Jeep Wrangler: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
16,606 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Jeep Wrangler, model years 2000 to 2026. 10 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2007 (engine 7.5×); 2021 (engine 8.4×); 2012 (engine 6.6×, transmission 6.9×); 2024 (engine 16×, transmission 4.4×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2003, 2002, 2001. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Wrangler | 251 | transmission 1.7× | 5 | |
| 2001 Wrangler | 170 | quiet: 3 of 20 | 7 | |
| 2002 WranglerFEW REPORTS | 108 | quiet: 2 of 20 | 6 | |
| 2003 WranglerFEW REPORTS | 98 | quiet: 1 of 20 | 4 | |
| 2004 Wrangler | 192 | quiet: 4 of 20 | 3 | |
| 2005 Wrangler | 650 | — | 2 | |
| 2006 Wrangler | 729 | — | 3 | |
| 2007 Wrangler | 1,551 | engine 7.5× | 10 | |
| 2008 Wrangler | 1,862 | — | 9 | |
| 2009 Wrangler | 626 | — | 8 | |
| 2010 Wrangler | 686 | — | 11 | |
| 2011 Wrangler | 485 | — | 11 | |
| 2012 Wrangler | 837 | engine 6.6×, transmission 6.9× | 10 | |
| 2013 Wrangler | 657 | transmission 5.6× | 7 | |
| 2014 Wrangler | 658 | engine 12× | 4 | |
| 2015 Wrangler | 481 | engine 4.9× | 3 | |
| 2016 Wrangler | 464 | quiet: 7 of 20 | 5 | |
| 2017 Wrangler | 312 | quiet: 6 of 20 | 5 | |
| 2018 Wrangler | 1,828 | — | 14 | |
| 2019 Wrangler | 749 | — | 9 | |
| 2020 Wrangler | 619 | — | 12 | |
| 2021 Wrangler | 960 | engine 8.4× | 15 | |
| 2022 Wrangler | 413 | engine 3.5× | 15 | |
| 2023 Wrangler | 377 | engine 4.1× | 14 | |
| 2024 Wrangler | 757 | engine 16×, transmission 4.4× | 11 | |
| 2025 WranglerFEW REPORTS | 74 | — | 4 | |
| 2026 WranglerFEW REPORTS | 12 | — | 3 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Jeep models
Jeep Cherokee · Jeep Commander · Jeep Compass · Jeep Gladiator · Jeep Grand Cherokee · Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe · Jeep Grand Cherokee L · Jeep Grand Wagoneer · Jeep Laredo · Jeep Liberty · Jeep Patriot · Jeep Renegade · Jeep Wagoneer · Jeep Wrangler 4xe · Jeep Wrangler Sahara. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 20002001200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024