"How reliable is the 2018 Jeep Wrangler?"

"Based on 2566 NHTSA complaints, the 2018 Jeep Wrangler has a median complaint mileage of 6700 miles. The most common issue is Steering."

"What are common problems with the 2018 Jeep Wrangler?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler is Steering, accounting for a significant portion of the 2566 total complaints filed."

2018 Jeep Wrangler: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 2566 complaints

2566

Total Complaints

6,700mi

Median Mileage

Steering

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

1,500 25th Percentile

6,700 Median Mileage

15,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Steering

1101

Suspension

339

Electrical System

238

Unknown Or Other

205

Power Train

157

Engine

Body

Wheels

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Service Brakes

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"SENT TO TOWER IN PLYMOUTH MI TO WELD JEEP FRAMES THAT ROBOT WAS NOT WELDING CORRECTLY. TOLD TO JUST COVER THEM UP AND THEY WILL JUST PAINT FRAMES. TOLD THEY HAVE TO MEET THEIR PRODUCTION NUMBERS. I WOULD NOT DRIVE OR WANT ANYONE ELSE TO DRIVE ONE OF THESE.*DT*JB"

"WHILE THE DEFROST WAS ON HEAT, AND WITH COLD TEPERATURES OUTSIDE, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON ITS OWN"

"ON 2/9/18, FLEW FROM BOSTON TO PICK UP PURCHASE OF NEW 2018 ALL-PURPLE, 2-DOOR 40K JEEP AT CANANDAIGUA NY JEEP DEALERSHIP. (NONE AVAILABLE IN MASS.) UPON DELIVERY ON LOT, DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY. SALESMAN ROBERTS STATED TO US THAT ALL JEEPS ARE QUIRKY; DOORS MUST BE SLAMMED TO CLOSE. ..."

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 1101 complaints

25th: 875 mi Median: 5,000 mi 75th: 12,000 mi

Suspension 339 complaints

25th: 3,000 mi Median: 7,350 mi 75th: 15,000 mi

Electrical System 238 complaints

25th: 1,850 mi Median: 12,250 mi 75th: 39,000 mi

Unknown Or Other 205 complaints

25th: 1,500 mi Median: 6,000 mi 75th: 13,500 mi

Power Train 157 complaints

25th: 4,962 mi Median: 25,374 mi 75th: 49,000 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 178 OH: 165 NY: 161 PA: 155 FL: 149 TX: 147 MI: 145 MA: 119 NC: 101 IL: 85

Who Files Complaints?

1.5%

Original Owners

98.5%

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
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
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 (14)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Anchorage

Campaign 19V680000 | 26/09/2019

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.

FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt buckle, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed November 19, 2019. Owners will received a second letter and the recall began March 26, 2020. Owners may contact FCA customer service a

Frame And Members

Campaign 18V675000 | 28/09/2018

An unexpected reduction in steering ability, can increase the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the track bar bracket welds, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 17, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is UA5.

Frame And Members

Campaign 18V231000 | 12/04/2018

If the floor pan strength is reduced and/or the rear seat mount becomes loose, the rear seat may detach in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, coat the interior and exterior of the driver's side rear underbody ladder rail with three-part rust protection. The recall began September 11, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's n

Latch

Campaign 18V786000 | 08/11/2018

If the right rear passenger door opens unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will repair the right rear door latch reinforcement, free of charge. The recall begin December 6, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is UB6.

Automatic Transmission

Campaign 18V280000 | 01/05/2018

If the incorrect park lock rod is installed, the transmission may not shift into 'PARK' and keep the vehicle from moving, increasing the risk of unintended vehicle movement and the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct park lock rod, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U43.

Wiring

Campaign 18V332000 | 17/05/2018

If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise

Equipment

Campaign 19V320000 | 23/04/2019

If the roof top tent cover detaches from the vehicle while moving, it can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

The remedy for this recall is still under development. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact American Fastbacks customer service at 1-844-533-7997 extension 301. Note: Vehicles in this recall are also included in recall 19V-190.

Clutch Assembly

Campaign 21V028000 | 28/01/2021

Overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash.

FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will add software to reduce engine torque capability when clutch assembly temperatures rise to a level that may damage the inner pressure plate, free of charge." FCA has ordered a stop sale for the affected vehicles as of February 25, 2021. Owner notifica

Clutch Assembly

Campaign 20V124000 | 03/03/2020

The overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reroute a wire harness and inspect the clutch system, and replace components as needed. The recall began April 30, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W12.

Steering

Campaign 18V343000 | 25/05/2018

If the weld seam splits, the steering wheel may lose center positioning causing a loss of steering responsiveness and increasing the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the intermediate steering shaft, free of charge. The recall began June 21, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U48.

Front Underhood

Campaign 18V524000 | 09/08/2018

A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.

Clutch Assembly

Campaign 23V116000 | 23/02/2023

Dealers will replace the clutch assembly and update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed from November 16, 2023 through July 25, 2024. Owners may contact (FCA US, LLC) customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is 19A. This recall expa

Instrument Cluster/Panel

Campaign 24V652000 | 05/09/2024

An instrument panel that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.

Dealers will replace the instrument panel cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between October 3, 2024, and January 23, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 30B.

Camera

Campaign 24V676000 | 12/09/2024

A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, a center brake light that fails to illuminate can fail to indicate to other drivers that the vehicle is slowing down, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers replaced the harness for the center brake light and rearview camera and/or the spare tire carrier/harness assembly, as necessary, free of charge. All vehicles were repaired by January 15, 2024. Owner notification letters were mailed September 26, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC custo

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

Looking for a replacement?

Based on the data above, here are relevant options.

2018 Jeep Wrangler parts on Amazon

→

Affiliate link

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