Jeep Wrangler Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 191 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Jeep Wrangler across 28 model years. The 2010 model year has the most (25). The words owners use most often: “turn signals” (10% of reports).
- 191exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 7related recalls
- 45%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.
- Turn signals: mentioned in 19 of 191 complaints (10%)
- Windshield wipers: mentioned in 16 of 191 complaints (8%)
- High beams: mentioned in 11 of 191 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 122 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 191 complaints, 4 a fire, 1 an injury.
Jeep Wrangler exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Wrangler | 4 | 1% | — |
| 2023 Wrangler | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2022 Wrangler | 6 | 1% | — |
| 2021 Wrangler | 6 | 1% | — |
| 2020 Wrangler | 9 | 1% | — |
| 2019 Wrangler | 2 | 0% | — |
| 2018 Wrangler | 9 | 0% | 6,350 |
| 2017 Wrangler | 5 | 2% | 5,200 |
| 2016 Wrangler | 3 | 1% | 29,003 |
| 2015 Wrangler | 4 | 1% | 47,500 |
| 2014 Wrangler | 6 | 1% | 67,500 |
| 2013 Wrangler | 10 | 2% | 24,322 |
| 2012 Wrangler | 21 | 3% | 38,000 |
| 2011 Wrangler | 8 | 2% | 70,000 |
| 2010 Wrangler | 25 | 4% | 52,000 |
| 2009 Wrangler | 9 | 2% | 98,500 |
| 2008 Wrangler | 20 | 2% | 87,000 |
| 2007 Wrangler | 8 | 1% | 82,000 |
| 2005 Wrangler | 5 | 1% | 84,779 |
| 2004 Wrangler | 2 | 1% | 75,000 |
| 2003 Wrangler | 2 | 2% | 80,150 |
| 2002 Wrangler | 1 | 1% | 87,000 |
| 2001 Wrangler | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2000 Wrangler | 2 | 1% | 69,103 |
| 1999 Wrangler | 4 | 2% | 57,000 |
| 1998 Wrangler | 5 | 2% | 78,000 |
| 1997 Wrangler | 5 | 1% | 80,000 |
| 1995 Wrangler | 8 | 4% | 90,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (7)
Exterior lighting; electrical system:wiring
Model years: 2024
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The incorrect dash wiring harness was installed, which can result in inoperative trailer lighting. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Trailer lights that fail to illuminate can reduce the vehicle's visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the dash wiring harness as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is B9B.
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera; exterior lighting:brake lights
Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2024 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The wiring harness for the rearview camera and the center brake light may short circuit, which can disable the rearview camera image and center brake light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 111, "Rear Visibility" and 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, a center brake light that fails to illuminate can fail to indicate to other drivers that the vehicle is slowing down, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers replaced the harness for the center brake light and rearview camera and/or the spare tire carrier/harness assembly, as necessary, free of charge. All vehicles were repaired by January 15, 2024. Owner notification letters were mailed September 26, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 77B.
Exterior lighting:tail lights
Model years: 2024
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with incorrect tail lights that may be obstructed by the spare tire. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Obstructed tail lights can reduce the vehicle's visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the tail lights, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 29, 2024. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 90B.
Exterior lighting:tail lights; exterior lighting:turn signal
Model years: 2024
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The power distribution center may prevent the trailer turn signal lights and taillights from operating as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Trailer taillights and turn signal lights that do not illuminate as intended can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the power distribution center, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 2, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 57B.
Exterior lighting:brake lights
Model years: 2023
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The spare tire may obstruct the view of the center high-mount brake light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: A brake light that is obstructed may not be visible to other drivers to indicate the intention to slow or stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the spare tire carrier assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 28, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 84A.
Exterior lighting
Model years: 2022
Problem: Chryler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The side marker lights may not function due to an incompatible tail light assembly wiring harness. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Nonfunctional side marker lights may reduce vehicle visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: FCA will replace the tail light assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 26, 2022 and August 3, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z43.
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Model years: 2017
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017 Dodge Caravan and Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The brake switches on these vehicles may malfunction, keeping the brake lights illuminated and/or allowing the vehicle to be shifted out of the PARK position without the brake pedal being pushed.
Risk: Having the brake lamps continuously illuminated or being able to shift the vehicle out of PARK when the brake pedal is not pressed (and the ignition is in the RUN mode) can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake switches, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U09.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The vehicle is a Jeep Wrangler 4xe with approximately 43,000 miles experiencing a recurring electrical system malfunction involving the Body Control Module (BCM) and LIN communication network. The vehicle is currently at the dealership and is available for inspection upon request. The failure…
Instrument cluster panel and all warning lights, fuel gage, speedometer, tire pressure, temperature sensor, etc. as well as all info on app unable to access. no warning lights which could cause crash without prior warning. controls and displays failed to illuminate and were not visible. unable to…
I purchased this 2020 Jeep Wrangler from SunToyota car dealership in Holiday, FL on [XXX]. There have been several ongoing concerning safety issues with this vehicle and the car dealership over the past year since I purchased it. My vehicle has had immediate malfunctions and service visits upon…
While driving at speed, vehicle electrical went haywire. Headlights went on and off. Horn sounding on and off, Wipers and washers going on and off, HVAC blower on and off. Pulled over vehicle and turned off and removed key and it still remained running, all horn, lights, and wipers still going on…
On April 15th 2025 my Instrument Panal Clusters IPC which is main computer system of Jeeps 2018-2024. It has service lights for check engine, tire pressure, def system recalibrations/cleanings, tells me how fast I'm going, oil levels, all other fluid levels, when I need a oil change, how many miles…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Jeep Wranglers have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 191 owner complaints about exterior lighting 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 exterior lighting?
Yes: 7 safety recalls list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Jeep Wrangler?
The most frequent phrase is “turn signals”, in 19 of 191 complaints, followed by “windshield wipers” (16).
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.