178 of the
1,254 complaints about the 2008 Jeep Wrangler are about the
electrical system — 14% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
75,500 miles.
While driving at speed, vehicle electrical went haywire. Headlights went on and off. Horn sounding on and off, Wipers and washers going on and off, HVAC blower on and off. Pulled over vehicle and turned off and removed key and it still remained running, all horn, lights, and wipers still going on and off. Opened hood, removed negative battery terminal, and with that, car still ran! Was several minutes and car finally shut itself off. Scary that the car went completely haywire and would not shut off, even with key out, and battery disconnected!
NHTSA complaint #11704890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodstock, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The ABS computer brake module is bad in my jeep. It needs a replacement. Confirmed by Chrysler Jeep dealership. However, Chrysler does not offer a replacement module. ABS does not work on my vehicle. This is a huge safety issue and is common problem among this year Jeep. Chrysler shouldn’t be allowed to NOT have a replacement OEM ABS module. Huge safety risk and lawsuit
NHTSA complaint #11689603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Spring Hill, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ABS control module has gone out
NHTSA complaint #11680650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tawas City, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I was driving down the road in my 2008 wrangler and all of the sudden every light flashed on my dash board then it felt like I could not shift gears then smoke came pouring out of my air vents. I pulled over and got out realizing it was on fire. Climbed in to save my dog just before the fire got huge. My entire Jeep is gone.
NHTSA complaint #11671473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waverly, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
April 22, 2025 my 2008 Jeep lost power. There was a sequence, where one warning light was followed by another, followed by a complete loss of power. I charged the battery, car started up, I drove to dealer (a 5-minute trip), and by my arrival the Jeep had again lost all power. Dealer checked the vehicle, and told me the battery and charging system were fine, but the ABS brake modulator was draining the power. They have not been able to get another modulator and the vehicle is still at the dealer (Crown Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Dublin, OH). Losing power precipitously presents a safety hazard.
NHTSA complaint #11669626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plymouth, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The ignition switch stays on after releasing key
NHTSA complaint #11619410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tampa, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TIPM intermittent, fuel pump cuts off
NHTSA complaint #11581470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tampa, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TIPM intermittent failures
NHTSA complaint #11576030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dayton, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Headlights stopped working. The Headlights are controlled by a computer. No relay, fuse, or anything that can be fixed at a parts store. We had to wait days for a computer to show up.
NHTSA complaint #11486341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
St Robert, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle while driving, wipers start, horn blows, washer fluid sprays, abs light goes on, engine dies making braking and steering impossible.
NHTSA complaint #11472108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chesterville, ME
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The TIPM shorts out then the wipers, start running, horn blares, windshield washer fluid sprays, lights flash. The only way to stop it is unhook the battery. This is so unsafe driving on the highway you cant see the road. I almost crashed trying to pull over. After doing some internet research this is so common. This should be a recall it is dangerous! I wont let my son drive it now.
NHTSA complaint #11471687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kaysville, UTCrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Car was purchased 1 hour prior to incident from a dealership. Car was in idle and was shifted to drive and automatically accelerated rapidly without foot on gas pedal and breaks did not work when breaks were forcefully applied during the incident. The car crashed into a house deck and went off the cement pad and crashed into trees in the yard. Unable to remove key from ignition, had to be placed in neutral to remove key. We had the car for less than an hour after purchase. Damage was sustained to the deck and significant damage to car, air bags did not deploy. Claim was immediately filed with insurance.
NHTSA complaint #11469670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brier, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2008 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds or while the vehicle was parked, the horn would sound, the windshield wipers would engage while the windshield washer would spray washer fluid on the windshield, the doors would lock and unlock, and the headlights would turn on an off intermittently. The contact stated that the vehicle would lose electrical and motive power and become difficult to steer. The contact stated that the failure had occurred at least 30 times since owning the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and several dealers who were unable to diagnose and determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that he was informed that this was a known issue with Jeep vehicles. The contact stated that there was a recall for the issue for other years, makes, and models however, his vehicle was not included. The contract also did not have the recall information to provide. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11468229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Corpus Christi, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TIPM/ all warning lights came on. Started with radio Turing on, wipers malfunctioning, lights coming on out of no where. Now vehicle will not stay on in addition battery will not stay charged.
NHTSA complaint #11459019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 125,000 milesKeyser, WV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2008 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the horn, alarm, windows, and windshield wipers spontaneously engaged. There were several unknown warning lights flashing. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clockspring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact was then informed that the TIPM needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified if the failure, however, no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA complaint #11443654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Springfield, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This has happened on more than 1 occasion. Driving on the highway and I lose power, the Jeep slows way down, the accelerator pedal is dead, and the Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) light comes on. It does the same thing driving in town. Sometimes you can turn the vehicle off, wait a couple minutes, start it back up and it will be ok for a little bit. Sometimes it won’t. I have replaced some parts, read forums, communicated with a dealer service department and it doesn’t sound like there is a “fix” for this. This is very dangerous and someone could get seriously injured or killed.
NHTSA complaint #11440304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Villa Rica, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My Jeep just intermittently started the crank no start issue and gave code PO5013, incorrect immobilizer key. After extensive research I have found many Jeep owners to have this same problem and also found that Chrysler has confirmed it is a built in problem. After taking my Jeep to to dealer and having my keys checked along with the starter and ignition cylinder lock it is the (WCM) wireless control module that is the culprit of the crank but no start issue. This is an extremely unsafe problem due to my vehicle shutting down while driving on top of the other various problems the wcm has caused. Directions say to reset the WCM by pulling the IOD fuse for 30 seconds and then replacing however this method no longer works.
NHTSA complaint #11429159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesMogadore, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STATE HIGHWAY AT 40 MPH. WHEN MY HORN STARTED BLOWING, WINDSHIELD WIPER TURNED ON, LIGHTS FLASHING SO I HAD TO TURN ONTO A SIDE ROAD. MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING SO I TURN IT OFF. THE ENGINE STOPPED BUT EVERYTHING ELSE REMAINED ON. HORN WAS STILL BLOWING, WIPERS ON...I DISCONNECTED THE HORN WIRES TO STOP THE HORN. I STARTED TO MOVE SOME WIRES THINKING THAT THERE MAY BE A SHORT SOMEWHERE. FINALLY EVERYTHING STOPPED BUT NOW MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED. THROUGH SOME RESEARCH I FOUND IT TO BE THE TIPM ( TOTAL INTEGRATED POWER MODULE. IT HAS BEEN FINE SINCE I HAD IT REPLACED. FORTUNATELY THIS ALL TOOK PLACE DURING THE DAY IN GOOD WEATHER. HAD IT HAPPENED AT NIGHT OR IN THE WINTER SNOW OR IN SOME REMOTE AREA IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A GREAT DEAL OF PAIN OR A DANGEROUS SITUATION. FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED MYSELF THIS IS NOT A ISOLATED INCIDENT. PLEASE REVIEW THIS INFORMATION. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #11397689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 104,007 milesAltamont, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE COMPONENTS BEGIN MALFUNCTIONING, WIPERS TURN ON, WIPER WASHER PUMP FLOODS WINDSHIELD, LIGHTS FLASH, HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, HORN SOUNDS, CANNOT TURN VEHICLE OFF. TURN KEY TO OFF POSITION AND VEHICLE CONTINUES TO RUN CREATING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WIPERS AND WASHERS BLIND DRIVER RANDOMLY. ONLINE RESEARCH ALL POINTS TO KNOWN ISSUE WITH TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE THAT HAS WELL DOCUMENTED FAILURE RATE. THIS IS A HORRIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT DESERVES INVESTIGATION AND REMEDIATION.
NHTSA complaint #11384771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesUnion Grove, AL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE HORN BLOWS ON ITS ON, THE WIPERS AND WASHERS COME ON BY THERE SELF, LIGHTS COME ON BY THERE SELF, AND THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THEM OFF IS DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. IT HAPPENS MOVING OR STATIONARY.
NHTSA complaint #11376093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,000 milesLiberty, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DASHBLIGHTS STARTED ACTING POSSESSED WHILE DRIVING AND WINSHIELD WHIPERA CAME ON WITHOUT BEING ACTIVATED BY SWITCH. NOW THE GUAGES ARE STUCK STRAIGHT UP AND IT WONT SHIFT OUT OF PARK..THE RADIO AND WINDOWS STILL WORK AND THE LIGHTS CONE ON WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON.
NHTSA complaint #11375823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 135,000 milesFlemington, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2008 JEEP WRANGLER HAS HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH TIPM. WIPERS WILL COME ON, HORN WILL SOUND, WASHER FLUID SPRAYS, AND TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT (WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND THIS HAPPENS) INTERMITTENTLY AND WILL SOMETIMES CREATE A NO CRANK/NO START CONDITION AFTER THE MALFUNCTION HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND HAS BEEN SHUT OFF. DEFECT HAS BEEN TRACED BACK TO TIPM AND TIPM WAS REPLACED WITH AN AFTERMARKET REMANUFACTURED TIPM. PROBLEM RESOLVED AND NOW HAS REAPPEARED WITH ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS, SUCH AS WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT IN REVERSE WIPERS WILL GO OFF AND ENGINE WILL REV TO HIGHER RPMS THAN NECESSARY TO ALLOW FOR ACCELERATION. THE TIPM DEFECT CREATES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD WHEN IT INTERFERES WITH THE SHIFTING, ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE. MOST RECENT ISSUE WAS 11/09/2020; ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE 06/2019.
NHTSA complaint #11373675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 108,900 milesAvon, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OVER THE PAST FOUR MONTHS MY JEEP HAS HAD STARTING ISSUES. EVERYTHING IS RUNNING FINE, GO OUTSIDE AND IT WON'T CRANK. SOMETIMES IT WILL TURN OVER OTHER TIMES, NOTHING AT ALL. I'VE HAD IT TOWED, PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY, HAD THE STARTER, ALTERNATOR, ETC. CHECKED AND ALL GOOD. JEEP RUNS GOOD FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AND THEN AGAIN THIS MORNING I'M STRANDED. THIS IS GETTING OLD!
NHTSA complaint #11362724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 105,009 milesAvon, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF, DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING, KEYS ARE NO WHERE NEAR VEHICLE. BATTERY COMPLETELY DEAD. REPLACED BATTERY. NOT MADE AWARE OF TIPM ISSUE. NEW BATTERY COMPLETELY DRAINED. HAD TOWED TO MECHANIC. STARTER, ALTERNATOR, TRANSMISSION, ETC ALL CHECKED AND NO ISSUES. HAD TO DROVE SEVERAL HOURS TO DEALERSHIP TO CONFIRM/FIX TIPM.
NHTSA complaint #11348565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesManahawkin, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SINCE I PURCHASED THIS JEEP I HAVE HAD STARTING ISSUES WHERE THE JEEP JUST CLICKS AND WON'T TURN OVER. HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY, STARTER AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. SOMETIMES TAKES 5 - 8 ATTEMPTS AND SOMETIMES IT STARTS OTHER TIMES NOTHING. HAVE GOTTEN IT TOWED AND GOTTEN IT TO THE MECHANIC AND IT STARTS WHEN ARRIVED AT MECHANIC. THIS IS FRUSTRATING ON ALL ACCOUNTS AND TO ALL INVOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #11343671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 115,000 milesMiami Lakes, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED INDEPENDENTLY, WITH THE HORN BLARING AND HEADLAMPS FLASHING WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED WITHOUT WARNING, OR DRIVER INPUT. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT TO PREVENT THE FAILURE, THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE WAS DISCONNECTED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
NHTSA complaint #11329125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 165,000 milesChattanooga, TN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WITH VEHICLE EITHER NOT RUNNING OR RUNNING. RANDOM EVENTS WHERE HORN BLASTS CONTINUOUSLY, WIPERS TURN ON, WASHER FLUID SPRAYS. OPENING DOOR HAS CAUSED HORN TO SOUND, WITH ENGINE OFF.*DT*JB*DT CONSUMER STATED DEALERSHIP DID NOT GIVE FAULTY TIPM DIAGNOSIS.
NHTSA complaint #11328533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesMamaroneck, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TIPM PROBLEMS FROM THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE. CAR GOES HAYWIRE! HORN GOES ON RANDOMLY AND STAYS ON EVEN WHEN DRIVING! WIPERS GO ON AND OFF RANDOMLY EVEN WHEN I TRY TO USE THE WIPER SWITCH TO CONTROL IT, NOTHING HAPPENS. WIPER FLUID GOES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY EVEN WHEN NOT CONTROLLED BY SWITCH. DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING EVEN WHEN NOT USING THE REMOTE. ALARM GOES OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH THE HORN. ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS RANDOMLY FLASH ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. ALL THESE WEIRD EVENTS USUALLY OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME OR RANDOMLY BY THEMSELVES. MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING OR WHEN TRYING TO INITIALLY UNLOCK AND ENTER THE VEHICLE FOR USE.
NHTSA complaint #11308218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesBrighton, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I AM EXPERIENCING A RECURRING ISSUE THAT APPEARS TO BE THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM). EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GOES HAYWIRE, FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES AND THEN IS FINE. IN RESEARCHING THIS, I AM FINDING THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON JEEP VEHICLES OF THAT TIME PERIOD. IT MOST RECENTLY OCCURRED TODAY, ALTHOUGH IT HAS HAPPENED FOR ABOUT THE LAST 2 YEARS, SINCE SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11271198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesFort Worth, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY BUT THE WIPERS, WASHER FLUID, LIGHTS INCLUDING REVERSE LIGHTS AND HORN CAME ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. AFTER DOING A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THIS AND THEY ALL CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS THE TIPM. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND I WOULD SAY IT HAPPENS EVERY OTHER WEEK.
NHTSA complaint #11257123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.