2017 Jeep Wrangler
Common Problems
Ranked from 107 federal NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
30 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Oil Filter Housing Cracking
12complaintsHigh severityEngineOil filter housing made of plastic cracks, leading to oil leaks and potential fire hazards.
- 2
ABS Control Module Failure
8complaintsSafety riskBrakesThe ABS control module frequently fails, leading to the loss of anti-lock braking system functionality and safety features.
- 3
Brake Caliper Issues
8complaintsMedium severityBrakesMultiple instances of brake calipers seizing, moving away from rotors, and causing grinding noises, leading to potential loss of braking performance.
$250–$700est. brake caliper replacement · 1–2.5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Engine oil cooler failure causing leaks
7complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine oil cooler cracks or fails, leading to significant oil leaks.
- 5
Transmission Issues
7complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission pops out of reverse and grinds, causing difficulty in reversing.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Death Wobble
5complaintsMedium severitySteeringSevere steering wobble at highway speeds, often requiring multiple repairs without resolution.
- 7
Hood fluttering and lifting at highway speeds
5complaintsMedium severityOtherThe hood lifts up and flutters violently at highway speeds, especially when passing large vehicles or in strong winds.
- 8
Brake Caliper Failure
4complaintsHigh severityBrakesFront and rear brake calipers seize up, causing loss of braking power and potential accidents.
$250–$700est. brake caliper replacement · 1–2.5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Brake Caliper Sticking
4complaintsMedium severityBrakesCalipers stick and cause the brakes to lock up or seize, leading to unpredictable stopping behavior.
$250–$700est. brake caliper replacement · 1–2.5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Electrical System Issues
4complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe electrical system causes intermittent failures such as car not starting, lights malfunctioning, and fires under the seat.
Related recall: 18V524000
- 11
Engine Oil Leak
4complaintsMedium severityEngineThere is an oil leak from the engine, posing a fire hazard and requiring immediate attention.
$200–$1,600est. oil-leak repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 12
Engine Overheating
4complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine overheats, causing the vehicle to stall or run roughly.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 13
Service Brakes Issues
4complaintsMedium severityBrakesThe service brakes fail to function properly, causing the vehicle to creep forward or stall.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 14
Steering Malfunction
4complaintsHigh severitySteeringThe steering wheel shakes violently, leading to loss of control and potential accidents.
- 15
Structural Corrosion
4complaintsMedium severityOtherThe vehicle body shows extensive rust corrosion, affecting structural integrity and safety.
- 16
Airbag System Malfunction
3complaintsMedium severityElectricalAirbags fail to deploy during collisions, posing a safety risk to passengers.
Related recall: 18V524000
- 17
Engine Misfire and Cylinder Failure
3complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine misfires and cylinders fail, often requiring repairs or replacements within a short period.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 18
Fuel Tank Control Valve Failures
3complaintsMedium severityFuel systemFuel tank control valve malfunctions leading to overfilling, fuel leaks, and potential fire hazards.
$300–$1,200est. fuel line/tank repair · 2–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 16V849000
- 19
Airbag failure during collision
2complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe airbags fail to deploy during collisions, increasing the risk of injury to passengers.
Related recall: 18V524000
- 20
Battery Terminal Issues
2complaintsLow severityElectricalBattery terminals stop tightening properly, causing the vehicle to die while driving and requiring jump starts.
Related recall: 18V524000
- 21
Brake system issues leading to decreased stopping ability
2complaintsHigh severityBrakesConsistent brake sponginess and decreased stopping ability, sometimes resulting in accidents due to unexpected vehicle movement.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 22
Defective Rear Defroster
2complaintsMedium severityOtherThe rear defroster malfunctions, potentially causing windscreen damage and reduced visibility.
- 23
Electrical system issues with dashboard lights and radio
2complaintsLow severityElectricalDashboard lights and the radio fail intermittently, requiring multiple repairs.
$200–$1,500est. infotainment unit service · 0.5–3 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 18V524000
- 24
Electronic stability control (ESC) activation at low speeds
2complaintsMedium severityOtherAnti-lock braking system and traction control activate unexpectedly at low speeds, causing the vehicle to twitch.
- 25
Engine stalling and sudden power loss during extended driving
2complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine suddenly loses power and stalls during extended highway driving, requiring multiple restart attempts before resuming normal operation.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 26
Seat Belt Malfunction
2complaintsLow severityOtherThe middle seat belt snaps at the anchor during folding, posing a potential safety risk.
- 27
Service brake issues with calipers locking up
2complaintsMedium severityBrakesCalipers lock up for no reason, causing safety issues and damaging brake pads and rotors.
$250–$700est. brake caliper replacement · 1–2.5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 28
Transmission failure leading to gear shifting issues
2complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission frequently stalls or jumps out of gear while driving, requiring manual intervention to keep it in gear.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 29
Transmission Pan Gasket Leaks
2complaintsMedium severityTransmissionRecurrent issues with the transmission pan gasket leading to leaks and requiring frequent repairs.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 30
Vehicle catching fire while in motion
2complaintsHigh severityOtherThe vehicle catches fire while in motion, often without warning, causing significant damage and potential injury.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.