1994 Jeep Wrangler

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 151 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the fuel system, gasoline › delivery › fuel pump. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump13
010
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly11
110
Parking Brake › Conventional10
600
Parking Brake10
300
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor7
010
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor6
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine6
000
Fuel System, Gasoline5
000
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly4
000
Power Train › Manual Transmission4
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
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.

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › BodyCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 30, 2022CA

The jeep flipped going down an accessway and bent the entire roll bar.

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 21, 2016100,800 milesAZ

PARKING BREAK SELF RELEASES. ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER THE RECALL WAS DONE MORE THAN 10 YEARS AGO AND IS THEREFORE NO LONGER COVERED. HOW CAN CHRYSLER NOT COVER THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WILL UNEXPECTEDLY BEGIN ROLLING DOWN A SLOPE WITH NO WARNING. THE BREAK WILL HOLD FOR A FEW MINUTES OR EVEN LONGER AND THEN RELEASE.. IF THIS REPLACEMENT PART IS OF THIS FAULTY A DESIGN WHY CAN IT NOT BE NOT BE REPLACED WITH A MORE DEPENDABLE ONE. IS THERE A REPLACEMENT "KIT" FOR THE RECALL? FURTHERMORE I WAS UNAWARE OF THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP/SENSOR GASKET AT TOP OF FUEL TANK AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER RECALL. I REPLACED THAT GASKET TWICE WITHOUT THE DEALER ADVISING ME OF THE RECALL. AS I PREPARED MY BOAT FOR LAUNCHING THE BREAK RELEASED AND BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS INTO THE LAKE, NEARLY RUNNING ME OVER. A NARROW ESCAPE.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank AssemblyCrashFire1 killed
Filed Jul 15, 2013MD

1994 JEEP WRANGLER. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FUEL TANK LOCATION THAT CAUSED A FAMILY MEMBER DEATH OF THE CLIENTS, HE IS REPRESENTING. *SMD THE DECEDENT WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, JUMPED A CURBED, HIT A POLE, THEN A TREE AND BURST INTO FLAMES. THE DECEDENT DID NOT DIE FROM THE IMPACT, RATHER HE DIED OF THERMAL INJURIES CAUSED BY THE VEHICLE BURSTING INTO FLAMES...UPDATED 02/13/17 *BF *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 24, 2012144,500 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THE SMELL OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TWICE. THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE GAS CAP FUEL SENDING UNIT AND CRACKED FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THE THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 94V106000(FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 144,500.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Apr 9, 2012130,000 milesPA

I PARKED MY 1994 JEEP WRANGLER OUTSIDE MY WORKPLACE AT 6AM THE MORNING OF 4/4/12... AT 11AM I FINISHED FOR THE DAY, LEFT MY JEEP WHERE IT WAS, AND WENT FOR A RUN AROUND WHERE I WORK. AT 11:27AM MY OFFICE MANAGER CALLED MY CELLPHONE AND BEGGED ME TO COME BACK RIGHT AWAY "YOUR JEEP IS ON FIRE!!! OH MY GOD, IT'S GONE!!! NOW THE WOODS ARE ON FIRE!!!". I RAN BACK TO FIND 3 FIRE TRUCKS, MY JEEP NOTHING BUT A CHARRED SHELL STILL ON FIRE. I SPOKE WITH MY OFFICE MANAGER, SHE HEARD AN ALARM (MY HORN HAD I GUESS MELTED AND WENT OFF), WHEN SHE RAN OUTSIDE SHE SAW SMOKE BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND FIRE DRIPPING FROM UNDER THE FRONT (MELTING PLASTIC OF MY DASHBOARD). THE JEEP WAS DRIVING ITSELF UPHILL IN REVERSE! SHE RAN TO IT, TRYING TO STOP IT AND ATTEMPTING TO SAVE MY BELONGINGS FROM INSIDE OF IT (SHE COULD NOT). SHE SAID THERE WAS FIRE SHOOTING FROM UNDER MY DASHBOARD. IT DROVE ITSELF ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE PARKING LOT WHERE IT EVENTUALLY STOPPED ON A TREE. IT WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES, AND THEN EXPLODED. (I HEARD THE EXPLOSION AS I WAS RUNNING THROUGH THE WOODS TRYING TO GET BACK). MY JEEP IS GONE NOW... NOTHING SALVAGEABLE. I NEVER HAD ANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH IT IN THE PAST... BUT AFTER SOME INTERNET SEARCHING I'VE FOUND THAT JEEPS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR GOING UP IN FLAMES. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jan 3, 2012200,000 milesLA

EVERY TIME I FILL UP MY 94 YJ, GAS SPILLS OUT THE BACK OF IT. THE PUMP KICKS OFF BUT AS IT KICKS OFF IT SPILLS AND I HAVE TO CLEAN THE GAS RUNNING DOWN THE BACK OF THE JEEP. IT SEEMS TO ME THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BACK PRESSURE THAT KICKS OFF THE PUMP. I'M GUESSING THE FUEL COMPLETELY FILLS UP THE TUBE AND ONLY WHEN THE GAS HITS THE NOZZLE DOES IT SHUT OFF. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FILL MY TANK UP AND IS ALSO VERY UNSAFE TO DO SO, AS GAS SPILLING OUT THE BACK IS A FIRE HAZARD. IT SEEMS I'M NOT THE ONLY JEEP OWNER DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM. (HTTP://WWW.JEEPFORUM.COM/FORUM/F176/HAVE-FUEL-SPILL-PROBLEMS-LIKE-MANY-US-SUBMIT-COMPLAINT-FORCE-RECALL-974337/) SO HERE I AM FILING MY COMPLAINT, I HOPE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE. BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF BEING SOAKED IN GAS EVERY TIME I TRY TO FILL MY TANK. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Feb 21, 2011122,000 milesNM

FAILURE OF FUEL TANK SEAL CREATING FIRE HAZARD. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THIS A COMMON FAILURE, EITHER AT FILLER NEXT OR FUEL PUMP SEAL.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Aug 5, 200891,656 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP WRANGLER. DURING AN EMISSIONS TEST, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HER GAS TANK WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE STATION AND SEVERAL DIAGNOSTICS WERE PERFORMED TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91,656.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Apr 30, 200810,000 milesCA

GAS AND FUMES THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE COMING FROM TOP OF PLASTIC FUEL TANK. THE ODOR HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. *TR

Steering › Column Locking › Anti-theft Device
Filed Dec 13, 2007264,725 milesCA

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE THE AUTO WAS IN MOTION, STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER LOCKS WHEN PARKED. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Feb 20, 2007NC

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 94V106000 FUEL VAPOR LEAKAGE VIA PLASTIC GAS TANK. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIR. *JB

Parking Brake
Filed Jul 19, 2006PA

DESPITE MY JEEP WRANGLER HAVING BEEN RECALLED DUE TO FAULTY PARKING BRAKES RECALL # 02V- 041000, THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE THEY TIGHTEN THE PARKING BRAKE AND EACH TIME IT EVENTUALLY SLIPS AGAIN. I NO PARK MY CAR IN GEAR WHICH KEEPS IT STATIONARY BUT EVERY TIME I AM NOT PARKED IN GEAR MY CAR ROLLS AWAY. MANY TIMES THE BRAKE IS ON AND SUDDENLY COME OFF BUT PLENTY OF OTHER TIMES THE CAR MOVES EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE IS ON. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE ONLY REASON THIS CAR EVEN PASSES INSPECTION IS THAT THE BRAKE IS TIGHTENED AND IMMEDIATELY TESTED. WITHIN A FEW DAYS, THE BRAKE IS BACK TO IT'S USUAL NON HOLDING SELF. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed May 24, 2006CO

1994 JEEP WRANGLER PURCHASED 24 APR 94. FUEL SHOOTS OUT OF FUEL TANK AT FUEL LINE CONNECTION WHEN ENGINE IS TURNED ON. FIRST TIME OCCURRED ON 30 JULY 97, REPAIRED BY JEEP DEALERSHIP. SECOND OCCURRENCE HAPPENED FEBRUARY 3 2004 REPAIRED BY LOCAL MECHANIC. THIRD OCCURRENCE, 15 NOV 05, TAKING JEEP INTO CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR ON 25 MAY 06. CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORPORATION SEVERAL TIMES TO FIX DEFECT, EACH TIME EXPLAINED CHRYSLER WILL NOT PAY FOR FIX AS VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND PART IS "MAN MADE." MOST RECENT CONVERSATION WITH CHRYSLER IN APRIL '06 WAS INFORMED THAT 2ND TIME COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED DUE TO DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY BUT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR REPAIR AS IT WAS LAST FIXED BY NON-DEALERSHIP MECHANIC. ALSO INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER 3 JAN 95 RECALL NOTICE FOR UNKNOWN REASON. *JB

Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)
Filed Oct 11, 2005126,472 milesMI

NO EVENT TOOK PLACE THAT I AM AWARE OF. I WAS NOTIFIED IN THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER 2005 DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE THAT THE VEHICLES STEERING GEAR BOX WAS LEAKING WHICH REQUIRES REPLACEMENT IN ADDITION TO THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY. A SCHEDULING DATE FOR REPAIR IS ON OCTOBER 20, 2005 WITH A SUBSTANTIAL COST. *JB

Parking Brake › ConventionalCrash
Filed Apr 12, 2005CA

1994 JEEP WRANGLER HAD FAULTY PARKING BRAKE EQUIPMENT WHICH RESULTED IN THE JEEP ROLLING INTO A WALL AFTER PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD THE ACCIDENT AND PAID FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE AND HE IS NOW REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. (RECALL #02V041000)*JB

Seat Belts › Front
Filed Aug 23, 2004NE

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO CLICK ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT HAVE A LIFE TIME WARRANTY. CONSUMER HAD TO RENDER PAYMENT FOR THE SEAT BELTS. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed May 19, 2004135,000 milesOH

FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS CONTINUALLY FAIL TO RETRACT SEATBELT FULLY, USUALLY LEAVING 8-10 INCHES OF BELT ON THE FLOOR AND SOMETIMES HANGING OUTSIDE THE DOOR FRAME. THIS HAS BEEN A RE-OCCURING PROBLEM WITH TOO MANY TO COUNT FAILURES. PROBLEM IS TEMPORARILY ALLEVIATED BY MANUALLY FEEDING THE BELT INTO THE RETRACTOR.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Mar 2, 2004120,000 milesCO

STARTING IN JAN 2004, MY DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT DISENGAGED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS IT HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES, ALWAYS WITHOUT WARNING. SOME TIMES THE BELT WILL STAY LATCHED FOR THE WHOLE TRIP, SOME TIMES IT WILL RELEASE BEFORE I CAN REACH THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY, MORE OFTEN IT WILL RELEASE WHILE I'M DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE NOT YET HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH A DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK

Parking BrakeCrash
Filed Dec 22, 2003112,000 milesIN

WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS ON A SLIGHT DECLINING RAMP. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING INTO A TREE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED.*AK

Parking Brake › ConventionalCrash
Filed Nov 7, 2003CA

LTR FM NILA ANN HAMILTON (CA) OWNER OF A 1994 JEEP WRANGLER SEEKING TO BE REIMBURSED. VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN DRIVEWAY HIT A WALL/FENCE, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SELF RELEASED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *MR RECALL# 02V041000 *SCC THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE MONTHS LATER REGARDING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. *JB *CB

20 of 151 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
1994 — this page151461Fatalities reported
1993108541Fatalities reported
199277621Fatalities reported
199176830Routine
199079751Fatalities 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: Mar 23, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.