1990 Jeep Wrangler: Reliability Data

105
Total Complaints
120,000mi
Median Mileage
Conventional
Top Issue
6
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

99,000 25th Percentile
120,000 Median Mileage
125,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Conventional
8
Parking Brake
7
Recliner
6
Tank Assembly
6
Seats
6
Fuel Pump
6
Engine
5
Anchorage
4
Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
4
Carburetor System
3

Severity Assessment

6
Crashes
6
Fires
3
Injuries
2
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"BOLTS THAT HOLD THE MOTOR MOUNT TO BLOCK SHEARRED OFF, ALMOST RESULTING IN CONTROL LOST. TT"
"CAPITAL EXPRESSWAY EAGLE IN CA., KEEPS TELLING OWNER TO CALL BACK AFTER EVERY (2) WEEKS. OWNER RECEIVED SECOND NOTICE 1/95. TT"
"FUEL PUMP RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED, NO REASON GIVEN (94V-106). *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 18 NJ: 13 MI: 9 MA: 8 OH: 6 GA: 5 CT: 5 NY: 5 FL: 4 PA: 4

Who Files Complaints?

10.5%
Original Owners
89.5%
Second+ Owners

Jeep Wrangler — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

YearComplaintsCrashes
19911005
19921007
199313410
199418417
199525936
199754846
199840128
199926216
200031124
200123525
200213922
200313011
200428127
200575612
20068529
200779122
2008125125
200949210
201089826
201167216
2012127535
2013102724
201483032
201563221
201661837
201740525
2018256638
2019103616
202074525
2021141439
202255628
202351116
2024122118
2025874

Active Recalls (7)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Fuel Pump
Campaign 07E064000 | 27/08/2007
A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
Exterior Lighting
Campaign 06E026000 | 23/03/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Equipment
Campaign 04E041000 | 07/06/2004
SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE COCKPIT COULD CAUSE INJURY BY STRIKING PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE OR COULD BECOME A DISTRACTION OR AN OBSTACLE TO OTHER DRIVERS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
BESTOP WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BESTOP CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT (800) 845-3567.
Conventional
Campaign 02V041000 | 07/02/2002
THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY WITH A STRONGER PAWL RETURN SPRING. OWNER NOTIFICATON BEGAN SEPTEMBER 30, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCH
Rotor
Campaign 98V005000 | 12/01/1998
THE REDUCED STRENGTH CAN ALLOW THE CAST IRON WEAR SURFACE TO SEPARATE FROM THE HUB, REDUCING THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VEHICLE.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ROTORS WITH ROTORS THAT ARE COATED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION.
Fuel Pump
Campaign 94V106000 | 09/06/1994
FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAKED FROM THE FUEL TANK CAN RESULT IN FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
REPLACE THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT GASKET.
Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Campaign 92V148000 | 14/10/1992
EITHER CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF FRONT BRAKE SYSTEMFUNCTIONS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND AN INCREASED RISK OFVEHICLE ACCIDENT.
THE 1987 TO 1990 MODEL VEHICLES WILL HAVE BOTH SPLASH SHIELDS REPLACED AND BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES REPLACED AS NECESSARY. ALL AFFECTED LATE 1990 THROUGH 1992 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL FASTENERS INSTALLED TO FURTHER SECURE THE LEFT SIDE SPLASH SHIELD. ALSO, THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE WIL

General Vehicle Maintenance

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

  • Follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule in your owner's manual
  • Don't ignore warning lights — early diagnosis prevents expensive repairs
  • Keep records of all maintenance and repairs
  • Use OEM or equivalent-quality parts for repairs
  • Address unusual noises, vibrations, or smells promptly

Looking for a replacement?

Based on the data above, here are relevant options.

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28