YearToAvoid

2013 Jeep Wrangler Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 162 Engine complaints for the 2013 Jeep Wrangler, 25% of all 650 complaints filed for that year. Median mileage at failure was 63,000 miles. No recalls are tied directly to this Engine complaint category.

Engine complaints
162
25% of 650
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
5
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
63,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the engine idling at abnormally high RPM after a collision or brake application, requiring a full restart to return to normal operation.
  • Some vehicles caught fire under the hood or in the engine bay while parked or shortly after driving, with fire departments citing electrical causes.
  • Check engine lights came on early, in one case around 6,000 miles, with owners reporting cylinder heads needing replacement more than once.
  • Drivers describe sudden loss of power or rough running at low speed, sometimes paired with a clunking noise from the shifter area.
  • One owner reported the vehicle continuing to run after the key was removed and the engine shut off, accompanied by visible steam.

When 2013 Jeep Wrangler engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 5, 2013, latest Feb 26, 2026.

2013 Jeep Wrangler engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter102013 Q22014 Q42016 Q22017 Q42019 Q22020 Q42022 Q42024 Q4
162 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q2 to 2026 Q1; peak 2018 Q4 (10).

Engine recalls for the 2013 Jeep Wrangler

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Wrangler model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201068 (10%)
  2. 201160 (12%)
  3. 2012199 (24%)
  4. 2013162 (25%)
  5. 2014346 (53%)
  6. 2015158 (33%)
  7. 2016126 (27%)
  8. 201775 (24%)
  9. 2018123 (7%)
  10. 201965 (9%)
  11. 202070 (11%)
  12. 2021243 (26%)
  13. 2022106 (27%)
  14. 2023117 (32%)
  15. 2024444 (61%)
  16. 202529 (44%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does NHTSA have for the 2013 Jeep Wrangler?
NHTSA lists 162 Engine complaints for the 2013 Wrangler, which is 25% of the 650 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Jeep Wrangler engine?
No recalls are listed under the Engine category for this data set; a separate transmission oil cooler tube recall (NHTSA 13V-234) is referenced in some complaints but is not classified as an Engine recall.
At what mileage do 2013 Wrangler engine problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure for Engine complaints is 63,000 miles.
Were there any fires linked to engine complaints?
NHTSA data shows 5 fire incidents and 2 crashes associated with complaints in this Engine category for the 2013 Wrangler.
How does the 2013 Wrangler compare to other years for engine complaints?
The 2013 Wrangler's engine complaints made up 25% of that year's total, lower than 2014 (53%) and 2024 (61%), but higher than 2019 (9%) and 2020 (11%).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.