2021 Jeep Wrangler Powertrain (other) Problems

While towing a utility trailer on the highway, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration and could not maintain normal power while the driver was attempting to pass a semi-truck. During the incident, the semi-truck contacted the trailer and shredded one of the trailer tires. Three occupants were inside the vehicle. No injuries occurred, but the incident created a serious risk of a fatal collision. The vehicle has repeatedly displayed “Service Electronic Stability Control” and other warning lights, together with loss of power and transmission hesitation/slipping. The same concern has been reported to the dealership during approximately three service visits. The dealership previously replaced the air filter and attributed the warning lights to it, but the condition returned. Dated videos show the warning condition before and after that repair. The vehicle is currently back at the dealership for the recurring safety concern.

NHTSA ID

11773308

Incident

Jan 17, 2026

I have owned this vehicle since August of 2021 and consider myself very familiar with the normal operation and performance of the vehicles propultion system. From August of 2021 through December of 2025: - I could operate the vehicle at highway speeds in full electric mode - I could reliably tell when the vehicle would transition to the internal combustion engine and how the vehicle would respond when it transitioned (a smooth transition) - I could have confidence in how the vehicle would accelerate when the gas pedal was pushed. I had the 68C recall performed on 12/23/25 and since the recall, the vehicle's propultion system has not been the same to the point where it is a safety concern. - I cannot operate the vehicle at highway speeds in full electric mode and in many cases cannot operate in electric at lower speeds. - When the vehicle transitions to internal combustion, the engine climbs to an unsafe RPM, then reduces RPM in stages until transitioning back to full electric. This process repeates iteslf over and over as if the vehicle is trying to find the right balance between electric and gas. These transitions cause unreliable fluctuations in speed and power and put unecessary strain on the engine. - There are times when I will go to accelerate and nothing will happen for a couple of seconds. This is particularly dangerous at intersections. - There are times when I will go to accelerate and the vehicle will start in electric for a second and then immediately jump to 4500 RPM on the internal combustion engine, jetting the vehicle forward in an unsafe manner. The dealership noted the behavior, but cannot identify any codes and the official message from Jepp is that this is "Normal Operation." I've driven this vehicle for over 5 years and over 60,000 miles. I can confirm that this is not normal, this is not how it always has been, and there has been a change made to the performance of the vehicle since the recall. I have videos of the behavior.

NHTSA ID

11771298

Incident

Dec 23, 2025

Vehicle shuts down and looses all power and battery controls without warning. My [XXX] daughter was driving the jeep when this happened. Was unable to get vehicle into N for over an hour. Fuses and relays inside the under hood fuse block were extremely hot. After finally getting it into N, we removed from the travel lanes of the 4 lane highway. I had jeep towed to house and waiting to hear back from dealer as to when I can have it towed in. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11771117

Incident

Oct 12, 2026

I purchased my 2021 used with 29k miles in April 2024. Since then I have had to deal with three recalls but one of particular concern- 68c, meant to reduce the incidence of fire caused by the battery cell separators. Since then I have experienced a very noticeable change in how the Jeep drives. There is a large gap in available power, the gas engine sometimes kicks in unexpectedly at high RPM, other times I press the accelerator to the floor with no response, and at times there is a severe lag between the time I need to accelerate and the time that power is available. Overall not only did the recall fundamentally change the vehicle I purchased it also introduced unsafe driving characteristics because it is less predictable in its response.

NHTSA ID

11770522

Incident

Dec 31, 1969

In electric mode vehicle loses battery power (at 25% power draw)and several seconds later starts the gas engine to compensate. It does this at least once within every full charge (about 28 miles)-usually when the remaining charge is between10-20%, but on occasion it happens at around 50% and at least once when the battery showed 80%. When it happens at lower charge, it continues until the charge is 0 and it switches to hybrid mode. When the remaining charge is higher it will continue to lose power/start engine and then shut engine off for several miles and then revert to acting normally again. There is no indication on the dash that there is a problem. The jeep does not revert to hybrid mode -it stays in electric mode. This is repeatable. It happens at least once every full charge...usually while accelerating from a stop. I've had it lose power while accelerating through an intersection for several seconds before the engine starts...UNSAFE. Jeep dealer said no fault codes/software is up to date -so nothing they can do. On the phone, the rep said they have no way to troubleshoot this problem.

NHTSA ID

11769330

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

After application of the most recent battery recall/Software update, 68C, the vehicle operates differently than it previously did. In fact, it now nearly stalls while climbing a hill to my home when the battery charge indicated is less than about 35%. Vehicle speed drops from 25 to nearly 5mph, independent of accelerator pedal position, before the engine starts abruptly. Not only am I creating a traffic hazard for those behind me, but the cold gas engine engages at full load. Secondly, the overall response to accelerator input seems to be much slower, both in time and power, than before the software update. This causes issues when pulling out into traffic and is especially alarming when the Jeep won't respond as it did for the previous 50K miles.

NHTSA ID

11768452

Incident

Aug 1, 2026

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