Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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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 2012 Jeep Wrangler submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 278 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 278, in the owner's own words
My Oil pump and oil sensor keep going out every 4,000 miles. I have already had to replace it once. I don’t want to have to do it again. Clearly something is causing this issue.
Report from diagnostic service 1-9-2023 cylinder head - has premature failure of valve guides and cylinder head replacement is required for repair. Yes, Jeep extended the warranty but if your vehicle did not show problems they would not fix it, but they did learn and knew at the point the seriousness of the problem and put an end date on the fix. Our vehicle outlasted their warranty by 30,000 but now is undrivable. Before anything serious happens as the driver drives on longer drives we have grounded the vehicle.
Engine Stalls Randomly while Driving. Will crank over several times and over approx 10-15 min. of cranking(Say every 3-5min) vehicle will and will restart. No check engine lights and no warning. The loss of power can be dangerous since brake and steering assist require engine to be running. Vehicle will be fine for several days local commute and problem will recur without warning, usually on longer commute. Vehicle is unsafe and unpredictable.
The vehicle would take a minute to click into gear when at a light and also when driving on the freeway, the vehicle will only go up to a certain speed (40mph) and would not switch gears (automatic) after that, the RPMs just kept going higher until I had to pull over.
While driving the car randomly stalls. I lose power steering and braking. The car will not restart. This issue has been recorded by the dealer. The vehicle was last inspected on July 5th. I have been issued a Jeep Care case manager, case # 82963828. There are no warnings, while driving makes a left-hand turn the car just stalls!
While driving making a turn, shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, and vehicle stalls losing all power. I had a crank no-start scenario! The vehicle has been to the dealer multiple times and the issue can not be duplicated. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times and there are no known issues. No-fault codes are thrown. I was able to cost to a safe location, and wait. after 3-5 min the vehicle restarted.
While driving making a turn, shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, and vehicle stalls losing all power. I had a crank no-start scenario! The vehicle has been to the deal multiple times and the issue can not be duplicated. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times and there are no known issues. No-fault codes are thrown. I was able to cost to a safe location, and wait. after 3-5 min the vehicle restarted.
While driving making a turn, shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, and vehicle stalls losing all power. The vehicle has been to the deal multiple times and the issue can not be duplicated. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times and there are no known issues. No-fault codes are thrown. I stalled in the middle of a busy intersection, with my children in the car. I had to push the vehicle to safety!
Starting out at a stop sign. engaging the clutch to start moving, while shifting into 2nd gear while turning the vehicle stalls. Losing all power steer and brakes. I try to re-start the car i get a crank no-start scenario. Wait 3-5 min, retry starting the vehicle starts.
Starting out at a stop light, engaging the clutch to start moving, I depressed the clutch to shift into second gear while making a turn, the vehicle stalls, losing all power.
While driving the car stalled. Loss of power steering and braking. I was able to coast to a safe location. I tried to restart, but Crank- No Start.
Random Stalling while driving, making a left-hand turn. While entering an intersection, the vehicle stalled losing all power. Was able to coast to a safe spot. Waited 15 min, the vehicle started. No check engine light.
While crossing an intersection the vehicle stalled for no reason. No Codes were posted. Crank No Start, waited 10 min, and the vehicle started. Drove to the dealer to resolve. Dealer has no known reason for stalling while driving
While driving making a left-hand turn, crossing an intersection the vehicle stalled. Lossing all power, no power stirring or breaks. When trying to re-start vehicle will not re-start.
Oil filter housing is cracked and leaking oil. Potential fire hazard, pooling of oil on engine block. Seems to be a widespread problem.
The power steering line has rubbed a hole in the transmission line causing a loss of flammable transmission fluid onto the hot exhaust and underside of vehicle and the transmission isn't shifting properly. Transmission fluid could ignite on the hot exhaust setting the jeep on fire while driving. The dealer refused to work on my jeep because of some modifications that do not affect the Transmission lines or power steering lines in any way to cause this issue. No warning lights came on, I had noticed the lines rubbing about a month and a half prior which is when the dealer said there's nothing they can do they didn't even look at it.
MY JEEP IS NOW STALLING MID DRIVE WHEN I TURN MY WHEEL. 3 TIMES IT'S HAPPENED WHILE TURNING FROM A STOP LIGHT AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP AND GO AROUND ME. I'VE HAD 2 MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND NEITHER OF THEM CAN FIND AN ISSUE. RPMS GO TO ZERO AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. THE ONLY WAY TO RESET IT IS TO PUT IT IN PARK, TURN THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON. OUTSIDE OF THOSE 3 TIMES IT'S HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND TURNING ONTO A STREET OR INTO A PARKING LOT - THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON TO WHAT WILL TRIGGER IT. I'VE READ QUITE A FEW FORUMS WHERE THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO IMMEDIATELY!! I WENT FROM FEELING CAREFREE IN MY JEEP TO KEEPING BOTH OF MY HANDS ON THE WHEEL WHILE MAKING ANY TURN AND BEING CONSTANTLY TENSE. PLEASE PLEASE ANNOUNCE A RECALL AND FIX THIS!
ENGINEERING DEFECT I HAD TO REPLACE THE OIL PAN ON THE TRANSMISSION I FOUND THAT THE CONDENSATE FROM THE AIR CONDITION WAS DRAINING ON TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION AND RUNNING DOWN TO THE CORNER OF THE OIL PAN AND ROTTING THE PAN OUT. WILL SEND PICTURES I SENT THIS COMPLAINT IN BEFORE BUT DID NOT HEAR FROM YOU.
ENGINEERING DEFECT OIL PAN ON TRANSMISSION LEAKING HAD PAN REPLACED AT DEALER THEY CLAIMED IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY DO TO RUST. I FOUND DRAIN FROM A/C DRAINS ON TOP OF TRANSMISSION ONTO OIL PAN WHICH RUSTS OUT PAN AS IN PICTURES WATER STAIN ON TRANSMISSION AND PAN FROM A/C CONDENSATE CAR HAS 29,000 MILES I HAVE MORE PICTURES IF NEEDED
MY JEEP WRANGLER IS IN THE DEALER TODAY THE CAR HAS 29,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION DRAIN PAN IS LEAKING THEY CLAIM IT IS FROM RUST THE PAN MAY BE WHITE METAL OR ALUMINUM I ASKED THE PARTS PERSON AT THE DEALER EARLIER IF THEY SOLD A LOT OF PANS HE SAID YES I CHECKED THE FORUM OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME YEAR AND LOW MILEAGE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM I FEEL THE PANS MAY BE THE WRONG MATERIAL FOR THE OIL BEING USED. AND MAY NEED A RECALL ON THE PANS. *TR
OIL HOUSING CRACKED DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, DUE TO AN INTEGRAL PART BEING PLASTIC. ANY OIL CHANGE COULD RESULT IN AN INSTANT $600-$1,000 EXPENSE FOR THE CONSUMER. IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CONSUMER TO PROVE THE BROKEN PART WAS DUE TO OIL CHANGE NEGLIGENCE OR OVER-TIGHTENING. THE COST IS ENTIRELY LEFT ON THE CONSUMER EVEN IF ALL PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE WORK IS COMPLETE. THIS HAS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE AT FIAT CHRYSLER/JEEP, AND MUST BE ADDRESSED BY A RECALL. I REPLACED THE PART, FOR APPROXIMATELY $600, WITH THE SAME PART. THIS COULD EASILY HAPPEN AGAIN AT MY NEXT OIL CHANGE, AND EVERY OIL CHANGE THEREAFTER. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GUESS IF THERE WILL BE A $600 REPAIR EVERY TIME I CHANGE MY OIL. *TR
BEGINNING OF FEB., LOST POWER ON FREEWAY. WENT FROM 65 TO 40 MPH AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. ENGINE AND TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON. EXITED THE FWY AND DROVE TO DEALER WHERE I WAS TURNED AWAY DUE TO HIGH VOLUME. LEFT MY JEEP AT THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY WITH THIS ISSUE AND TO CORRECT CAMPAIGN #V51 RECALL. THE ENGINE LIGHT WASN'T LIT ANYMORE AND DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT SO I PICKED IT UP. COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, I FAILED THE SMOG CHECK I NEED TO REGISTER MY JEEP, AND AN ENGINE CODE SHOWED UP, P0394. I TOOK IT TO OTHER PLACES WHERE THE SAME CODE SHOWED UP AND WAS RECOMMENDED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. GOING DOWNHILL, MY FATHER EXPERIENCED THE SAME WHILE DRIVING MY JEEP. BEGINNING OF MARCH, OMW TO THE DEALER ON THE FWY, I LOST POWER AGAIN AND THE ENGINE AND TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON. I SHOWED THE DASHBOARD TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR, EXPLAINED THE CONTINUED PROBLEM AND THE CODE SHOWING UP. I LEFT MY JEEP THERE FOR SEVERAL DAYS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING IT. THE CODE WAS CLEARED WHEN I PICKED IT UP. THE FOLLOWING DAY, AS I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT, THE ENGINE STALLED. I USED GRAVITY TO PARTLY MOVE BACK DOWN AS THERE WAS ANOTHER CAR DRIVING INTO THE LOT. I PUT IT ON "PARK" AND I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. NO ENGINE LIGHT THIS TIME. THIS MORNING I LOST POWER DRIVING TO THE FIRST STOP ON MY STREET (STOP ON MY SIDE ONLY). I HAD ALREADY ENTERED THE T-INTERSECTION BUT COULD NOT ACCELERATE TO TURN LEFT. I PUT IT IN "PARK" THEN BACK TO "DRIVE" AND ACCELERATED NORMALLY. THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND BECAUSE OF THE CORONA VIRUS, BUT I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IF A COMING VEHICLE (WHO HAS THE RIGHT-A-WAY), DECIDED NOT TO SLOW DOWN.
BEGAN LEAKING SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL UNDER JEEP AFTER USE. TOOK TO HAVE ISSUE INVESTIGATED. MECHANIC FOUND THE INTAKE GASKET ON REAR OF INTAKE CAUSING THE ISSUE. ESTIMATED COST TO FIX $600+ THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE FOR THIS JEEP, THUS JEEP HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER DRIVE TRAIN WARRENTY OR A RECALL AS THIS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE.
I LOVE MY JEEP, BUT FOR THE PAST YEAR WE HAVE HAD A LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP. TODAY I RECEIVED A LETTER INDICATING THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE MIGHT NEED REPROGRAMMING. INTERESTING ENOUGH THIS WENT BAD ON MY 2012 JEEP A YEAR AGO. SHORTLY THEREAFTER MY ENGINE FAILED. NOW THAT I SEE THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE PCM NEEDING REPROGRAMMED IT MADE SENSE WHY A JEEP WITH BARELY 90,000 MILES WOULD HAVE AN ENGINE THAT FAILED, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT I WAS NEVER ROUGH WITH IT, AND ALWAYS GAVE IT APPROPRIATE OIL CHANGES. IT TOOK ME THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR TO PAY OFF THE COST OF THE NEW ENGINE, AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT A CAR THIS NEW, THERE REALLY ISN'T A GOOD OPTION BESIDES KNUCKLING DOWN AND PAYING FOR THE FIX. I WOULD LOVE TO LOVE MY JEEP AGAIN. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT WAS VERY COLD OUTSIDE, MY JEEP SAT OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT. WHILE DRIVING TO SCHOOL THE TEMP GAUGE PINGED. I LIMPED IT BACK TO A DEALERSHIP (NO JEEP DEALERS IN MY HOMETOWN) AND EVENTUALLY FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM. AFTER WHAT I THOUGHT WAS AN INITIAL FIX, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD ACTUALLY FAILED AND I SUBSEQUENTLY HAD IT REPLACED AT A JEEP DEALERSHIP. I CAN PROVIDE PROOF OF THE REPLACEMENT IF NECESSARY.
WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE ENGINE WILL OFTEN DIE. THIS HAPPENS MORE WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED HARD AND IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED SHARPLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS.
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
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