Is the 2014 Jeep Wrangler a bad year?
658 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 330, 12× a quiet Wrangler year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 32k–74k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 2 of 288 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2014 Wrangler owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 52,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 330 (50%) | 32k–74k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 75 (11%) | 26k–86k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 71 (11%) | 38k–74k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 88 (13%) | 24k–63k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 82 (12%) | 10k–59k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Steering | 26 (4%) | 11k–63k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Speed control | 21 (3%) | 15k–68k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 19 (3%) | 15k–66k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Suspension | 15 (2%) | 16k–54k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Visibility and wipers | 13 (2%) | 17k–62k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Wheels | 12 (2%) | 13k–56k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Stability control | 10 (2%) | 30k–71k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 20 (3%) | 5k–35k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 52,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 658 complaints: 21 mention a crash · 24 mention a fire · 9 report an injury · 18 say the car was towed.
41 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
My 2014 Jeep Wrangler had the oil filter housing fail at 52000 miles. It leaked enough oil was dripping down the back of the engine onto the transmission and on to the exhaust system.
The thermostat housing has coolant residue on it and is cracked. This seems to be a very common problem with these jeeps.
The oil filter housing and oil cooler is leaking causing oil to pool on top of engine. This could cause a fire due to oil running down the engine and getting on the exhaust.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 52,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2014 Jeep Wrangler: 4
The driver's seat belt buckle mounting strap may fracture and separate from the seat frame. A separated or severed seat belt buckle strap will result in an inoperable seat belt, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The clockspring assembly may become contaminated with dust and cause the air bag circuit to fail. Failure of the air bag circuit may prevent the driver's frontal air bag from deploying in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Due to a software error, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) may fail to learn the locations of the individual sensors while the vehicle is being driven. As a result, the low tire pressure warning light will illuminate, despite the the tire pressures being within specification. If the TPMS light illuminates because the sensors cannot be located, it could mask an actual low tire pressure condition, possibly resulting in tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Jeep: 107
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2014 Jeep Wrangler. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA)
Gear Ratio DTC's, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
Oil Pump Assembly If error code P06DD present on any Pentastar V6 application, please inspect oil pump for relief valve failure
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Seat belt buckle bracket failure
Electrical overstress
Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
Neighbouring years
2013 Wrangler: 657 complaints, consider selling · 2015 Wrangler: 481 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Jeep Wrangler year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Wrangler years side by side
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.
Questions
Is the 2014 Jeep Wrangler a bad year?
658 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 330, 12× a quiet Wrangler year. At 52,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 32k–74k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 2 of 288 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Jeep Wrangler?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (330), brakes (75), air bags (71), transmission and drivetrain (88), electrical system (82). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 32k–74k miles.
How many recalls does the 2014 Jeep Wrangler have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Seat belts (NHTSA 19V-680), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-018), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-288), Tires (NHTSA 14V-632). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.