1990 Jeep Wrangler

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 79 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the parking brake › conventional. It has been recalled 7 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Parking Brake › Conventional8
301
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner6
100
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly6
000
Seats5
101
Parking Brake5
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump5
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings4
000
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine3
000
Wheels2
010

7 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump07E064000
Filed Aug 27, 200734,000 vehiclesFederal-Mogul Corporation

Defect. CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.

Risk. A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.

Remedy. FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.

Exterior Lighting06E026000
Filed Mar 23, 200661,944 vehiclesPro-A Motors, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Equipment04E041000
Filed Jun 7, 200480 vehiclesBestop, Inc.

Defect. BESTOP AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS,MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 27 AND MAY 20, 2004, DESIGNED FOR USE WITH THE BESTOP HARDTOP MADE FOR THE 1986-1995 AND 1997-2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK BECAUSE THE LATCH BRACKET MISPOSITIONS THE ROTARY LATCH TO THE COCKPIT COVER. AS A RESULT, THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE ROOF RACK. THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.

Risk. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE COCKPIT COULD CAUSE INJURY BY STRIKING PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE OR COULD BECOME A DISTRACTION OR AN OBSTACLE TO OTHER DRIVERS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. BESTOP WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BESTOP CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT (800) 845-3567.

Parking Brake › Conventional02V041000
Filed Feb 7, 2002316,148 vehiclesDaimlerchrysler Corporation

Defect. ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE PARKING BRAKE CAN SELF-RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING.

Risk. THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY WITH A STRONGER PAWL RETURN SPRING. OWNER NOTIFICATON BEGAN SEPTEMBER 30, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor98V005000
Filed Jan 12, 1998293,369 vehiclesChrysler Corporation

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, OR WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS CAN EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED FOR AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD IN THE "SALT BELT." IF THE ROTORS ARE NOT REPLACED, THE CORROSION CAN EVENTUALLY COMPROMISE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER HUB SECTION OF THE ROTOR.

Risk. THE REDUCED STRENGTH CAN ALLOW THE CAST IRON WEAR SURFACE TO SEPARATE FROM THE HUB, REDUCING THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ROTORS WITH ROTORS THAT ARE COATED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump94V106000
Filed Jun 9, 1994230,000 vehiclesChrysler Corporation

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC FUEL TANKS. THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT GASKET CAN CRACK CAUSING FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAKS.

Risk. FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAKED FROM THE FUEL TANK CAN RESULT IN FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy. REPLACE THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT GASKET.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings92V148000
Filed Oct 14, 1992280,000 vehiclesChrysler Corporation

Defect. ON 1987 THROUGH EARLY 1990 MODELS, BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES CAN WEAR DUE TO DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL OPENING SPLASH SHIELDS. ON THE LATE 1990 THROUGH 1992 MODELS, PERIODIC RUBBING CONTACT OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE CAN OCCUR DUE TO MOVEMENT OF THE SPLASH SHIELD IN CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS.

Risk. EITHER CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF FRONT BRAKE SYSTEMFUNCTIONS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND AN INCREASED RISK OFVEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. THE 1987 TO 1990 MODEL VEHICLES WILL HAVE BOTH SPLASH SHIELDS REPLACED AND BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES REPLACED AS NECESSARY. ALL AFFECTED LATE 1990 THROUGH 1992 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL FASTENERS INSTALLED TO FURTHER SECURE THE LEFT SIDE SPLASH SHIELD. ALSO, THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 13, 2018NJ

CATALYTIC CONVERTER RECALL IS NOT BEING HONORED BY CHRYSLER

Parking Brake
Filed Nov 3, 201557,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V041000 (PARKING BRAKE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Oct 1, 2015120,000 milesMI

CHRYSLER IS NOT HONORING /REPAIRING THEIR RECALLS. I HAVE EMISSION/SAFETY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE THAT POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE, EXPLOSION TO NOT ONLY THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE BUT TO ITS OCCUPANTS TO INCLUDE TRANSIT. CHRYSLER HAS IGNORED THE FACTS THAT THESE RECALLS BUT BE REPAIRED.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 26, 2015130,000 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WERE ODORS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WERE SIGNS OF THE FUEL LEAKING ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07E064000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Engine
Filed Jul 28, 2015MI

RECALL 617 WAS NOT REPLACED. E BRAKE CABLES NOT REPLACED. DID NOT REPLACE BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS. I HAD TO GET, TWO NEW DIFFERENTIALS AND CLUTCH IN LESS THAN A YEAR. WITH THE NEW RECALLS LISTED IN THE PAPER WHAT ABOUT MY GAS TANK? THIS IS ANOTHER SAFETY MEASURE TO KEEP MY VEHICLE SAFE ON THE ROAD.

Suspension
Filed Nov 11, 2014200,000 milesME

FRAME BROKE AT REAR DRIVERSIDE LEAFSPRING. SHACKLE MOUNT ALSO REAR SHOCK MOUNT BROKE OFF. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Jul 9, 2009101,000 milesWI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE JEEP AND CHRYSLER DEALERS ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR HIS VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 92V0148000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING BRAKE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THERE IS A BOLT UNDERNEATH THE BRAKE LINE THAT CANNOT BE LOOSENED. IF THE BOLT BECOMES LOOSE, IT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE MORE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HE MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIR, BUT THE CONTACT REFUSES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 08/05/09.*JB

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Apr 11, 200580,000 milesIL

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT GAS FUMES. THESE FUMES APPEARED WHEN EVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. REGARDLESS OF DAY/NIGHT OR WHEN PARKED. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS, AND HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED FOR A GAS LEAK. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF A LEAK OR CRACKS IN THE GAS TANK. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SMELL LIKE GAS. *AK

Seats
Filed Mar 2, 2005CA

WHILE LEANING ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT IT BROKE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK THE BACK OF THE SEAT FELL OFF THE SEAT WAS NOT A RECLINER WAS STATIONARY. *TC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Dec 21, 2004MD

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM SINCE 1991. *BF THE BRAKE FAILED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VARIOUS DEALER'S WHO REPLACED MULTIPLE COMPONENTS BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *NM

Parking Brake › Conventional
Filed Jul 24, 2003GA

PROBLEMS GETTING RECALL REPAIRS DONE TO VEHICLE.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A SERVICE WRITER THAT THERE MAYBE SOME OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE IN REGARDS TO "A BROKEN BRACKET. THE CONSUMER WAS UNEASED ABOUT THE STATEMENT AND FELT THE ESTABLISHMENT WAS AN UNTRUSTWORTHINESS BUSINESS. *PH *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Jun 18, 200399,000 milesCA

EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKS DUE TO THE CYLINDER HEAD WARPING AND CRACKING THE MANIFOLD.*AK

Parking Brake
Filed Apr 23, 2003IA

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AUGUST 2002. TO DATE THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE RECALLED PART WAS STILL NOT AVAILABLE. *NLM

Parking Brake › Conventional
Filed Mar 14, 2003UT

THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL REGARDING THE PARKING BRAKE.*JB

Parking Brake › ConventionalCrash
Filed Mar 14, 2003209,000 milesOH

MY 1990 JEEP WRANGLER WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE RELEASED ON ITS OWN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE PARKED AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY. DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO BOTH VEHICLES. I WAS LATER NOTIFIED BY MAIL OF A RECALL ON THE PARKING BRAKE. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE PARKING BRAKE FIXED BY TERMS OF THE RECALL AND DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AT THE MANUFACTURERS EXPENSE. *JB

Parking Brake
Filed Dec 10, 2002GA

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V041000 PARKING BRAKE; OVER THE SUMMER, THE JEEP WAS PARKED WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENFORCED. THE JEEP ROLLED BACK INTO THE OCEAN. THE OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE WHICH THEN TOLD THE DEALERSHIP NOT TO FIX THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THE OWNER RECEIVED A NOTICE IN OCTOBER 2002. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TS

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Nov 21, 2002GA

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND PARKING BRAKE FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL ALMOST HITTING CONSUMER. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. CONSUMER ALSO STATES GAS TANK LEAKS. *TT

Parking Brake
Filed Nov 1, 2002TN

DEALERSHIP DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS FOR PARKING BRAKES RECALL. MR

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Oct 10, 2002FL

CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE ARE SOME BOLTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ARE COMING LOOSE. CONTACTED DEALER. MR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Jul 10, 2002OH

THERE IS A STRONG FUEL ODOR IN VEHICLE AND FUEL IS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. DEALER CAN'T FIND CAUSE OF LEAK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.AK

20 of 79 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2018
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202610300Routine
202563420Routine
20246931170Above average
20233481460Above average
202238915110Above average
202191715270High concern
202060912120Above average
20197389100Above average
20181,81614250High concern
20173095210High concern
20164605150Do not drive
20154713270Do not drive
20146544240Do not drive
20136507161Do not drive
201283410192Do not drive
201148511200Do not drive
201068611350Do not drive
20093727140Do not drive
20088739250Do not drive
200755710250Do not drive
2006730370Above average
2005650292Fatalities reported
2004192371Fatalities reported
200398431Fatalities reported
2002108651Fatalities reported
20011707160Routine
20002515200High concern
1999213560Above average
1998265691Fatalities reported
1997401756Fatalities reported
19962100Routine
1995202361Fatalities reported
1994151461Fatalities reported
1993108541Fatalities reported
199277621Fatalities reported
199176830Routine
1990 — this page79751Fatalities reported

Compare every Wrangler year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

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.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Aug 27, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.