RoadVitals

2018 Jeep Wrangler Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
9
Latest Oct 1, 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.
<1%
of 1,799 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.
0
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 headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 Jeep Wrangler submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 1, 2024

Several times I have experienced intermittent operation of the rear view camera system and rear brake light operation on my vehicle while reversing. The issue has occured about 10 times in the last year or so. The issue seems to be the same as symptoms as FCA US recall 77B, but my VIN number apparently does not fall under that recall despite being the same model, which I think is a mistake.

NHTSA ID
11617467
Incident
Sep 10, 2024
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 4, 2021

PASSENGER SIDE RUNNING LIGHT AND SIDE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING. CHANGED THE BULB AND DIDN'T FIX THE ISSUE. ALSO FOUND THE BACK RUNNING LIGHT TO WORK SO KNOW IT IS NOT A FUSE. APPEARS TO BE FAULY WIRING OR A BAD GROUND. HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD WITH THIS VEHICLE AND ONLY 42K MILES.

NHTSA ID
11399125
Incident
Feb 15, 2021
Mileage
42,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 3, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LED HEADLIGHTS PROVIDED LIMITED VISIBILITY WHEN IT SNOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROTHROCK CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (610-439-8485, LOCATED AT 1608 PLAZA LN, ALLENTOWN, PA 18104) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11253034
Incident
Dec 1, 2018
Mileage
1,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 28, 2019

MY REVERSE LIGHTS NO LONGER COME ON WHEN I HAVE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. THE BACKUP CAMERA IS ALSO SUPPOSE TO ENGAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN REVERSE AND THE SCREEN JUST STAYS ON THE RADIO SCREEN AND DOES NOT SWITCH OVER TO THE BACKUP CAMERA. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE EITHER. WE DID A SOFT RESET AND ALSO UNHOOKED THE BATTERY FOR 15 MINUTES.

NHTSA ID
11240189
Incident
Jun 1, 2019
Mileage
6,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 14, 2019

IN SNOWY CONDITIONS LED HEADLIGHTS QUICKLY BECOME SNOW COVERED CAUSING NEAR COMPLETE LOSS OF VISIBILITY. VEHICLE MUST BE STOPPED AND HEADLIGHTS MANUALLY CLEARED BEFORE PROCEEDING. THE SNOW ON THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSES A WHITE-OUT TYPE CONDITION WHERE EVEN THE IMMEDIATE SIDE OF THE ROAD IS NOT VISIBLE. FORTUNATELY WE WERE DRIVING ON A LOW TRAFFIC ROAD AT THE TIME. HIGHWAY SITUATIONS WOULD BE DEADLY. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN DARK, SNOWY CONDITIONS, WHICH OCCUR FREQUENTLY IN MAINE. THIS ISSUE WAS REPORTED TO CHRYSLER-JEEP IN JANUARY AND THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED ANY RESOLUTION.

NHTSA ID
11186818
Incident
Jan 24, 2019
Mileage
9,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 22, 2019

YESTERDAY, I DROVE A RENTED 2018 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED TO THE SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH AIRPORT DURING A MODERATE SNOWFALL PRIOR TO SUNRISE. WHILE ON THAT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILE TRIP, I HAD MY HEADLIGHTS "ON" TO ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY AS IT WAS STILL DARK AND THERE WAS MINIMAL ROADWAY LIGHTING. WHILE DRIVING I FOUND IT INCREASING DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD SURFACE AND ESPECIALLY SEE THE LINES ON THE ROAD. I HAD MY FAMILY IN THE CAR AND THE SITUATION BECAME QUITE DANGEROUS WITH A SUDDENNESS THAT I WAS UNPREPARED FOR. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO STOP SAFELY I DISCOVERED THAT THE JEEP HEADLIGHTS WERE FULLY COVERED BY SNOW AND NOT ALLOWING LIGHT TO PASS THROUGH TO THE ROAD SURFACE. I WIPED THE SNOW AWAY AND GOT BACK ON THE ROAD--WITHIN 10 MINUTES OR SO THE HEADLIGHTS WERE AGAIN COVERED BY SNOW WHICH ACCUMULATED ON THE SURFACE ON THE LENS. THIS CREATED ANOTHER DANGEROUS SITUATION. APPARENTLY THE LED LIGHTS ARE NOT WARM ENOUGH TO MELT THE ACCUMULATING SNOW AND THE SURROUNDING BEZEL AREA RETAINS SNOW AS WELL. WHILE I AM NOT AN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER, I THINK THERE'S A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE COMBINATION OF THE GEOMETRY OF THE JEEP HEADLIGHTS AND COOLER LED LIGHTING. IMPORTANTLY, THIS ACCUMULATION HAPPENED A SECOND TIME AFTER THE CAR WAS FULLY WARMED UP. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY CARS OVER THE YEARS IN POOR CONDITIONS AND NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PHENOMENON BEFORE. I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT THIS CREATED A LOT OF RISK AND DANGER FOR ME AND MY FAMILY WHILE DRIVING THE JEEP WRANGLER. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND EXPERIENCE A MORE SERIOUS OUTCOME. I ENCLOSE A PICTURE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WHICH WAS TAKEN AFTER THEY HAD BEEN CLEARED ONCE ALREADY AND THEN RE-ACCUMULATED SNOW THEREAFTER.

NHTSA ID
11171385
Incident
Jan 21, 2019
Mileage
11,500 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 27, 2018

DRIVING IN A WYOMING SNOW STORM, OUR LED HEAD & DRIVING LIGHTS COMPLETELY ICED OVER -- AFTER CLEANING THEM A BIT, THEY ICED AGAIN. SAYING THIS WAS A PROBLEM IS A UNDERSTATEMENT! WE HAVE OWNED A JK 2014 & 2017 WITH REGULAR LIGHTS & NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. NOT SURE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO --

NHTSA ID
11163668
Incident
Dec 26, 2018
Mileage
6,200 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 20, 2018

THE COMBINATION OF THE SHAPE OF THE HEADLIGHT CUP, COMBINED WITH THE LED HEADLIGHT OPTION, CAUSES SNOW TO ACCUMULATE AND COMPLETELY BLOCK OUT ANY LIGHT PRODUCED FROM THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE ROAD. THIS WILL OCCUR, WHENEVER THERE IS SIGNIFICANT SNOW, AND THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR RESTING.

NHTSA ID
11152889
Incident
Nov 15, 2018
Mileage
6,500 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Apr 22, 2018

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS STUCK ON DESPITE CONTROLS SET TO OFF POSITION. NO TURN SIGNALS OR HIGH BEAMS EITHER. HAD TO PULL THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FUSE TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE HOME. TRIED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND STEP ON THE BRAKE, THEN LEAVE IT DISCONNECTED FOR 20 MINUTES, BUT THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. VEHICLE IS NEW, ONLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP. COMPLETELY STOCK, NO MODIFICATIONS. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID
11089322
Incident
Apr 20, 2018
Mileage
2,300 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.

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 .