Jeep Wrangler 2007–2017

JK (4th generation) · JK (JKU for 4-door Unlimited) · 9,053 complaints, 6,125 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

Which systems, and when

Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 50,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The airbag system accounts for 13.8% of complaints (1,249 reports, 793 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 67,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 46,753 and 90,000 miles.

The engine accounts for 11.8% of complaints (1,070 reports, 775 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 29,000 and 79,900 miles.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 11.5% of complaints (1,039 reports, 585 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 32,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,000 and 60,628 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 10.7% of complaints (968 reports, 706 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 58,300 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 31,000 and 84,000 miles.

The steering accounts for 10.6% of complaints (956 reports, 608 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 45,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 24,000 and 74,100 miles.

The brakes account for 6.5% of complaints (584 reports, 205 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 49,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 26,835 and 76,000 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2012 model year drew the most — 1,285 complaints — while 2017 drew the fewest at 422. The median year sits at 792.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 21 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.

The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (9), the transmission and driveline (3), the hydraulic brake circuit (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.

Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.

Reported severity

Of the 9,053 complaints filed against this generation, 274 reported a crash; 386 reported a fire; 253 reported an injury; 8 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 3.0% of the total.

These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 25,000 and 77,100 miles, with a median of 50,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the airbag system and the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 55,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.

None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.

Documented problems

Recalls (21)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Jeep Wrangler 1987–1995
• Jeep Wrangler 1997–2006
• Jeep Wrangler 2018–2025