2012 Jeep Wrangler: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2012 Jeep Wrangler
On the 2012 Jeep Wrangler, the failure owners report most often is other powertrain problem, and the reports cluster around 17,500 miles. The earliest to appear is misfire or rough idle, reported by a median of 15,000 miles. Overall it scores 78 out of 100, severe risk for a 2012.
Severe risk for a 2012 — 22nd riskiest of the 271 2012 vehicles we can rate. 1,288 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2012 Jeep Wrangler
Owners have reported 71 named failure modes on the 2012 Jeep Wrangler, and the three most-reported carry 43% of everything filed.
Other powertrain problem leads with 260 reports, about 2.5 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 8k to 30,000 miles.
Other steering problem follows with 184 reports, usually reported between 12k to 45,000 miles.
Other engine problem follows with 111 reports, usually reported between 10k to 57,500 miles. 8 of those reports mention a fire.
By system, the reports fall mostly into transmission (271), steering (220) and engine (172).
At what mileage it happens
747 of the reports on the 2012 Jeep Wrangler came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 42,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 59% by 50,000 miles, 90% by 100,000 miles and 97% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 2 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 15% of the dated reports.
42% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
In the order they tend to show up: misfire or rough idle around 15k, other powertrain problem around 16k, steering rack, gear or tie rod failure around 20k and other steering problem around 24k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 71. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 2 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 30 mention a crash, 25 a fire, 34 an injury and 3 a fatality. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.30, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500, other steering problem at $350–$2,400, other engine problem at $300–$4,000 and other electrical problem at $250–$2,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
37% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 260 | 72 | 8k | 16k | 30k | 2.5 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 184 | 39 | 12k | 24k | 46k | 1.8 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 111 | 84 | 10k | 30k | 59k | 1.1 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 80 | 59 | 28k | 47k | 75k | 0.8 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 72 | 49 | 50k | 70k | 104k | 0.7 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 34 | 7 | — | 47k | — | 0.3 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 29 | 27 | 12k | 15k | 58k | 0.3 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 26 | 16 | 41k | 55k | 78k | 0.2 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 24 | 22 | 3k | 29k | 52k | 0.2 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 23 | 21 | 31k | 64k | 95k | 0.2 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 23 | 18 | 17k | 48k | 74k | 0.2 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 23 | 11 | 20k | 36k | 54k | 0.2 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 18 | 16 | 38k | 43k | 54k | 0.2 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 18 | 13 | 40k | 42k | 76k | 0.2 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 17 | 15 | 7k | 40k | 51k | 0.2 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 17 | 15 | 29k | 45k | 73k | 0.2 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 15 | 12 | 39k | 65k | 80k | 0.1 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 14 | 13 | 38k | 60k | 93k | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 12 | 10 | 48k | 66k | 78k | 0.1 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 11 | 5 | — | 60k | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 11 | 9 | 23k | 44k | 145k | 0.1 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 10 | 10 | 16k | 34k | 38k | 0.1 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 10 | 7 | — | 38k | — | 0.1 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 9 | 8 | 68k | 78k | 88k | 0.1 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 9 | 7 | — | 13k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 9 | 7 | — | 56k | — | 0.1 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 9 | 9 | 45k | 67k | 76k | 0.1 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 9 | 9 | 77k | 77k | 100k | 0.1 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 9 | 8 | 38k | 49k | 98k | 0.1 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 8 | 8 | 28k | 81k | 91k | 0.1 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 8 | 8 | 19k | 20k | 27k | 0.1 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Oil leak | engine | 6 | 4 | — | 81k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 6 | 6 | — | 41k | — | 0.1 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 6 | 4 | — | 38k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 6 | 6 | — | 42k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 5 | 5 | — | 70k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Lifter, cam or cylinder-deactivation failure | engine | 5 | 3 | — | 18k | — | 0.0 | $1,800–$7,000 | High |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 5 | 5 | — | 50k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 5 | 4 | — | 8k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 5 | 4 | — | 60k | — | 0.0 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 5 | 2 | — | 72k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 5 | 5 | — | 38k | — | 0.0 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Transmission fluid leak | transmission | 4 | 4 | — | 50k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 4 | 4 | — | 37k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| Overheating | cooling | 3 | 3 | — | 52k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Heater core failure | cooling | 3 | 3 | — | 102k | — | 0.0 | $700–$2,400 | Moderate |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 3 | 2 | — | 3k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 3 | 3 | — | 10k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Interior water leak | body | 3 | 3 | — | 14k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Moderate |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 3 | 3 | — | 26k | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 13k | — | 0.0 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 99k | — | 0.0 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Transmission will not engage a gear | transmission | 2 | 1 | — | 26k | — | 0.0 | $1,500–$6,000 | Critical |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 72k | — | 0.0 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| Water pump failure | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 62k | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,200 | High |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 47k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Starter failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 46k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 1k | — | 0.0 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Audio or connectivity failure | infotainment | 1 | 1 | — | 66k | — | 0.0 | $150–$900 | Low |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 125k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Paint peeling or clear coat failure | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $600–$6,000 | Low |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Catalytic converter failure | emissions | 1 | 1 | — | 10k | — | 0.0 | $900–$3,500 | Moderate |
| Software fault or failed update | software | 1 | 1 | — | 6k | — | 0.0 | $0–$600 | Moderate |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 2k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 67 | 45 | 38k | 49k | 76k | 0.6 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2012 Jeep Wrangler draws about 12 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 92nd percentile of complaint rates among 2012 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 104,590 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2012 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other powertrain problem
Automatic transmission with 'electronic range select' allows a downshift with a move of the shift lever to the left when in 'd' drive. A move to the right up-shifts. Accidental downshifts occur frequently because of 'hair-trigger' nature of shift lever controls. The slightest, barely perceptible movement left causes a downshift, often unintended and unexpected. Up-shifting requires a definite movement to the right. Discussion of this issue with 2012 automatic wranglers drivers on jeep internet forums suggests a number of people experience and have a problem with this, while a number of drivers state their shifter requires a definite move left to downshift. I experience frequent, accidental downshifts on every trip due to this defect. Current mileage on this vehicle is 1100 miles. Sudden deceleration due to accidental downshifts can cause loss of traction on unpaved, gravel, icy or snowy roads, confusion, disorienting, and over-revving the engine. *kb
Automatic transmission with 'electronic range select' allows a downshift with a move of the shift lever to the left when in 'd' drive. A move to the right up-shifts. Accidental downshifts occur frequently because of 'hair-trigger' nature of shift lever controls. The slightest, barely perceptible movement left causes a downshift, often unintended and unexpected. Up-shifting requires a definite movement to the right. Discussion of this issue with 2012 automatic wranglers drivers on jeep internet forums suggests a number of people experience and have a problem with this, while a number of drivers state their shifter requires a definite move left to downshift. I experience frequent, accidental downshifts on every trip due to this defect. Current mileage on this vehicle is 1100 miles. Sudden deceleration due to accidental downshifts can cause loss of traction on unpaved, gravel, icy or snowy roads, confusion, disorienting, and over-revving the engine. *kb
Other steering problem
My 2012 jeep wrangler sahara 2-door with automatic transmission exhibits the following issues: 1) valve train ticking noise. This developed after a few months of ownership (bought november 2011) 2) sluggish acceleration and automatic transmission shifting when vehicle is cold. It does improve as vehicle is warmed up after driving it for 5-10 minutes, and by then the vehicle seems to operate normal. 3) I sometimes feel a thud or vibration coming up from the steering wheel. It almost feels as something is loose in the front-end. This happens sporadically. This started happening just recently. I am going to discuss these issues with the chrysler dealership when I take it for the first oil change. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 jeep wrangler. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the steering wheel and the entire vehicle began shaking violently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the vehcile was in need of a wheel alignment. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000 and the current mileage was 30,000.
Other engine problem
Purchased a 2012 jeep wrangler sport on 3/3/12 at roughly 2pm cst. At about 4pm cst, I parked the jeep in my apartment's parking garage. I decided at about 6pm cst to go get some dinner, and to cruise around as well in the new vehicle. I observed smoke coming from the parking garage, and when I got into the garage, I observed my new jeep on fire. The entire front end of the vehicle was engulfed in flames. Both front tires exploded as a result of the fire, and the entire front end was completely damaged. The interior is destroyed; basically totaled out. Vehicle was purchased with 11 miles on the odometer, and ended with about 17 total. *tr
Engine developed a ticking sound on driver's side engine bay. Sounds like engine is missing or tapping on driver's side. Loss of power/stalls more common now. Took vehicle to chrysler and they say that my engine is just "loud" compared to all other 2012's and that it's normal. They told me to just drive it until it fails and then bring it back in because chrysler corporate will not allow a dealership to work on the engine and fix it until a failure occurs. So, now I am stuck with a 3 month old 2012 wrangler waiting for it to breakdown on the side of the road before the dealership will fix the known issue. Mechanic says "that doesn't sound right" when I took it in. Mind you I took the wrangler into two dealerships at this point for multiple opinions. Both agree the jeep will fail and to just "wait" until it does because they are told by chrysler to not work on faulty wranglers with the new pentastar engine until the engine completely fails. Real proactive on that decision chrysler. I'm not looking forward to the day power is lost when I'm on the highway or crossing train tracks. Thanks a lot for putting my life at risk over a known…
Recalls on the 2012 model year
NHTSA has issued 10 recall campaigns covering the 2012 Jeep Wrangler, affecting an estimated 325,268 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover seat belts:front:anchorage and air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
11,463 vehicles 2019-09-26- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2018 Jeep Wrangler right hand drive vehicles. The driver's seat belt buckle mounting strap may fracture and separate from the seat frame.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is VA6.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
1,413,222 vehicles 2019-01-15- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 4, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V01.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
328,177 vehicles 2018-01-09- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Chrysler is recalling certain 2009-2010 RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota…
- Consequence
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U03.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
4,648,270 vehicles 2016-05-24- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-2012 Dodge Charger, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider…
- Consequence
- 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 temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- 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 March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
7,196 vehicles 2016-05-11- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Right Hand Drive Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to May 2, 2016. The clockspring assembly may become contaminated with dust and cause the air bag circuit to fail.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clockspring, wheel back cover, and column shroud, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S40.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
313,772 vehicles 2014-10-08- Defect
- Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to July 19, 2013. Corrosion in the exterior heated power mirror electrical connector may result in an electrical short.
- Consequence
- An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will move the exterior mirror power feed to a separate connector, free of charge. Chrysler issued an interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on March 3, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P61.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
180,131 vehicles 2013-06-04- Defect
- Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Jeep Wrangler vehicles equipped with a 3.6L engine and an automatic transmission and manufactured January 23, 2011, through February 23, 2013. The power steering line may contact and wear a hole in the transmission oil cooler line resulting in a loss of transmission fluid.
- Consequence
- A loss of transmission fluid may result in a loss of transmission function which may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering return tube assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N28.
AIR BAGS
5,440 vehicles 2013-05-07- Defect
- Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Jeep Wrangler right-hand drive vehicles manufactured February 1, 2007, through October 10, 2011. The affected vehicles have airbag clockspring assemblies that could experience broken airbag circuits.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
EQUIPMENT
15,836 vehicles 2013-02-25- Defect
- Quadratec, Inc. is recalling certain aftermarket accessory, driver-side, Ultimate Floor Liners part numbers 14254.0301 07, 14254.0301 08, 14254.0301Q, 14254.0302 07, 14254.0302 08, 14254.0302Q, 14254.0303 07, 14254.0303 08, 14254.0303Q, 14254.0309 07, 14254.0309 08, and 14254.0309Q sold from May 1, 2012, through February 14, 2013. The liners are for use in 2007-2013 Jeep Wranglers. The anchor point for the affected floor liners may tear during use, particularly when exposed to high temperatures. The tearing may allow the floor liner to shift forward.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
5,437 vehicles 2011-11-02- Defect
- Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 right hand drive (rhd) jeep wrangler vehicles manufactured from february 1, 2007, through october 10, 2011. Some vehicles may be equipped with driver's airbag clockspring assemblies that could experience a compromised airbag circuit resulting in an airbag lamp illumination, which indicates that the airbag may not deploy.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2012 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Better and worse years of the same car
Severe risk for a 2012 — 22nd riskiest of the 271 2012 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Across the 30 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2000 comes out best at 64 and 2019 worst at 84, with 2012 itself at 78.
If the model year is negotiable, 2000, 2025, 2001, 2002, 2005, 1999, 2008, 2009, 2007, 1997, 2026, 2006, 2011, 1998 and 2024 score lower than 2012 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2005–2013 generation specifically, 2005 is the strongest year at 68 and 2012 the weakest at 78.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2005-2013 generation, 2005 Jeep Wrangler scores best at 68 and 2012 Jeep Wrangler worst at 78.
Where to spend the inspection money
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other body or interior problem from about 3k, other suspension problem from about 7k, other powertrain problem from about 8k and other engine problem from about 10k.
On a 2012 Jeep Wrangler with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other body or interior problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
Where these figures stop being useful
1,288 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 1,288 reports, 747 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 58% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Jeep Wrangler?
The most-reported failures are other powertrain problem (260 reports, median 17,500 miles), other steering problem (184 reports, median 22,500 miles) and other engine problem (111 reports, median 30,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2012 Jeep Wrangler problems start?
Misfire or rough idle is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 15,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 12,500 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 42,000 miles.
Is the 2012 Jeep Wrangler reliable?
It scores 78 out of 100 on our risk index, which is severe — 22nd riskiest of the 271 2012 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2012 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Jeep Wrangler is best?
Within the 2005–2013 generation, 2005 scores best at 68 out of 100 and 2012 worst at 78. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed