2021 Jeep Wrangler Driver assistance Problems

While driving from [XXX] to [XXX], the vehicle experienced two sudden loss-of-propulsion events at highway speed. During the first incident in downtown [XXX], cruise control disengaged, the transmission abruptly downshifted, and the accelerator became largely unresponsive. The vehicle rapidly lost speed in traffic, and another vehicle nearly rear-ended me because I could not maintain speed or accelerate. The engine remained running, but the vehicle appeared to enter reduced-power or limp mode. I pulled over, shut the vehicle off, and restarted it. Normal throttle operation temporarily returned. The check-engine light and “Stop/Start Not Available” warning remained illuminated. After approximately three hours of otherwise normal driving, I activated cruise control again. The same condition immediately returned: cruise disengaged, the transmission downshifted, throttle response was lost, and the vehicle rapidly decelerated. Restarting again restored normal operation. This unexpected loss of propulsion created a serious collision risk because the vehicle abruptly slowed in moving highway traffic without allowing me to accelerate out of danger. The problem appears directly associated with cruise-control activation, although the exact mechanical or electronic cause is unknown. The vehicle has approximately 40,300 miles, was purchased as Jeep Certified Pre-Owned, and had a new OEM battery installed by an authorized Jeep dealership shortly after purchase. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate similar reports involving sudden throttle loss, abrupt downshifting, reduced-power operation, or loss of propulsion at highway speeds. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11750187

Incident

Jul 13, 2026

The forward collision/emergency brake engages when it is not needed, necessary or appropriate, and even when the brake pedel is already being pressed. I have adjusted the sensitivity of the emergency braking and forward collision system and I still have this issue.

NHTSA ID

11743872

Incident

Jun 12, 2026

There has been an extreme loss of power after the 68c recall making it very unsafe when trying to accelerate. Eventually the car just died and was towed to the dealer.

NHTSA ID

11743389

Incident

Jun 10, 2026

"The vehicle exhibits a recurring Loss of Motive Power (LMP) during low-speed maneuvers (intersections) and highway speeds (50+ mph). The failure is preceded by erratic instrument cluster behavior (gauge spikes) and results in a total loss of propulsion without prior warning. This defect persists despite the completion of Recall ZB7 and Recall 68C. The dealership has duplicated the failure but refuses further repair, stating the vehicle is 'out of scope' for current remedies, placing the driver at high risk of a collision." Screenshots include: "Written admission from Jeep dealership confirming duplicated loss of motive power and acceleration struggle following a software update. Dealer admits software is 'more sensitive' than previous versions but has no physical way to resolve the safety defect." The manufacturer-authorized repair facility stating they want to release an unsafe vehicle back to me without a remedy. "There is nothing for any of us to do with your vehicle here at Chapman" and tells you to contact Chrysler. The Video Screenshots that show the gauge spikes (RPM/Oil needles jumping and dropping to zero).

NHTSA ID

11729026

Incident

Mar 27, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? -After the 68C recall update for the HV battery failures, the vehicle has not been able to consistently maintain or provide power due to the limitation of the battery introduced as part of the recall. This is most noticeable driving in Electric Mode below 60% charge. The throttle behavior is inconsistent and unpredictable due to the recent updated How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? -I was merging onto a controlled access highway and unable to accelerate after pulling into the travel lane from the merging lane due to the limitations of the battery power. The engine did not respond in time to provide power to the vehicle. The occurrence of the loss of power is unpredictable. Some times the electric battery and motor can provide the necessary power, and in others it does not respond to the throttle demand at the same state of charge with no indication of the issue. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? -It has not yet Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? -It has not Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? -No warning lamps were provided

NHTSA ID

11727232

Incident

Mar 26, 2026

My 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (3.6L eTorque, automatic transmission) has had recurring drivetrain instability since about 2,000 miles while under factory warranty. It intermittently has high RPM flare during acceleration, delayed shifting, shuddering under load, and abrupt engagement. At low speeds (about 10–5 mph), it harshly downshifts, grabs suddenly, RPMs jump up and down, and it can feel like it will stall; it has stalled intermittently. Braking feels inconsistent, and at times it feels like the vehicle resists braking or surges before slowing. The forward collision warning/automatic emergency braking has activated with no obstacle present, and the power steering assist has been lost intermittently. There is also an engine tick and a high-pitched whining noise from the engine/drivetrain area. In January 2026, the transmission catastrophically failed and required replacement of the transmission, torque converter, cooler, and control module. The vehicle was out of service for over 24 days. After installation of a new Mopar remanufactured transmission and torque converter, the same symptoms returned. AAMCO has now found that the new torque converter failed, with metal shavings throughout the transmission, in the fluid, and at the bottom of the pan. I was advised that the vehicle should be sent to a Jeep dealership because no codes are currently present. I was also advised that the dealership may replace only the torque converter rather than the entire transmission, despite recurring failure and metal contamination. This presents a safety concern due to loss of acceleration, unpredictable torque engagement, stalling, unintended braking activation, power steering loss, engine/drivetrain noise, and repeated drivetrain failure. I have all the records if requested, file is too large to send in the upload area.

NHTSA ID

11724303

Incident

Dec 31, 1969

My 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (3.6L eTorque, automatic transmission) has experienced recurring drivetrain instability beginning at approximately 2,000 miles while under factory warranty. The vehicle intermittently exhibits a high-RPM flare during acceleration, where the engine speed increases without a commensurate increase in vehicle acceleration. The transmission then abruptly engages, causing sudden jerking. At low speeds (approximately 10–5 mph), the vehicle shudders and harshly downshifts, creating a sudden grabbing sensation. Engine RPMs fluctuate during deceleration as if the transmission cannot smoothly match engine speed. Braking feels inconsistent, and at times it feels as though the vehicle is accelerating or resisting braking input before abruptly slowing. The vehicle has felt as though it would stall at low speeds and has stalled intermittently. Additionally, the forward collision warning / automatic emergency braking system has activated without an obstacle present. There have also been intermittent instances of loss of power steering assist. The engine has developed a ticking noise and a high-pitched ringing/whining sound from the engine area during operation. In January 2026, the transmission catastrophically failed and required replacement of the transmission, torque converter, cooler, and control module. The vehicle was out of service for over 24 days. Following installation of a Mopar remanufactured transmission and torque converter, the same symptoms have recurred, including RPM flare, delayed shifting, shuddering, harsh downshifts, unstable deceleration, and abnormal engine noises. These conditions present a safety concern due to loss of expected acceleration, unpredictable torque engagement, unintended braking activation, intermittent power steering loss, stalling behavior, and drivetrain instability. The vehicle is currently under further diagnostic evaluation. I have multiple documents, but the file is too large to upload

NHTSA ID

11721573

Incident

Jan 31, 2026

Two issues that I want to make known. First is a classic jeep issue with the death wobble. I currently have the jeep back in the shop for the current recall and having them fix the wobbling again. This would be the second time that it has happened. worried because the warranty is about to expire. Next is a problem that I almost forgot about until recently because I started driving a rental jeep wrangler. With my jeep, when I have the adaptive cruse control on, it some times thinks there is a car in front of me when it is in the next lane, and right in the middle of the highway, my jeep tries to stop because there is a car next to me in its own lane. This has been going on for a while now but i have never gotten it looked at because of the cost. im going to have both issues looked at during the recall because my extended warranty is ending and im worried that if i dont get it fixed now, im going to have to pay more in the future. Side notes about my jeep, it was a buy back before I purchased it. Was supposedly fixed. At around 10k miles I had a radiator issue and then needed to have a complete engine replacement. With both of these battery recalls, I have had to get a new battery. Im about to get by 3rd. There has also been hvac issues fixed in the past. I tried to contact jeep about another buy back, but they denied the claim without even talking to me. Currently working on trying to actually talk to someone.

NHTSA ID

11710496

Incident

Jan 6, 2026

2021 jeep wrangler 4xe , power loss twice after recall was completed in 2022. INCIDENT AFTER RECALL completed. 1st - power loss, turtle sign. got stuck in hope BC, Canada. ECU FLASH fixed it, chilliwack, BC. 57000 miles roughly. Hv battery voltage sensor ckt performance issue. 2nd time- 62000 miles roughly, ABRUPT POWER LOSS on a highway, driving in passing lane 75mph, engine check lights on, after few secs full power loss, all lights on. After 30 mins of park mode, all lights went away. Towed it to dealership. They ordered a part, and is still stuck at dealership, since 15 days. Used my judgement & managed to safely coast and avoided risk of any incident. Turtle sign, and i think and something with battery verbiage popped up. Couldn't take an image as was in reactive mode. Parked and turned off the engine, called tow truck. After coming back from home waiting on a tow truck, turned on the car. All lights gone. Dealership found DTC's , crown jeep dublin perimeter drive, but couldn't recreate as per my knowledge, at this time. I am hoping dealership might fix my car soon. I am reaching out to let you know the recall countermeasure didnt fix the issue. Please push jeep for a permanent hard countermeasure, not a band aid. It's not just a severe inconvenience, but major risk for accidents on road. Dealership told me other cars came in for similar issue, due to OTA update for 24my and 25my 4xe's, and it was not applied on my car 21MY. Thanks

NHTSA ID

11696436

Incident

Oct 15, 2025

I was driving 72 miles per hour on 4 lane highway and the steering wheel and front end of the jeep was vibrating uncontrollably. The cruse control stopped working, i applied the brake and was able to slow down and pull over to the side of the road. No flat tires so I pulled back on to the highway and arrived at my destination without further incident. 10-24-25 The same thing happened last week but i thought maybe the lane assist went off because there were no road lines (newly repaved road) but my Jeep doesn't have lane assist. After researching on line I believe what occurred is what they call "Death wobble" there were no bumps in the road - the road is in good condition so I'm not certain what prompted the death wobble.

NHTSA ID

11695510

Incident

Oct 24, 2025

While pulling into parking lot jeep suddenly accelerated deployed brakes it would not stop. Hit pillar in front of store. Did considerable damage to build and vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11691525

Incident

Oct 5, 2025

While driving on a couple occasions the traction control light kicked in and wouldn’t allow me to turn I had to come to almost a complete stop, I thought it had gone away and a few days later I had a death wobble that occurred on a very busy hwy and had to pull into the middle lane to prevent an accident. I could not let go completely of the wheel but I also couldn’t really control the vehicle I had to stop it. I was not turning when this one happened I was going straight I had already turned and drove straight for a few minutes before it happened. I was able to drive a quarter of a mile to the auto repair shop where it is sitting. He told me himself it is very dangerous to drive it when that occurs.

NHTSA ID

11682704

Incident

Aug 23, 2025

Vehicle check engine light illuminated along with multiple other lights on the dashboard. It had a difficult time accelerating on its own, very sluggish. At the next light the gas pedal was just tapped and the vehicle began to over accelerate increasing to over 30 MPH in a turning lane while crossing an intersection. Avoided a car accident and pulled into the nearest parking lot. That was the second time that type of incident occurred. The first time, the vehicle was self accelerating during 5 o’clock traffic in Los Angeles. We had to constantly press on the brakes only to avoid accidents until we could exit the freeway.

NHTSA ID

11672069

Incident

Jun 16, 2025

⸻ Title: Loss of Power While Driving on Freeway – Dangerous Malfunction Similar to Recall 23V-116 Complaint Description: I am reporting a serious and dangerous malfunction with my 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon EcoDiesel. While driving on a high-speed freeway (70–80 MPH), all warning lights on the dashboard illuminated—including the check engine light—and the vehicle suddenly went into limp mode, resulting in a loss of power. This occurred in fast-moving traffic, putting me at immediate risk of a crash. This started happening again every time I got on the freeway for 10 minutes. I’ve owned this Jeep for about a year, have never taken it off-road, and have kept it properly maintained. All electrical components, fuses, and systems have been inspected, and no clear cause has been found. The problem persists and is clearly not due to driver use or negligence. This issue strongly resembles Recall Number 23V-116, which states that affected vehicles may experience a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. That recall was for 2021 Jeep Wrangler vehicles, the same model and year as mine. However, my VIN was not included, despite the fact that I’m experiencing the exact same symptoms described in the recall notice: “A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.” This issue began occurring shortly after that recall was issued, and it has happened multiple times, mostly during highway driving—making the vehicle extremely unsafe. I believe my vehicle should have been included in Recall 23V-116, as this is clearly a safety-related defect involving the powertrain or control module software. This is an urgent safety issue, and I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate why this VIN was excluded from the recall and consider expanding the recall to cover additional affected vehicles before someone gets seriously injured or worse. Vehicle Information: •Year: 2021 •Make: Jeep •Model: Wrangler Rubicon EcoDiesel •Transmission: Automatic

NHTSA ID

11672011

Incident

Jun 26, 2025

June 5, 2025 stopped at red light turned green tried to turn left and the jeep flashed the electric red bolt symbol and check engine light came on lost all power would not go when gas pedal was pushed. a/c lost power started blowing hot air and engine turned off. Restarted engine finally got it to go enough to pull out of traffic. Turned off engine opened hood checked battery cables, fuses and all was intact. Started engine drove slowly to the Autozone store to have the diagnostic test done and it showed P2101 power train system throttle actuator A control motor circuit range /performance detected unexpected voltage on the throttle actuator control motor circuit also C121C-00 ABS torque request signal denied Anti-lock Brake System U0401-00 implausible data received from ECM/PCM “A”. System was reset to be able to drive home. 6/16/25 went to start jeep to go to work made a clicking noise check engine light on and the voltage warning sensor flashing and showed Service Electronic Stability Control error would not stay running checked battery cables fuses and restarted engine tried to back out of driveway engine would not go. Had jeep towed to Moore CDJR dealership where it was purchased from 9/2023 to have serviced found throttle body needs replaced dealership contacted several parts dealers, Mopar, and other dealerships etc. to locate the part needed was advised couldn’t find the parts needed for the repair. Contacted service department and they advised they were calling National Auto Care my extended warranty for approval for repair. My concern is if I had been driving 65 mph and it went out I would have been in a accident when the vehicle stopped functioning. Safety of myself and other drivers would have been compromised. This is the 2.0L Turbo motor and have been advised that there are several issues with this motor and should trade in vehicle. I don’t have that option and this is the only vehicle I have.

NHTSA ID

11667564

Incident

Jun 16, 2025

Date: [XXX] Subject: Immediate Safety Concern – 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4xe – Acceleration Failure Dear Jeep Customer Care, I am the owner of a 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4xe, VIN [XXX] , with approximately 50,000 miles. I am writing to report a critical and potentially fatal safety defect that occurred multiple times on [XXX], most notably at the intersection of [XXX] and [XXX] in Oregon. On multiple occasions, when attempting to accelerate from a full stop into an intersection with cross traffic traveling at 55 mph or more, the vehicle failed to respond to throttle input. Instead of accelerating, the Jeep simply rolled slowly into the intersection despite my foot fully depressing the accelerator pedal. This placed me at immediate risk of being struck broadside by oncoming vehicles at high speed, which could have resulted in catastrophic injury or death. The check engine light was on since [XXX] and my husband drove the Jeep to Lithia Chrysler Dodge of Bend (Oregon) on June 4th, 2025, 12 pm. They ran a computer test and told my husband that there was a recall on the battery but that we could still drive the car, and it was safe but not to charge the car (we followed instructions). We couldn’t even secure a vehicle appointment until July 2nd, 2025. How do you not prioritize a potentially critical situation? This defect is entirely unacceptable and renders the vehicle unsafe for operation. I will not drive the vehicle further due to the danger involved. Given the severity of this defect, I request: •Immediate investigation by Jeep/FCA engineering and technical teams. •Safe transport (towing) of the vehicle to an authorized service center at Jeep’s expense. •Full documentation of the inspection, diagnosis, and resolution of this issue. •Confirmation of whether this issue has been reported in other 4xe vehicles or constitutes part of a larger safety defect investigation. I am documenting this issue formally INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11667005

Incident

Jun 14, 2025

Purchased this vehicle used from Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Mesa, Arizona. I was told the tires were newer and in great shape they looked to have a good amount of tread on them. However, I had an issue with one tire and the dealership patched it incorrectly making it a safety hazard Therefore they replaced one tire with the plug and when I went to a tire place for pressure issues and TPS sensor they pointed out the tires were over five years old which means these were the original tires that came with the Jeep in 2021. After only owning this vehicle for two months, I now have to replace all four tires Because there is a safety issue with the age and the tread. There was also issues with the steering damper, which they did repair due to wobbling, however there is a slight wobble still because I have one brand new tire from the dealer and three tires that are not new. The dealer refuses to take ownership of the sale of unsafe tires.. dealer offered three month 3000 mile max care warranty and they still won’t address the tire issue.

NHTSA ID

11662136

Incident

May 16, 2025

I have a 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4XE Rubicon. My vehicle has been recalled three times for updates. I have had one recall done for the defroster due to the faulty software that can cause reduced visibility increasing a risk of a crash. The second one was for risk of fire from a faulty high voltage battery driving or parked. The third recall call was to update software for the high voltage battery in which doing so caused my vehicle not to fully charge and to lose power when driving and not be able to start for hours at a time. I now have brought my vehicle back to the Jeep service center for a diagnostic test and it was found that the high voltage battery pack is faulty in which Jeep has said they will put a new battery in once approved from Chrysler. Jeep has not been able to be able to fix the problem with Hybrid battery packs possibly catching on fire or exploding and the new one I'd be getting would risk the same problems possibly injuring or killing myself or any passengers I might have in the vehicle. Jeep is not able to get to the root of the cause of why these high volt battery can go on fire even when they are not in use causing possible property damage to my home or neighbors. I am told in the recall to park my vehicle away from properties and other cars which is impossible to do. I hope you take this serious matter into consideration that Jeep Corporation must find a solution for this Nationwide problem and for people on the road.

NHTSA ID

11644188

Incident

Feb 21, 2025

While cruising control is engaged, turning the steering wheel 5-10 degrees to the right will result in disruption of the cruise control and displaying a message "cruise control cancelled." This results in an abrupt deceleration during a turn that is unexpected and can create a safety hazard. Additionally, the illumination of steering wheel switches flickers with 5 degrees of right turn. This appears to be consistent with the findings of recall 15B, but my VIN is not included in the recall.

NHTSA ID

11640066

Incident

Feb 1, 2025

Our vehicle experiences loss of motive power as well as a complete disconnect from the battery. All diagnostics have shown that physical battery connections are good. We have been left on the side of the road with the inability to drive the vehicle above 20 mph. It is extremely dangerous when moving through an intersection or driving on the highway. We get a sudden warning lamp of a battery, charging cable, and turtle. They appeared 4 days after the purchase of the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11639159

Incident

Jan 1, 2025

I took my 2021 diesel Jeep in for a Y81 Emissions recall on 02.19.24. Since then, my vehicle has had its check engine light go on SIX TIMES with a P0133 alert which refers to an O2 sensor. I have taken it in to the dealership for a resolution six times. Currently, it is set to be diagnosed and repaired yet one more time on 01.22.25. Now we are in the middle of winter and I feel like the vehicle is about to die at intersections and roundabouts when I approach them. I tried to go through an arbitration with FCA USA LLC which produces the Jeep brand and it was denied for a repurchase of the vehicle because the arbitrator felt it was not a safety issue since I still drive the vehicle and they are technically not in violation of the warranty which I did not accept as a resolution. Due to my non-resolved safety concern, I am raising the issue in this forum so hopefully something can be done and others that potentially have the same issue can reach a resolution as well. My hypothesis of the cause of the issue is when the Y81 recall happened, it tuned down the emissions output that was originally higher necessary for the vehicle to run, because I didn't have check engine lights before. By this tune-down of emissions, the engine is not able to produce the correct output to run the vehicle and thus the random lack of power causing a safety issue, and is currently adversely affecting components that are causing the P0133 O2 sensor to alert.

NHTSA ID

11635988

Incident

Apr 3, 2024

After taking my jeep 4xe in for the 95B recall I drove around 50 miles and the check engine light came on. Once home vehicle would not turn on or charge. Error on dash said “charging system error.” Next day the vehicle would turn on be experience extreme slowness after stopping with bursts of acceleration. The accceleration and breaking system were extremely jerky and I felt like I didn’t know how the car would respond when accelerating which was dangerous.

NHTSA ID

11634078

Incident

Dec 22, 2024

I had the most recent incident driving Westbound in the evening hours shortly before Sunset around October 10, 2024. It appears the sunlight from the setting sun triggered my adaptive cruise control and forward collision alert and triggered an alarm sound and activated emergency braking at the same time. I have had two previous incidents like this. One at the exact same location on my commute home at around the same time and maybe a week before. A third occurrence was on an Eastbound morning drive with the rising sun. All three incidents triggered emergency braking from a speed of ca. 65mph. I was able to react fast enough to deactivate the ACC by lightly pushing the brake pedal and could avoid serving or complete stopping of the vehicle. Luckily during all incidents I had no close traffic behind me, otherwise the incidents could have caused a rear end collision.

NHTSA ID

11625688

Incident

Oct 10, 2024

When driving on highway my car is losing control. This is non-stop every time I hit a bump in the road. The vehicle becomes uncontrollable.

NHTSA ID

11620520

Incident

Oct 1, 2024

Hi the two major issues that need to reported. 1. The vehicle would just shut down while driving at highway speeds. It would have trouble restarting and you would have to cost to the shoulder. This issue was random, we took it to the dealership and they drove it for a week until it left them on the side of the road. They kept it for just over a month and a star case had to be opened. 2. 2nd issue, The vehicle would shutter when accelerating and would shutter when braking. Extremely dangerous when trying to drive it back to the dealership. It had something to do with the vehicle not knowing if it wanted to be in electric or gas. this also caused the ac to stop working and the blind spot system not to work . This time they had it for just over a month to change the main battery. Both case the vehicle was unsafe to be on the road and could have led to a major accident.

NHTSA ID

11603959

Incident

Jul 1, 2024