RoadVitals

2011 Jeep Wrangler Powertrain (other) Problems

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

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) 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.
32
Latest Aug 12, 2024
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.
7%
of 483 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.
4
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

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Jeep Wrangler submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 32 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 powertrain

The 25 most recent of 32, in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 12, 2024

1. Battery, then alternator, now powertrain control module. 2. Yes, could have been stuck on one of the busiest roads in town. 3. Driving home from work and noticed my radio went off and the noticed lights flashing on my dashboard. My car was chugging so pulled off the road. Once on the side, it just shut down. Tried to restart and nothing happened. Called AAA and they said I needed a new battery and told me my alternator was in the danger mode. Took my jeep to a car repair service and told me they had to replace the alternator, but that this a common problem with my year jeep and it still won't be fixed and battery will still die again because the powertrain control module needs to be replaced. Gave me documents that show the number of jeeps brought into their service center with the same problem. Can't get into a jeep dealership for service until August 29, 2 2024. 4. The engine light has been on for a long time but everyone told me it wasn't anything to worry about, a electronic issue. Low tire light would come on and off at various times for a few years and tires would not be low. Also, my passenger side airbag light comes on and off all the time in the past 6 months. I believe this was a recall and was supposed to be fixed. Obviously this has all been part of the powertrain control module not working correctly. All other lights that came on when my battery died never came on before that incident.

NHTSA ID
11607934
Incident
Aug 8, 2024
Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension
Filed Jan 17, 2022

I have been experiencing the "death Wobble" for many years, and have gone to various shops to find out the problem but have not been able to fix the "death wobble". The entire car shakes and vibrates uncontrollably when I drive on the free way over a bump, or even when I drive on a regular street and hit a bump. The shaking doesn't stop until I come to a complete stop, and that is very dangerous on the freeway. Once the "death wobble" is going on braking and controlling the jeep are nearly impossible. I have recently found out about a class action lawsuit for this very problem, and I believe my car qualifies to be part of this. I have not been able to document this because it doesn't always happen, and when it does I don't have a camera running.

NHTSA ID
11447794
Incident
Dec 11, 2011
Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 21, 2019

THE AXEL ASSEMBLY. JEEP HAS EXTREMELY LOW MILES AND I HAVE NOTHING BUT ISSUES WITH THE AXELS AT THE FRONT OF MY JEEP

NHTSA ID
11245425
Incident
Sep 7, 2018
Mileage
74,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 10, 2019
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ROLLED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. DURING THE INCIDENT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS IN FIRST GEAR. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER (1200 E. CARROLL ST, TULLAHOMA, TN) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID
11219071
Incident
Mar 1, 2019
Mileage
50,000 mi
Body & structureEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 24, 2019
Fire reported

STARTED ON FIRE,STRUGGLED GOING UP HILL THEN STARTED ON FRE

NHTSA ID
11171791
Incident
Jan 22, 2019
Mileage
70,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 7, 2019

MY JEEP WAS UNABLE TO GO INTO REVERSE, WENT AND GOT THE CHECKED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. WHEN I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IT HAD ONLY 8K MILES ON IT I KEPT THE MANTINANCE UP ON THE JEEP UNBELIEVABLE THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON A 2011 JEEP. SO DISAPPOINTED.

NHTSA ID
11165032
Incident
Jan 2, 2019
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 30, 2018

VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR AT RANDOM TIMES.

NHTSA ID
11091092
Incident
Apr 3, 2018
Mileage
60,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 25, 2018

OUR JEEP HAS BEEN "SLIPPING" OUT OF GEAR, NO KNOWN CAUSE HAS BEEN FOUND. THE JEEP WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN IN GEAR (MANUAL) WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING, HE DOWNSHIFTED AND IT GOT WORSE FROM THERE. MY HUSBAND PULLED OVER THE JEEP AND WAS UNABLE TO GET POWER TO START AND PLACE IN GEAR.

NHTSA ID
11074724
Incident
Feb 23, 2018
Mileage
60,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 11, 2017

I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY THROW OUT BEARING PRELOAD ON MY JEEP. I HAVE NOTICED THERE IS A TSB 06-002-07 FOR THE TJ AND JK WRANGLERS YEAR 2007 AND BEFORE. I HAVE CALLED JEEP AND THEY HAVE NO RECORD ON THE THROW OUT BEARING FOR MY YEAR JEEP. AS SOON AS I GO TO GOOGLE THERE'S 100S OF PAGES ABOUT PRELOAD PROBLEMS ON THE THROW OUT BEARING. THEY HAVE ALSO RECOMMENDED A BEARING THREW NATIONAL BEARING AND SEALS BUT I HAVEN'T TRIED THAT YET. I HAD IT REPLACED IN NOVEMBER 2016 AND ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH CARMAX SAYING IT WAS MY DRIVING AND ALSO I HAD TO GO BACK AND FORTH MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE OF THERE FAULTY WORK. IT STARTED TO ACT UP AGAIN LOAD SQUEAL WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND THE NOISE GOES AWAY WHEN PRESSED (AT A STOP IN NUETRAL) ALSO LOUD WHEN DRIVING WHEN CLUTCH IS RELEASED SAME NOICE. I'M NOT SURE WHO ELSE TO TALK TO ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE JEEP WAS NOT SO HELPFUL. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID
11014671
Incident
Nov 6, 2016
Mileage
75,938 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 10, 2017

AT 73,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. FOR NO REASON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I WAS DRIVING, IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE TO THE CAR THAT WOULD HAVE WARNED ME THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS MIGHT HAPPEN. I WAS JUST DRIVING NORMALLY, GOING TO WORK.

NHTSA ID
10984731
Incident
Apr 29, 2017
Mileage
73,000 mi
AirbagsPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 28, 2016

JEEP DOES NOT GO INTO REVERSE. WHEN IN REVERSE IT IS LIKE PARK.. ALL THE POSITIONS ARE OFF AND NOT WHAT THEY SHOULD BE . COULD IT BE SHIFT CONTROL. ALSO WHY WASN'T PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR PROBLEM NOTIFIED TO JEEP OWNER ? WILL A LOANER AUTO BE GIVING WHILE JEEP IS BEING REPAIRED ? *TR

NHTSA ID
10928233
Incident
Nov 23, 2016
Mileage
67,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE, THE TIRES SEIZED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE ONCE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ID
10874696
Incident
Jun 2, 2016
Mileage
63,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 11, 2016
Fire reported

MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2016 4:21 PM TRANSMISSION FIRE. 2011 JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON WITH 81K MILES ALL MAINTENANCE. NO MODIFICATIONS AND NO OFF ROADING. LOST POWER ON AN INCLINED ROAD. THEN THE CAR SHUT OFF AFTER ALL THE PANELS WENT CRAZY AND THEN BLACK SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF THE HOOD AREA. ONLY THING THAT KEPT MY CAR FROM GOING UP IN FLAMES WAS IT WAS POURING DOWN RAIN AND I WAS ON AN INCLINE. THE 100000 MILE / 5 YEAR POWER TRAN WARRANTY ENDED THE DAY BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. AT THE TIME I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS AN ENGINE FIRE DO TO THE RAIN AND ALL THE BLACK SMOKE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NO HELP AND BOTH DID NOT EVEN MENTION FIRE UNTIL I DID FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND HAD A PRIVATE MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF WAITING ON AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER TO COMPLETE THEIR INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA ID
10819542
Incident
Nov 23, 2015
Mileage
81,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Oct 16, 2015

TWICE IN LAST 2YRS MY STANDARD WRANGLER HAS REFUSED TO SHIFT INTO GEER AND MADE A WINDING NOISE.. THEN STALLED AND REFUSED TO START FOR UPTO 10 MIN. IT HAPPEND LAST FAL WITH APPROX 2900 MILES ON IT THEN AGAIN A FEW DAYS AGO WITH 4800 MILES... NOT SURE WHY OR WHAT IS CAUSE NOTHING IS WRONG ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP GARAGE. ALSO HITTING ANY LITTLE BUMP FOR THE LAST 30000 MILES HAS MADE JEEP JUMP LIKE THE REAREND IS FLOPPING TO ONE SIDE ALSO HARD BREAKING CAUSES SAME ISSUE.. ALL SUSPENSION PARTS ARE EITHER NEW OR NEWER.. LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE TRIED TO FIX THAT ISSUE AND FAILED... I AM AFRAID THESE ISSUES WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
10782603
Incident
Oct 9, 2015
Mileage
28,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 21, 2015

GEAR CABLE DISCONNECTS AND CANNOT GET CAR OUT OF DRIVE TO PUT INTO PARK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10712077
Incident
Apr 14, 2015
Mileage
25,100 mi
Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 10, 2015

I EXPERIENCED THE SO- CALLED DEATH WOBBLE LAST NIGHT AND THIS MORNING ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. I WAS GOING JUST ABOVE 40MPH. IT FEELS LIKE AN UNBALANCED WHEEL? IF I WOULD LEAVE OFF THE THROTTLE JUST A BIT AND KEEP IT SMOOTH AT 40 MPH IT WOULD GO AWAY. I COULDN'T IMAGINE THE OTHER OWNERS WHO WERE GOING MUCH FASTER WHAT THEY MUST HAVE EXPERIENCED. THIS NEEDS FIXED AND I WILL BE AT THE DEALERSHIP EXPRESSING MY CONCERNS. I HOPE NO ONE GETS HURT BY THIS ! *TR

NHTSA ID
10693185
Incident
Mar 10, 2015
Mileage
46,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 28, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED A LEAK FROM THE TRANSMISSION LINE. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LINE WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,772.

NHTSA ID
10679525
Incident
Jan 16, 2015
Mileage
47,772 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Dec 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V234000 (POWER TRAIN, STEERING) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR AND WERE ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10663476
Incident
Jul 28, 2014
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 31, 2014

SLUGGISH JOLTING OF THE CAR DRIVING IN 4WD, ESPECIALLY IN REVERSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10629670
Incident
Mar 20, 2014
Mileage
28,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 4, 2014

2011 JEEP WRANGLER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE FASTENER TORQUE DEFECT RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A FLIER, INSTEAD OF A REGULAR RECALL NOTICE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT WAS A PLOY, TO TRY AND GET HIM TO SELL HIS VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10618554
Incident
Jul 9, 2014
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 22, 2014

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY VEHICLE LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE KEY OFF THEN ON AGAIN AND START IT WHILE IN NEUTRAL. IT WAS JUST AFTER HITTING A LARGE SEAM IN THE HIGHWAY. I LATER REPLICATED THE INCIDENT IN A VACANT PARKING LOT AND FOUND THAT I COULD BE DRIVING BUMP THE KEYS AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN. ALSO GAVE A QUICK DOWNWARD TUG TO MY KEY RING SIMULATING HITTING A BUMP AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AT THAT POINT ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10605056
Incident
Jun 16, 2014
Mileage
35,000 mi
ElectricalFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 18, 2014
Fire reported

USING MY 2011 JEEP WRANGLER (RIGHT HAND DRIVE), I DELIVER MAIL FOR THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. WAS DELIVERING MAIL ON MY RURAL ROUTE. DATE WAS 4TH OF FEB.2014. THE PROBLEM WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WIRING HARNESS , MANY OTHER WIRES, COMPARTMENT PLASTICS ,AND GAS LINE. THE CAUSE APPEARS TO BE HOT OIL FROM THE TRANSMISSION DIPPING ONTO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION . I ONLY SEE THAT THE FILL TUBE ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE LEAK. I HEARD A FIRE IGNITE , OPEN THE CAR HOOD AND SEEN THE BLACK SMOKE I THEN PUT OUT THE FIRE. IT IS NOW THE DATE-MARCH 18 ,2014. I HAVE NO SUPPORT FROM CHRYSLER CORPORATION FOR REPAIR OF MY PROBLEM. THEIR INVESTIGATION STATED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT FOUND NO MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE INCIDENT ON 2-3-2014. I HAVE NOW TURNED THIS OVER TO MY CAR INSURANCE COMPANY . THEY SAY I SHOULD USE THE LEMON LAW. THIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR A BAD TRANSMISSION IN NOV. OF 2013. I DO NOT SEE WHY I SHOULD OF HAD MORE PROBLEMS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY COST TO REPAIR IS $5000. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER FOR THE JEEP ,A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD COST ME PERSONALLY $5000. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID
10573180
Incident
Feb 3, 2014
Mileage
69,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 29, 2013

I WAS DRIVING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE (OFF ROAD) FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-4 MILES WHEN THE "HOT OIL" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS NOT IN FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE. I WAS NOT TOWING ANY TRAILER OR DEVICE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS DID NOT WARRANT FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION. THIS SITUATION REPEATED ITSELF 2 MORE TIMES THE NEXT FOLLOWING DAY. I DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE WITH A LOCAL JEEP DEALER AND WITH THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER REP, BUT WITH NO SATISFACTION. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO PAY TO INSTALL A TRANSMISSION COOLER AT MY COST. SURE IS NICE TO HAVE A "TRAIL-RATED" JEEP WRANGLER THAT CAN NOT HANDLE A SLIGHT INCLINE!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10550063
Incident
Oct 20, 2013
Mileage
40,100 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 28, 2013

WHILE DRIVING UNDER 30 MPH ON ASPHALT, DASH DISPLAY INDICATED "HOT OIL" WITH AN AUDIBLE DING. PLACED IN PARK AND ALLOWED THE TRANSMISSION TO COOL DOWN. FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY JEEP, HOWEVER AFTER RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION COOLER NOT DOING ITS JOB. CAN RESULT IN EQUIPMENT FAILURE OR FIRE. JEEP CORRECTS ISSUE AFTER A FAILURE, HOWEVER IF YOU WAIT FOR FAILURE THEN YOU RISK FIRE. WITH 2 CHILDREN AND MY WIFE IN THE JEEP, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED NOW FOR SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10532228
Incident
Jul 26, 2013
Mileage
15,200 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 16, 2013

TRANSMISSION IS A STANDARD SHIFT WHEN I LET OUT ON CLUTCH THE ENGINE WILL STALL. AT FIRST I THOUGHT BECAUSE I WAS NOT LETTING OUT ON CLUTCH PROPERLY AND HAD TO GET USED TO DRIVING IT.MY BOY FRIEND WHO DRIVES A DIESEL TRUCK WITH A STANDARD EVERYDAY HAD THE INCIDENT HAPPEN TO HIM AND SUGGESTED WE TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE .WHICH THEY SAID THEY TEST DROVE AND CONCLUDED NO PROBLEMS MANY TIMES BACK TO DEALERSHIP WITH NO LUCK NOW I'M OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS IT STALLS ALL THE TIME WHEN I SIT AND IDLE AT A RED LIGHT OR A CROSS ROAD AT A STOP SIGN WHEN I LET OUT ON CLUTCH IT STARTS ROLLING FINE WHEN CLUTCH IS DISENGAGED IT WILL NOT TAKE THE GAS THEN ENGINE WILL SPUTTER THEN DIE. CAN SOMEONE FROM YOUR AGENCY TEST MY JEEP PLEASE IT IS GOING TO CAUSE ME TO GET INTO A WRECK. I LIVE IN MOBILE ALABAMA. *TR

NHTSA ID
10508489
Incident
May 28, 2011
Mileage
10 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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