Model record
Jeep Wrangler Years to Avoid: Reliability and Recalls
Every Jeep Wrangler model year in NHTSA's owner complaint file, 2010 to 2025: how many complaints each year drew, the problem owners named most, and the recalls to check before you buy.
NHTSA owner complaintsChecked Oct 3, 202610,033 complaints16 model years
The Jeep Wrangler years with the most owner complaints are 2018, 2021 and 2012. Owners named the steering most for 2018, the electrical system for 2021, and the powertrain for 2012.
It's a count of reports, not a failure rate, and the newest years have had less time on the road to collect them.
The all-new 2018 Wrangler drew the most complaints of any year, 1,806, and the 2018 to 2025 years together drew more than the eight years before them.
Jeep Wrangler complaints by model year
Every Jeep Wrangler model year in NHTSA's owner complaint file, 2010 to 2025. Years with 2,000 or more complaints are dark; beside each bar is the system owners named most that year.
- 2010Fuel and power delivery23%686
- 2011Airbag system29%485
- 2012Powertrain33%832
- 2013Powertrain35%649
- 2014Engine49%651
- 2015Engine27%465
- 2016Braking system26%457
- 2017Braking system24%308
- 2018Steering62%1,806
- 2019Steering60%732
- 2020Steering39%602
- 2021Electrical system33%905
- 2022Electrical system41%380
- 2023Electrical system53%341
- 2024Engine59%674
- 2025Electrical system58%60
Best Jeep Wrangler years by complaint count
Of the years with at least five years on the road, these drew the fewest owner complaints. Fewer reports is not a clean bill of health: check the recalls for the exact car, and remember 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 have had less time to collect complaints.
- 2017Braking system · 5 recalls308
- 2016Braking system · 5 recalls457
- 2015Engine · 3 recalls465
Most common Jeep Wrangler problems
The systems owners named most across all 16 model years, counted from each year's six most-named systems.
- SteeringNamed most in 3 of 16 years2,659
- Electrical systemNamed most in 4 of 16 years2,270
- EngineNamed most in 3 of 16 years1,959
- PowertrainNamed most in 2 of 16 years1,514
- SuspensionNever the top system in a year794
Our guides for these problems
Jeep Wrangler years to avoid by generation
Jeep called the 2018 Wrangler all-new, so the years in the file fall into two groups. NHTSA's file has the Wrangler from 2010 to 2025.
2010–2017
Last years before the all-new 2018
2012 most complaints · powertrain
- 2010686
- 2011485
- 2012832
- 2013649
- 2014651
- 2015465
- 2016457
- 2017308
4,533 complaints · 8 model years
2018–2025
All-new for 2018
2018 most complaints · steering
- 20181,806
- 2019732
- 2020602
- 2021905
- 2022380
- 2023341
- 2024674
- 202560
5,500 complaints · 8 model years
Jeep Wrangler recalls by year
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for each model year, read Oct 3, 2026. A campaign that covers several years counts in each of them. Recall repairs are free at the dealer; check one car with its VIN.
- 2010Most often: airbag system11
- 2011Most often: airbag system11
- 2012Most often: airbag system10
- 2013Most often: airbag system7
- 2014Most often: airbag system4
- 2015Most often: airbag system3
- 2016Most often: airbag system5
- 2017Most often: seat belts5
- 2018Most often: powertrain14
- 2019Most often: powertrain9
- 2020Most often: backup camera12
- 2021Most often: powertrain15
- 2022Most often: electrical system15
- 2023Most often: electrical system14
- 2024Most often: electrical system11
- 2025Most often: tires4
Jeep Wrangler crash test ratings by year
NHTSA's overall star rating for each model year, with the frontal, side and rollover stars beside it.
- 2010No overall rating—
- 2011No overall rating—
- 2012No overall rating—
- 2013No overall rating—
- 2014No overall rating—
- 2015No overall rating—
- 2016No overall rating—
- 2017No overall rating—
- 2018No overall rating—
- 2019No overall rating—
- 2020No overall rating—
- 2021No overall rating—
- 2022No overall rating—
- 2023No overall rating—
- 2024No overall rating—
- 2025No overall rating—
Federal investigations
NHTSA's defect office has opened 14 investigations into 12 problems that cover Jeep Wrangler model years from 2010 to 2025. An investigation looks into a possible defect; it is not a finding.
Common questions
What are the Jeep Wrangler years to avoid?
The years with the most owner complaints are 2018, 2021 and 2012. Treat them as the years to inspect hardest, not as a verdict on every car: run the VIN for open recalls and have the systems owners named checked before you buy.
What year is the most reliable Jeep Wrangler?
Complaints can't name a most reliable year, because the file counts reports, not failures per car sold. Of the years with at least five years on the road, 2017 drew the fewest complaints: 308. Newer years have fewer still, but they have had less time to collect them.
What is the most common problem with the Jeep Wrangler?
Across every year in the file, owners named the steering most, in 2,659 complaints, then the electrical system, in 2,270.
Which Jeep Wrangler years have the most recalls?
2021, 2022 and 2018, with 15, 15 and 14 recall campaigns.
Wrangler year pages
20181,806What the complaint record can't tell you
Sources
Show all 3 sources
Counts by system and year cover vehicles with at least 10 complaints.