2012 Jeep Wrangler Engine Problems
Owners have filed 172 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2012 Jeep Wrangler, 21% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 40,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “cylinder head” (13% of reports).
- 172engine complaints
- 40,500median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 32%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Cylinder head: mentioned in 23 of 172 complaints (13%)
- Oil cooler: mentioned in 16 of 172 complaints (9%)
- Ticking noise: mentioned in 14 of 172 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 132 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 172 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 10 a fire, 2 an injury.
Jeep Wrangler engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Wrangler | 1 | 9% | — |
| 2025 Wrangler | 28 | 39% | — |
| 2024 Wrangler | 415 | 56% | 20,000 |
| 2023 Wrangler | 106 | 29% | 6,500 |
| 2022 Wrangler | 93 | 23% | 18,500 |
| 2021 Wrangler | 217 | 23% | 26,200 |
| 2020 Wrangler | 54 | 9% | 22,846 |
| 2019 Wrangler | 44 | 6% | 12,000 |
| 2018 Wrangler | 99 | 5% | 15,050 |
| 2017 Wrangler | 62 | 20% | 52,000 |
| 2016 Wrangler | 88 | 19% | 44,000 |
| 2015 Wrangler | 128 | 27% | 47,140 |
| 2014 Wrangler | 322 | 49% | 52,000 |
| 2013 Wrangler | 140 | 21% | 63,500 |
| 2012 Wrangler | 172 | 21% | 40,500 |
| 2011 Wrangler | 36 | 7% | 69,000 |
| 2010 Wrangler | 38 | 6% | 62,000 |
| 2009 Wrangler | 18 | 5% | 64,000 |
| 2008 Wrangler | 37 | 4% | 82,715 |
| 2007 Wrangler | 33 | 6% | 70,500 |
| 2006 Wrangler | 9 | 1% | 72,681 |
| 2005 Wrangler | 19 | 3% | 86,500 |
| 2004 Wrangler | 4 | 2% | 114,000 |
| 2003 Wrangler | 1 | 1% | 38,425 |
| 2002 Wrangler | 4 | 4% | 169,000 |
| 2001 Wrangler | 2 | 1% | 134,000 |
| 2000 Wrangler | 9 | 4% | 120,000 |
| 1999 Wrangler | 1 | 0% | 146,000 |
| 1997 Wrangler | 2 | 0% | 135,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the 2012 Jeep Wrangler. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The engine's cylinder head/valve train has failed internally, allowing combustion gases to enter the cooling system â confirmed via a chemical block test performed by a master automotive technician on November 29, 2024, which verified combustion gases present in the coolant. This is a widely…
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where a scan was completed, and…
My complaint is that I was sold a dangerously defective vehicle with a known, unrepaired âstop drivingâ airbag safety recall, was not warned about the deadly risk, and am now being told to move and tow the car in direct contradiction to official safety instructions. ### Factual background - The…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2012 Jeep Wranglers have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 172 owner complaints about engine for the 2012 Jeep Wrangler (21% of the 835 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Jeep Wrangler engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 40,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2012 Jeep Wrangler?
The most frequent phrase is “cylinder head”, in 23 of 172 complaints, followed by “oil cooler” (16).
Other 2012 Jeep Wrangler problems
- Power Train problems (282)
- Steering problems (204)
- Electrical System problems (147)
- Air Bags problems (128)
See all 2012 Jeep Wrangler problems or engine problems across all Wrangler years.