YearToAvoid

2018 Jeep Wrangler Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 123 engine complaints for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler, 7% of its 1,820 total complaints. Owners report 8 fires, 5 crashes, and 3 injuries tied to this area, with a median failure mileage of 14,500 miles. No related recall is listed for this component.

Engine complaints
123
7% of 1,820
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
8
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
14,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine compartment catches fire shortly after parking or shutting off the vehicle, sometimes with smoke visible from under the hood before flames appear.
  • Vehicle unexpectedly revs or accelerates on its own while parking or stopped, leading to collisions with walls, buildings, or curbs.
  • Engine loses power and the manual transmission develops shifting issues while driving at highway speed, followed by smoke and fire under the hood.
  • Sudden unintended acceleration occurs while braking at low speed, with the vehicle continuing to speed up despite brake pressure.
  • Check engine light appears repeatedly before a broader electrical failure disables steering and braking while driving.

When 2018 Jeep Wrangler engine complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 8, 2018, latest Sep 18, 2026.

2018 Jeep Wrangler engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter102018 Q22019 Q22020 Q22021 Q32022 Q42023 Q42025 Q12026 Q1
123 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2018 Q4 (10).

Engine recalls for the 2018 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 2018 Jeep Wrangler engine complaints does NHTSA have?
NHTSA lists 123 engine-related complaints for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler, which is 7% of the 1,820 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler engine?
No related recall is listed in the data for the engine component on the 2018 Jeep Wrangler.
At what mileage do 2018 Jeep Wrangler engine problems usually occur?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for engine complaints is 14,500 miles.
Are 2018 Jeep Wrangler engine problems dangerous?
Owners reported 8 fires, 5 crashes, and 3 injuries connected to engine complaints for this model year, based on NHTSA data.

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.