"How reliable is the 2008 Jeep Wrangler?"

"Based on 1251 NHTSA complaints, the 2008 Jeep Wrangler has a median complaint mileage of 64500 miles. The most common issue is Air Bags."

"What are common problems with the 2008 Jeep Wrangler?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Jeep Wrangler is Air Bags, accounting for a significant portion of the 1251 total complaints filed."

2008 Jeep Wrangler: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1251 complaints

1251

Total Complaints

64,500mi

Median Mileage

Air Bags

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

41,000 25th Percentile

64,500 Median Mileage

91,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Air Bags

304

Electrical System

174

Steering

156

Suspension

105

Fuel System, Gasoline

Fuel/Propulsion System

Power Train

Service Brakes

Engine

Unknown Or Other

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"ON NOVEMBER 19, 2007 AS I WAS REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT A RESTAURANT, I NOTICED THAT MY BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AND QUICKLY NOTICED A RED DOT LIGHT ABOVE MY FUEL GAUGE. I HAD TO PULL MY PARKING BRAKE IN ORDER TO AVOID ROLLING ANY FURTHER. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO START MY CAR AGAIN. INI..."

"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT NOTICED UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 50 MPH. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE F..."

"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED ERRATICALLY BETWEEN SECOND GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT ..."

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.

Air Bags 304 complaints

25th: 52,531 mi Median: 71,000 mi 75th: 94,881 mi

Electrical System 174 complaints

25th: 51,000 mi Median: 76,000 mi 75th: 106,502 mi

Steering 156 complaints

25th: 34,500 mi Median: 50,000 mi 75th: 80,225 mi

Suspension 105 complaints

25th: 35,000 mi Median: 48,568 mi 75th: 76,000 mi

Fuel System, Gasoline 70 complaints

25th: 30,000 mi Median: 36,900 mi 75th: 50,000 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

TX: 101 CA: 84 FL: 75 AZ: 62 VA: 58 NY: 50 PA: 45 CO: 45 NJ: 40 MI: 39

Who Files Complaints?

1.2%

Original Owners

98.8%

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
2004	281	47,000	Steering	27
2005	756	49,450	Fuel System, Gasoline	12
2006	852	36,000	Fuel System, Gasoline	9
2007	791	61,800	Steering	22
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 (9)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Inflator Module

Campaign 16V352000 | 24/05/2016

These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and tempe

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on

Inflator Module

Campaign 16V290000 | 11/05/2016

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.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clockspring, wheel back cover, and column shroud, free of charge. The recall began on December 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S33.

Equipment

Campaign 13E010000 | 25/02/2013

If the liner shifts forward it may impede the operation of the accelerator and possibly lead to unintended acceleration, which may increase the risk of a crash.

Quadratec will notify owners and either exchange the liners or provide them with a hook guard kit to help secure the driver-side mat, free of charge. The recall began on April 4, 2013. Owners may contact Quadratec at 1-800-463-2998 or info@quadratec.com.

Frontal

Campaign 11V528000 | 02/11/2011

A BROKEN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT IN THE AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING WIRING ASSEMBLY CAN LEAD TO NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.

CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REMEDY THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. CHRYSLER WILL MAIL TO OWNERS AN INTERIM NOTIFICATION DURING MARCH 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Air Bags

Campaign 13V176000 | 07/05/2013

In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, a broken electrical circuit in the airbag clockspring wiring assembly can lead to non-deployment of the driver-side frontal airbag and will not be able to properly protect the driver, increasing the risk of injuries.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clockspring and add a steering wheel dust shield, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. This recall supercedes NHTSA recall 11V-528. Chrysler's recall campaign number is M31.

Trailer Hitches

Campaign 09E044000 | 09/07/2009

THE TOW BAR CAN FAIL UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS CAN RESULT IN THE TOWED VEHICLE SEPARATING FROM THE TOWING VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF ALL 2007 AND 2008 MODEL YEAR JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES WHO COULD HAVE PURCHASED A RECALLED TOW BAR AND WILL REPLACE THE TOW BARS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Automatic Transmission

Campaign 09V436000 | 05/11/2009

FLUID COULD BOIL OVER AND MAY COME INTO CONTACT WITH A HOT ENGINE OR EXHAUST COMPONENT AND CAUSE A FIRE.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL A "HOTOIL" MESSAGE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND A CHIME INDICATING AN ELEVATED TRANSMISSION FLUID CONDITION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-835-1403.

Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Campaign 08V202000 | 06/05/2008

PROLONGED BRAKE TUBE CONTACT COULD WEAR A HOLE IN THE TUBE AND CAUSE A PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS. THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED BRAKE TUBE CLIP TO RETAIN THE TUBES, INSPECT THE BRAKE TUBES FOR DAMAGE DUE TO POTENTIAL CONTACT WITH THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, AND REPLACE THE BRAKE TUBES IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Campaign 10V236000 | 03/06/2010

A BRAKE FLUID LEAK CAN CAUSE PARTIAL LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKES AT THE AFFECTED WHEEL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-853-1403.

Airbag Safety

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Check for open airbag recalls at NHTSA.gov using your VIN
Never ignore the airbag warning light — get it diagnosed immediately
Don't install aftermarket steering wheel covers that block the airbag
Keep the area around airbag deployment zones clear of accessories

Vehicle Rankings

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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