Jeep Wrangler — years to avoid

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

7 model years to avoid, 8 to watch and 16 best bets. Tap a year to see its problem areas, recalls and buy-smart checklist.

Avoid7 years

Caution8 years

Best bets16 years

Complaint history

1984: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1984 1985: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1986: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1987: 41 complaints, Recommended 1988: 53 complaints, Recommended 1989: 63 complaints, Recommended 1990: 80 complaints, Recommended 1990 1991: 77 complaints, Recommended 1992: 77 complaints, Recommended 1993: 109 complaints, Recommended 1994: 159 complaints, Recommended 1995: 202 complaints, Recommended 1996: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1996 1997: 401 complaints, Recommended 1998: 265 complaints, Recommended 1999: 213 complaints, Recommended 2000: 251 complaints, Recommended 2001: 170 complaints, Recommended 2002: 108 complaints, Recommended 2002 2003: 98 complaints, Recommended 2004: 192 complaints, Recommended 2005: 649 complaints, Caution 2006: 730 complaints, Avoid 2007: 555 complaints, Caution 2008: 873 complaints, Avoid 2008 2009: 372 complaints, Recommended 2010: 686 complaints, Caution 2011: 485 complaints, Caution 2012: 833 complaints, Avoid 2013: 654 complaints, Caution 2014: 654 complaints, Caution 2015: 472 complaints, Caution 2016: 461 complaints, Recommended 2017: 310 complaints, Recommended 2018: 1,820 complaints, Avoid 2018 2019: 741 complaints, Avoid 2020: 610 complaints, Caution 2021: 942 complaints, Avoid 2022: 400 complaints, Recommended 2023: 367 complaints, Recommended 2024: 736 complaints, Avoid 2025: 68 complaints, Recommended 2026: 10 complaints, Not enough data 2026 2018 · 1,820
1984: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1984 1985: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1986: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1987: 41 complaints, Recommended 1987 1988: 53 complaints, Recommended 1989: 63 complaints, Recommended 1990: 80 complaints, Recommended 1990 1991: 77 complaints, Recommended 1992: 77 complaints, Recommended 1993: 109 complaints, Recommended 1993 1994: 159 complaints, Recommended 1995: 202 complaints, Recommended 1996: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1996 1997: 401 complaints, Recommended 1998: 265 complaints, Recommended 1999: 213 complaints, Recommended 1999 2000: 251 complaints, Recommended 2001: 170 complaints, Recommended 2002: 108 complaints, Recommended 2002 2003: 98 complaints, Recommended 2004: 192 complaints, Recommended 2005: 649 complaints, Caution 2005 2006: 730 complaints, Avoid 2007: 555 complaints, Caution 2008: 873 complaints, Avoid 2008 2009: 372 complaints, Recommended 2010: 686 complaints, Caution 2011: 485 complaints, Caution 2011 2012: 833 complaints, Avoid 2013: 654 complaints, Caution 2014: 654 complaints, Caution 2014 2015: 472 complaints, Caution 2016: 461 complaints, Recommended 2017: 310 complaints, Recommended 2018: 1,820 complaints, Avoid 2018 2019: 741 complaints, Avoid 2020: 610 complaints, Caution 2021: 942 complaints, Avoid 2022: 400 complaints, Recommended 2023: 367 complaints, Recommended 2023 2024: 736 complaints, Avoid 2025: 68 complaints, Recommended 2026: 10 complaints, Not enough data 2026 2018 · 1,820
1984: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1984 1985: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1986: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1986 1987: 41 complaints, Recommended 1988: 53 complaints, Recommended 1988 1989: 63 complaints, Recommended 1990: 80 complaints, Recommended 1990 1991: 77 complaints, Recommended 1992: 77 complaints, Recommended 1992 1993: 109 complaints, Recommended 1994: 159 complaints, Recommended 1994 1995: 202 complaints, Recommended 1996: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1996 1997: 401 complaints, Recommended 1998: 265 complaints, Recommended 1998 1999: 213 complaints, Recommended 2000: 251 complaints, Recommended 2000 2001: 170 complaints, Recommended 2002: 108 complaints, Recommended 2002 2003: 98 complaints, Recommended 2004: 192 complaints, Recommended 2004 2005: 649 complaints, Caution 2006: 730 complaints, Avoid 2006 2007: 555 complaints, Caution 2008: 873 complaints, Avoid 2008 2009: 372 complaints, Recommended 2010: 686 complaints, Caution 2010 2011: 485 complaints, Caution 2012: 833 complaints, Avoid 2012 2013: 654 complaints, Caution 2014: 654 complaints, Caution 2014 2015: 472 complaints, Caution 2016: 461 complaints, Recommended 2016 2017: 310 complaints, Recommended 2018: 1,820 complaints, Avoid 2018 2019: 741 complaints, Avoid 2020: 610 complaints, Caution 2020 2021: 942 complaints, Avoid 2022: 400 complaints, Recommended 2022 2023: 367 complaints, Recommended 2024: 736 complaints, Avoid 2024 2025: 68 complaints, Recommended 2026: 10 complaints, Not enough data 2026 2018 · 1,820
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Recommended
  • Not enough data

Every year, ranked

Newest first. Find your year, then open it for the full report.

YearRankingComplaintsCompared with a typical year
2026 ○ Not enough data 10 Only 10 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2025 ▲ Recommended 68 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2024 ■ Avoid 736 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2023 ● Recommended 367 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2022 ● Recommended 400 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2021 ■ Avoid 942 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2020 ◆ Caution 610 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2019 ■ Avoid 741 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2018 ■ Avoid 1,820 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2017 ● Recommended 310 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2016 ● Recommended 461 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2015 ◆ Caution 472 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2014 ◆ Caution 654 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2013 ◆ Caution 654 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2012 ■ Avoid 833 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2011 ◆ Caution 485 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2010 ◆ Caution 686 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2009 ● Recommended 372 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2008 ■ Avoid 873 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2007 ◆ Caution 555 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2006 ■ Avoid 730 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2005 ◆ Caution 649 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2004 ▲ Recommended 192 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2003 ▲ Recommended 98 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2002 ▲ Recommended 108 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2001 ▲ Recommended 170 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2000 ▲ Recommended 251 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1999 ▲ Recommended 213 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1998 ● Recommended 265 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1997 ● Recommended 401 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1996 ○ Not enough data 2 Only 2 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1995 ▲ Recommended 202 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1994 ▲ Recommended 159 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1993 ▲ Recommended 109 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1992 ▲ Recommended 77 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1991 ▲ Recommended 77 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1990 ▲ Recommended 80 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1989 ▲ Recommended 63 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1988 ▲ Recommended 53 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1987 ▲ Recommended 41 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1986 ○ Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1985 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1984 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
How the rankings work

Each model year’s distinct NHTSA complaint count is compared with the median of the same model’s other eligible years.

  • ▲ Recommended

    At least 30% fewer complaints than the model’s typical year.

  • ● Recommended

    Within 30% of the model’s typical year.

  • ◆ Caution

    30% to 100% more complaints than the typical year.

  • ■ Avoid

    More than double the complaints of the typical year.

  • ○ Not enough data

    Fewer than 30 complaints on file, or too few other years to compare with — too few for a fair verdict.

Recalls

98

recalls on file across every Jeep Wrangler model year.

Open a year above to see that year’s own recalls, investigations, and remedies.

Other Jeep models