"How reliable is the 2004 Jeep Wrangler?"

"Based on 281 NHTSA complaints, the 2004 Jeep Wrangler has a median complaint mileage of 47000 miles. The most common issue is Steering."

"What are common problems with the 2004 Jeep Wrangler?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Jeep Wrangler is Steering, accounting for a significant portion of the 281 total complaints filed."

2004 Jeep Wrangler: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 281 complaints

281

Total Complaints

47,000mi

Median Mileage

Steering

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

21,605 25th Percentile

47,000 Median Mileage

74,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Steering

Suspension

Electrical System

Front

Automatic Transmission

Unknown Or Other

Fuel System, Gasoline

Tires

Power Train

Body

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK"

"NEW 2004 JEEP WRANGLER SE. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUNKS CLINKS & SOMETIMES GRINDS WHEN UPSHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. I WAS NEARLY REARENDED LAST WEEK. I WAS GOING UP A HILL FROM A STOP. WHEN I SHIFTED FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR THE SYNCROS STARTED GRINDING. NOT WANTING TO ABUSE MY..."

"LEFT FRONT AXLE SEAL LEAK. *NM"

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

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Steering 66 complaints

25th: 30,000 mi Median: 48,856 mi 75th: 69,400 mi

Suspension 50 complaints

25th: 26,000 mi Median: 48,856 mi 75th: 69,700 mi

Electrical System 10 complaints

25th: 54,000 mi Median: 85,250 mi 75th: 100,750 mi

Front 8 complaints

25th: 34,500 mi Median: 45,596 mi 75th: 49,050 mi

Automatic Transmission 8 complaints

25th: 18,125 mi Median: 30,000 mi 75th: 44,125 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 25 VA: 20 NY: 18 AZ: 17 MD: 15 GA: 14 PA: 12 TX: 12 NC: 11 FL: 10

Who Files Complaints?

21%

Original Owners

79%

Second+ Owners

Jeep Wrangler — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1990	105	120,000	Conventional	6
1991	100	115,000	Engine	5
1992	100	137,000	Tank Assembly	7
1993	134	96,500	Fuel Pump	10
1994	184	120,000	Fuel Pump	17
1995	259	90,000	Parking Brake	36
1997	548	74,000	Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe	46
1998	401	71,300	Air Bags	28
1999	262	68,512	Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe	16
2000	311	91,912	Manual Transmission	24
2001	235	89,000	Body	25
2002	139	62,792	Body	22
2003	130	26,895	Suspension	11
2005	756	49,450	Fuel System, Gasoline	12
2006	852	36,000	Fuel System, Gasoline	9
2007	791	61,800	Steering	22
2008	1251	64,500	Air Bags	25
2009	492	51,600	Air Bags	10
2010	898	49,500	Fuel/Propulsion System	26
2011	672	53,325	Air Bags	16
2012	1275	42,000	Power Train	35
2013	1027	50,000	Power Train	24
2014	830	47,000	Engine	32
2015	632	37,200	Engine	21
2016	618	36,450	Service Brakes	37
2017	405	22,500	Service Brakes	25
2018	2566	6,700	Steering	38
2019	1036	5,500	Steering	16
2020	745	1,219	Steering	25
2021	1414	18,000	Electrical System	39
2022	556	18,500	Electrical System	28
2023	511	13,000	Electrical System	16
2024	1221	14,500	Engine	18
2025	87	-	Electrical System	4

Active Recalls (3)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Campaign 06E022000 | 13/03/2006

LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.

Fuel Pump

Campaign 06E011000 | 01/02/2006

IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AIRTEX CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-880-3056.

Labels

Campaign 04V048000 | 03/02/2004

THE VEHICLE OWNER WOULD NOT BE AWARE OF THE TIRE, WHEEL, AND INFLATION PRESSURE INFORMATION FOR THEIR VEHICLE.

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CORRECTED TIRE CERTIFICATION LABEL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Protect Your Steering System

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Get a wheel alignment annually or after hitting a significant pothole
Don't hold the steering wheel at full lock for more than a few seconds
Check power steering fluid monthly on hydraulic systems
Address wandering, vibration, or play in the wheel promptly
Replace worn tie rod ends before they cause tire wear

Vehicle Rankings

Most complained Worst transmissions Worst engines Worst brakes Most crashes Compare vehicles

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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