2012 Jeep Wrangler

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

2012 Jeep Wrangler
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

2012: 829 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1984	0
1985	0
1986	1
1987	38
1988	50
1989	62
1990	79
1991	76
1992	77
1993	108
1994	151
1995	202
1996	2
1997	401
1998	265
1999	213
2000	251
2001	170
2002	108
2003	98
2004	192
2005	649
2006	730
2007	555
2008	872
2009	368
2010	684
2011	481
2012	829
2013	646
2014	647
2015	453
2016	451
2017	304
2018	1789
2019	721
2020	592
2021	884
2022	369
2023	330
2024	638
2025	56
2026	6

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

POWER TRAIN 34%

34% of complaints: power train — 278 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH 'ELECTRONIC RANGE SELECT' ALLOWS A DOWNSHIFT WITH A MOVE OF THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE LEFT WHEN IN 'D' DRIVE. A MOVE TO THE RIGHT UP-SHIFTS.

NHTSA ODI report, 20110914

STEERING 24%

24% of complaints: steering — 203 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY DEATH

ENGINE 21%

21% of complaints: engine — 172 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

Engine spontaneously caught fire. It had been parked for hours before it happened. Everything under the hood was totaled

NHTSA ODI report, 20250130

6 days after an oil change, the temp gauge while driving went from cool to hot in under a mile and the engine temp light came on. There was coolant all over the underside of the car it was near catastrophic.

NHTSA ODI report, 20231011

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18%

18% of complaints: electrical system — 146 distinct reports on file.

FIRE INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES, GRAY SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THE HARNESS (THAT GOES AROUND THE BATTERY) ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180717

PURCHASED A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT ON 3/3/12 AT ROUGHLY 2PM CST. AT ABOUT 4PM CST, I PARKED THE JEEP IN MY APARTMENT'S PARKING GARAGE. I DECIDED AT ABOUT 6PM CST TO GO GET SOME DINNER, AND TO CRUISE AROUND AS WELL IN THE NEW VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120326

AIR BAGS 15%

15% of complaints: air bags — 128 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

TAKATA RECALL; I GOT INTO CAR ACCIDENT AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOST. I THINK I HAD TAKATA AIR BAGS.

NHTSA ODI report, 20171120

The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated.

NHTSA ODI report, 20230921

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2012 — complaint volume: 829

R 20130404 — equipment

Quadratec, Inc. is recalling certain aftermarket accessory, driver-side, Ultimate Floor Liners part numbers 14254.0301 07, 14254.0301 08, 14254.0301Q, 14254.0302 07, 14254.0302 08, 14254.0302Q, 14254.

Remedy: Quadratec will notify owners and either exchange the liners or provide them with a hook guard kit to help secure the driver-side mat, free of charge. The recall began on April 4, 2013. Owners may co

Campaign 13E010000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20130610 — air bags

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Jeep Wrangler right-hand drive vehicles manufactured February 1, 2007, through October 10, 2011. The affected vehicles have air

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clockspring and add a steering wheel dust shield, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-24

Campaign 13V176000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20130923 — power train, steering

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Jeep Wrangler vehicles equipped with a 3.6L engine and an automatic transmission and manufactured January 23, 2011, through Febr

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering return tube assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.

Campaign 13V234000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20140925 — DP (closed 20150724)

Totally Integrated Power Module Failure

R 20150303 — electrical system, visibility

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to July 19, 2013. Corrosion in the exterior heated power mirror electrical connector may result in an electrical short.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will move the exterior mirror power feed to a separate connector, free of charge. Chrysler issued an interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on March 3, 2015.

Campaign 14V631000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20150619 — PE (closed 20151207)

Air Bag Clockspring Wiring Failure

I 20151204 — EA (closed 20160706)

Air Bag Clockspring Wiring Failure

R 20160811 — air bags

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Right Hand Drive Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to May 2, 2016. The clockspring assembly may become contaminated with dust and cause the air bag circuit to fail.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clockspring, wheel back cover, and column shroud, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

Campaign 16V288000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20170327 — air bags

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company.

Campaign 16V352000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20180228 — air bags

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia,...

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2018.

Campaign 18V021000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190204 — air bags

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles.

Campaign 19V018000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20190419 — EA (closed 20240919)

Electrical overstress

I 20190729 — PE (closed 20191212)

Seat belt buckle bracket failure

R 20200326 — seat belts

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2018 Jeep Wrangler right hand drive vehicles. The driver's seat belt buckle mounting strap may fracture and separate from the seat frame.

Remedy: FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt buckle, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed November 19, 2019.

Campaign 19V680000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20210917 — EA (open)

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R Date not on file — air bags

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2012 RIGHT HAND DRIVE (RHD) JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2007, THROUGH OCTOBER 10, 2011.

Remedy: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REMEDY THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. CHRYSLER WILL MAIL TO OWNERS AN INTERIM NOTIFICATION DURING MARCH 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Campaign 11V528000 — check if this car was fixed