13 of the
281 complaints about the 2004 Jeep Wrangler are about the
engine — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
4,025 miles.
AT 91,500 MILES THE PCM FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME. I AM NOT CERTAIN WHEN THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED, BUT IT WAS SHOWN TO HAVE BEEN FLASHED PREVIOUSLY. THIS ISSUE SURFACED IN THE FORM OF A STALL OUT AT A LIGHT. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM AN IDLE POSITION THE ENGINE STALLED. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, TURNING OVER THE ENGINE WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY GIVING IT GAS, THE VEHICLE TURNED OVER. ACCORDING TO THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AMONG '04 JEEP WRANGLERS THAT THEY HAVE ENCOUNTERED RECENTLY (12 YEARS AFTER MARKET AND 2 YEARS COMPLETELY OUT OF WARRANTY). NO ONE CAN FIND A REPLACEMENT PCM BECAUSE THEY ARE NO LONGER MANUFACTURED, AND IT WAS CHRYSLER'S RECOMMENDATION THAT CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE GO TO A SCRAP YARD TO FIND A REPLACEMENT (LIKELY TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE). AS A CUSTOMER I AM APPALLED THAT WE ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY BATTERY CHARGED TO 20 VOLTS AND COULD HAVE EXPLODED.
NHTSA complaint #10850515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 114,000 milesValley, AL
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
NHTSA complaint #10663984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesAiken, SCFire1 injured
ENGINE
THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 35 MINUTES AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY BEGAN TO PRODUCE A THICK WHITE SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND PLACED INTO PARK; THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY ON FIRE UPON EXITING. THE GRASS BENEATH HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AS WELL. THE HOOD BEGAN TO BLACKEN INDICATING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CLOSE TO THE FIREWALL. THE ENTIRE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE IN ABOUT THIRTY SECONDS; FROM THE TIME IT BEGAN TO SMOKE TO THE TIME IT WAS ON FIRE BEGIN THE ENTIRE INCIDENT. A TRUCK DRIVER WITH A DRY CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER PUT THE ENGINE FIRE OUT; AFTER LIFTING THE HOOD TO A BALL OF FIRE. THE ONLY INJURY BEGIN LIGHT BURNS FROM LIFTING THE HOOD. ESSENTIALLY, MY JEEP WRANGLER, WITH NO AFTERMARKET PARTS INSTALLED, BURST INTO FLAMES FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
NHTSA complaint #10597855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lancaster, CA
ENGINE
2004 JEEP WRANGLER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL ISSUES FOUND DURING INSPECTION AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DAY SHE TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED SOME PLAY IN THE STEERING, THE ENGINE SEEMED TO MISS A LITTLE, AND THE CD PLAYER IN THE RADIO SEEMED TO WORK WHENEVER IT WANTED TO. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL LEAKED AN OIL SPOT ON THE CONCRETE DRIVEWAY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A PRE-SALES ESTABLISHMENT AND THE INSPECTION REVEALED, THE REAR AXLES WERE LEAKING ON BOTH SIDES, THE PINION SEAL IN THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE FRONT TRACK BAR HAD PLAY, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED A NEW PILOT BEARING; AS THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING AND THE REAR SWAY BAR LINKS WERE LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #10474863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gardnerville, NV
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND RESTARTS ON ITS OWN. WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOSES POWER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT THE COMPUTER DID NOT REGISTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,492 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10206909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Poughkeepsie, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2004 JEEP WRANGLER BURNING ALOT OF OIL. MECHANIC REFUSES TO REPAIR. *KB THE ENGINE USED TO BURN A HALF A QUART OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. THAT HAS INCREASED TO 1 QUART OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL AND REFUSED TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE PLASTIC WINDOW CRACKED.
NHTSA complaint #10164737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 400 milesFishers, IN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2004 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT WITH 4.0 I-6 ENGINE. WOULD STALL AFTER COMPLETE WARM UP WHILE IDLING IN GEAR. DEALER INSTALLED HEAT SHIELD OVER FUEL INJECTOR, BUT STILL HAVE STALLING PROBLEMS ON COLD START. NO LIGHTS OR ANYTHING COME ON. ONLY HAD 400 MILES ON IT WHEN FIRST OCCURRED. NOW, AT 16000 MILES, I'M HAVING STALLING ON COLD STARTS IN WARM WEATHER ONLY. IN THE WINTER, THE VEHICLE RUNS GREAT. DEALER CANNOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM, AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.
NHTSA complaint #10145183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,000 milesSistersville, WV
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: THE CONTACT STATED CAR SHUT DOWN AT SLOW SPEEDS. HE OWNS A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED. HAS BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM SINCE 3-05. THERE WERE 4,000 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN IT FIRST SHUT DOWN. THE CAR DID NOT MAKE ANY NOISE BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. NO LIGHTS CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALERSHIP PUT A BRAND NEW COMPUTER AND A NEW THROTTLE BODY, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10138158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 23,999 milesErin, TN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
WHILE TRYING TO USE THE AC ON MY 2004 JEEP WRANGLER , IT WAS OVERHEATING. I TOOK TO A DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT.THEY SAID IT WAS THE CLUTCH FAN.REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND TOLD ME IT WORKED FINE AFTER BEING TEST DRIVEN AND VERIFIED. I DROVE THE NEXT DAY,COULD NOT USE THE AIR BECAUSE AS SOON AS THE MOTOR WARMED UP IT OVERHEATED TO 260. I SHUT IT DOWN AND HAD IT TOWED BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP(3RD TIME). TOLD THEM TO CHECK THERMOSTAT WATERPUMP ETCC.. EXPLAINED THAT I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT NOW FOR OVERHEATING. THREE AND HALF HOURS LATER THEY SAID IT IS A RADIATOR RESTRICTION AND I AM 32 ND ON A LIST BECAUSE APPARENTLY THERE HAS BEEN QUITE A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR ON THE JEEP WRANGLER BUT NO RECALLS. THEY ALSO SAY THEY DON'T KNOW IF IT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD IT LESS THAN A YEAR AND ONLY HAS 24000 MILES ON IT. THE WARRANTY IS 3/YR/36000 I BELIEVE. AM CHECKING ON HTIS. HAS ANYONE ELSE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM?
NHTSA complaint #10127639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10 milesTillamook, OR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
JUST STARTED WITH POWER LOSS FROM SHOW ROOM FLOOR,CAM REPLACED LIFTERS REPLACED BREAKS STICKING TO THE POINT WHERE THE JEEP IS HARD TO MOVE SAYS IT IS BECAUSE OF RUST USED DAYLY,TIMING OUT 15 DEGREES FRONT AND REAR DIF LEAKING WITH METAL SHAVINGS INSIDE MECHANIC SAYS DANA PROBLEM GRINDING RIGHT FRONT AXEL NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #10107655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 250 milesHalf Moon BAY, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HARD STARTING AND STALLING. THE VEHICLE WILL CRANK AND CRANK AND WILL START SOMETIMES OR YOU MUST TURN THE KEY OFF AND TRY TO RESTART, AND WILL START THE SECOND TIME, BUT USUALLY RUNS POORLY FOR A FEW SECONDS. WILL SOMETIMES STALL WHEN PUTTIN INTO GEAR. DEALER HAS CHANGED FUEL PUMP AND PUT A SHIELD OVER ONE OF THE FUEL INJECTORS. STILL HAVING THE HARD STARTING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10102110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 300 milesPalm Desert, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. *JB THE FAILURES CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT THE USE OF POWER STEERING. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10083511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5,050 milesNEW Castle, VA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL LEAK FROM ENGINE/TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #10064504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.