MYRModel Year Report

2012 Jeep Wrangler

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2012 Jeep Wrangler
BUILT 2026-10-10

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
833
Recalls
10

Campaigns on file for 2012

Investigations
6

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Power train

34% of complaints

Complaints per year

1986: 1 complaint 1986 1987: 41 complaints 1988: 53 complaints 1989: 63 complaints 1990: 80 complaints 1991: 77 complaints 1991 1992: 77 complaints 1993: 109 complaints 1994: 159 complaints 1995: 202 complaints 1996: 2 complaints 1996 1997: 401 complaints 1998: 265 complaints 1999: 213 complaints 2000: 251 complaints 2001: 170 complaints 2001 2002: 108 complaints 2003: 98 complaints 2004: 192 complaints 2005: 649 complaints 2006: 730 complaints 2006 2007: 555 complaints 2008: 873 complaints 2009: 372 complaints 2010: 686 complaints 2011: 485 complaints 2012: 833 complaints 2012 833 2013: 654 complaints 2014: 654 complaints 2015: 472 complaints 2016: 461 complaints 2017: 310 complaints 2018: 1,820 complaints 2019: 741 complaints 2020: 610 complaints 2021: 942 complaints 2021 2022: 400 complaints 2023: 367 complaints 2024: 736 complaints 2025: 68 complaints 2026: 10 complaints 2026
1986: 1 complaint 1986 1987: 41 complaints 1988: 53 complaints 1989: 63 complaints 1989 1990: 80 complaints 1991: 77 complaints 1992: 77 complaints 1992 1993: 109 complaints 1994: 159 complaints 1995: 202 complaints 1995 1996: 2 complaints 1997: 401 complaints 1998: 265 complaints 1998 1999: 213 complaints 2000: 251 complaints 2001: 170 complaints 2001 2002: 108 complaints 2003: 98 complaints 2004: 192 complaints 2004 2005: 649 complaints 2006: 730 complaints 2007: 555 complaints 2007 2008: 873 complaints 2009: 372 complaints 2010: 686 complaints 2011: 485 complaints 2012: 833 complaints 2012 833 2013: 654 complaints 2014: 654 complaints 2015: 472 complaints 2016: 461 complaints 2016 2017: 310 complaints 2018: 1,820 complaints 2019: 741 complaints 2019 2020: 610 complaints 2021: 942 complaints 2022: 400 complaints 2022 2023: 367 complaints 2024: 736 complaints 2025: 68 complaints 2025 2026: 10 complaints
1986: 1 complaint 1986 1987: 41 complaints 1988: 53 complaints 1988 1989: 63 complaints 1990: 80 complaints 1990 1991: 77 complaints 1992: 77 complaints 1992 1993: 109 complaints 1994: 159 complaints 1994 1995: 202 complaints 1996: 2 complaints 1996 1997: 401 complaints 1998: 265 complaints 1998 1999: 213 complaints 2000: 251 complaints 2000 2001: 170 complaints 2002: 108 complaints 2002 2003: 98 complaints 2004: 192 complaints 2004 2005: 649 complaints 2006: 730 complaints 2006 2007: 555 complaints 2008: 873 complaints 2008 2009: 372 complaints 2010: 686 complaints 2010 2011: 485 complaints 2012: 833 complaints 2012 833 2013: 654 complaints 2014: 654 complaints 2014 2015: 472 complaints 2016: 461 complaints 2016 2017: 310 complaints 2018: 1,820 complaints 2018 2019: 741 complaints 2020: 610 complaints 2020 2021: 942 complaints 2022: 400 complaints 2022 2023: 367 complaints 2024: 736 complaints 2024 2025: 68 complaints 2026: 10 complaints 2026

2012: 833 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19840
19850
19861
198741
198853
198963
199080
199177
199277
1993109
1994159
1995202
19962
1997401
1998265
1999213
2000251
2001170
2002108
200398
2004192
2005649
2006730
2007555
2008873
2009372
2010686
2011485
2012833
2013654
2014654
2015472
2016461
2017310
20181,820
2019741
2020610
2021942
2022400
2023367
2024736
202568
202610

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Power train

34% · 285 reports

Most commonly citing cooling unit and lines and automatic transmission.

CRASHFIREINJURY
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, 2011-09-14

Steering

24% · 204 reports

Most commonly citing hose, piping, and connections.

CRASHINJURYDEATH

Engine

21% · 172 reports
CRASHFIREINJURY
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, 2025-01-30

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, 2023-10-11

Electrical system

18% · 148 reports

Most commonly citing ignition and instrument cluster/panel.

FIREINJURY
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, 2018-07-17

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, 2012-03-26

Also filed under Engine and engine cooling

Air bags

15% · 128 reports
CRASHINJURY
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, 2017-11-20

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, 2023-09-21

Safety timeline

10 recalls · 6 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    2012Complaint volume 833 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    2013-04-04Equipment13E010000 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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2013-06-10Air bags13V176000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2013-09-23Power train, steering13V234000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. I
    2014-09-25Defect petitionClosed 2015-07-24 Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
  6. R
    2015-03-03Electrical system, visibility14V631000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. I
    2015-06-19Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-12-07 Air Bag Clockspring Wiring Failure
  8. I
    2015-12-04Engineering analysisClosed 2016-07-06 Air Bag Clockspring Wiring Failure
  9. R
    2016-08-11Air bags16V288000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2017-03-27Air bags16V352000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2018-02-28Air bags18V021000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2019-02-04Air bags19V018000 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.

    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 4, 2019.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. I
    2019-04-19Engineering analysisClosed 2024-09-19 Electrical overstress
  14. I
    2019-07-29Preliminary evaluationClosed 2019-12-12 Seat belt buckle bracket failure
  15. R
    2020-03-26Seat belts19V680000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  16. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  17. R
    Date not on fileAir bags11V528000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2012 Jeep Wrangler — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Power train: 285 reports on file for this year.
  • Steering: 204 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine: 172 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 11V528000 · Air bags
  • Recall 13E010000 · Equipment
  • Recall 13V176000 · Air bags
  • Recall 13V234000 · Power train, steering
  • Recall 14V631000 · Electrical system, visibility
  • Recall 16V288000 · Air bags
  • Recall 16V352000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V021000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V018000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V680000 · Seat belts
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2012 Jeep Wrangler reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2012 Jeep Wrangler is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Jeep Wrangler?
The most-reported component is power train, accounting for 34% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2012 Jeep Wrangler have?
10 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.