24 of the 831 complaints about the 2008 Jeep Wrangler 4-DR 4X4 are about the other systems — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 78,550 miles.
24
Complaints
0
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE MASSIVE HOOD FLUTTER WHILE DRIVING MY JEEP. ITS FLUTTERED SO MUCH THE PAINT ON WHERE IT RUBBED IS GONE. I'M HONESTLY AFRAID MY HOOD WILL FLY UP WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT FLUTTERS SO MUCH. I JUST PICKED A DATE BUT IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11232506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY SHIFTS OUT OF 1ST GEAR WHILE STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP (STOP LIGHT, INTERSECTION, ETC) THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE IS LIKELY TO GET HURT OR KILLED WHEN THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE AND HAS BEEN AFFECTING JEEP OWNERS FOR YEARS. WHY HASN"T JEEP DONE A RECALL ON THIS VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE??? THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE A DAY IF NOT MORE. SOME OWNERS HAVE IT HAPPEN EVERY TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11197271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY JEEP STARTED SMOKING 1/2 MILE FROM HOME. TEMP GAUGE AND DASH LIGHTS GAVE NO INDICATION OF TROUBLE. BY 1/4 MILE THE TRANS WAS SLIPPING AND THE BRAKES HAD FAILED. I WAS ABLE TO NURSE IT INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND SOMEONE SAID THEY SAW FLAME. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW A GLOW FROM UNDER THE CAR BUT ON TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION. I ALSO SAW I WAS LEAKING TRANS FLUID. WE USED WATER AND THEN A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO TRY TO PUT IT OUT. 5 MINUTES LATER IT WAS FULLY ENGULFED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ON IT'S WAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF BIG CALLED BUT THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE DONE. THE JEEP WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #11010634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DEATH WOBBLE********************************* (MAIN CONCERN) I HAVE ALMOST DIED A 1000XS DUE TO THIS DEATH WOBBLE. I WENT THROUGH HELL WITH THE PREVIOUS DEALER DEALERSHIP . IT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS BRINGING THE JEEP IN TO GARAGES AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. I HAD TO DELIVER A PART 77 MILES TO AND BACK AND HAD TO STOP OVER A MILLION TIMES WITH MYHEART POUNDING. I AM SICK OF WORRYING ABOUT DYING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SERIOUS ISSUE GOD FORBID PEOPLE THAT HAVE CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONTHE FREEWAY AND LOCAL ROADS. VERY CLOSE DEADLY SITUATIONS. I AM TIRED OF NOONE BELIEVING THIS! THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH JEEP AND NOONE HEARS IT! HOW ARE THEY NOT LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE ???THIS IS THE WORST-FEELING IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!MANY GARAGES AND NO ONE SAYS ANYTHING IS WRONG. THERE IS SERIOUS ISSUES AND I AM GOING TO DIE! PLEASE HELP! PLEASE! THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THIS OVERHEATING AND ELECTRICAL...RADIO HASN'T WORKED IN MONTHS ONCE IN A WHILE IT COMES ON INTERMEDIATELY...SEATBELT LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS HAS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FROM MANY GARAGES AND THEY ALSO CAN NOT FIND WHERE OR WHY....THIS IS THE WORST VEHICLE! THE DEATH WOBBLE IS THE MAIN CONCERN BECAUSE IT WILL KILL ME AND ANYBODY ELSE THAT IS HAVING THIS ISSUE. ITS JUST HORRIBLE. THIS VEHICLE TOOK ME OVER A YEAR TO GET INSPECTED BECAUSE OF THIS ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER ISSUE!
NHTSA complaint #10979892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS VIBRATING ISSUES WHEN I ACCELERATE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. $4300.00 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. ALL HIGHWAY MILES AND NO OFF ROADING AT ALL. 118,000 MILES ON THE JEEP.
NHTSA complaint #10969524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I STARTED SMELLING GAS AROUND MY JEEP . I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER . THEY DID THE CHEK VALVE RECALL . GAS LEAK STILL PRESISTED . SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER . THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WAY THE TANK IS DESIGNED THAT IT WERES THE TANK THIN ON TOP AND STARTS TO LEAK . IT ALSO STARTED TO LEAK AROUND THE FUEL PUMP AREA THEY SAID DUE TO DIRT . THIS WAS A 9 HUNDRED 5 DOLLAR FIX THAT I FEAL IS NOT MY FAULT THE JEEP IS GARAGE KEPT AND ONLY HAS 82000 MILES ON IT . THATS CRAZY TO HAVE TO REPLACE A TANK WITH THAT MANY MILES .
NHTSA complaint #10968962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CRUISE CONTROL IS INTERMITTENT
NHTSA complaint #10953862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HORN NOT WORKING BECAUSE OF CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. DEALER REFUSE TO REPLACE CLOCK SPRING BASED ON RECALL 16V-290 RECALL DATE: JUNE 28, 2016. DEALER SAID THAT THEY SCANNED FOR CODES FOR AIR BAG FAILURE AND DID NOT FIND ANY. THOUGH, CLOCK SPRING HAS FAILED AND IT HAS DISABLED THE VEHICLE'S HORN.
NHTSA complaint #10916826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2008. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS LATER , I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR STARTING. PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, TURN IT AND YOU HEAR A CLICK. INITIALLY, IT SEEMED TO OCCUR SPORADICALLY NORMALLY AFTER IT RAINED . NOW, THE PROBLEM OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY (DAILY) ABSENT ANY RAIN. I'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND STARTER TO NO AVAIL. I ALSO TOOK THE CAR TO A JEEP DEALER TO NO AVAIL .
NHTSA complaint #10881376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND NOW THE AIRBAG, HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. IT STARTED WITH A CLICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING, THEN AFTER A POPPING NOISE EVERYTHING MENTIONED STOPPED WORKING. AFTER RESEARCH THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED.
NHTSA complaint #10862324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I AM HAVING CONTINUALLY INCREASING EPISODES WHERE MY 2008 JEEP WRANGLER 4 DR 4X4 EXPERIENCES WHAT I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS AN ELECTRICAL "SPASM." ALL OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, WASHER FLUID MANIFOLDS, DOOR LOCKS, & HORN ALL OPERATE CONTINUOUSLY, AND WILL NOT STOP UNLESS THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED. HOW CAN I BE SURE THAT THIS "UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM" ISN'T GOING TO GET WORSE, AND BY WORSE, I MEAN AFFECT SOMETHING CRUCIAL TO THE SAFE OPERATION OF MY VEHICLE WHEN I'M DRIVING IT AT FREEWAY SPEEDS? IF THIS VEHICLE HAS SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHILE I'M DRIVING IT AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE COULD BE SEVERELY INJURED DUE TO THE SIZE OF THIS VEHICLE BECOMING UNCONTROLLABLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR IS STOPPED/IDLING, WHILE IT IS DRIVING, AND NOW, AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I HAVE TAKEN IT DIRECTLY TO A JEEP DEALER IMMEDIATELY AFTER BOTH EPISODES. THE FIRST TIME, I HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN. THE 2ND TIME IT OCCURRED I DROVE IT DIRECTLY TO A JEEP DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AFTER SEVERAL DAYS. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD AT THE VERY LEAST, BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM, AND REDESIGN WHICHEVER ELECTRICAL COMPONENT, OR SYSTEM, THAT'S CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I WOULD EVEN BE WILLING TO PURCHASE THE PART AT THE MANUFACTURER'S COST, IF IT GOT RID OF THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10840207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 40 MILES AS I DO EVERY DAY. THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME ON THE HIGHWAY HAD STOPPED TO TURN AND AS I STOPPED TO WAIT ON THEN, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A SAFE PLACE AND OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT MY JEEP WAS ON FIRE BEHIND THE ENGINE. I CALLED MY WIFE AND THEN SHE CALLED 911 WHILE I GRABBED MY WORK STUFF OUT OF THE BACK. WITHIN MINUTES THE JEEP WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
NHTSA complaint #10825984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE 2008 JEEP WRANGLER AND OTHER JEEPS HAVE A PROBLEM OF NOT STARTING. IT SOUNDS A IF THE BATTERY, STARTER, BATTERY TERMINALS, IGNITION, SHIFT LEVER, OR A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS ARE THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS NO ONE CAN PIN POINT THE PROBLEM, AND PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE PAYING MONEY TO CHANGE OUT PARTS THAT ARE NOT BAD. IF YOU SEARCH THE WEB THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT COVERS ALL OR A LOT OF JEEPS, AND CHRYSLER HAS THEIR HEAD IN THE SAND WHEN IT COME TO TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEIR SOLUTION IS JUST KEEP CHANGING OUT PARTS UNTIL YOU ARE BROKE OR TRADE THE CAR IN, AND PASS THE PROBLEM ON. IN MY CASE I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY THE STARTER BATTERY TERMINALS TOOK OUT THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THE TROUBLE SHOOTING I HAVE DONE IS UP IN THE AIR BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ONLY WHEN IT WANTS TO FAIL. YOU CAN START IT IN PARK SOMETIMES, BUT IF IT FAILS YOU CAN MOVE THE SHIFT TO NEURAL AND IT WILL START. YOU CAN START IT A HUNDRED TIME BUT IT WILL FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #10788994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SAND CASTINGS IN THE HEATER CORE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AND JEEP HAS AT LEAST ONE TSB BULLETIN ABOUT IT. THE SYMPTOM IS "NO HEAT TO DRIVER SIDE" DOCUMENTED FIXES ARE DOING A FULL FLUSH AND REPLACEMENT OF THE HEATER CORE. THERE ARE COUNTLESS CASE NUMBERS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10782899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AT N WHARTON MAINT ST NJ 07885 THE CAR DID GOT IN FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10782133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2008 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED SAHARA HAS HAD ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE ISSUES INCLUDING STALLING OUT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AS WELL AS NOT STARTING. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAVE HAD ISSUES SUCH AS ALL THE LIGHTS, BUTTONS, ALERT/WARNING LIGHTS GOING OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SHUT-OFF REQUIRING TOW-SERVICE TO DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. AFTER THAT I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE STALLS AND NON-STARTS AND THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN SAYS I NEED A NEW BATTERY. I HAVE HAD THREE BATTERIES IN THREE YEARS. THE HORN HAS STOPPED WORKING AROUND 50,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE MY STEERING WHEEL AND COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN. I DECIDED I COULD LIVE WITHOUT A HORN FOR A SHORT WHILE. THE NEXT TIME I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPORTED THAT I NEED A NEW CLOCKSPRING WHICH ALSO CONTROLS MY AIRBAGS WHICH "MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT STILL BE FUNCTIONAL." SEEING AS I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS BEFORE, INCLUDING MALFUNCTIONS IN THE ALERT/WARNING LIGHTS, THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT TELL FOR SURE IF MY AIRBAGS WORK OR NOT. THE LOCKS TO MY JEEP HAVE STOPPED WORKING FROM BOTH THE INSIDE DOOR SWITCH AND THE KEY FOB. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THIS AS A "TOTAL INTEGRATED POWER MODULE" (TIPM) MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. THEY EXPLAINED THAT THERE IS A BACK-ORDER ON TIPM PIECES NATIONWIDE AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN I COULD GET MINE REPLACED. WHEN ASKED HOW THE TIPM COULD BREAK, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NO ONE WAY AND THAT IT "JUST HAPPENS." MY DOORS CURRENTLY ONLY LOCK/UNLOCK BY HAND, AND SOMETIMES WHEN I LOCK THEM BY HAND AND RETURN TO MY JEEP, THE DOORS ARE UNLOCKED. FURTHERMORE, THE AUTOMATIC SECURITY LOCK FEATURE WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTS MOVING DOES NOT WORK EITHER.
NHTSA complaint #10726918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PLEASE HAVE CHRYSLER/JEEP FIX THE JEEP DEATH WOBBLE AT THEIR EXPENSE. THEY SAY IT IS BECAUSE OWNERS OF JEEP WRANGLERS MODIFY THEIR JEEPS FOR OFF ROAD DRIVING AND THAT CAUSES THE JEEP DEATH WOBBLE. I HAVE NOT MODIFIED MY JEEP AND IT SCARES ME TO DEATH WHEN IT WOBBLES. THIS IS CHRYSLERS PROBLEM NOT MINE.
NHTSA complaint #10717634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VARIOUS DASH LIGHTS TURN ON AND BACK OFF AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS. I HAD THE PROBLEM IN AUG. 2013, AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING FOR $550. LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER, AND THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED. VERY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT ONLY THE 2008 RHD WERE RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10690970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IN JUNE OF 2011, MY 2008 JEEP WRANGLER (LHD) HAD TO BE SERVICED DUE TO THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG LIGHT. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION OF THE CLOCKSPRING AND WAS REPLACED. AT THE TIME, MY JEEP HAD ABOUT 52000 MILES. I JUST ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AND TOOK MY JEEP BACK IN TO THE DEALER. I AM NOW HAVING TO REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING A SECOND TIME AND MY VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 74500 MILES AS OF THIS MONTH (DECEMBER 2013). I AM VERY FRUSTRATED BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES JEEP NOT COVER THESE MALFUNCTIONS (TWICE!), BUT IT IS ALSO A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WITH A DEFECTIVE CLOCKSPRING/ILLUMINATED AIRBAG LIGHT. JEEP HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON THE PART FOR THE 2007 MODELS AND THE 2008-2012 (RHD) MODELS ONLY. UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE OF US WITH DEFECTIVE CLOCKSPRINGS IN OUR 2008-2012 LHD MODELS ARE FORCED TO PAY AN AVERAGE OF $500 FOR THE REPAIR OR BE FORCED TO DRIVE IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE WITH AN AIRBAG SYSTEM THAT WILL NOT DEPLOY. NOT ONLY HAS MINE GONE OUT ONCE, BUT TWICE! IN BOTH CASES, MY CLOCKSPRING HAS MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT ANY KNOWN CAUSE. THIS WAS VERIFIED BY THE TECHNICIANS WHO REPLACED THE PARTS. THIS IS A CENTRAL SAFETY COMPONENT AND A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. THIS IS NOT A COMPONENT THAT SHOULD JUST WEAR OUT LIKE BRAKES AND TIRES. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE IT EVERY SO OFTEN LIKE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE. I CAN UNDERSTAND (PERHAPS) GETTING A FAULTY PART, CALL IT BAD LUCK, BUT NOT GETTING THE SAME FAULTY PART TWICE. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE, OR ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE NOT DIED (FORTUNATELY) FROM THE CLOCKSPRING, FOR JEEP TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE PART, BUT AT LEAST COVER INDIVIDUALS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS ESPECIALLY IF THE PART HAS FAILED TWICE. FOR JEEP TO NOT REPLACE THE PART IS POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND DANGEROUS TO MY FAMILY AND I.
NHTSA complaint #10557129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WAS DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED ON CA HWY 24 AND HIT MINOR BUMP DUE TO CHANGE IN ROAD TYPE AND VEHICLE FRONT END BEGAN TO SHIMMY AS IF I HAD BLOWN A TIRE. I MOVED TO FAR RIGHT LANE AND BEGAN TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONCE MY SPEED DROPPED BELOW 40 MPH SHIMMY STOPPED SUDDENLY. I TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE'S A SERVICE ADVISORY ABOUT THIS AND THEY WOULD LIKELY REPLACE STEERING DAMPENER. THEY DID. PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED A YEAR LATER AT 28K MILES, AND JEEP DEALER SAYS MY FRONT END APPEARS FINE AS DO MY TIRES AND ALIGNMENT. THEY ESCALATED TO JEEP CORPORATE, WHO SAID REPLIED THAT I SHOULD BUY NEW TIRES, EVEN THOUGH MY TIRES APPEAR FINE, AND THAT THIS IS TO BE EXPECTED ON A SINGLE AXLE VEHICLE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE, AND FIND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE KNOWN AS 'DEATH WOBBLE', AND THAT IS PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED MOSTLY IN JEEPS WITH A MODIFIED SUSPENSION OR LIFT KIT. BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF NHTSA COMPLAINTS ON FILE, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS NOW A KNOWN ISSUE SINCE THE 2007 SUSPENSION REDESIGN AND ADDITION OF THE 4DR WRANGLER TO THE LINE UP. JEEP COMPLETELY REDESIGNED THE SUSPENSION ON THE WRANGLER IN 2011, AND THOSE OF US WITH 2007 TO 2010 MODEL YEAR JEEPS ARE LEFT DRIVING UNSAFE VEHICLES. THIS WAS MARKETED TO ME AS A FAMILY CAR AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, AND JEEP DID NOT DISCLOSE THAT DEATH WOBBLE WAS LIKELY TO OCCUR IN A SINGLE AXLE VEHICLE AND WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF FRONT END PARTS THAT SHOW NO WEAR BEYOND THE NORMAL USE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, SINCE I USE THIS VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT MY FAMILY, AND JEEP SEEMS TO THINK THIS IS A KNOWN ENOUGH PROBLEM TO EXPECT ME TO PAY FOR REPAIRS RELATED TO POOR UNSAFE DESIGN BY THEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. HOW MANY FATALITIES NEED TO OCCUR BEFORE NHTSA TAKE NOTICE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW? MORE INFO ON DW: HTTP://ANSWERS.EDMUNDS.COM/QUESTION-CLASS-ACTION-SUITS-FOR-POOR-DESIGN-JEEP-WRANGLER-DEATH-WOBBLE-16258.ASPX
NHTSA complaint #10446046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SHIFTING THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE (TC) FROM 2HI TO 4HI OR 4LOW (OR IN REVERSE ORDER) CAN CAUSE THE TRANSFER CASE SHIFTING CABLE (TCSC) (MOPAR PART 52060462AG) TO FAIL AND BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM EITHER THE TC OR THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE CAB (OR BOTH). THE PART?S PLASTIC COMPONENTS ARE INHERENTLY TOO WEAK TO WITHSTAND NORMAL USE. SAFETY RISKS WHICH CAN ARISE UPON COMPONENT FAILURE, IF THE VEHICLE OWNER AND THEIR FAMILY (CHILDREN) ARE AT A LOCATION AND/OR TERRAIN WHERE THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED/MARKETED FOR TRAVEL (WHETHER BY RECREATION OR NECESSITY), AND THE LOCATION/TERRAIN IS: (I) SUBJECT TO INCLEMENT WEATHER (E.G. SNOW, ICE, FLOODING, EXTREME HEAT); OR (II) ON AN EXTREME INCLINE WHICH IS UNSAFE TO NEGOTIATE WITHOUT 4WD; OR (III) ANY CIRCUMSTANCE WHICH REQUIRES 4WD TO NAVIGATE TO A SAFE LOCATION; OR (IV) THE TCSC FAILS WHEN THE TC BECOMES STUCK IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION WHILE SHIFTING, AND IS UNABLE TO ESCAPE IMPENDING HARM (FLASH FLOOD) ... THERE IS OBVIOUS RISK TO LIFE/SAFETY. THE OWNER HAS A RIGHT TO RELY ON THE COMPONENTS AND REASONABLE SAFETY PERFORMANCE FOR WHICH THE PRODUCT IS DESIGNED/MARKETED. JEEP IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND THE MANUAL FAILS TO CITE THIS AS A POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC EVENT, LEAVING THE UNSUSPECTING OWNER AT A LOSS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. IT IS NOT REASONABLE FOR THIS COMPONENT TO FAIL WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES AS REPORTED BY JEEP OWNERS. ADVANCE ADAPTERS (WWW.ADVANCEADAPTERS.COM) MANUFACTURES A TCSC WHICH MEETS THE CRITERIA (PRODUCT# 715596) REQUIRED FOR THIS COMPONENT. THERE IS NO REASON THAT JEEP CANNOT DO THE SAME AND/OR CONTRACT WITH ADVANCE ADAPTORS TO SUPPLY THE PART TO JEEP OWNERS. WE URGE NHTSA?S INVESTIGATION OF THIS SAFETY DEFECT AND JEEP WILL REDESIGN THE DEFECTIVE PART AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR AFFECTED VEHICLES ON WHICH THE PART WAS INSTALLED AS OEM AND TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO REPLACEMENT FOR LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10430296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2008 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED FIRE. JEEP CAUGHT FIRE WHILE TRAVELING WESTBOUND. THE FIRE INITIALLY EXTINGUISHED BY A TRUCK DRIVER WHO STOPPED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH A HAND HELD FIRE EXTINGUISHER. *BF THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND IT BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS LOCALIZED NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE MID-FRONT UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, IT WAS UNLIKELY THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE AS OF THE DATE OF THE REPORT, AND DUE TO THE LACK OF FLUID LEAKAGE ON THE HIGHWAY, VISIBLE MECHANICAL DAMAGE AND THE LACK OF REPORTED NOISE AND SMOKE FROM THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. UPDATED 11/03/10.
NHTSA complaint #10364670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WATER IS LEAK THROUGH THE CANVAS FABRIC ON MY SOFT TOP. WHEN ICE FORMS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE SOFT TOP OF MY 2008 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA UNLIMITED IT FORCES WATER THROUGH THE FABRIC. CHRYSLER HAS TOLD ME THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND WERE GOING TO CLOSE THE CASE. THEY TOLD ME THEY DID NOT FORM ICE ON TOP OF THE CAR TO TEST THIS SITUATION. THERE IS ICE THAT FORMS ON THE INTERIOR FABRICS AND SURFACES OF THE CAR AS A RESULT OF WATER LEAKING THROUGH THE SOFT TOP. I HAVE DOCUMENTED PICTURES THAT I PROVIDED TO CHRYSLER AND THERE ARE LARGE WATER STAINS ON THE INTERIOR OF THE SOFT TOP. LEAK CAUSES WATER TO DRIP ON DRIVER AND PASSENGERS AS WELL AS CARGO DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.
NHTSA complaint #10296036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HAVE YOU HAD ANY INVESTIGATIONS OR EXPERIENCES WITH FIRES IN THESE NEW 2008 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED MODELS? THESE ARE THE POPULAR NEW 4-DOOR MODELS. THERE ARE A SLEW OF VIDEOS AND REPORTS ON THE INTERNET, BUT I'M HAVING TROUBLE IDENTIFYING A COMMON THREAD BETWEEN THEM. THANKS, JAY FROM NHTSA WEB SITE. *TR UPDATED 01/30/09.
NHTSA complaint #10256639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.