Jeep Wrangler Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 460 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Jeep Wrangler across 28 model years. The 1997 model year has the most (109). The words owners use most often: “exhaust manifold” (21% of reports).
- 460engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 8mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,350typical repair cost reported by owners
- 42%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.
- Exhaust manifold: mentioned in 95 of 460 complaints (21%)
- Catalytic converter: mentioned in 28 of 460 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Jeep Wrangler at $1,350, and half of them between $850 and $3,100.
Based on 17 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2000–2011), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 228 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 460 complaints, 8 mention a crash, 37 a fire, 5 an injury.
Jeep Wrangler engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Wrangler | 2 | 1% | 22,357 |
| 2022 Wrangler | 2 | 0% | 3,000 |
| 2021 Wrangler | 4 | 0% | 36,000 |
| 2020 Wrangler | 6 | 1% | 60,000 |
| 2019 Wrangler | 5 | 1% | 61,000 |
| 2018 Wrangler | 4 | 0% | 81,000 |
| 2017 Wrangler | 1 | 0% | 99,000 |
| 2016 Wrangler | 6 | 1% | 67,959 |
| 2015 Wrangler | 4 | 1% | 10,890 |
| 2014 Wrangler | 9 | 1% | 55,000 |
| 2013 Wrangler | 4 | 1% | 51,000 |
| 2012 Wrangler | 7 | 1% | 1,000 |
| 2011 Wrangler | 6 | 1% | 6,000 |
| 2010 Wrangler | 15 | 2% | 19,000 |
| 2009 Wrangler | 5 | 1% | 24,000 |
| 2008 Wrangler | 11 | 1% | 35,000 |
| 2007 Wrangler | 28 | 5% | 27,675 |
| 2006 Wrangler | 20 | 3% | 34,500 |
| 2005 Wrangler | 22 | 3% | 40,000 |
| 2004 Wrangler | 9 | 5% | 400 |
| 2003 Wrangler | 6 | 6% | 15,100 |
| 2002 Wrangler | 4 | 4% | 105,000 |
| 2001 Wrangler | 21 | 12% | 79,898 |
| 2000 Wrangler | 15 | 6% | 77,500 |
| 1999 Wrangler | 50 | 23% | 56,500 |
| 1998 Wrangler | 53 | 20% | 53,000 |
| 1997 Wrangler | 109 | 27% | 73,000 |
| 1995 Wrangler | 32 | 16% | 103,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine and engine cooling for the 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 contact owns a 2016 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the factory oil filler adapter housing was made of plastic, which heated up, warped, and cracked over time. This structural failure caused engine oil to drip and spray across the entire underside of the vehicle, heavily coating the…
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine overheated, and the vehicle was driving sluggishly with the temperature gauge indicating that the engine was overheating. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the…
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Wrangler. While the contactâs daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine temperature gauge became extremely elevated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was discovered that the coolant reservoir was empty and no leak was found…
The contact owned a 2020 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine temperature gauge was increasing. The engine overheating warning light illuminated, the vehicle was turned off, and the contact exited the vehicle to open the hood and immediately…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Jeep Wranglers have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 460 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Jeep Wrangler. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Jeep Wrangler engine and engine cooling?
No recall currently lists engine and engine cooling for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Jeep Wrangler?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,350 (half paid between $850 and $3,100), from 17 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Jeep Wrangler?
The most frequent phrase is “exhaust manifold”, in 95 of 460 complaints, followed by “catalytic converter” (28).
Other Jeep Wrangler problems
- Steering problems (3,541)
- Electrical System problems (2,983)
- Engine problems (2,187)
- Power Train problems (2,179)
- Suspension problems (1,586)
- Air Bags problems (1,482)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (1,312)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (1,085)
See all Jeep Wrangler problems.