RoadVitals

2005 Jeep Wrangler Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Jun 8, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 649 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Jeep Wrangler submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Transmission
Filed Jun 8, 2011

HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY 2005 JEEP WRANGLER GOING INTO PARK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10405605
Incident
Jun 6, 2011
Transmission
Filed Apr 24, 2011

6 SPEED TRANSMISSION FORKS ARE POORLY DESIGNED. VEHICLE CAN POP OUT OF 1ST GEAR STARTING AT UNDER 15K MILES. CAN LEAD TO VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WHEN PARKED IN GEAR AS WELL AS ROLLING BACK WHEN STARTING ON HILLS. MY VEHICLE HAD THE PROBLEM ALREADY AT ABOUT 90K WHEN I BOUGHT IT. NO IDEA HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE. MANY REPORTS INDICATE THE PROBLEM CAN OCCUR IN THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION AT AS EARLY AS 15K DUE TO DESIGN. I AM AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC, AND WHILE IT IS NICE TO BE PAID TO REPLACE THESE PARTS REGULARLY, IT CAN BE A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10397254
Incident
Apr 2, 2011
Mileage
93,128 mi
Transmission
Filed May 10, 2009

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN MY 2005 JEEP WRANGLER SINCE JANUARY, 2006. WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY I HAD THE DEALERSHIP TAKE A LOOK AT IT THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THREE TRANSMISSIONS PUT IN MY JEEP AT MY COST AND IT STILL POPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEBODY RAN INTO ME. THE DEALERSHIP AS I KNOW NOW WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT WANT TO FIX IT. MY JEEP IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THANKS ALOT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10268333
Incident
Jan 15, 2006
Mileage
4,500 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 10, 2009

MULTIPLE DEFECTIVE 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE HAD THREE TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED IN MY JEEP, AND ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, HARD TO PULL OUT OF FIRST, AND GRINDING DURING UP SHIFTS FROM FIRST TO SECOND AND SECOND TO THIRD. I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE ON THE INTERNET THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT CHRYSLER HAS NOT COME UP WITH FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THE ISSUE CAN BE HAZARDOUS, IF YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC, YOU CAN'T BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WON'T GO INTO GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10264912
Incident
Apr 1, 2009
Mileage
27,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 25, 2008

MY 2005 JEEP WRANGLER JUMPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR, IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE HAS SLAMMED INTO ME. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE SHIFTERS AND THE SYNCHRONIZERS, IT STILL DOES THIS, THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT SPENDING ANY MORE MONEY TRYING TO REPAIR IT, EVEN THOUGH IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. COULD BE DEADLY IF YOU ARE PULLING OUT OR IF IT IS PARKED AND POPS OUT OF GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10219117
Incident
May 18, 2007
Mileage
20,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 26, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLAMMED OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. HE STATED THAT THE OTHER GEARS OPERATE NORMALLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROW OUT BEARING, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,461 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA ID
10197594
Incident
Apr 1, 2007
Mileage
18,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 12, 2007

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION / ENGINE FLARE. CAN BE ANTICIPATED AND VEHICLE MOVEMENT PREVENTED IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE, HIGH RANGE BUT WILL OVERPOWER BRAKES WHEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE , LOW RANGE. OCCURRENCE NOT CONSISTENT OR REPEATABLE ON DEMAND BUT IS FREQUENT. CAN OCCUR WITH APPLICATION (OR RELEASE) OF POWER BRAKE, TURNING OF STEERING WHEEL (POWER STEERING) OR AIR CONDITION CYCLING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN TECHNICAL TRAIL MANEUVERS (OFF ROAD CONDITIONS IN TREACHEROUS TERRAIN) OR IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO TREES, LARGE ROCKS, ABRUPT DROP-OFFS ALONG ROAD, THE RESULTS ARE POTENTIALLY DEADLY. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION CAN BE TAKEN BY ANY, NON FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE AS THIS IS A PROGRAMMING ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT UNIQUE. THE "DEALER" IS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE SYMPTOM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10187722
Incident
Jan 1, 2006
Mileage
100 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 17, 2006

MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN GRINDING AND POPPING OUT OF REVERSE SINCE PURCHASE IN JANUARY 2005. RECENTLY TRANSMISSION WAS POPPING OUT OF FORWARD DRIVE GEARS AND FAILING TO ENGAGE. DEALER INSPECTED AND FOUND THE TRANSMISSION NOT GOING INTO REVERSE, POPPING OUT OF 3RD, GRINDING IN 5TH AND GENERALLY VERY NOISY. REVERSE SHAFT AND GEAR, COUNTER SHAFT AND SYNCHRONIZERS ALL SEVERELY WORN OUT. METAL CHUNKS WERE FOUND THROUGHOUT TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION HAD LESS THAN 15,000 MILES. COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WAS REQUIRED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10152975
Incident
Mar 15, 2006
TransmissionVisibility
Filed Mar 9, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GEARS WHICH OCCURS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. WHILE THE SHIFTER WAS IN FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE IT SLIPPED TO NEUTRAL. THERE WAS A WHIRLING NOISE PRESENT WHEN THE SHIFTER WAS IN REVERSE AND A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE OTHER GEARS. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED A SECOND TIME. THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE GEAR LEAKAGES AND DETERMINED THE TAB ON THE FAN BLOWER HAD BROKEN AND WAS CAUSING THE WHIRLING NOISE. THE BLOWER FAN IS GOING TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10152270
Incident
Mar 1, 2006
Mileage
900 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 3, 2006

RECEIVED LETTER FROM MANUFACTURER SAFETY RECALL E14. SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERS AT 8:30 AM ON DAY OF APPOINTMENT. WENT TO PICK UP AT 4:30 PM (ON A FRIDAY) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY NEVER GOT AROUND TO FIXING IT. "TOO BUSY". I WASTED AN ENTIRE DAY AND SOMEONE'S ELSE'S TIME GETTING THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND BACK. NO TIME WAS GIVEN AS TO WHEN THEY WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM AND I LEFT THE DEALER. I WANT THIS ON RECORD IN CASE SOMETIMES DOES HAPPEN WITH VEHICLE THAT CAUSES DAMAGE, INJURY OR POSSIBLY DEATH. VEHICLE IS A JEEP WRANGLER VIN # LJ4FA9S95P316220. DEALER: GALEANA CHRYSLER JEEP, 14735 S. TAMIAMI TRAIL, FORT MYERS, FL 33912. PH 239-481-2600. *JB

NHTSA ID
10151742
Incident
Mar 3, 2006
Transmission
Filed Oct 9, 2005

SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION GRINDS GOING INTO REVERSE/ POPS OUT OF REVERSE. DEALERSHIP PROVIDED TECHNICAL BULLETIN STATING THIS CONDITION WILL LEAD TO AN EVENTUAL LOSS OF FORWARD DRIVE GEARS IF NOT CORRECTED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND SUBSEQUENTLY WAS NOT REPAIRED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10139126
Incident
Oct 8, 2005
Fuel systemTransmission
Filed Sep 11, 2005

NORMAL DRIVING RESULTS IN A CHANGE IN THE SHIFTING ACTION OF THE AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION. IF THE VEHICLE IS WARM THE ELECTRONIC BUZZ LENGTHENS AND PREVENTS THE SHIFTING FROM ONE GEAR POSITION TO THE NEXT. THE TRANSMISSION RUMBLES AND SKIPS BEFORE CHANGING TO THE NEXT GEAR FOR A SECOND OR MORE. THE GEARS CLEARLY ARE NOT ENGAGING IN A TIMELY MANNER AND PREVENTS READY MOVEMENT AFTER SHIFTING TO A NEW GEAR POSITION. AFTER LONG DRIVES THIS IS NOTICEABLE DURING NORMAL UNHURRIED PARKING MANEUVERS. THIS ACTION WAS INITIALLY OBSERVED AT ABOUT 384 MILES ON ODOMETER AND BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER. THE SECOND PROBLEMS HAS OCCURRED ON 5 OR MORE OCCASIONS WHERE THE IDLE SPEED DOES NOT GO TO NORMAL AFTER REMOVING PRESSURE FROM THE ACCELERATOR. WAS FIRST NOTICED ON HILLS IN CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO AND HAS BEEN NOTICED IN TRAFFIC ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE ENGINE NOISE IS QUITE AUDIBLE WHEN THIS OCCURS AND IDLES ABOVE 1000 AND CARRIES VEHICLE AT 10 PLUS MPH ON FLAT SURFACES. THE VEHICLE ALSO SURGES AFTER SHORT DRIVES AND IS NOTICEABLE IN PARKING LOTS OR GARAGE PARKING. THERE HAVE BEEN THREE "DANGEROUS" INSTANCES WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THIS WILL OCCUR IN BOTH REVERSE AND FORWARD DRIVES. THE DRIVE TRAIN ALSO HAS A LOUD RESONATING SOUND WHICH SOUNDS AS THOUGH THE ROTATING IS NOT UNIFORM AT LOW SPEEDS. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS A NORMAL SOUND. ALL OF THESE CONCERNS WERE OBSERVED AFTER ABOUT 300 MILES AND BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER. THE DEALER DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE HEARING THE GEAR SOUNDS, SAID THE IDLE WOULD ADJUST AFTER 3600 MILES AND HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE SURGING. *NM

NHTSA ID
10136144
Incident
Apr 15, 2005
Mileage
387 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 5, 2005
2 injuries reported

2005 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT. PURCHASED 4/17/2005. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING FROM 4RD TO 3RD AND FROM 2ND TO 1ST WITHOUT CONTROL, WHILE DRIVING, THEN REMAINS IN 1ST GEAR AND NO LONGER SHIFTS. 5 DAYS IN SHOP AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. 3200 MILES ON VEHICLE. DANGER OF POSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL IS IMMINENT WHEN SHIFTING GEARS WITHOUT CONTROL. PROBABLE CAUSE OF MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWO TIMES.. GOING BACK TO SHOP. NO DTC CODE AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10131704
Incident
Jul 27, 2005
Mileage
3,200 mi
Transmission
Filed May 19, 2005

2005 JEEP WRANGLER PURCHASED 4/13. ON 4/12 TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON IN TRAFFIC, VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT GEAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) IN SHOP FOR PAST 8 DAYS. DEALER STATES POSSIBLE BAD SEALS. LESS THAN 600 MILES ON VEHICLE. ALSO VEHICLE SOLD WITHOUT RECALL WORK BEING COMPLETED ON VEHICLE, VEHICLE IS NOW PENDING RECALL WORK ON CAMSHAFT AND OIL PUMP.

NHTSA ID
10121377
Incident
May 12, 2005
Mileage
600 mi

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.

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Data on this page last refreshed .