2018 Jeep WRANGLER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Jeep WRANGLER has 2608 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 32.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (43% of all complaints), specifically: in motion over 45mph, the jeep will suddenly experience a steering wobble that causes almost complete lack of control. to fix the issue, speed must be decreased to <10mph which can be extremely dangerous due to traffic and high speeds. the steering wheel is almost impossible to control. problem is r. ⚠️ 40 fire reports filed.

40 fire reports 20 crash reports 15 injuries

2608

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

32.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

1111 complaints

43%

• IN MOTION OVER 45MPH, THE JEEP WILL SUDDENLY EXPERIENCE A STEERING WOBBLE THAT CAUSES ALMOST COMPLETE LACK OF CONTROL. TO FIX THE ISSUE, SPEED MUST BE DECREASED TO <10MPH WHICH CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DUE TO TRAFFIC AND HIGH SPEEDS. THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. PROBLEM IS R
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IN ADDITION, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HUDSON CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (625 ROUTE 440 SOUTH, JERSEY CITY, NJ 0
• NEW VEHICLE WITH 300 MILES ON ODOMETER EXHIBITED VAGUE STEERING AND WONDERED BACK AND FORTH ALL OVER THE ROAD. REQUIRES CONSTANT STEERING WHEEL INPUT TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT PATH DOWN THE HIGHWAY. TIRE PRESSURES ARE ALL SET TO SPECIFICATIONS. TEST DROVE TWO ADDITIONAL IDENTICAL MODELS AND HAD THE SAM

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 9 crashes

“IN MOTION OVER 45MPH, THE JEEP WILL SUDDENLY EXPERIENCE A STEERING WOBBLE THAT CAUSES ALMOST COMPLETE LACK OF CONTROL. TO FIX THE ISSUE, SPEED MUST BE DECREASED TO <10MPH WHICH CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DUE TO TRAFFIC AND HIGH SPEEDS. THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. PROBLEM IS R”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

343 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IN ADDITION, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HUDSON CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (625 ROUTE 440 SOUTH, JERSEY CITY, NJ 0
• IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED BALL JOINTS. THEY WERE LOOSE AND MADE A CLICKING NOISE WHEN STEERING.
• STEERING WHEEL BRACKET NOW WELDED ON TO FRAME PROPERLY. IT HAS FALLEN OFF CAR CAUSING STEERING TO BE FLOATING AND DANGEROUS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IN ADDITION, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HUDSON CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (625 ROUTE 440 SOUTH, JERSEY CITY, NJ 0”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

256 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (WESTBORN CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM, 23300 MICHIGAN AVE, DEARBORN, MI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOFTW
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (WESTBORN CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM, 23300 MICHIGAN AVE, DEARBORN, MI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOFTW
• WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS STUCK ON DESPITE CONTROLS SET TO OFF POSITION. NO TURN SIGNALS OR HIGH BEAMS EITHER. HAD TO PULL THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FUSE TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE HOME. TRIED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND STEP ON THE BRAKE, THEN LEAVE IT DISCONNECTED FOR 20 MINUTES, BUT THIS DID

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 6 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (WESTBORN CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM, 23300 MICHIGAN AVE, DEARBORN, MI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOFTW”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

211 complaints

• SENT TO TOWER IN PLYMOUTH MI TO WELD JEEP FRAMES THAT ROBOT WAS NOT WELDING CORRECTLY. TOLD TO JUST COVER THEM UP AND THEY WILL JUST PAINT FRAMES. TOLD THEY HAVE TO MEET THEIR PRODUCTION NUMBERS. I WOULD NOT DRIVE OR WANT ANYONE ELSE TO DRIVE ONE OF THESE.*DT*JB
• WHILE THE DEFROST WAS ON HEAT, AND WITH COLD TEPERATURES OUTSIDE, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON ITS OWN
• ON 2/9/18, FLEW FROM BOSTON TO PICK UP PURCHASE OF NEW 2018 ALL-PURPLE, 2-DOOR 40K JEEP AT CANANDAIGUA NY JEEP DEALERSHIP. (NONE AVAILABLE IN MASS.) UPON DELIVERY ON LOT, DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY. SALESMAN ROBERTS STATED TO US THAT ALL JEEPS ARE QUIRKY; DOORS MUST BE SLAMMED TO CLOSE.

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

“SENT TO TOWER IN PLYMOUTH MI TO WELD JEEP FRAMES THAT ROBOT WAS NOT WELDING CORRECTLY. TOLD TO JUST COVER THEM UP AND THEY WILL JUST PAINT FRAMES. TOLD THEY HAVE TO MEET THEIR PRODUCTION NUMBERS. I WOULD NOT DRIVE OR WANT ANYONE ELSE TO DRIVE ONE OF THESE.*DT*JB”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

171 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, ONE WEEK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE SERVICE TRANSMISSION AND THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRE
• VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO A GEAR. I TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO GET INTRO GEAR, AND ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, IT WOULD NOT GET OUT OF 6TH GEAR, BROUGHT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDED A RE FLASH, AND IT WAS GOOD, NEXT DAY IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR, I SHIFTED TR
• WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE FOR THE THIRD TIME IN TWO DAYS AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR FOLLOWING A PCM FLASH FOR A CRUISE CONTROL RECALL, I NOTICED THE PRND LIGHTS FLASHING ON THE SHIFTIER APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS AFTER VEHICLE START. I SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED A CEL AND A "SERVICE SHIFTER' MESSAGE. I SH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 13 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, ONE WEEK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE SERVICE TRANSMISSION AND THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 2608 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: IN MOTION OVER 45MPH, THE JEEP WILL SUDDENLY EXPERIENCE A STEERING WOBBLE THAT CAUSES ALMOST COMPLETE LACK OF CONTROL. TO FIX THE ISSUE, SPEED MUST BE DECREASED TO <10MPH WHICH CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DUE TO TRAFFIC AND HIGH SPEEDS. THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. PROBLEM IS R
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IN ADDITION, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HUDSON CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (625 ROUTE 440 SOUTH, JERSEY CITY, NJ 0
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (WESTBORN CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM, 23300 MICHIGAN AVE, DEARBORN, MI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOFTW
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: SENT TO TOWER IN PLYMOUTH MI TO WELD JEEP FRAMES THAT ROBOT WAS NOT WELDING CORRECTLY. TOLD TO JUST COVER THEM UP AND THEY WILL JUST PAINT FRAMES. TOLD THEY HAVE TO MEET THEIR PRODUCTION NUMBERS. I WOULD NOT DRIVE OR WANT ANYONE ELSE TO DRIVE ONE OF THESE.*DT*JB
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)