Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Jeep Wrangler submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 30 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.
The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words
The secondary hood latch failed, and was not securing the hood. In the event of a primary hood latch failure, the hood could release and strike the windshield while driving, obscuring vision and potentially causing bodily harm. My research indicates that this is not an isolated incident.
THERE IS GALVANIC CORROSION FORMING ON ALL OF MY HINGES ON MY VEHICLE. THE STEEL HINGES TOUCHING THE ALUMINIUM DOOR PANEL. YOU CAN SEE THE BUBBLING HAPPENING AND IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON JEEP WRANGLERS. EVENTUALLY IT WILL RUST AND CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS BEING THAT IT IS HAPPENING ON ALL OF MY DOOR HINGES. I FIRST NOTICED IT IN 2016 AND IT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. YOU CAN GOOGLE RUST ON WRANGLER DOOR HINGES AND SEE THE THOUSANDS OF PICTURES OF JEEP OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES, OR GO ONTO A JEEP FORUM OR TALK TO ANY JEEP WRANGLER OWNER. I CAN PROVIDE MY OWN PICTURES IF NEEDED I DIDN'T TAKE ANY YET.
PASSENGER CARPET UNDER HAS STANDING WATER.. RUBBER MATS I PURCHASED AND PLACED IN JEEP UPON PURCHASING COVERED WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PRE-EXISTING PROBLEM, UPON REMOVAL OF MAY TO VACUUM FOUND CARPET SOAKED SO DRIED CARPET AND INTERMITTENTLY STILL GETS STANDING WATER HAVE NOT DETERMINED CAUSE APPEARS WHEN RAINING? CAN NOT PIN POINT CAUSE OR WHERE IF A LEAK EXISTS.. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE PURCHASE BUT SINCE MAY COVERED PROBLEM 30 DAY WARRANTY WAS VOIDED. (HADN'T RAINED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASE ANYWAY TO HAVE FOUND EXISTING PROBLEM.. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON JEEP COMPLAINT PER MANY SITES BUT NO CAUSE NOTED. DEALERSHIP WANTS $200. TO TRY AND DUPLICATE PROBLEM TO DIAGNOSIS. PRE~EXISTING AT PURCHASE..
SWAY BAR INDICATOR WON'T STOP BLINK AND I HAVE NEVER USED THIS FUNCTION AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPES GO ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES AND THE PAINT ON THE DOOR HINGES HAVE BEEN BUBBLING SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND I LAID EXTRA FOR THE CAR CARE PACKAGE BUT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR IT
HOOD FLUTTERS AT SPEEDS OVER 30MPH. CONCERNED THE HOOD WOULD FLY UP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS SATURATED WITH WATER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN IT RAINED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS NOT CLOSING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LUCAS CHEVROLET (1622 NJ-38, LUMBERTON, NJ 08048, (609) 447-4152) WHERE BOTH FRONT DOORS WERE RESEALED AS WELL AS THE BPOST MUCKET AND PASSENGER SIDE FREEDOM PANEL SUBLET TO THE WATER DOCTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WHEN I TURN ON THE LEFT BLINKER. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TAILGAIT. AFTER ABOUT 3 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE THE TAILGATE HINGE DID NOT STOP THE TAILGATE FROM OPENING UP A FULL 180 DEGREES CAUSING THE ELBOW JOINT TO COME COMPLETELY OUT AND MY RIGHT TAIL LIGHT TO BE SHATTERED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER SHIP THAT THIS WAS COMMON ISSUE, BUT THEY WOULD NOT RETURN MY CALLS/EMAILS TO GET IT FIXED.
THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER OF 2011. BY APRIL MY WIFE STARTED TO HAVE CONTINUOUS VISITS TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR RESPIRATORY ISSUES. EVENTUALLY I TOOK OUT THE CARPETS AND FOUND IT THERE WAS WATER LEAKING INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON SOME OCCASIONS AFTER IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS ALLEGEDLY FIXED, THERE WAS STANDING WATER ABOUT THREE INCHES IN THE FOOTWELL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS I HAD TO TAKE OUT THE DRAIN PLUGS AND DRAIN THE WATER THE CARPET IS INFESTED WITH MOLD AND MILDEW. MY FAMILY CANNOT MAKE EXTENDED TRIPS IN THE VEHICLE UNLESS I THOROUGHLY VACUUMED DRY AND WIPE EVERY CREVICE OF THE VEHICLE DOWN. I HAVE SEEN THE LEAKING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY I'VE ALSO SEEN THE VEHICLE LEAKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAVE CONTACTED FCA (FIAT CHRYSLER OF AMERICA) ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WAS INFORMED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHICH I'VE ALREADY DONE SO I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE JEEP COMMUNITY AND I'VE TALKED TO MY LOCAL JEEP DEALER AND THEY STATED SINCE THE VEHICLES OUT OF WARRANTY THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK IN AND PAY NUMEROUS FEES IN ORDER FOR THEM TO FIX THE VEHICLE FROM LEAKING WHICH THEY HAVE REPLACE THE SEALS ON THE DOOR ONCE AND THAT HAS NOT REMEDY THE SITUATION. I DON'T THINK IT IS FAIR THAT THE OWNER WHO HAS REALLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE OUT OFFROAD THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY TOUCHED SAND AND GRAVEL ROADS AND HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING EXTREME. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW FROM FCA DEALERSHIPS ARE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF FAMILY'S HEALTH AND SAFETY BY NOT FIXING THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL FLAW. THE MOLD AND MILDEW CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER AND THEIR PASSENGERS DO YOU HAVE ASTHMA ATTACKS AND OTHER HEALTH-RELATED ISSUES.
REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BUTTON IS NOT RELEASING AFTER OPENING (STICKING). THEREFORE, DOOR SOMETIMES DOES NOT LATCH SHUT AND COMES OPEN WHILE DRIVING. ALTHOUGH, PROPERLY BUCKLED, SAFETY CONCERN IS DUE TO REAR PASSENGERS, SUCH AS CHILDREN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE CLEANING THE VEHICLE AND REMOVING THE FLOOR MAT, THE FLOOR WAS SATURATED WITH WATER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TAPE FOAM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND DOOR SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DOORS NEEDED TO BE READJUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 20 TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000....UPDATED 03-10-16 *BF UPDATED 05/09/18 *JB *CN
ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE RIGHT SIDE TIRE BRAKE ENGAGED AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A BRICK SIGN WITH MY RIGHT SIDE AT ABOUT 25 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND MY FRONT END IS COMPLETELY DESTROY.
WHEN IT RAINS OR I WASH THE 3 PC HARD TOP LEAKS HEAVY RAIN AND I HAVE 1-2 INCHES OF STANDING WATER IN FLOOR PANS I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE ON JEEP OWNER FORUMS AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WET MUSTY SMELL DURING HOT WEATHER. NOT GOOD AT ALL
2012 JEEP WRANGLER WAS A "POSTAL VEHICLE", IN THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. DRIVER ERROR OCCURRED, IN THAT DRIVER WAS ON RIGHT SHOULDER OF TWO LANE HIGHWAY, BUT PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC TO PERFORM "A 180" DEGREE TURN IN ORDER TO REVERSE DIRECTION. DRIVER DID NOT PROPERLY YIELD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. WHEN ENTERING HIGHWAY, VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ONCOMING, SPEEDING CAR. CRASH RESULTED. IMPACT WAS SO SEVERE THAT FEMALE PASSENGER IN BACK SEAT WHO WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT WAS EJECTED (AND KILLED). SEAT BELT WAS TORN DUE TO FORCE. ROOF COVER WAS INSUFFICIENT TO STOP EJECTION. MALE PASSENGER IN BACK SEAT, ALSO BELTED, WAS ALSO KILLED. INJURIES TO TWO PASSENGERS IN FRONT SEAT. POSSIBLE DEFECTS INCLUDE THE DESIGN DEFECTS INHERENT IN RIGHT-SIDED STEERING WHEEL, AND ALSO THE SEAT BELT SHEARING, PLUS ROOF COVER FAILURE DURING CRASH.
I WAS GETTING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY FROM ABOUT AN HOUR COMMUTE HOME WHEN THE DRIVER DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, I TRIED TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER DOOR TO GET OUT, AND I COULDN'T. TRIED TO GET OUT THE PASSENGER, COULDN'T. I TOOK OFF MY JACKET, AND TRIED TO SMOTHER THE FIRE. IT DIDN'T WORK. I CRAWLED OUT THE BACK DOOR (NOT LOCKED FOR SOME REASON). PEOPLE STOPPED TO HELP, WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THREW SNOW IN THE DOOR UNTIL THE FIRE STOPPED. FIREFIGHTERS THEN DISASSEMBLED THE DOOR TO MAKE SURE THE FIRE REALLY WAS OUT. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A SHOP. *TR
REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT TIME OF IMPACT OR AT ALL. NOTICED THAT THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK AS WELL AS THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS. APPARENTLY THIS IS A ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED SOME SERIOUS INJURIES. *TR
THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR LESS THAN 15 MINUTES. UPON PULLING UP TO THE STOP LIGHT, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE HOOD THEN VENTILATION. AFTER GETTING KIDS OUT OF THE CAR, I USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR. ONCE THE EXTINGUISHER WAS EXHAUSTED, THERE WAS STILL SMOKE AND SMALL FLAMES. AT THIS POINT, THERE WERE FLAMING PIECES DROPPING FROM UNDERNEATH. I THEN GOT SAFELY AWAY AND WAITED UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE FIRE WAS SIGNIFICANT. IT MELTED THE FRONT END BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. *TR
REAR GATE STOPPER FAILED & BROKE OFF WHEN REAR GATE WAS OPENED ON A REASONABLY FLAT SURFACE, FORCING GATE TO RAPIDLY OPEN MUCH WIDER THAN NORMAL, WHICH ALSO BROKE THE PLASTIC INTERIOR COMPONENTS AND PLASTIC HINGE COVERS. *TR SAFETY CONCERNS ARE: THE METAL STOPPER SNAPPING AND HITTING SOMEONE / HAVING JAGGED EDGE WHEN IT SNAPS. THE REAR GATE UNEXPECTEDLY SWINGING OPEN WIDER THAN EXPECTED AND HITTING SOMEONE. WHEN THE STOPPER SNAPPED IT WAS RATHER SUDDEN & THE GATE REALLY SWUNG OPEN QUICKLY IN A WAY WHICH COULD HURT A CHILD OR ELDERLY PERSON IF THEY WERE STANDING NEAR THE VEHICLE.
CHRYSLER HAS A SAFETY RECALL NUMBER N28. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I CAN NOT HAVE MY CAR FIXED PER RECALL GUIDELINES BECAUSE MOPAR STOPPED MAKING THE PARTS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD AT THIS POINT IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS TO RECEIVE SERVICE. THE RECALL STATES THAT DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION LINE CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO HAVE LOSS OF TRANSMISSION. I DRIVE 3 YOUNG CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 10 YEARS OLD EVERY DAY TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND CAN NOT GET ANY ACCOUNTABILITY FROM JEEP. I AM HOPING YOU CAN INVESTIGATE WHY CHRYSLER HAS STOPPED MAKING THE PART AND WHY THEY CAN NOT PERFORM ANY MAINTENANCE FOR ANY OWNERS PER THE RECALL REQUIREMENTS. *TR
OUR 2012 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED HAS STOCK WHEELS AND RIMS, IN FACT IT HAS THE SMALLEST STOCK WHEELS AND RIMS OFFERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. WE HAVE NOT "UPSIZED" OUR WHEELS AND RIMS WITH AFTERMARKET PRODUCTS. THE METAL "STRAP" (THAT'S WHAT THEY CALL IT AT THE DEALER) ON THE TAILGATE THAT KEEPS IT FROM SWINGING WIDE OPEN BROKE, AND WHEN IT BROKE IT SWUNG OPEN AND BROKE THE TAIL LIGHT LENS AND HOUSING. THE DEALER REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY, AND WITHIN A WEEK IT BROKE A SECOND TIME. THE DEALER REPLACED IT A SECOND TIME. AGAIN, WITHIN A WEEK, IT BROKE FOR A THIRD TIME. IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AGAIN. THIS WAS JUST YESTERDAY. THE DEALER SAYS IT REPLACES THESE ALL THE TIME, AT LEAST ONE A WEEK. THIS IS A FAULTY PART THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE LOOKED ON JEEP WRANGLER FORUMS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE IT HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AFTER CLEARING SNOW FROM MY VEHICLE...THERE REMAINED A LARGE PIECE OF ICE THAT WOULD NOT READILY DISENGAGE FROM JEEP WHILE TRYING TO CLEAR SNOW AND ICE. THE HOOD HAS A DEEP WELL IN THE SHAPE OF A HORSE SHOE ...THE DESIGN IS A FLAW (REPLICATED FROM ANOTHER DESIGN FROM AEV BUT WHEN PUT INTO PRODUCTION THEY LEFT OUT DRAINAGE DESIGN) BECAUSE WATER ACCUMULATES ON THE HOOD WHILE WARM AND DRIVING IN SNOW ETC...WHEN SHUT DOWN THE WATER THAT REMAINS ON THE HOOD REFREEZES AND CAN NOT BE REMOVED UNLESS YOU CARE ABOUT DAMAGING THE PAINT BY FORCEFULLY CHISELING IT AWAY. LONG STORY SHORT I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND COULD SEE THAT THE ENGINE HEAT WAS MELTING THE ICE PANEL AND SURE ENOUGH IT FLEW UP AND OVER MY WINDSHIELD NOT WITHOUT SMASHING THE HEADER OF MY WINDSHIELD AND THEN NEAR MISSING THE VEHICLE THAT WAS IN BACK OF ME. THE DESIGN WILL DEFINITELY CAUSE DAMAGE IN THE FUTURE THIS I CAN SAY WITHOUT HESITATION. IF CHRYSLER HAD CHOSE THE OPTION TO VENT THE WATER OUT OF THE HOOD THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY THEY DID NOT. NOW EVERY WINTER I PRAY THAT I AM NOT TRAVELING DURING HEAVY NEW ENGLAND WEATHER BECAUSE THIS ISSUE WILL REPEAT ITSELF AS MANY TIMES AS WE GET SNOW. *TR
THE POWER DOME HOOD ON THE CALL OF DUTY MW3 EDITION JEEP HOLDS WATER. THE TOP OF THE HOOD HOLDS WATER AND IF FROZE WILL PRODUCE A BLOCK OF ICE THAT CAN FLY AGAINST WINDSHIELD OR AT OTHER CARS. THE ORIGINAL AEV POWERDOME HOOD HAS VENTS FOR DRIANAGE THESE DO NOT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CABLE FOR THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM STRUCK AGAINST THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SUPPORT BRACKET WHENEVER THE CONTACT COMPLETED A TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED THE BRAKE LINES TO BECOME SEVERED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER SHORTENED THE BRAKE LINES TO PROVIDE EXTRA ROOM FOR THE LINES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000. *TR
CHECK ENGINE. LIGHT CAME ON .TOOK IT TO DEALER. DEALER SAID THE COMPUTER WAS READING # 2 CYLINDER MIS- FIRE. THE DEALER SAID THAT MY ON BOARD COMPUTER DIDN'T TAKE A FORCED UPLOAD OF NEW SOFTWARE FROM CHRYSLER, SO THEY DID IT IN SHOP. THEY SAID THAT WOULD FIX IT. ON MAY 13TH WHILE SITTING IN LINE AT THE BANK, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON, DROVE TO DEALERS SECOND LOCATION. AT THAT LOCATION I WAS TOLD THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED MAJOR WORK THE #2 CYLINDER, ROCKER ARM, AND CYLINDER HEAD NEED TO BE REPLACED.
I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END ACCIDENT WHICH HAD MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER, HOWEVER MY FRAME SHIFTED 2 INCHES TO PUNCTURE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, SHIFT THE ENGINE AND CAUSE ALL OF THE BOLTS THAT HOLD MY FRAME TO THE VEHICLE TO COME LOOSE BUT NOT BREAK. THIS IS CONCERNING AS THE ONLY DAMAGE WAS TO PLASTIC COVERING AND MINIMAL INDENTATION ON THE ACTUAL BUMPER WITH NO OTHER DAMAGE, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OR THE BACK SIDE OF THE BUMPER. THE AUTO BODY SHOP IS CONCERNED THAT THE DAMAGE THEY ARE SEEING TO THE BUMPER SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE FRAME TO FLEX AS MUCH AS IT DID, AND HAS NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN. PLEASE ADVISE. I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE YESTERDAY FROM JEEP WHO DISCARDED MY CLAIM BECAUSE I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, HOWEVER IF WRANGLER?S FRAMES SHIFT AND FLEX THIS MUCH THIS IS QUITE CONCERNING TO CUSTOMERS AND JEEP NEED TO LOOK INTO THIS CASE, TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. I WOULD VALUE SOME ACTUAL FEEDBACK FROM THIS AND NOT BE DISCARDED SO QUICKLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER HAD LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE DOOR SEALS, THE ROOF SEALS, AND THE REAR TOP BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,980. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .