FaultScore

2018 Jeep Wrangler window and wiper problems

42 of the 2,636 complaints about the 2018 Jeep Wrangler are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 12,000 miles.

A

42

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Visibility/Wiper 40 95.2%
Windshield 1 2.4%
Exterior 1 2.4%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Jeep Wrangler year

1997 21 5.7%
1998 16 4.3%
1999 15 4.1%
2001 14 3.8%
2004 11 3.0%
2007 15 4.1%
2008 24 6.5%
2010 13 3.5%
2011 14 3.8%
2012 41 11.1%
2013 39 10.5%
2014 13 3.5%
2018 42 11.4%
2019 30 8.1%
2020 33 8.9%
2021 19 5.1%
2023 10 2.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 96,800 miles Polk, OH

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH and lowering the sun visor due to the sun glaring into his face, the contact stated that the sun visor detached from a retaining pin on the sun visor arm and hit the contact in the face. The contact stated that he was so startled from the strike of the sun visor that he swerved to the left and almost into oncoming traffic. The contact stated that he was able to place the sun visor into the closed position, but that whenever the sun visor was unhooked, it was hanging straight down and was blocking a portion of the windshield, reducing his visibility while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that the side view mirror toggle switch was no longer functioning, and the contact was not able to adjust the position of the driver's and passenger’s side view mirrors. The contact was able to see traffic on both sides of the vehicle safely using the side view mirrors. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,800.

NHTSA complaint #11639686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Keller, TX

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Sun visor arm has broken multiple times and fixed by Jeep multiple times at my expense. This is a known issue by Jeep. They used a cheap plastic pin in the design. Each time the visor arm breaks the visor drops down into my line of sight blocking my view of the road. This is a hazard and Jeep should be forced to fix every sun visor with a metal pin.

NHTSA complaint #11585883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charleston, SC

VISIBILITY/WIPER

My soft top has never been unzipped, and the back plastic windshield has started to come apart. This causes water to get into my car when it rains. So much water got into my car from the exposed opening in the back window, my car jack actually rusted and cannot be used, so now I have no jack for my car. This opening also causes bugs to get in and lay eyes or make nests, putting me at potential risk to get stung. The water has also caused a build up of dirt on the back windshield, causing extreme difficulty to see out of the back windshield.

NHTSA complaint #11578061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lenoir City, TN

VISIBILITY/WIPER

I have had the rear defroster tab re soldered at dealer under warranty. I don't use the rear defroster because it is parked in garage. After a cold spell at the end of January 2024 heading out on road trip I turned on the rear defroster, 5 minutes down the road the rear window exploded sending glass everywhere. When inspecting the broken window I noticed a burn mark on a sticker where the tab is connected to the glass. This could have caused an accident if traveling on the highway. Jeep has been repairing window tabs when they should be replacing the entire window.

NHTSA complaint #11573295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Eugene, OR

VISIBILITY/WIPER

wiper quit working. we replaced fuses and relay, we replaced wiper motor did not help problem, we replaced wiper switch didn't fix problem and still trying to order a new fuse box to try that and still not working we are still without wipers and trying to track down the problem to get them to work

NHTSA complaint #11570606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Augustine, FL Fire

VISIBILITY/WIPER

My vehicle defrost was on for the back defroster on my way to work as it was one of the coldest days where I live. I work for the fire department and work 48 hrs on. The second day of my shift one of my coworkers noticed the back window broken out on my jeep. Upon looking at what caused it there is burn marks where the rear defrosters touch the window. I initially called the police but they agreed the window was broken due to the rear defroster wires burning the window causing it to break out. Jeep sent out an engineer and is denying all liability. There are TONS of people reporting this on the jeep forums/blogs. I have pictures to prove the burn marks. It appears it happens so often that a jeep sales company “Quadratec” is sold out of replacement rear windows. One guy posted on the Jeep Forum it happened while he was driving 70 on an interstate. Another gentleman posted it happened two times to him as his rear window just broke out. There are tons of pictures on the Jeep blog as well. I have several pictures of mine and it’s still broken. I’m due to get it repaired on Monday Jan 29, 2024. I can forward all my pictures if need be.

NHTSA complaint #11566476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milford, MI

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Both the Right and Left sun visors broke within a few weeks. The plastic retainer breaks allowing the sun visor to dangle in the driver’s field of vision. The visor now dangles by 12 volt visor feed lamp that could cause short. Factory price to repair - $80 for both parts. There are so many of these broken that there after market “hack” repair brackets sold on ebay and other sites to hold up the visor.

NHTSA complaint #11525786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tucson, AZ

VISIBILITY/WIPER

While driving the driver side visor fell out of the ceiling, blocking forward visibility for the driver. The problem has been reproduced by many Wrangler owners. There was no indication of the issue prior to the failure.

NHTSA complaint #11514112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charlotte, NC

VISIBILITY/WIPER

The sun visors regularly fall out of their sockets obstructing view of the road. It's surprising, alarming and distracting when it happens. This is a well known issue and Jeep refuses to create a recall. Many, many people with the issue reporting it here: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/sun-visor-fix.44865/

NHTSA complaint #11480932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hilliard, OH

VISIBILITY/WIPER

The driver's side sun visor falls down blocking your view while driving. It pops out of the socket meant to secure it. In researching how to fix it, I located many threads and concerns, including homemade fixes (due to costs) but many things fail causing it to fall down. One person said they were hit in the head with it. From online comments, most fail after the 3 year warranty. As mine did. Estimates online show it costs around $400 to fix. There is already limited vision in Jeep windshields, this is a major concern as the only way to fix is to hit it hard back into the socket.... while driving. I've used a hand gel container to even my hard cell case to secure it. Thank you for considering. I believe this has been an on-going issue with Jeeps with older recalls. See thread: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/sun-visor-fix.44865/

NHTSA complaint #11473303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Unknown

NHTSA complaint #11467979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wildwood, MO

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Sun visor and post fall out of ceiling into line of vision any time you touch the visor. Has happened multiple times just going over a bump. There are 100s of reports of this issues on various jeep sites. The clip that holds the visor in is defective and has happened on both driver and passenger side on my vehicle. This happens on all trim levels and both 2 and 4 door models of the Wrangler for any of the JL series of Wrangler. It has not been corrected to date.

NHTSA complaint #11466098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charleston, SC

VISIBILITY/WIPER

My back window on my Jeep Wrangler will not zip back up all the way. I have only unzipped the back window once, and that was to wipe the inside of the window because it was hard to see clearly though the back window. When I tried zipping the window back up, the zipper did not zip up all the way, and now there is an opening, and water is getting into my jeep. The zipper has never been used except this time, so I could clean the inside of the window. This incident happened about a month ago, and now so much water has come through the opening, it has rusted and ruined my brand new Jack and Jack lift that came with my jeep. Rain gets through the opening, especially if it rains really hard, and a puddle of rain will stay on my soft top, and when I go to drive it after the puddle of rain has been sitting on top of my soft top, that puddle drains right down the pack of my top, and gets down into the hole. I have also noticed bugs and insects getting through that hole and into my vehicle. Mosquitos usually always get through that opening every time it rains, and wasps get through it too. With wasps going in and out of this opening, I fear they may try to build a nest in my car, since they come and go out of that opening. I have 2 small children, and cannot drive around with this opening in my soft top with my kids. That it a dangerous situation, and the rain getting into that hole is ruining the inside of my Jeep.

NHTSA complaint #11463248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newport Beach, CA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Sun visors repeatedly breaking and affecting visibility through windshield. I have taken it to the dealership twice for replacements and, despite very little use, the issue keeps happening. I am very gentle and careful with the sun visors but despite this it keeps happening. I have installed no hardware or changed any factory-bought hardware that would cause the issue.

NHTSA complaint #11459161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sandy, UT

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Driver's side sun visor mount failed while driving. Had visor unclipped to block sun in driver's door window while driving on freeway. Mount broke and the visor unexpectedly hit me on the left side of my head, startling me and and almost caused an accident. The wires from the HomeLink switch group was the only thing that stopped it from falling off. From reading online this is a pretty common problem. There are aftermarket parts to fix the problem.

NHTSA complaint #11453202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wampum, PA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

I have had the rear defroster tab re soldered twice and the rear glass completely replaced. The second time the tab was resoldered 2/11/22, the next time I started the vehicle to warm up, the rear defroster was on and the entire rear window shattered

NHTSA complaint #11451720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bradenton, FL

VISIBILITY/WIPER

While my vehicle is being repaired for steering issues I was given a loaner vehicle which is a 2020 JLU Sport. Driving the vehicle went to put down the driver-side visor to block the sun. When I did that the visor fell out of the arm. I had to act quickly to move the visor from obstructing my vision of the roadway. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! The few seconds it took to move the visor so I could see the road could have resulted in an accident had there been more traffic on the roadway. This is not considered a powertrain issue so therefore it is not covered by Jeep. My vehicle has the same issue. After some research, there are a lot of other vehicles affected by this. Faulty equipment manufactured by Jeep. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL PROCESSED ON THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11418691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 42,000 miles Studio City, CA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

DUE TO KNOWN FACTORY DEFECT OF POORLY SOLDERED REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER CABLE, THE BARELY SOLDERED END OF THAT CABLE STARTED PRODUCE A SMOKE WHEN TURNED THE DEFROSTER ON, AND FEW SECONDS LATER THE REAR TAILGATE WINDOW GLASS EXPLODED, SHATTERED IN PIECES WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY.

NHTSA complaint #11402498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 410,000 miles Omak, WA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

SUN VISOR FALLS OUT OF THE PLASTIC BRACKET. IS NOW HELD IN PLACE ONLY BY THE ELECTRICAL WIRE. THE SMALL PLASTIC CLIP HOLDING IT IN PLACE HAS BROKEN. APPEARS BY ON-LINE COMPLAINTS TO BE A PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY MANY! MANY BROKE WELL BEFORE 40K MILES MINE BROKE ABOUT 1000 MILES PAST WARRANTEE ENDED. WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME. I'M ACTUALLY EXPECTING THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR TO BREAK ANY TIME. IN MY OPINION, HORRIBLE DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA complaint #11399123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Park Hills, MO

VISIBILITY/WIPER

DEFROST IS AWFUL EVERYWHERE EXCEPT IN MIDDLE. WHY WOULD DEFROST RUN ACROSS ENTIRE FRONT DASH, AND NOT BLOW OUT AIR ANYWHERE EXCEPT IN CENTER!! IT'S FOR LOOKS MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME. VERY DANGEROUS, 6-8 INCHES ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE NO AIR BLOWS OUT. IN SNOWY OR ICY CONDITIONS DEFROST DOES NOT WORK, CANNOT SEE UNLESS YOU PULL OVER AND SCRAPE IT!!

NHTSA complaint #11395576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, PA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER ONLY DEFROSTS AND CLEARS FOG AND ICE ON THE MIDDLE THIRD OF THE WINDSHIELD, LEAVING THE SIDE TWO THIRDS OBSTRUCTED. THIS ALSO PREVENTS THE WILERS FROM BEING WARMED AND BEING ABLE TO CLEAR SNOW AND ICE FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WHILE DRIVING ALSO WHICH MADE ME PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR THE MIDDLE TO THAW OUT AGAIN SO I CAN SEE.

NHTSA complaint #11384073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,000 miles Spring, TX

VISIBILITY/WIPER

I WAS GOING AROUND THE CORNER AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP MAKING IT TO WHERE I HAD TO PULL HARD THE OTHER WAY JUST TO UNLOCK IT. AND WHEN I FIRST GOT THIS VEHICLE THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF OWNING THIS JEEP. AND NOW THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKING UP AND ALSO MY CONTROLS ARE NOT WORKING ON MY STEERING WHEEL AND THE COLUMN IN THE MIDDLE AC HEATER HEATER ALL THE CONTROLS.

NHTSA complaint #11377275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Liberty Hill, TX

VISIBILITY/WIPER

FIRST TIME USING THE DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. JEEP IS ALWAYS GARAGE KEPT. CRACK IS EXACTLY IN THE SAME LOCATION THAT OTHERS ARE REPORTING TOO. BOTTOM CENTER WHERE THE GASKET MEETS.

NHTSA complaint #11342519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 22,000 miles Apple Valley, MN

VISIBILITY/WIPER

WINDSHIELD CRACKED. 2ND TIME IN 1 YEAR. DRIVING DOWN ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #11325313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Gilbert, AZ

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE SUN VISORS ON EITHER SIDE ARE MOUNTED WITH A RETAINING CLIP OF VERY POOR DESIGN. IF THE VISORS ARE SWIVELED OUT, THE RETAINER WOULD BREAK AND THE VISORS WOULD SIMPLY DANGLE USELESSLY, OBVIOUSLY AFFECTING VISIBILITY AND DRIVING. MANY OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM IN THE FORUM (HTTPS://WWW.JLWRANGLERFORUMS.COM/FORUM/THREADS/SUN-VISOR-BROKEN.37957/PAGE-7#POST-1017415). JEEP WOULD REPLACE THESE PARTS IN SOME CASES, BUT THE VISORS WOULD IMMEDIATELY BREAK AGAIN BECAUSE THE PART IS POORLY DESIGNED. JEEP OUGHT TO ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT THE BROKEN VISORS CAUSE.

NHTSA complaint #11308860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 14,700 miles Philadelphia, PA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

WHILE I WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY IN MY VEHICLE WARMING THE CAR AND DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED RIGHT BEFORE ME. IT SEEMS THAT THE DEFROSTER AIR IS TOO HOT, AND THE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE FROM THE OUTSIDE (20F) CAUSED A STRESS FRACTURE ON THE GLASS. THIS ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD.

NHTSA complaint #11301411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,000 miles Millington, TN

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER CORD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE WINDOW AND MALFUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE REAR DEFROSTER NOT TO OPERATE AND CREATED A VISIBILITY HAZARD FOR THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HOMER SKELTON CHRYSLER (7661 US HWY 51, MILLINGTON, TN) WHERE THE CORD WAS GLUED IN PLACE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA complaint #11292262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,200 miles Boulder, CO

VISIBILITY/WIPER

OUR HIGH DEFROST SETTING ONLY WORKS ON THE CENTER 12" OF OUR JEEP WINDSHIELD. THE 1/3 ON BOTH SIDES, DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE ARE GETTING ZERO DEFROSTING AIR. MY BROTHERS 2019 AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER 2018 AND 2019 JEEPS ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ACCORDING TO BLOGS. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT OUR DEFROST IS WORKING THE SAME AS OTHER NEW JEEPS ON THE LOT AND REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE INSTALLED DUCT TAPE ON THE CENTER PORTION OF THE DEFROST VENT TO REDIRECT THE AIR TO THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE WINDSHIELD. I PLAN TO MAKE A PATIAL PERMINANT BLOCK FROM PLASTIC AND INSTALL IT TODAY. WE LIVE IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND THIS JEEP WOULD BE UNDRIVABLE IN THE WINTER WITHOUT DEFROST AIR FLOW AFTERMARKET REDIRECTION. ZERO DEFROST AIR HITS THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WITHOUT THE AFTERMARKET FIX. JEEP OWNERS ARE IN REAL DANGER IF THEIR WINDSHEILD FOGS UP. WE TURNED ON OUR DEFROST TO HIGH HEAT AND AIRFLOW TO REMOVE ICE FROM AN ICE STORM A FEW DAYS AGO. ONLY THE CENTER 12-14" WERE MELTED.

NHTSA complaint #11268837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Schiller Park, IL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LARRY ROESCH CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (200 W GRAND AVE, ELMHURST, IL 60126, (630) 333-9121) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA complaint #11210688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Oneonta, AL

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE DEFROST WILL NOT CLEAR THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IT BLOWS IN THE CENTER OF THE VENT AND THERE IS NO AIRFLOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE. IF THE WINDOW FOGS UP YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER SO YOU DO NOT WRECK. I HAVE A PHOTO OF THE ACTUAL WINDOW.

NHTSA complaint #11205850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2018 Jeep Wrangler problems

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