FRAMES WHY NOT JEEP I REALIZE IT MAY BE SPECIFIC TO SALT BELT AREAS BUT THOSE OTHER COMPANIES ARE FIXING THE PROBLEM. ALSO THE CLIMATE CONTROL MELTED COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE I KNOW THIS IS ALSO A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10700852

Incident

Mar 21, 2015

Mileage

214,506 mi

THE HVAC SYSTEM IN MY 2001 JEEP WRANGLER WAS BURNT AND MELTED, DUE TO LACK OF PROPER EQUIPMENT. THE HVAC BLOWER FAN, DUE TO BEING OLD, CAUSED RESISTANCE, SENDING TOO HIGH OF A CURRENT TO THE CLIMATE CONTROL HEAD UNIT, MELTING AND BURNING ALL WIRES, CONNECTORS, AND THE HEAD UNIT ITSELF. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN REMEDIED WITH THE EXISTENCE OF RELAYS FOR EACH SOURCE OF POWER HEADING INTO THE HEAD UNIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10671658

Incident

Jan 11, 2015

Mileage

210,000 mi

I WENT TO START JEEP THOUGHT DEAD BATTERY AND TRIED TO CHARGE BATTERY GAUGES ON DASH JUMPED AROUND FINALLY BATTERY ENOUGH TO TURN OVER BUT WOULD NOT START SAW WARNING LITE FOR KEY ON DASH.ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START.TOOK TO JEEP DEALER REPLACED COMPUTER MODULE AND FOUND CORRODED MAIN POWER FEED IN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS SPLICED IN NEW WIRE AND SERIAL DATA ALL CAME BACK.I WAS RETURNING HOME JUST PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY ENGINE LITE CAME ON ALONG WITH OTHER LITES ENGINE STALLED TRIED TO START SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE.RETURNED JEEP TO DEALER CURRENTLY WAITING FOR ANSWER TO PROBLEM COMPUTER DOES NOT ACCEPT MY KEY?I BROUGHT THIS JEEP USED THAT IS WHY I AM LOOKING INTO ANY RECALLS OR KNOWN PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648567

Incident

Sep 4, 2014

Mileage

160,660 mi

JEEP WRANGLER SPORT, 4.0L WAS PURCHASED AS SUBSEQUENT OWNER IN 2003(?) IN SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO. THE PROBLEM APPEARED IN MAYBE 2008 AFTER MOVING TO PANAMA CITY (PANAM). AN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS OBSERVED, INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN FIRST STARTING. USUALLY A SECOND ATTEMPT WAS SUCCESSFUL. GRUPO Q CHRYSLER JEEP REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, AT MY EXPENSE. I WAS UNAWARE THAT CHRYSLER DAIMLER HAD RECALLED THESE VEHICLES FOR IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS IN 2003/04, I THINK. MY RESEARCH REVEALED THAT GM/AC-DELCO WAS OEMING THESE SWITCHES TO CHRYSLER-DAIMLER, AND MAYBE OTHERS. THE ONLY THING I EXPERIENCED WAS AN ANNOYANCE, BUT THOSE SYMPTOMS SEEMED TO SUGGEST THAT I MAY HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH DISABLED AIR-BAGS, HAD I NOT NOTICED THE LIGHT, OR IF HAD BEEN NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE QUESTION IS HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT STILL BE DRIVING NON-GM CARS WITH THESE DEFECTIVE SWITCHES, AND WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN PUBLICIZED? *TR

NHTSA ID

10633239

Incident

Sep 1, 2008

Mileage

16,000 mi

THE BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH GROUND, CONNECTED TO THE MODE SELECTOR HAS MELTED IN MY JEEP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. BACK IN JULY 2013 THE CONNECTION TO THE MODE SELECTOR MELTED. I REPLACED THE HVAC AC A/C & HEATER CONTROL WITH BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH ONLY TO HAVE IT MELT AGAIN ONE YEAR LATER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10619104

Incident

Aug 5, 2014

Mileage

105,000 mi

KEY DISENGAGES AND FALLS OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10583471

Incident

Jan 1, 2012

Mileage

125,000 mi

LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE BEHIND THE HEATER CONTROLS ALL THE WIRES AND THE BACK OF THE SWITCHES ARE MELTED THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE FAN MOTOR CONTROL SWITCH HAS BEEN MELTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10479387

Incident

Mar 8, 2012

THE DASH BLOWER CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING. WHEN THE MECHANIC CHECK IT AND THE SYSTEM, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BLOWER HAD OVER HEATED THE PIGTAIL CONNECTORS AND MELTED THEM. THE BLOWER CONTROL WAS VISIBLY MELTED AND MULTIPLE SIGNS OF OVERHEATING WERE APPARENT. THE BLOWER CONTROL, ALL PIGTAIL CONNECTORS AND THE BLOWER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS CAUGHT JUST SHORT OF ME HAVING TO DEAL WITH A FIRE BEING CAUSED BY THIS OVER HEATING OF THE ELECTRICAL PARTS OF THE A/C-HEATER SYSTEM. THIS IS THE SAME SITUATION AS REPORTED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS. REFER TO ODI ID NUMBERS: 10364281, 10283272, 10181912 AND 10145512. *TR

NHTSA ID

10468440

Incident

Jul 31, 2012

Mileage

113,882 mi

2001 JEEP WRANGLER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RUSTED AND CRACKED FRAME. *TGW CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL LETTER *TGW THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL HASN'T WORKED IN YEARS AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ALSO BEEN ON FOR YEARS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10400356

Incident

May 2, 2011

THIS IS ONE MORE CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING THE HEATER/FAN/BLOWER WIRING DESIGN FAILURE FOR THE 2001 MODEL OF THE JEEP WRANGLER. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CONTINUES TO OCCUR IN OTHER TJ MODEL YEARS AS WELL SO I THINK IT IS A SYSTEMIC DESIGN PROBLEM THAT IF NOT CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. MY CASE IS TYPICAL OF THE FAILURES DESCRIBED BY OTHER 2001 WRANGLER OWNERS IN THAT THE HEATER BLOWER FAN SWITCH BEGAN TO DROP SPEEDS UNTIL ONLY THE HIGHEST SPEED WAS LEFT OPERATIONAL [WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS HOW THE UNDERLYING ELECTRONICS SPECIFICALLY A RESISTOR BANK FAIL IN THIS MODEL]. RECENTLY, THIS 4TH SPEED HAS FAILED AND I AM NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL I CAN RECEIVE SOME ASSURANCE THAT THE HEATER BLOWER WILL NOT CONTINUE TO HEAT UP UNTIL IT CATCHES FIRE AS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN OTHER INSTANCES. AS I WRITE THIS COMPLAINT, IT IS ABOUT 25 DEGREES OUTSIDE, SO DRIVING MY 2001 WRANGLER WITHOUT HEAT IS NOT AN OPTION. I GUESS I AM LUCKY THAT (A) IT FAILED COMPLETELY IN COLD WEATHER FORCING ME TO (B) RESEARCH THE ISSUE LEARNING THAT (C) THIS OBVIOUS VEHICLE DEFECT CAN RESULT IN THE WRANGLER CATCHING FIRE WHICH HAS FORCED ME TO (D) GO WITHOUT THE USE OF THE WRANGLER UNTIL A FACTORY DESIGNED AND SPONSORED FIX IS ENGINEERED AND INSTALLED. SO, IN SUMMARY, 2001 WRANGLER ' FAILED HEATER/FAN/BLOWER SWITCH ' MANY OTHER CASES FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AND SURROUNDING MODEL YEARS ' HAS A HISTORY OF CAUSING VEHICLE FIRES ' THIS NEEDS TO BE A FACTORY SPONSORED RE-ENGINEER AND RECALL, AND NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW BEFORE A FIRE SITUATION CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR INJURY OR DEATH ! *TR

NHTSA ID

10364281

Incident

Nov 6, 2010

Mileage

42,442 mi

THERE IS A SERIOUS PRODUCT DEFECT IN THE FAN MOTOR-SWITCH-RESISTER ASSEMBLY IN MY 2001 JEEP WRANGLER. THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN REPAIRED SEVEN TIMES, SIX TIMES UNSUCCESSFULLY (THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 2004, THE YEAR I BOUGHT MY JEEP FROM A DEALERSHIP) AND THE LAST ONE ACCOMPLISHED AUGUST 20, 2009 AND WHO KNOWS HOW LONG THIS WILL LAST. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE FAN SWITCH SUDDENLY FAILS TO OPERATE AND WHEN THE MATTER IS INVESTIGATED THE MECHANIC FINDS THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR, RELAY AND SWITCH HAVE MELTED. THERE IS SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR SURGE WHICH SIX REPAIRS HAVE FAILED TO CORRECT AND MY FEAR IS MY JEEP WILL CATCH ON FIRE AS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN A NUMBER OF CASES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10283272

Incident

Aug 20, 2009

Mileage

44,203 mi

REFER TO ODI ID NUMBER : 10185714; AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT NOW STAYS ON CONSTANTLY; HORN NO LONGER WORKS; DEALERSHIP WHERE PRUCHASED NOTIFIED; SERVICE SCHEDULED; APPEARS TO BE COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS FRONTAL SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE WHERE WATER AND/OR ROAD SALT IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE COULD LEAD TO CORROSION ,AND SUCH CORROSION CAN LEAD TO ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT OR COULD ALLOW INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10186067

Incident

Mar 11, 2007

Mileage

48,700 mi

A/C HEATER BLOWER WIRING CAUSES FIRE AT CENTER OF DASHBOARD. WHEN A/C OR HEATER IS PLACED IN HIGH BLOWER SWITCHS ARE SELECTOR WIRING OVER LOADS AND CAUSES BURNING. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. NOTED AT SALVAGE AUCTIONS MANY 2000 AND UP JEEP WRANGLERS CATCH FIRE IN THIS AREA AND BURN COMPLETE. HARD TO FIGURE AFTER FIRE WHAT HAS HAPPEN. IM SURE INSURANCE COMPANYS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS DEFECT. DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY INJURYS, BUT IM SURE THERE HAS BEEN SOME. I HAVE DICONNECTED THE HIGH POSITION WIRE SO THAT OVERLOAD WOULD NOT ACCURE TILL I COULD FIGURE A FIX OR JEEP WILL ADMIT TO A PROBLEM AND A FIX. *NM

NHTSA ID

10145512

Incident

Jan 15, 2002

Mileage

10,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED IN A FIRE, IN WHICH FIRE OFFICIALS STATED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE DASHBOARD, HOWEVER CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH AND FELT THE FIRE DAMAGE WAS A RESULT OF THE RECALL.*JG *JB

NHTSA ID

568430

Incident

Nov 17, 2001

CONSUMER STATES THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE REPAIRS FOR RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

NHTSA ID

8019741

Incident

Mar 15, 2002

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 02V075000 RELATING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO PARTS. EACH WEEK FOR 3 WEEKS CONSUMER HAS CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE ARE OVER 400 PEOPLE WAITING FOR THE PARTS, THERE IS NO DELIVERY DATE FOR THE PARTS. CONSUMER CONTINUES TO DRIVE VEHICLE WITH A POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE PART WHICH COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE. *TT

NHTSA ID

566902

WHILE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF CONSUMER WENT INTO THE STORE, AND WHEN COMING OUT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THAT DAY CONSUMER DROVE ONLY 18 MILES. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND THE DEALER WAS TAKING A LOOK AT VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8014594

Incident

Jul 18, 2002

SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL START AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011280

Incident

Jun 3, 2002

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 02V075000 CALLING FOR REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH. HOWEVER THE RECALL REPAIR CAN NOT BE DONE DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. *TT

NHTSA ID

566008

Incident

Apr 30, 2002