2008 Jeep Wrangler 4-Dr 4x4

High concern

Owners filed 614 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

557 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 40,00050,000 miles; the median is 46,222 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Fuel System, Gasoline160
003
Air Bags126
202
Electrical System61
030
Steering52
000
Fuel/Propulsion System30
000
Suspension22
000
Power Train20
034
Suspension › Front17
000
Engine13
150
Unknown or Other10
030

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering
Filed Aug 13, 20193,600 milesNV

PURCHASED 2008 JEEP WRANGLER AND AT AROUND 3600 MILES NOTICED SEVERE STEERING ISSUES. STEERING WAS WANDERING AND HAS BECOME ERRATIC. EXCESSIVE SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT, EXCESSIVE JIGGLES ON SMALL BUMPS AT LOWER SPEEDS. DANGEROUS STEERING AT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY TO THE EXTENT THAT VEHICLE SWERVES INTO NEXT LANE UNEXPECTEDLY. JEEP REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH 2008 AND 2009 STEERING ISSUES THAT INVOLVESTEERING GEAR BOX, SHAFTS AND BALL JOINTS. SECOND OPINION FROM OUTSIDE AGENCY STATED GEAR BOX IS JUNK, SHAFTS NEED REPLACEMENT DUE TO FAULTY ENGINEERING FROM CHRYSLER. MANY MANY JEEP OWNERS ARE HAVING THESE ISSUES AND INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS TO DUE TO THE FAULTY STEERING ON THESE VEHICLES. *JS

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 16, 2019112,323 milesMN

VEHICLE IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HOOD MAKES A FLUTTERING MOTION AS IF THE LATCHES WILL GIVE WAY RESULTING IN THE HOOD COMING IN CONTACT WITH ROOF AND FRONT WINDSHIELD. THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT TO MAKE THE HOOD ANY TIGHTER WHEN CLOSED.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 16, 2019142,000 milesIN

I HAVE MASSIVE HOOD FLUTTER WHILE DRIVING MY JEEP. ITS FLUTTERED SO MUCH THE PAINT ON WHERE IT RUBBED IS GONE. I'M HONESTLY AFRAID MY HOOD WILL FLY UP WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT FLUTTERS SO MUCH. I JUST PICKED A DATE BUT IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME.

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 16, 2019100,000 milesIL

HOOD FLUTTERS WHILE DRIVING

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 16, 2019110,000 milesOH

HOOD BOUNCES ( FLUTTERING ) DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. REALLY NOTICEABLE WITH GUST OF WIND FROM PASSING CARS

Power Train
Filed Jul 6, 20191 milesTX

I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE STICK SHIFTER THAT IS STICK CONSTANTLY CAUSES IT TO POP OUT OF FIRST AND SECOND GEAR WHEN I AM DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY AND HAS BEEN A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THOSE BEHIND ME IN TRAFFIC, AT A LIGHT OR IN A FOUR WAY STOP BELIEVE I AM ACCELERATING WHEN IN FACT I HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT OF EITHER GEAR BACK TO NEUTRAL. I HAVE HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS WITH VEHICLES ALMOST REAR ENDING ME AND FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND THOSE OF OTHERS I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. USUALLY, I WOULD ADDRESS THIS MYSELF BUT AFTER READING COUNTLESS BLOGS AND CONCERNS THIS IS WORTHY OF A RECALL COMPLAINT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS CONCERN REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD BECAUSE THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM BUT JEEP DRIVERS TEND TO THEIR OWN VEHICLES RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jun 15, 2019129,400 milesVA

ISSUES STARTED WITH VEHICLE NOT ABLE TO START AND INABILITY TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. BATTERY WOULD TEST GOOD. AFTER DISCONNECTING BATTERY, VEHICLE WOULD START AS USUALLY. ISSUE BEGAN TO ESCALATE WITH OIL LIGHT AND ESP LIGHT RANDOMLY LIGHTING UP ON THE DASH. FINALLY, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND ESP LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND ACCELERATOR WAS UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. I HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS WITH NO RESOLUTION. I AM NOW REPLACING THE COMPUTER IN HOPES THAT IT WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUES. I HAVE HAD THE JEEP IN FOR AUTO SERVICE 5 TIMES SINCE JANUARY.

Power Train
Filed Jun 13, 2019103,000 milesPA

TRANSMISSION FLUID OVERHEATED CAUSING A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NO WARNING LIGHT CAME ON.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 13, 201910 milesCA

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CAUSING STARTING PROBLEMS, ISSUES WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND NO LIGHTS ON DASH OR HEADLIGHTS/BREAK LIGHTS. AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING ALL LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD WILL TURN OFF AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON ON THEIR OWN. THE HEADLIGHTS AND BREAK LIGHTS WILL ALSO NOT WORK. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND RADIO WILL STILL FUNCTION. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM OR SOLUTION.

Steering
Filed Jun 13, 20195 milesCA

DRIVING 40 MPH OR OVER WILL CAUSE CAR TO HARSHLY SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE. COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON A FREEWAY AS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR TO STOP SHAKING IS TO COMPLETELY STOP. BECAUSE OF ALL THE SHAKING CAUSES OTHER SUSPENSION AND WHEEL PROBLEMS. BOLTS ON SUSPENSION AND WHEEL START TO LOOSEN UP CAUSING ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR JEEP WRANGLERS FROM 2006 TO PRESENT.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed May 27, 2019103,000 milesAZ

JEEP SPITS FUEL BACK OUT WHEN YOU FILL UP THE TANK. NOT JUST A SMALL AMOUNT EITHER, A GOOD AMOUNT ALL OVER THE JEEP AND THE FLOOR.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Apr 26, 2019140,000 milesNV

JEEP HAS MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES. JEEPS TIPM MODULE HAS CAUSED THE JEEP TO DIE WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCE LACKING POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO OFF AND SEEMS TO BRAKE ITSELF. I REPLACED ITNLESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING IT IS GOING OUT AGAIN. ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH PCM AND PART IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER.

Power Train
Filed Apr 18, 2019140,000 milesWV

TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY SHIFTS OUT OF 1ST GEAR WHILE STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP (STOP LIGHT, INTERSECTION, ETC) THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE IS LIKELY TO GET HURT OR KILLED WHEN THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE AND HAS BEEN AFFECTING JEEP OWNERS FOR YEARS. WHY HASN"T JEEP DONE A RECALL ON THIS VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE??? THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE A DAY IF NOT MORE. SOME OWNERS HAVE IT HAPPEN EVERY TIME.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 13, 201947,000 milesTX

EVERY TIME I REFILL MY GAS TANK IT OVERFLOWS ALL OVER THE GROUND. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I OWNED THE CAR IN 2010 TO MOST RECENTLY YESTERDAY ON 3/12/19. BASED ON PRODUCTION THERE ARE MORE THE 2.1 MILLION JEEP WRANGLERS ON THE ROAD ACCORDING TO PRODUCTION NUMBERS. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A DECENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE IF IT OCCURS ON MOST IF NOT ALL JKS. ANY JK OWNER I HAVE TALKED TO HAS THIS SAME ISSUE. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FAILED ASPECT OF THE VEHICLE

Electrical System
Filed Feb 21, 20195 milesTX

RANDOMLY THE JEEP WILL COMPLETELY GO CRAZY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WITH FLUID RUN, BLINKERS, HORN, AND ----> THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. I LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS. I CALLED THE LOCAL JEEP DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL CHRYSLER. I DID SOME RESEARCH IN JEEP FORUMS ONLINE AND FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE JEEP WRANGLERS FROM 2007 FORWARD. JEEP HAS A RECALL FOR THE MOST RECENT MODELS, BUT NO RECALL FOR THE PREVIOUS YEARS TO INCLUDE MINE. I'M REALLY CONFUSED HOW THIS HAPPENS TO SO MANY JEEP WRANGLERS AROUND MY YEAR, BUT THERE ARE NO RECALLS. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND DEFINITELY FOR OTHER VEHICLES AROUND.

Electrical System
Filed Feb 5, 2019130,000 milesCO

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 40 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN COMPLETE POWER LOSS INCLUDING BRAKES, STEERING, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. HORN STARTED CONSTANTLY GOING, FRONT AND REAR WIPERS GOING. TURNED KEY OFF AND REMOVED, BUT EVERYTHING WAS STILL GOING LIKE A POSSESSED CAR. HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO GET EVERYTHING TO SHUT OFF. MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME IT IS LIKELY A FAILURE OF THE CAR'S TIPM, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH JEEPS AND OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES. CALLED FCA AND THEY WON'T STSAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, SAYING IT'S NOT ASN ISSUE.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jan 14, 2019118,000 milesKY

ATTEMPTED TO FILL UP VEHICLE WITH GAS. GAS IS EJECTED FROM FILLER SPOUT AND DOWN THE SIDE OF JEEP. ONLY HAPPENS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FILL THE GAS TANK COMPLETELY UP.

Equipment
Filed Jan 11, 2019FL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER 4X4. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED, THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE TOW BAR COULD FAIL DUE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E044000 (EQUIPMENT). THE CONTACT WAITED MONTHS TO RECEIVE THE PART; HOWEVER, GATOR CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (840 S HARBOR CITY BLVD, MELBOURNE, FL 32901, (877) 707-5664) STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Steering
Filed Nov 30, 201899,000 milesVA

DEVELOPED DEATH WOBBLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES AN HOUR. IN RESEARCHING I SEE CHRYSLER SAYS THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I CAN ASSURE YOU IT IS. IT IS A DESIGNED FLAW ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS I HAD LOOK AT IT. A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT COVER. I LUCKILY SOMEHOW KEPT THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL DESPITE THE STEERING SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY, SO BAD THE VEHICLE LIFTED OFF THE ROAD AND SKIDDED SIDEWAYS.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 13, 2018100,000 milesMI

THE LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON AND OFF EITHER STATIONARY OR WHILE DRIVING. THE BLOWER MOTOR, FLASHERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, HORN, AND THE WIPERS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY EITHER STATIONARY OR WHILE DRIVING. EITHER THE BATTERY NEEDS TO BE DISCONNECTED OR THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD NEEDS TO BE JIGGLED BEFORE IT WOULD STOP. SCHEDULED TO GO IN THE SHOP FRIDAY FOR THE REPAIR. ODDLY ENOUGH THE DEALERSHIP HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS WILL CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR WORSE IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED.

20 of 614 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2008
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2009165130Routine
2008 — this page6140250High concern
2007587090Above average

Compare every Wrangler 4-Dr 4x4 year →

Reading this record

A high number of complaints describe fires or crashes.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.