Jeep Wrangler Best and Worst Years (2005–2025)
Across 21 model years and 13,387 complaints, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024 are rated Avoid, topped by 2024's complaint index of 100 and 2018's 1,820 complaints. 2017 is the Best year with an index of just 10, while 2005 and 2006 rate Good.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
Avoid 2012Avoid 2018Avoid 2019Avoid 2020Avoid 2021Avoid 2024Best 2017
- Model years
- 21
- 2005–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 13,387
- Recall campaigns
- 68
- Crashes reported
- 308
- Fires reported
- 357
- Top problem area
- Steering
Wrangler Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Jeep Wrangler problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Good | 5 | 650 | 10 | 9 | 1 | Fuel System | — | — |
| 2006 | Good | 20 | 730 | 7 | 7 | 3 | Fuel System | — | — |
| 2007 | Caution | 15 | 557 | 15 | 25 | 8 ! | Steering | 16.5 | — |
| 2008 | Caution | 55 | 873 | 15 | 25 | 7 ! | Airbags | 17 | — |
| 2009 | Caution | 25 | 372 | 10 | 14 | 6 ! | Airbags | 17 | — |
| 2010 | Caution | 65 | 686 | 15 | 35 | 10 ! | Fuel System | 17 | — |
| 2011 | Caution | 35 | 485 | 13 | 20 | 10 ! | Airbags | 17 | — |
| 2012 | Avoid | 80 | 834 | 22 | 19 | 9 ! | Transmission & Powertrain | 18 | — |
| 2013 | Caution | 40 | 650 | 14 | 16 | 6 ! | Transmission & Powertrain | 18 | — |
| 2014 | Caution | 45 | 654 | 21 | 24 | 4 ! | Engine | 18 | — |
| 2015 | Caution | 30 | 472 | 15 | 27 | 3 ! | Engine | 18 | — |
| 2016 | Caution | 50 | 460 | 28 | 15 | 5 ! | Brakes | 18 | — |
| 2017 | Best | 10 | 309 | 19 | 21 | 5 | Brakes | 18 | — |
| 2018 | Avoid | 95 | 1,820 | 22 | 25 | 14 | Steering | 18 | — |
| 2019 | Avoid | 75 | 741 | 9 | 10 | 9 | Steering | 20 | — |
| 2020 | Avoid | 85 | 609 | 16 | 12 | 12 | Steering | 20.5 | — |
| 2021 | Avoid | 90 | 934 | 20 | 27 | 15 | Electrical System | 20.5 | — |
| 2022 | Caution | 60 | 396 | 13 | 11 | 15 | Electrical System | 20.5 | — |
| 2023 | Caution | 70 | 364 | 11 | 6 | 14 | Electrical System | 20.5 | — |
| 2024 | Avoid | 100 | 725 | 10 | 7 | 11 | Engine | 19.5 | — |
| 2025 | Caution | 0 | 66 | 3 | 2 | 4 | Electrical System | 20 | — |
Wrangler years to avoid: what went wrong
2024 Jeep Wrangler Index 100 · 725 complaints · 11 recalls
The 2024 Wrangler has the highest complaint index in the lineup at 100, ranked worst overall. Engine complaints lead at 444 (61% share) with a median 18,796 miles, and Electrical System issues follow at 413 complaints (57% share). Eleven recall campaigns cover this year, including a steering pump wiring fire risk and a vision processing module recall. Owners described repeated unintended acceleration incidents, a steering box failure linked to a fatal crash, and transmission smoke at very low mileage.
2024 engine problems →2024 electrical system problems →2024 fuel system problems →
2018 Jeep Wrangler Index 95 · 1,820 complaints · 14 recalls
The 2018 Wrangler has a complaint index of 95 and 1,820 total complaints, the second-worst year. Steering dominates with 1,115 complaints (61% share) at a median 5,000 miles. Suspension, Wheels & Tires issues follow at 364 complaints. NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns, including a rearview camera wiring harness that can short and an instrument panel cluster that can fail internally. Owners described steering loss during highway driving, a wheel detaching, and brake failure at low mileage.
2018 steering problems →2018 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2018 electrical system problems →
2021 Jeep Wrangler Index 90 · 934 complaints · 15 recalls
The 2021 Wrangler carries a complaint index of 90, the third-worst year. Electrical System complaints lead at 305 (33% share), followed by Steering at 250 and Engine at 243. Fifteen recall campaigns apply, including a park-outside recall for power steering pump wiring that can overheat and cause a fire even when parked. Owners reported clutch smoke and burnt fibers after off-roading, engine fires while towing, and a vehicle bursting into flames shortly after starting to smoke.
2021 electrical system problems →2021 steering problems →2021 engine problems →
2020 Jeep Wrangler Index 85 · 609 complaints · 12 recalls
The 2020 Wrangler has a complaint index of 85. Steering leads with 238 complaints (39% share) at a median of only 300 miles, and Electrical System issues follow at 182 complaints. Twelve recall campaigns cover this year, including a park-outside recall for a high-voltage battery that may fail internally and cause a fire. Owners described engine RPM surging while braking, steering that felt off from delivery, and a vehicle catching fire after being parked for hours.
2020 steering problems →2020 electrical system problems →2020 engine problems →
2012 Jeep Wrangler Index 80 · 834 complaints · 9 recalls
The 2012 Wrangler carries a complaint index of 80, the fifth-worst year. Transmission & Powertrain problems lead at 282 complaints (34% share), with a median failure mileage of 18,250 miles. Owners also reported Steering and Engine issues. Nine recall campaigns cover this year, including three Do Not Drive airbag recalls tied to inflators and a seat belt buckle strap that could fracture and separate from the seat frame. Sample complaints describe engine fires shortly after purchase and a vehicle rolling away on an incline and hitting a house.
2012 transmission & powertrain problems →2012 steering problems →2012 engine problems →
2019 Jeep Wrangler Index 75 · 741 complaints · 9 recalls
The 2019 Wrangler posts a complaint index of 75. Steering again leads with 445 complaints (60% share) at a median of just 2,050 miles, followed by Electrical System issues at 151 complaints. Nine recall campaigns apply, including the shared instrument panel cluster short-circuit recall and a clutch pressure plate that can overheat and fracture on manual transmissions. Owners reported transmission fires, sudden RPM increases while braking, and console screens failing while driving.
2019 steering problems →2019 electrical system problems →2019 suspension, wheels & tires problems →
Most common Jeep Wrangler problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Steering3,357 (25%)
- Electrical System2,796 (21%)
- Engine2,639 (20%)
- Fuel System2,271 (17%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1,872 (14%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1,556 (12%)
- Airbags1,302 (10%)
- Other1,247 (9%)
- Brakes1,098 (8%)
- Structure & Body485 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the worst Jeep Wrangler years to avoid?
- NHTSA data flags 2012, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024 as Avoid years for the Wrangler. 2024 has the highest complaint index at 100, followed by 2018 at 95 and 2021 at 90.
- What is the best Jeep Wrangler year?
- The 2017 Wrangler is rated Best, with a complaint index of only 10 and no do-not-drive recalls, the lowest complaint index outside the two Good-rated years.
- Is the 2018 Jeep Wrangler reliable based on complaints?
- The 2018 Wrangler is rated Avoid, with 1,820 total complaints and a complaint index of 95. Steering problems account for 61% of its complaints, with a median failure mileage of just 5,000 miles.
- Does the Jeep Wrangler have steering recalls?
- Yes. Several avoid years, including 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, list steering as the top complaint category, and 2021-2025 Wranglers are covered by a recall for power steering pump wiring that can overheat and cause a fire.
- Why are the 2005 and 2006 Jeep Wranglers only rated Good instead of Best?
- Their Good verdict is capped because complaint records for 2005-2009 model years are less complete, not because of a high complaint index. The 2005 index is 5 and the 2006 index is 20.