2021 Jeep Wrangler Powertrain (other) Problems

The vehicle is not performing as it did when first purchased. Through a series of recalls related to the main drive battery, the vehicle now lacks power when in electric mode pulling out on highways, passing on highways, or even driving at speeds over 40mph or so. I went to pull out on the highway this morning, for example, in electric mode, and there was a good 1-2 second sluggish acceleration before the gas engine kicked on and revved up without any kind of warm up. I can't imagine this is good for the gas engine. I never had that issue before these recalls. I'm also concerned the recent recall is going so long without any kind of resolution. I feel like Jeep has had so many safety, fire and performance issues they really should be buying these back and taking them off the road. Pulling out into traffic and not having acceleration for 1-2 seconds is very dangerous.

NHTSA ID

11766647

Incident

Sep 24, 2026

My vehicle is currently in the shop getting the High voltage battery replaced for the second time due to a code showing battery voltage variation as well as getting the latest 21D recall completed. The Jeep currently has about 90,000 miles and has received all other recalls. The jeep no longer functions or performs like it did when I took ownership in February of 2022. It routinely loses power when trying to accelerate onto Highways or into traffic lanes or up hills. You can push the pedal down and there is a noticeable delay of several seconds before the vehicle starts to accelerate. The car no longer will stay in selected "Electric mode" and will instead kick the engine on at random times or take the vehicle out of "electric" and into "Hybrid". When at slow speeds (under 15MPH) in traffic the jeep lurches and slows, unable to maintain a constant speed. Also I have no way of proving that the overall power has been reduced through programming but the acceleration and advertised 375HP/470lb-ft does not seem to have the same feeling that it once did when first purchasing this vehicle. I believe there is a dangerous ongoing safety issue possibly with the programming, as well as the HV batteries. There were no warning lights coming on during the course of the last several months until I had a CEL for battery voltage variation and then it was taken to the dealership on the same day. There has been no communication with Jeep/Stellantis other than them issuing an unlimited mileage warranty on the HV battery. They seem to be replacing it with the same design, and therefore not addressing the issue only putting a band aid on the problem.

NHTSA ID

11766301

Incident

Aug 28, 2026

Death wobble

NHTSA ID

11766214

Incident

Jul 22, 2026

Since the last 2 updates / recalls , my transmission has become very clunky. From a stop or in slow traffic, the transmission pops in gear and it is very hard. It seems to be getting worse as time goes by. The gears when shifting thru the gears is fine, no issues there

NHTSA ID

11765938

Incident

Sep 21, 2026

When using electric mode, repeatedly and consistently, when I try to accelerate (for example to get onto a highway) despite having the acceleration fully depressed, the car does not accelerate. After some time, the gas powered engine will rev, the RPM will shoot up and then the car will start to accelerate. If I slow down the electric engine will take back over, but then if I try to accelerate again the same thing will occur. I have videos of the dashboard confirming electric mode, delay to accelerate and eventual activation of the gas motor and RPMs. This same issue was noted by Jeep technicians after the fix for a previous recall on the battery. This is dangerous, If I am not able to accelerate I can not safely drive change lanes, go onto highways, or avoid danger. it has been occurring, but my first video is from Feb 2026, and most recently July 2026.

NHTSA ID

11758009

Incident

Jul 21, 2026

Acceleration lag: either bucking or temporary loss of motive power when attempting to pull into traffic has almost caused us to be hit several times. We had the problem almost immediately after purchase, but the lag was short and the Jeep would leap forward and back tires would squeal which caused the back tires to wear quickly compared to front. The bucking and loss of power while accelerating became dangerous after I took to the dealership in Feb 2026 when they also did recall 68C related to the battery. We stopped charging it completely and still had the issue. Took back to the dealership in March 2026 and they said they could not replicate issue. Tried to schedule an appt last week and they never got back to me. We have avoided several accidents so far but I am now afraid to drive it. Assuming these are unrelated but just in case: at 10k miles the check engine light came on, and I couldn’t add ANY fuel (automatic shut off happened immediately) and the fuel cap wouldn’t open. Foss Motors wrote: "CHECKED FOR CODES IN SYSTEM. VEHICLE HAD CODES P2451 FUEL TANK ISOATION VALVE A STUCK, PO4EC EVAP SYSTEM LARGE LEAK DETECTED AND P04EE EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK DETECTED. PERFORMED EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK VERIFICATION TEST. TEST EVAP SYSTEM AND FOUND ISOLATION VALVE STICKING. COMPLETED REPLACEMENT OF ISOLATION VALVE. Replaced fuel filler tube 68413327AD and 68412848AC fuel cap." In Sept 2025 (~45k miles) - Check engine light came on again soon after with errors: PO4EC EVAP SYSTEM LARGE LEAK DETECTED and P04EE EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK DETECTED. They could not find leak or issue.

NHTSA ID

11757424

Incident

Feb 19, 2026

2021 jeep wrangler 4xe unlimited rubicon. Death wobble steering stabilizer has been replaced. 4 Alignments in a week . Was told that it was my tires nope not the case . I can’t not drive my jeep at all . Now the transfer case is leaking the track bar that I told the mechanics it needed to be replaced . The mechanic at John jones told me not to bring it back because I was not a mechanic to find someone else .ive had it sense oct2025 and put not even a thousand miles on it . Lemon laws do exist jeep needs to make it write. I’ve almost went into on coming traffic 3 times in the last week . The 4xe needs recalled before someone gets killed or kills someone ..

NHTSA ID

11754096

Incident

Jul 27, 2026

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

While driving, regardless of whether at neighborhood or highway speeds, my Jeep Wrangler 4xe suddenly loses drive power without warning. Electric propulsion drops in stages — to about 50%, then 25% — then the dash displays "Electric Mode Temporarily Unavailable" and the vehicle forces itself into hybrid mode. When this happens, I press the accelerator and get little or no response for several seconds before the gas engine engages. This is a serious safety hazard when merging or pulling into traffic. I have had a couple of close calls due to the lack of acceleration. It is repeatable and occurs during normal driving. This all began after having the 68C recall performed. Also, while driving in electric mode at highway speeds, the engine constantly starts and stops, causing a lurching each time. In other instances, when the acceleration is lagging, and the engine does start and engage, the vehicle accelerates more than expected, which could be a serious safety risk.

NHTSA ID

11747105

Incident

Jun 22, 2026

1. The vehicle caught fire during normal operation. It is a 2021 Jeep Wrangler (VIN [XXX]) subject to FCA US Recall 21D / NHTSA Campaign 26V363000, which identifies the electric hydraulic power steering (EHPS) pump and its wiring as a fire source that can overheat and ignite. The exact failed component has not yet been confirmed by diagnostic, but the fire is consistent with the defect described in that recall. The vehicle is intact and available for inspection — it was towed to Waxahatchie Jeep, an authorized Stellantis dealer in Waxahachie, TX, on June 19, 2026 and remains in their custody under repair order [XXX]. 2. The vehicle caught fire while being driven on the highway between Waxahachie and Ennis, Texas, with two occupants returning from a Boy Scout trip, my husband, the driver, and our [XXX] son. The driver was forced to take evasive action, steering off the roadway into a service station to get the occupants clear and stop the fire from spreading further. This created a serious risk of burns, of a collision during the evasive maneuver, and of harm to the occupants and other motorists. 3. Has the problem been reproduced…? No. No diagnostic has been performed. The vehicle has been in the authorized dealer’s custody since June 19, 2026 ([XXX]), but the manufacturer has not completed an inspection or diagnostic. The underlying defect is the subject of an active recall (21D / 26V363000) affecting more than one million 2021–2025 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles, for which the manufacturer has stated no remedy is yet available. 4. The vehicle was towed by AAA to Waxahatchie Jeep on June 19, 2026 and has remained there since. It has not yet been formally inspected or diagnosed by the manufacturer. 5. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the fire. The first indication of a problem was smoke from the engine area at which point the driver immediately pulled off the road and saw a plume of smoke coming from the exhaust. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.

NHTSA ID

11746110

Incident

Jun 19, 2026

Jeep death wobble, terribly! Starting when going over 55mph, now happens often and anytime the road has a bump, uneven, or hole.

NHTSA ID

11742715

Incident

Jan 2, 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

Jeep continues to apply bandaids to the high voltage battery system. The latest recall, 68c, is another software fix that doesnt address the root cause, high voltage battery. after the recall, the car drives horrible when in electric mode - engine kicks on all the time, loss of power until you stomp on the accelerator (which then kicks on engine). NHTSA needs to hold Jeep Stellantis accountable for selling an inferior product and take care of the customers who have supported them for the past 5 years until they stopped selling them! there are 320,000 jeeps impacted, lets fix this!!! I will be scheduling service soon, but you cant expect customers to stop our lives to live at the service center. Jeep really needs to start offering a large scale buyback OR fix the issue which would be to replace the battery with new improved updated one that doesnt become a fire risk every year! Thats where the NHTSA should come in to play - which is "dedicated to saving lives, preventing injuries, and reducing economic costs associated with motor vehicle crashes. It achieves this by setting safety standards, investigating defects, issuing recalls"

NHTSA ID

11718436

Incident

Nov 5, 2025

My vehicle is subject to an open safety recall (NHTSA Recall 25V-741) involving high-voltage battery separator damage that may cause a vehicle fire when parked or charging. The recall has been active on this vehicle for over four months. The manufacturer and dealers have confirmed the recall applies but have not provided a remedy timeline or parts availability. The vehicle is considered unsafe to park near structures or other vehicles and I have been advised to avoid recharging. No repair has been performed. The condition places occupants and others at risk of fire and prevents safe use of the vehicle. I am reporting this because the manufacturer has failed to remedy this safety recall in a timely manner.

NHTSA ID

11718397

Incident

Oct 25, 2025

After 68C recall has been performed and "passed" the car will lose acceleration and power when trying to go up a hill. Will not accelerate when in electric mode.

NHTSA ID

11717746

Incident

Feb 12, 2026

I just had the 68C recall done to my Jeep Wrangler 4XE recently. Before the recall, it was running fine. But now, every time I go uphill in electric only mode, the car would suddenly lose power (eg. slowing down from 50 MPH to 20 MPH). Pressing the accelerator does nothing, until I fully depress it, at which point the gas engine would start and the car jerks forward. It's very dangerous with the sudden slow down and speed up for no reason.

NHTSA ID

11712834

Incident

Jan 21, 2026

Basically stated, death wobble, after looking up symptoms. At 65 mph on the highway, hit a bump and the entire jeep shook uncontrollably. I just purchased it used not 10 minutes prior to the incident. The dealership failed to mention this and sold it as-is.

NHTSA ID

11705474

Incident

Dec 16, 2025

I purchased (traded into) a 2021 Jeep Wrangler on October 31, 2024. The vehicle already had an open safety recall (68C) at the time of purchase. Shortly after, the vehicle began experiencing severe and dangerous safety failures. While driving, the Jeep suddenly goes into “turtle mode,” loses power without warning, and drops to 7–12 mph in traffic. The engine light comes on and the vehicle becomes almost undrivable. This creates an extremely hazardous situation where I could be rear-ended or left stranded on the road. This is a serious safety risk to me and to other drivers. I contacted Jeep/Stellantis Recall Customer Care to report the issue. Only after calling did I receive an email telling me I must pay out of pocket for a rental vehicle, even though the vehicle is unsafe and the recall remedy is not available. I immediately responded saying I cannot pay upfront. Since November 25, Jeep/Stellantis has ignored my messages completely. The vehicle remains unsafe, undrivable, and under a recall with no available parts. Jeep has refused to provide a direct-billed rental or any safe alternative transportation. I have been left without a usable vehicle while the manufacturer fails to communicate or offer assistance. This is a major safety defect, and the lack of manufacturer response puts me in danger. If this vehicle loses power in traffic again, it could cause an accident. I am requesting NHTSA intervention because Jeep/Stellantis is not addressing this safety issue, not providing a remedy, and not honoring their recall responsibilities. Symptoms: •Sudden power loss •Turtle mode activation •Speed dropping to 7–12 mph unexpectedly •Engine warning light on •Vehicle unsafe to operate Manufacturer Failure: •Recall 68C remedy unavailable •Denied direct-billed rental •Required me to pay upfront for rental •No response to my communication since Nov 25 •Left me without transportation

NHTSA ID

11703521

Incident

Nov 7, 2025

I was driving on the freeway, 65mph, in Los Angeles and the '21 Jeep Wrangler 4xe started showing a bunch of error messages telling me to safely pull over, loss of propulsion, etc. I lost power and was unable to drive past 38mph. Upon getting to the end of the off-ramp and before coming to a full stop, the vehicle threw itself into parking gear. I shifted to Park, and it wouldn’t shift out of Park, while I was blocking traffic on the off-ramp, which could have been a dangerous incident. I required a tow truck. There was a Check Engine Light and a 12V battery light while I was bricked. The tow truck was unable to jump start it. The dealer provided a pre-scan report showing stored codes P0607 (ECU Internal Performance) and P1B13 (Park-By-Wire Unintended Out of Park). Refusal to Repair: The dealer just replaced the 12V battery and "cleared the codes" (per their invoice). There is a known TSB 08-054-22 (NHTSA ID 10248015) specifically relating to code P0607 software logic, but they refused to look into it further. I didn’t have confidence in their diagnosis, and when requesting them to do a safety test drive with me, they refused. When I pressed for safety verification, the Service Director told me to “leave the dealership and never come back.” I was genuinely concerned about the safety of this vehicle and their lack of investigative diagnosis, specifically their refusal to verify if the TSB was performed to ensure the Hybrid Control modules have up-to-date software. They refused to offer any help and just told me to “take the vehicle and leave.” I don’t believe it’s normal for a car to lose propulsion from a weak 12V battery while driving. There seems to be a more complicated communication issue (P0607) that is happening, and it very much concerns me as losing propulsion on the highway is very dangerous.

NHTSA ID

11701592

Incident

Nov 16, 2025

My local dealer has all the documentation on this jeep. It has been into the dealership many times now the check engine light is on for another problem which I am taking it in again this weekend . When I ask the dealer, I’ve been seeing things on Facebook about these jeeps having issues they just filled me full of a bunch of Bull and says every vehicle has issues. I’ve ran the VIN number and found out that mine is one of them that just catches on fire plus sometimes shakes when it’s driving down the road but that’s been minor considering everything else. One time I was driving up the driveway and it felt like the transmission slipped or something. They said it was something in the four-wheel-drive that went out. This is a new vehicle. It has very low miles on it. I’ve had it going on maybe the fourth year now it’s only got 31,000 miles on it I don’t drive it very far. It’s been in the shop several times for recalls or things that’s happened to it. When I first got it, it left me stranded would not start. I’d only had it a few days. It has been a lemon from start to finish. I am terrified to drive it and I don’t have another vehicle. I paid $55,000 for this jeep just a few years ago. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I desperately need help if the manufacturer is refunding people’s monies I want to make sure that I get enough money to buy another vehicle because this one is only a few years old and it’s been in the shop numerous amount of times. The other day it shimmied a little bit on the highway and I thought it was the road and now I’m reading that there’s problems with that also, it’s clearly a lemon. But as I said, I’m scared to death to drive it now. The newest development as I’ve said is now the check engine light is on. It’s only been out of the shop for maybe three weeks since they fixed something in the four-wheel-drive which I’ve never even used. I love the looks of this Jeep, but it’s not dependable so I need help.

NHTSA ID

11698040

Incident

Nov 1, 2025

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

While driving the 'service shifter' warning will flash and once this happens the steering locks up and the car shuts down. This primarily happens when hitting a bump, pot hole, railroad tracks, etc. After the warning flashes and the steering locks up, every light on the dash comes on as the car is shutting down. The vehicle is in the shop for the 3rd time within 9 months for the same issue. The dealership replaced the star link connector saying that was the issue but it is still occurring. The vehicle is currently in the shop with this issue and they are saying there is nothing wrong and 'no codes being thrown.' We have had this happen at least a dozen times on us while driving. A handful without hitting a bump or one of the specified causes. Once this happens, the car become immobile and has to be towed. The first time this occurred was within 10 days of purchasing the vehicle; it started happening in January and is still occurring. After the dealership 'fixes' it, the issue will not occur for a couple of months then it will happen again.

NHTSA ID

11695988

Incident

Jan 26, 2025

Vehicle rear locker light flashing indicating the rear locker was turned on when, leaving a retail shop, and the rear locker engaged in 2WD on its own! No indication prior to this, it came out of the blue. Tried to disengage the rear locker via selector switch but unsuccessful. Any attempts to drive were met with severe jumping and jerking of the vehicle with loud metal banging noises. Tried both reverse and forward as well as putting it in 4WD and then back to 2WD to disengage the locker. Not successful. Vehicle towed to Jeep dealership. Luckily I was in a parking lot and not on the main road. If this happened on the main road at speed, I fear I may have lost control of the vehicle as it was jerking and jumping and the vehicle was uncontrollable which would have put other drivers at risk of collision and possible injury. Dealership has confirmed the issue, replaced the rear locker and sensors in the axle, and the symptoms persist for them too. They are currently looking into the electrical system and computer as the root cause. Chrysler is recommending the dealer replace the rear axle as the only means of fixing the issue. Apparently this is a growing issue that Chrysler has been aware of for several years. Vehicle is currently in the shop at the dealership for troubleshooting.

NHTSA ID

11695023

Incident

Oct 2, 2025