RoadVitals

2009 Jeep Wrangler Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
33
Latest Jun 27, 2025
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.
9%
of 368 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.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Jeep Wrangler submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 33 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 electrical

The 25 most recent of 33, in the owner's own words

ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jun 27, 2025

Turned on ignition and wipers and headlights turned on with no control, car ignition beeped constantly, all dash lights illuminated, all gauges stopped working (speedometer, fuel, tachometer, temperature) and there was a clicking noise on the transmission. Had to drive home hoping my electrical system wouldn’t shut down while driving home. Narrowed down to faulty TIPM.

NHTSA ID
11669688
Incident
Jun 27, 2025
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 24, 2023
Fire reported

My Jeep Wrangler warning light cycled on under normal driving conditions. I drove it to my mechanic he said the code read was for the transmission. We checked the transmission fluid and it was filled with fluid. I drove it home into my driveway and I saw smoke and looked under the vehicle. I didn't find anything. When I stood up and walked around the vehicle I noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. I lifted the hood and flames where present. I closed the hood and ran for fire extinguishers to put out the fire. The Jeep has always been maintained and only has 92k miles on it. The whole incident was captured on my Ring Camera.

NHTSA ID
11503362
Incident
Jan 23, 2023
BrakesElectricalSuspension
Filed Dec 27, 2022

Frank Hyundai sold this vehicle with significant structural damage to everything that is metal due to rust.

NHTSA ID
11499095
Incident
Sep 23, 2022
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 16, 2022

TIPM failure while driving is very unsafe. Can cause lights, wipers, and other failures while driving, including intermittent dangerous stalling and non starting. Please don’t wait until deaths or injury occur before action of this widely known issue.

NHTSA ID
11484803
Incident
Sep 14, 2022
BrakesElectrical
Filed Apr 14, 2022

It has been a common known issue for at least the past year for Chrysler/JEEP to have faulty ABS modules in their vehicles. The ABS control module is a microprocessor that runs diagnostic checks of a vehicle's antilock braking system and processes information from wheel-speed sensors and the hydraulic brake system to determine when to release braking pressure at a wheel that's about to lock up and start skidding. It is probably one of the most important parts of a vehicle to make it safe. My local Jeep dealership said to me today that Chrysler plans to be able to allow them to order this part in February of 2023. I feel this is unacceptable, very unsafe and lives can be lost if the production of this part does not come sooner.

NHTSA ID
11460745
Incident
Feb 1, 2021
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Apr 16, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON OR OFF. ADDITIONALLY, THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE REVERSE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD INADVERTENTLY LY TURN ON. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT YET DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER CLAY COOLEY DODGE LOCATED AT 1261 E AIRPORT FWY, IRVING, TX 75062 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE THROTTLE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
11408454
Incident
Nov 1, 2019
Mileage
110,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 29, 2021

TIPM HAS EVERYTHING GOING CRAZY. WHEN THE JEEP IS STARTED THE WRIPER START WIPING AND THE THE LIGHTS QUIT AND THERE ARE NO BLINKERS. ALSO HAPPEN WHEN IN MOVEMENT.

NHTSA ID
11405357
Incident
Mar 12, 2021
Mileage
74,532 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 24, 2020

AFTER DRIVING IN THE RAIN WITH NO LEAKS EVIDENT THE NEXT DAY THE CAR HAD THE WIPERS RUNNING EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH WAS IN "OFF". THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SWITCHED "OFF" AND THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES ARE ALL NON FUNCTIONAL AS WELL AS THE ODOMETER AND DOME LIGHT. REMOVING BATTERY CABLE FIXES THE ISSUE ONE TIME THEN IT GOES BACK TO NOT WORKING

NHTSA ID
11322150
Incident
Apr 16, 2020
Mileage
63,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 1, 2020

ALL WARNING LIGHTS ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TURNED ON AND THERE WAS A CONSTANT CHIME. FUEL GAGE DROPPED TO EMPTY, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I HAD. THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER NO LONGER WORKED, I HAD NO IDEA HOW FAST/SLOW I WAS GOING. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STAYED ON CONSTANTLY, IN THE OFF POSITION, EVENTUALLY DESTROYING MY BLADES. HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON CONSTANTLY IN THE OFF POSITION AND BLINKERS WOULD NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. HORN WOULD RANDOMLY GO OFF AND DOORS WOULD LOCK & UNLOCK. AC BLEW HOT. IT KIND OF FELT LIKE MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I COULD SMELL STRONG FUMES FROM THE EXHAUST. I FIRST REPLACED THE TIPM AND SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WERE FIXED, BUT NOT ALL. I THEN REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND ALL PREVIOUS UNRESOLVED ISSUES, WERE RESOLVED. WHEN THE PROBLEMS FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, IT ONLY HAPPENED OCCASIONALLY. IT HAPPENED AT RANDOM TIMES, DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS OR STREETS OR SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. AFTER A FEW MONTHS IT WAS CONSTANT AND WOULD START AS SOON AS VEHICLE WAS STARTED.

NHTSA ID
11319965
Incident
Oct 13, 2019
Mileage
47,500 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 12, 2019

DURING A "DEATH WOBBLE" EVENT, MY PASSENGER SIDE BLINKERS AND BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING. WE ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE BULBS, FUSES, AND CHECKED THE WIRING UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN TO NO AVAIL. HOW MUCH MORE IS THIS VEHICLE COST ME?

NHTSA ID
11288746
Incident
Oct 1, 2018
Mileage
150,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 2, 2019

CLOCK SPRING IN STEERING COLUMN HAS FAILED. AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON, HORN DOES NOT WORK, CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON. I DRIVE IN VERY DUSTY CONDITIONS WHILE DELIVERING US MAIL, RECORDS SHOW A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS JEEP AND THIS PROBLEM. RECORDS ALSO INDICATE THAT THE RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED. BUT I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX? WHAT CAN I DO?

NHTSA ID
11205159
Incident
Apr 16, 2019
Mileage
172,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 24, 2019

COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. UNABLE TO JUMP START VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11182199
Incident
Feb 22, 2019
Mileage
95,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 5, 2019

LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, POWER WINDOWS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, RADIO WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THE JEEP WRANGLER

NHTSA ID
11174462
Incident
Jan 27, 2019
Mileage
80,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Aug 6, 2017

WIPERS TURN ON BY THEMSELVES, SOMETIMES WON'T WORK WHEN DRIVING. RADIO CONSTANTLY REPROGRAMMING ITSELF. HEADLIGHTS SOMETIMES COME ON WITHOUT TURNING THEM ON YET OCCASIONALLY WON'T WORK WHEN DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING I'VE HAD THE RADIO SHUT OFF, TRIP ODOMETER RESET, MILEAGE RESET, IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE CPU RESETS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. LASTLY, IVE HAD THE ENTIRE JEEP STALL WHILE STOPPED AT INTERSECTIONS. MOST TIMES IT TAKES 2-3 CRANKS TO GET IT STARTED. NOTHING LIGHTS UP ON THE DASH WHEN I TRY TO START IT. THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 30-40 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. THE RADIO REPROGRAMMING ITSELF HAPPENS DAILY.

NHTSA ID
11013093
Incident
Aug 5, 2017
Mileage
120,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 14, 2017

THE VEHICLE HAS SOME TYPE OF SHORT IN THE STARTER CIRCUIT, SO POWER DOES NOT TRANSMIT TO THE STARTER WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON JKFORUM AS WELL WITH A SOLUTION OF ADDING A GROUND WIRE.

NHTSA ID
10965994
Incident
Sep 5, 2016
Mileage
45,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 30, 2017
Fire reported

I WAS DELIVERING MAIL, AND WHILE STOPPED AT A BOX I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD. I PULLED INTO THE NEAREST DRIVEWAY, AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE JUST BEFORE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WENT UP IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ID
10948591
Incident
Jan 26, 2017
Mileage
166,860 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Dec 19, 2016

THE WIPERS KEEP TURNING ON BY THEMSELVES AND SOMETIMES WON'T SHUT OFF. THEY ALSO SOMETIMES COME ON WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS ARE USED, AND AGAIN SOMETIMES WON'T TURN OFF. THEY SOMETIMES WON'T TURN ON. ALSO, BULBS, SUCH AS HEADLIGHT, MARKERS, AND FOG LIGHTS KEEP BLOWING OUT ON AN EXTREMELY FREQUENT BASIS. ALL THESE THING HAPPEN WHEN THE JEEP IS BOTH IN MOTION AND IDLING BOTH ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAY DRIVING.....GOING FOREWORD AND DURING MID TURN. WHILE ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. ALL OCCURRENCES HAVE HAPPENED DURING ALL 4 NEW YORK SEASONS. AND AT NO SPECIFIC TIME OF DAY. WE HAVE NO PHOTOS BUT THIS HAPPENS AT VARIOUS TIMES AND HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE THE JEEP WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2010 AND THIS WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALERSHIP WHICH INFORMED ME THAT THEY DID NOT PHYSICALLY "SEE" IT HAPPEN THEREFORE COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. I WILL PUT A DATE IN THE "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN BOX" BELOW AS A START POINT...BUT KNOW IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN TO THIS DAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10936141
Incident
Nov 1, 2009
Electrical
Filed Jul 15, 2016
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THERE WAS AN ODOR OF BURNING RUBBER OR PLASTIC INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A STORAGE LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ID
10885056
Incident
Jul 14, 2016
Mileage
82,000 mi
ElectricalSteeringSuspension
Filed Jun 28, 2016

VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE JEEP GOES OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THIS IS A REGULAR OCCURRENCE. THE LAST INCIDENT, THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON THE DASH PANEL CAME ON AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TURN OFF SINCE THEN. HAPPENS MOSTLY ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT 45-55 MPH.

NHTSA ID
10881353
Incident
Jun 24, 2016
Mileage
62,224 mi
Electrical
Filed May 15, 2016
Fire reported

MY JEEP WENT ON FIRE DO TO A BAD OR FULTY FUSE BOX. REPORTS SAY ITS A BAD MODULE IN THE FUSE BOX.AND IT WILL GET HOT ENOUGH TO START A FIRE. AND WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY FOR 2 DAYS.

NHTSA ID
10864970
Incident
May 7, 2016
Mileage
115,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 16, 2016

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN ON I WOULD HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY TURN THE IGNITION AND FINALLY IT WILL TURN ON. THE VEHICLE HAS RECENTLY BEGAN STALLING AND TURNING OFF WHEN I WOULD BE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND VIBRATING VERY SCARELY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT TO MY MACHANIC WHO STATED IT NEEDED TO HAVE A TUNEUP BECAUSE IT WAS MISFIRING ON FIVE CYLINDERS INSTEAD OF SIX CYLINDERS. THE WAS DONE BUT FIVE DAYS LATER THE PROBLEM RETURNED AND THIS TIME THE TAILLIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE ALONE WITH THE RIGHT SIDE SIGNAL LIGHT WERE BOTH OUT. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JEEP WHO CHARGED ME $140 JUST TO TELL ME THAT IT WOULD COST ME ANOTHER $870 TO REPLACE THE TIPM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD BE HAPPENING ON A VEHICLE WITH 72,000 MILES IF IT WAS NOT DEFECTED TO BEGIN WITH. BARBARA KING

NHTSA ID
10836323
Incident
Jan 2, 2016
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 16, 2015

AS WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER LEFT HAND STEER JEEP OWNERS, OUR AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, HORN DOES NOT WORK, AND CRUISE CONTROL IS INOPERATIVE. NHTSA AND JEEP HAVE DEEMED IT OKAY TO REPAIR THESE PROBLEMS ON THE RIGHT HAND STEER WHICH IS A VERY SMALL PERCENT OF ALL JEEPS. GET ON IT, START THE RECALL, IT IS UNSAFE, AND WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE WHEN JEEP/DODGE/CHRYSLER KNOW THIS IS AN ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS FIXED AND TALKING TO OTHER 2009 OWNERS SINCE MARCH OF 2010. LET'S GO.

NHTSA ID
10783038
Incident
Mar 17, 2010
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 23, 2015
Fire reported

WHILE WORKING MY MAIL ROUTE, ONLY ABOUT 20 MILES IN, MY RIGHT HAND DRIVE WRANGLER STARTED TO SMOKE. I ASSUMED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE NEVER TURNED OFF WHEN IT BEGAN TO SMOKE IT WAS SOMETHING SMALL CAUSING THE ISSUE. I WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I PULLED OVER, SHUT OFF MY VEHICLE AND OPENED THE HOOD. THERE WAS A FIRE ON THE PASSANGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE UNDER AND BEHIND MY BATTERY, ROLLING UNDER THE VEHICLE MOVING VERY QUICKLY. I IMMEDIATELY CLOSED THE HOOD, GOT MY BELONGING OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND WATCHED AS IT BLEW UP, AND I CALLED 911. MY VEHICLE IS TOTALED. I AM NOW LEARNING THAT THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON OCCURANCE WITH JEEP! WHY ARE THERE NO PUBLIC WARNINGS!! WHERE ARE THE RECALLS!!!!!!!! I AND OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED!!!!

NHTSA ID
10775476
Incident
Sep 14, 2015
Mileage
170,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jan 24, 2015

THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE JEEP WRANGLER CLOCK SPRING IN 2007+ MODELS. CURRENTLY A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 2007 AND 2008 LEFT HAND DRIVE MODELS, AND 2007-2012 RIGHT HAND DRIVE MODELS. A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE FOR ALL MODEL YEARS AND CONFIGURATIONS AS THIS ISSUE CAN LEAD TO THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE CURRENT RECALL IS AS FOLLOWS: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2012 RIGHT HAND DRIVE (RHD) JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2007, THROUGH OCTOBER 10, 2011. SOME VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH DRIVER'S AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLIES THAT COULD EXPERIENCE A COMPROMISED AIRBAG CIRCUIT RESULTING IN AN AIRBAG LAMP ILLUMINATION, WHICH INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY. CONSEQUENCE: A BROKEN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT IN THE AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING WIRING ASSEMBLY CAN LEAD TO NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES. REMEDY: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REMEDY THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. CHRYSLER WILL MAIL TO OWNERS AN INTERIM NOTIFICATION DURING MARCH 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403. NOTES: CHRYSLER'S RECALL NUMBER IS L37. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236. *TR

NHTSA ID
10678728
Incident
Nov 7, 2014
Mileage
49,851 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Nov 23, 2014

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON, MAKE A TURN IT GOES OUT THEN COMES BACK ON AND CHIMES IN LESS THAN 60 SECONDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10660385
Incident
Mar 3, 2014

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .