2012 Jeep WRANGLER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Jeep WRANGLER has 1282 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 16.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: automatic transmission with 'electronic range select' allows a downshift with a move of the shift lever to the left when in 'd' drive. a move to the right up-shifts. accidental downshifts occur frequently because of 'hair-trigger' nature of shift lever controls. the slightest, barely perceptible mo. ⚠️ 26 fire reports filed.

26 fire reports 24 crash reports 29 injuries

1282

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

16.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

285 complaints

22%

• AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH 'ELECTRONIC RANGE SELECT' ALLOWS A DOWNSHIFT WITH A MOVE OF THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE LEFT WHEN IN 'D' DRIVE. A MOVE TO THE RIGHT UP-SHIFTS. ACCIDENTAL DOWNSHIFTS OCCUR FREQUENTLY BECAUSE OF 'HAIR-TRIGGER' NATURE OF SHIFT LEVER CONTROLS. THE SLIGHTEST, BARELY PERCEPTIBLE MO
• AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH 'ELECTRONIC RANGE SELECT' ALLOWS A DOWNSHIFT WITH A MOVE OF THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE LEFT WHEN IN 'D' DRIVE. A MOVE TO THE RIGHT UP-SHIFTS. ACCIDENTAL DOWNSHIFTS OCCUR FREQUENTLY BECAUSE OF 'HAIR-TRIGGER' NATURE OF SHIFT LEVER CONTROLS. THE SLIGHTEST, BARELY PERCEPTIBLE MO
• THIS VEHICLE HAS AUTO STICK SHIFTING WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. FOR UPSHIFTS MOVEMENT ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT, HITTING THE END OF TRAVEL IS REQUIRED THE MAKE A SHIFT UP IN GEAR SELECTION. ON DOWN SHIFTS, JUST TOUCHING THE SHIFT HANDLE AND BARELY APPLYING PRESSURE ACTIVATES A DOWNSHIFT. NO MOVE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH 'ELECTRONIC RANGE SELECT' ALLOWS A DOWNSHIFT WITH A MOVE OF THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE LEFT WHEN IN 'D' DRIVE. A MOVE TO THE RIGHT UP-SHIFTS. ACCIDENTAL DOWNSHIFTS OCCUR FREQUENTLY BECAUSE OF 'HAIR-TRIGGER' NATURE OF SHIFT LEVER CONTROLS. THE SLIGHTEST, BARELY PERCEPTIBLE MO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

204 complaints

16%

• MY 2012 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA 2-DOOR WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: 1) VALVE TRAIN TICKING NOISE. THIS DEVELOPED AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP (BOUGHT NOVEMBER 2011) 2) SLUGGISH ACCELERATION AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD. IT DOES IMPROVE AS
• 10/17/12- STEERING COLUMN SHUTTERS, HORN PADS LOOSE- DEALER RETORQUED BOLTS TO HORN PAD AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG. 1/4/12- BRAKE/STEERING CONCERN; STEERING WHEEL HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY, EXCESSIVE PULL TO RIGHT- DEALER CHECKED AND ADJUSTED ALIGNMENT, VEHICLE STEERING CONTINUED TO DRIFT; DEALER ROTATED FRONT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHCILE WAS IN NEED OF A WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“MY 2012 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA 2-DOOR WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: 1) VALVE TRAIN TICKING NOISE. THIS DEVELOPED AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP (BOUGHT NOVEMBER 2011) 2) SLUGGISH ACCELERATION AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD. IT DOES IMPROVE AS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

178 complaints

14%

• MY 2012 WRANGLER WITH ONLY 200 MILES START TO OVERHEATING WHEN USE MORE POWER TO RUN UPHILL A ROAD. I GO TO THE DEALER TO VERIFY AND SAID TO ME THAT ITS NORMAL. I SAID TO THEME THAT CHANGE ME THIS WRANGLER BECAUSE WAS NEW AND NOT CHANGE IT WITH ANOTHER. ALSO NOW AT 987 MILES THE ENGINE MAKE A NOISE
• PURCHASED A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT ON 3/3/12 AT ROUGHLY 2PM CST. AT ABOUT 4PM CST, I PARKED THE JEEP IN MY APARTMENT'S PARKING GARAGE. I DECIDED AT ABOUT 6PM CST TO GO GET SOME DINNER, AND TO CRUISE AROUND AS WELL IN THE NEW VEHICLE. I OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE PARKING GARAGE, AND WHEN I GOT
• LOUD TICKING NOISE FROM LEFT ENGINE BANK. AT IDLE AND DRIVING. INCREASE TICKING WITH INCREASED RPM. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 11 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“MY 2012 WRANGLER WITH ONLY 200 MILES START TO OVERHEATING WHEN USE MORE POWER TO RUN UPHILL A ROAD. I GO TO THE DEALER TO VERIFY AND SAID TO ME THAT ITS NORMAL. I SAID TO THEME THAT CHANGE ME THIS WRANGLER BECAUSE WAS NEW AND NOT CHANGE IT WITH ANOTHER. ALSO NOW AT 987 MILES THE ENGINE MAKE A NOISE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

148 complaints

12%

• PURCHASED A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT ON 3/3/12 AT ROUGHLY 2PM CST. AT ABOUT 4PM CST, I PARKED THE JEEP IN MY APARTMENT'S PARKING GARAGE. I DECIDED AT ABOUT 6PM CST TO GO GET SOME DINNER, AND TO CRUISE AROUND AS WELL IN THE NEW VEHICLE. I OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE PARKING GARAGE, AND WHEN I GOT
• 45 DAYS AND 1960 MILES AND IT IS AT DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH STEERING COLUMN AND DASH ALL APART. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH CLOCK SPRING IN STEERING WHEEL, HOWEVER AFTER THAT WAS REPLACED THEY STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRONICS IN STEERING COLUMN. SO FAR DEALER DOESN'T KNOW OR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TOP WAS OPENED AS IT BEGAN TO RAIN AND SATURATED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, THE CONTACT HE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS, EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 7 fire reports

“PURCHASED A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT ON 3/3/12 AT ROUGHLY 2PM CST. AT ABOUT 4PM CST, I PARKED THE JEEP IN MY APARTMENT'S PARKING GARAGE. I DECIDED AT ABOUT 6PM CST TO GO GET SOME DINNER, AND TO CRUISE AROUND AS WELL IN THE NEW VEHICLE. I OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE PARKING GARAGE, AND WHEN I GOT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

128 complaints

10%

• 10/17/12- STEERING COLUMN SHUTTERS, HORN PADS LOOSE- DEALER RETORQUED BOLTS TO HORN PAD AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG. 1/4/12- BRAKE/STEERING CONCERN; STEERING WHEEL HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY, EXCESSIVE PULL TO RIGHT- DEALER CHECKED AND ADJUSTED ALIGNMENT, VEHICLE STEERING CONTINUED TO DRIFT; DEALER ROTATED FRONT
• ON THE 2012 JEEP WRANGLER (LHD) DASHBOARD, THE AIRBAG AND ESP WARNING LIGHT FLASHES ON EVERY OTHER MINUTE WITH A CHIME, AN INDICATION THAT THERE IS SOMETHING MALFUNCTIONING OR INTERFERING WITH THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS.THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING ISSUE AND CONCERN FOR MANY 2008+ JEEP WRANGLER (LHD) OWNERS
• ON OR ABOUT 10 AM ON 8-16-13 OUR AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND ALL STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONS QUITE WORKING. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATTER THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE EDR SYSTEM REPORTED THAT, NO AIRBAG WENT OFF AND THERE IS NO RECORDED EVENT. THIS FROM JEEPS CORPORATE INVESTIGATION. THE SRS MODULE IS ALSO FINE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 9 crashes

“10/17/12- STEERING COLUMN SHUTTERS, HORN PADS LOOSE- DEALER RETORQUED BOLTS TO HORN PAD AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG. 1/4/12- BRAKE/STEERING CONCERN; STEERING WHEEL HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY, EXCESSIVE PULL TO RIGHT- DEALER CHECKED AND ADJUSTED ALIGNMENT, VEHICLE STEERING CONTINUED TO DRIFT; DEALER ROTATED FRONT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1282 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH 'ELECTRONIC RANGE SELECT' ALLOWS A DOWNSHIFT WITH A MOVE OF THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE LEFT WHEN IN 'D' DRIVE. A MOVE TO THE RIGHT UP-SHIFTS. ACCIDENTAL DOWNSHIFTS OCCUR FREQUENTLY BECAUSE OF 'HAIR-TRIGGER' NATURE OF SHIFT LEVER CONTROLS. THE SLIGHTEST, BARELY PERCEPTIBLE MO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: MY 2012 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA 2-DOOR WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: 1) VALVE TRAIN TICKING NOISE. THIS DEVELOPED AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP (BOUGHT NOVEMBER 2011) 2) SLUGGISH ACCELERATION AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD. IT DOES IMPROVE AS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: MY 2012 WRANGLER WITH ONLY 200 MILES START TO OVERHEATING WHEN USE MORE POWER TO RUN UPHILL A ROAD. I GO TO THE DEALER TO VERIFY AND SAID TO ME THAT ITS NORMAL. I SAID TO THEME THAT CHANGE ME THIS WRANGLER BECAUSE WAS NEW AND NOT CHANGE IT WITH ANOTHER. ALSO NOW AT 987 MILES THE ENGINE MAKE A NOISE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: PURCHASED A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT ON 3/3/12 AT ROUGHLY 2PM CST. AT ABOUT 4PM CST, I PARKED THE JEEP IN MY APARTMENT'S PARKING GARAGE. I DECIDED AT ABOUT 6PM CST TO GO GET SOME DINNER, AND TO CRUISE AROUND AS WELL IN THE NEW VEHICLE. I OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE PARKING GARAGE, AND WHEN I GOT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)