Jeep Wrangler Engine Problems
Owners have filed 2,182 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Jeep Wrangler across 29 model years. The 2024 model year has the most (415). The words owners use most often: “oil filter” (9% of reports).
- 2,182engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 29mention a crash
- 18mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $1,550typical 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.
- Oil filter: mentioned in 195 of 2,182 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Jeep Wrangler at $1,550, and half of them between $1,050 and $4,600.
Based on 66 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2026), 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 problems happen?
Based on 927 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 2,182 complaints, 29 mention a crash, 143 a fire, 18 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 (2)
Engine
Model years: 2021, 2022, 2023
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vehicles equipped with 2.0L Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle engines. A loss of communication may cause an engine shutdown.
Risk: An engine shutdown can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: There is more than one involved component and calibration software. Updating the calibration software in the Transmission Control Module, Hybrid Control Processor and Auxiliary Hybrid Control Processor that changes fail safe from shut down to limp home. Dealers will update the transmission control module software, Hybrid Control Processor and Auxiliary Hybrid Control Processor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall ZB7.
Engine; fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Jeep Wrangler, Ram 1500, and 2021-2022 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. The high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) may fail, causing an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the HPFP and inspect and replace additional fuel system components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2023. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Z96.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The check engine light was on and it said to service the battery charging components. When driving in hybrid mode it doesnât switch to use the battery. When I was trying to pull off after stopping, the jeep hesitated and would not move and then all of a sudden jerked and took off almost making me…
My jeep after the 68c recall work was performed to lessen the chances of a fire caused by the hybrid battery now under performs compared to before the recall. I get much less that the advertised EV / Battery only miles. Also, the vehicle hesitates while trying to transition between battery only and…
I purchased my 2021 used with 29k miles in April 2024. Since then I have had to deal with three recalls but one of particular concern- 68c, meant to reduce the incidence of fire caused by the battery cell separators. Since then I have experienced a very noticeable change in how the Jeep drives…
while driving my 2023 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe at approximately 40 mph in electric mode with approximately 26% battery charge remaining, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly lost propulsion. The green indicator on the instrument cluster that normally shows electric operation changed to yellow…
Iâve had an ongoing issue with my car since earlier this year, 2026, and the code says âelectric coolant heaterâ and i have a solid check engine light. they replaced the coolant heater a few months ago and now itâs doing the same thing again. Thereâs also another recall for the power…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Jeep Wranglers have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 2,182 owner complaints about engine 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?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Jeep Wrangler?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,550 (half paid between $1,050 and $4,600), from 66 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Jeep Wrangler?
The most frequent phrase is “oil filter”, in 195 of 2,182 complaints.
Other Jeep Wrangler problems
- Steering problems (3,540)
- Electrical System problems (2,979)
- Power Train problems (2,176)
- Suspension problems (1,585)
- Air Bags problems (1,482)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (1,310)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (1,084)
- Service Brakes problems (798)
See all Jeep Wrangler problems.