2008 Jeep Wrangler Engine Problems

While driving at speed, vehicle electrical went haywire. Headlights went on and off. Horn sounding on and off, Wipers and washers going on and off, HVAC blower on and off. Pulled over vehicle and turned off and removed key and it still remained running, all horn, lights, and wipers still going on and off. Opened hood, removed negative battery terminal, and with that, car still ran! Was several minutes and car finally shut itself off. Scary that the car went completely haywire and would not shut off, even with key out, and battery disconnected!

NHTSA ID

11704890

Incident

Dec 13, 2025

I was driving down the road in my 2008 wrangler and all of the sudden every light flashed on my dash board then it felt like I could not shift gears then smoke came pouring out of my air vents. I pulled over and got out realizing it was on fire. Climbed in to save my dog just before the fire got huge. My entire Jeep is gone.

NHTSA ID

11671473

Incident

Jul 1, 2025

The contact owns a 2008 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission overheated, and the oil warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11596464

Incident

Jun 25, 2024

Vehicle while driving, wipers start, horn blows, washer fluid sprays, abs light goes on, engine dies making braking and steering impossible.

NHTSA ID

11472108

Incident

Jul 2, 2022

This has happened on more than 1 occasion. Driving on the highway and I lose power, the Jeep slows way down, the accelerator pedal is dead, and the Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) light comes on. It does the same thing driving in town. Sometimes you can turn the vehicle off, wait a couple minutes, start it back up and it will be ok for a little bit. Sometimes it won’t. I have replaced some parts, read forums, communicated with a dealer service department and it doesn’t sound like there is a “fix” for this. This is very dangerous and someone could get seriously injured or killed.

NHTSA ID

11440304

Incident

Aug 20, 2021

On 07/16/2021 at approximately 1600 hundred the smoke detectors in the house began alarming. I immediately noticed smoke coming from the garage. After getting my 6 year old son safely out of the house I immediately called 911. The fire department arrived and took care of the situation. The entire engine compartment was burnt. Before all of this we arrived at the house and parked in the garage. Only 5 minutes went by between parking the Jeep and calling 911. During operation of the vehicle that day there was no indication of any issues. The Fire Inspector preformed his investigation. As of now I have not received the incident report. Once I do I will supply it. I am waiting to hear from the insurance company regarding when an adjuster will view the Jeep. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11425226

Incident

Jul 16, 2021

THE DASHBLIGHTS STARTED ACTING POSSESSED WHILE DRIVING AND WINSHIELD WHIPERA CAME ON WITHOUT BEING ACTIVATED BY SWITCH. NOW THE GUAGES ARE STUCK STRAIGHT UP AND IT WONT SHIFT OUT OF PARK..THE RADIO AND WINDOWS STILL WORK AND THE LIGHTS CONE ON WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON.

NHTSA ID

11375823

Incident

Nov 2, 2020

Mileage

76,000 mi

HOT OIL WARNING STARTED FLASHING AND DINGING. WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. SOME ONLINE SEARCHES INDICATED THAT SOMETIMES ITS JUST A BAD SENSOR BUT LOOKS LIKE THERE MAY BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT OCCURRED BUT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER WENT ABOVE HALF WAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

11331894

Incident

Jun 23, 2020

Mileage

120,000 mi

WITH NO WARNING WHILE DRIVING THE JEEP IT JUST SHUT OFF. NO STEERING, NO BRAKES. WOULDN'T START BACK UP AFTER. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MOTOR IS TOTALLY CEASED AND NEEDS A NEW MOTOR.

NHTSA ID

11289634

Incident

Dec 8, 2019

Mileage

123,000 mi

IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY BUT THE WIPERS, WASHER FLUID, LIGHTS INCLUDING REVERSE LIGHTS AND HORN CAME ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. AFTER DOING A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THIS AND THEY ALL CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS THE TIPM. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND I WOULD SAY IT HAPPENS EVERY OTHER WEEK.

NHTSA ID

11257123

Incident

Sep 6, 2016

Mileage

50,000 mi

AT 54,500 HIGHWAY MILES, TWO ROD BEARINGS FAILED IN THE ENGINE RESULTING IN TOTAL ENGINE LOSS. AFTER ENGINE REPLACEMENT THE THROW OUT BEARING FAILED RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH. ENGINE FAILED WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON A FREEWAY BUT WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP. CLUTCH FAILED WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON CITY STREETS RESULTING IN TOWING.

NHTSA ID

11130051

Incident

Jun 4, 2018

Mileage

64,500 mi

JAN 24 2018. I AM DRIVING MY JEEP JK 2008. 103,000 MILES. STOCK EVERYTHING. WAS DRIVING IT ALL DAY IN THE EVERGLADES. ALL OF A SUDDEN AS WE WERE EXITING THE PARK MY BRAKES STOPPED WORKING AND LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON. WE WERE GOING NO FASTER THAN 35 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND THE CAR. WE OPE THE HOOD THERE IS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE AREA BY ALL OF THE WIRING. WE ATTEMPTED TO PUT IT OUT BUT IT QUICKLY ENGULFED THE ENTIRE TRUCK AND I HAD TO STAND BACK AND WATCH MY ENTIRE JEEP BURN TO THE GROUND!!!!! THERE WAS NOTHING TO TELL ME THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN OR TO WARN ME! JEEP NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. WE HAVE BURNS ON OUR ARMS. THE CAR BURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND. ALL OF MY BELONGINGS ARE GONE FROM THE FIRE

NHTSA ID

11065250

Incident

Jan 24, 2018

Mileage

103,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STOPPED WORKING AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED UNEXPECTEDLY. ALSO, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT STOPPED, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TURNERSVILLE JEEP CHRYSLER DODGE RAM (3100 NJ-42, SICKLERVILLE, NJ 08081 (856) 316-7958) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A FUSE WAS BLOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REQUESTED A TEST DRIVE AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE DEALER FOR A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ID

11050984

Incident

Nov 28, 2017

Mileage

37,000 mi

THE JEEP JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN ESCONDIDO CA. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT HAPPENED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE HORN, WIPERS, WIPER FLUIDS ALL CAME ON ALL OF A SUDDEN. I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN IT OFF. THEN IT RANDOMLY TURNED OFF SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID MY TIPM WAS BAD. THERE ARE RECALLS OF THE JEEP TIPM BUT NOT FOR MY MODEL YEAR. WTF

NHTSA ID

11042952

Incident

Oct 30, 2017

Mileage

140,000 mi

MY VEHICLE BEGINS TO ACT AS IF IT IS POSSESSED. WHEN DRIVING ALL DASH LIGHTS WILL FLASH, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL TURN ON, WASHER FLUID WILL SHOOT OUT. ALSO WHILE DRIVING EVERYTHING WILL LOCK UP MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. WHEN PARKED, THE VEHICLE WILL STRUGGLE TO START AND ALL OF THE OTHER SYMPTOMS LISTED ABOVE OCCUR.

NHTSA ID

11033508

Incident

Oct 16, 2017

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, FLAMES COULD BE SEEN UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. ..UPDATED 07/21/17 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED A REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSUMED THE GAS LINE RUPTURED. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT IN POSSESSION OF THE REPORT. UPDATED 08/09/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

10991008

Incident

May 8, 2017

Mileage

140,000 mi

THE ENGINE USES EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. 1.5 QUARTS PER 1000 MILES AT THE MINIMUM. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT COST AND HAS BEEN VERIFIED AS A ISSUE IN MULTIPLE JEEP WRANGLERS WITH THIS ISSUE. CHRYSLER CORP. HAS CEASED PRODUCTION FROM THE PLANT IN MEXICO WHICH BUILDS THESE ENGINES, BUT REFUSES TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. SEE COMPLAINTS BELOW: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/JEEP/WRANGLER/2008/ENGINE/EXCESSIVE_OIL_CONSUMPTION.SHTML HTTP://WWW.WRANGLERFORUM.COM/F274/LOSING-OIL-83379.HTML HTTP://WWW.JKOWNERS.COM/FORUM/JK-GENERAL-DISCUSSION/76341-OIL-MAGICALLY-DISAPPEARING-3-8L.HTML

NHTSA ID

10950344

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

SPUN REAR BEARING WHICH LEAD TO ENGINE BURNING ALL OIL IN 3500 MILES AND ENGINE LOCKING UP. LOCK UP OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AND STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

10893013

Incident

May 24, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND RESUMED DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING DAMPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID

10871190

Incident

Mar 15, 2016

Mileage

78,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT DURING A SNOW STORM AT APPROX. 50 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE LIGHTS STARTED GOING ON AND OFF. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER AND STOP. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT IT WOULD NOT (THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO FLICKER ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY, THEY FINALLY STOPPED AFTER I TURNED THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON. I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND IT STARTED BUT THE LIGHTS STARTED THEIR ON AND OFF DANCE AGAIN SO I WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SHUTTING IT OFF AND MANAGED TO GET THE LIGHT TO STOP BY TURNING THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS OFF THEN ON AGAIN. AFTER APPROX. 15 TO 20 MINUTE I TRIED A RESTART AND IT STARTED WITH NO SYMPTOM'S SO I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10808220

Incident

Dec 2, 2015

Mileage

148,000 mi

CAR PARKED AND STATIONARY AT HOME. OPENED THE REAR DOOR (WITH KEYS IN HAND, NOT IN IGNITION) AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED GOING AND THE RUNNING LIGHTS CAME ON. AFTER 1-2 MINUTES THE HORN STARTED BLOWING AND THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR CAME ON. PUTTING THE KEY IN IGNITION OR NOT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. PULLED THE POSITIVE TERMINAL OFF OF THE BATTERY AND EVERYTHING STOPPED. RECONNECTED THE POSITIVE TERMINAL AND NOTHING UNUSUAL HAPPENED. TRIED STARTING THE CAR TO TEST AND THE KEY ACTIVATED THE DASH BUT WOULD NOT START THE ENGINE BUT NORMAL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. WHILE TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS (SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, PARK, ON, OFF, ETC) THE WIPERS (FRONT AND REAR), BLOWER, RUNNING LIGHTS AND HORN ALL CAME BACK ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED WITHOUT TURNING THE KEY FROM RUN TO START. WIPERS AND BLOWER SPEED CHANGED WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY CONTROLS. BLOWER SPEED COULD BE CHANGED THROUGH SWITCH, BUT WHEN BLOWER SWITCH TURNED TO OFF, BLOWER WENT TO HIGH SPEED. PULLED POSITIVE TERMINAL AND NEGATIVE TERMINALS FROM BATTERY WITH NO CHANGE ' EVERYTHING STILL RUNNING. HAD TO PULL WIRES OFF THE ALTERNATOR TO STOP EVERYTHING. THE HEATER BLOWER HAD STOPPED ON THIS VEHICLE A YEAR OR SO AGO AND AFTER TESTING AND REPLACING ALL BLOWER PARTS WITH NEW PARTS IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIPM WAS AT FAULT. TIPM HAS NOT YET BEEN REPLACED (BUT WILL BE). IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN MOTION, IT WOULD HAVE (AT THE VERY LEAST) PANICKED THE DRIVER. I AM GOING TO RECONNECT THE BATTERY AND ATTEMPT TO VIDEO THE RESULTS.

NHTSA ID

10807321

Incident

Nov 28, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

AFTER MANY LONG ROAD TRIPS THE ENGINE ALWAYS SEEMS TO SMELL SLIGHTLY HOT. I WAS ASSURED IT WAS JUST BECAUSE OF LONG DISTANCES. THIS PAST WEEKEND AFTER A LONG ROAD TRIP, I PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE, AND LATER THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES WRECKING NOT ONLY THE JEEP BUT ALSO THE HOUSE IT WAS PARKED IN.

NHTSA ID

10778481

Incident

Sep 28, 2015

Mileage

110,000 mi

I JUST RECENTLY BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AND THE JEEP HADN'T HAVE HAD ANY ISSUES AND THE JEEP JUST RANDOMLY DIDN'T START. I FINALLY GOT IT TO START JUST TO FIND OUT IT WAS A KEY MODULE AND PROGRAM WIRELESS MODULE. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH THIS IS A REGULAR PROBLEM IN (07-08 MODELS).

NHTSA ID

10730262

Incident

Jun 23, 2015

Mileage

153,755 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT EXTREMELY HOT THROUGH THE CONSOLE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE AND A FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10714310

Incident

May 2, 2015

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10704298

Incident

Apr 1, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi