What 481 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 392

Driver side airbag didn’t deploy in head on accident

NHTSA ODI 11626988

The contact owned a 2011 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55- 65 mph when the vehicle in front suddenly applied its brakes. The contact attempted to apply the brake pedal however they were unable to stop fast enough and rear-ended the vehicle in front. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was damaged and considered a total loss. The vehicle was towed and totaled. The contact had back and leg injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 151,000.

NHTSA ODI 11529617

Wheel studs sheared off on the highway and the tire dismounted from the vehicle while in transit. Wheel studs are being replaced but will be available for inspection. The wheel hit another car and this could have caused a worse accident as there were no functioning brakes and steering was impacted. No advanced warnings were present.

NHTSA ODI 11526283

While travelling country road (divided highway) cruising at approximately 65 mph (cruise control engaged) the message indicator went "ding" and the check engine light began flashing. I turned on flashers, slowed down and found a commercial driveway into which I could exit and stop off roadway. After turning off ignition I immediately raised the hood and found active fire (flames) to the rear of the intake manifold and forward of the firewall where the wiring harness is located. I instructed my passenger to immediately exit the vehicle. I had bottles of drinking water with us (hot day in Texas) so I took three or four bottles of water and extinguished the flames from both sides of the upper engine. The flames were immediately extinguished indicating no presence of petroleum products fueling the flames. After ensuring that fire was fully extinguished I called a local towing service to come pick us up and drop the Jeep at a local NAPA repair shop. Shop located and ordered a new wiring harness as opposed to trying to repair existing harness. May file a claim with Auto Insurance after repairs are made.

NHTSA ODI 11433668

The contact owned a 2011 Jeep Wrangler. The contacts son stated while driving 25 mph the contact was making a right turn when the contact was unable to return the steering wheel back into neutral position. The vehicle had crashed into a guardrail where it came to a complete stop and the airbags did not deploy. The occupants both sustained back and neck pain but did not seek medical treatment. The contact stated no warning lights was illuminated. A police report was taken and the vehicle was towed to insurance lot where it was determined that the vehicle was totaled. The manufacturer was not informed of failure. The failure mileage was approximately 205,000.

NHTSA ODI 11422293

PURCHASED 2011 SAHARA MANUAL 2DR IN 3/2016. ON 2/24/2021 NOTICED SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL COMING FROM LEFT FRONT SIDE AS I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A DOCTOR VISIT ON LOCAL 4 LANE 35 MPH HIGHWAY. STOPPED AT LOCAL JEEP DEALER,ROSS JEEP, 2 BLOCKS AWAY AND FIRE WAS VISIBLE FROM LEFT FRONT WHEEL. WAS TOLD FIRE DUE TO BRAKE "SEIZED" CAUSING FIRE TO ROTOR/BRAKE. 22,000 MILES CURRENTLY ON JEEP. HAVE SERVICED REGULARLY AS RECOMMENDED AND GARAGED WITH NO "OFF ROAD" DRIVING. MECHANIC/DEALER SUGGESTED NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS ON FRONT OF JEEP. WHY WITH ONLY 22,000 MILES WOULD I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES AND WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM ? FROM READING OTHER COMPLAINTS I FEEL LUCKY TO NOT HAVE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF JEEP AND MY LIFE DUE TO FIRE. I HAD JEEP COMPLETELY CHECKED OUT PRIOR TO PURCHASE ALONG WITH CHECKING FOR RECALLS AND NO ISSUES SURFACED.

NHTSA ODI 11397866

FUEL OVERFLOWS WHILE FILLING TANK. FUEL SPILLS ON PEOPLE, VEHICLE, AND GROUND.

NHTSA ODI 11376403

DRIVING DOWN ROAD VEHICLE STARTED TO FLAME FROM RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE NEAR FRONT. PULLED OVER. GOT OUT IN TIME AT WHICH TIME VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES. CALLED 911 AND FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME PUT OUT FIRE LEFT FIRE REIGNITED AND THEY CAME BACK TO PUT OUT. CALLED INSURANCE, FILED CASE WITH CHRYSLER GOT NO RESPONSE. VEHICLE WAS NOT MODIFIED OR USED FOR OFF ROAD THIS WAS A VEHICLE USED FOR REGULAR COMMUTE TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING A SPEED OF APPROX 35 MPH ON A CITY STREET. RAYMOND STREET. BELIEVE IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH FUEL SYSTEM IN RELATION TO ENGINE. SALVAGE YARD PHONE 317-787-3202 VEHICLE ID FOR SALVAGE 27404152 CHRYSLER CASE #[XXX] GEICO CLAIM #[XXX] WAYNE TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPT INDPLS, IN ABOUT 8:45 PM RESPONDED TO THIS*DT ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).')*JB *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11319357

DRIVING TO WORK MY WRANGLER DIED AND BURST INTO FLAMES MOVING FROM THE BACK TO THE FRONT. I WAS NORTHBOUND ON HWY 265 WHEN VEHICLE DIED AND STARTED BURNING.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11292338

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ROLLED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. DURING THE INCIDENT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS IN FIRST GEAR. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER (1200 E. CARROLL ST, TULLAHOMA, TN) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11219071

STARTED ON FIRE,STRUGGLED GOING UP HILL THEN STARTED ON FRE

NHTSA ODI 11171791

I WAS DRIVING 45 MPH SOUTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 101 IN CALIFORNIA. I STARTED SMELLING A BURNING SMELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS COMING UP TO TRAFFIC AND BEGAN TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REALIZED THAT I HAD VERY LITTLE BRAKE PRESSURE. I THEN SWITCHED LANES IN PREPARATION TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. AS I GOT OFF THE NEXT EXIT WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKE PRESSURE, THE SMELL GOT WORSE AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT FROM UNDER THE ENGINE BAY. AS SOON AS A I GOT OFF THE NEXT EXIT, I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND HAND TO USE THE HAND BRAKE TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. I HAD NO BRAKE PRESSURE LEFT. AS SOON AS I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, FLAMES STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE ENGINE BAY. I GRABBED WHAT I COULD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911 REQUESTING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE ENGINE BAY. THAT IS WHERE THE FLAMES WERE SEEN VISIBLY FIRST. I HAVE NO AFTERMARKET PARTS OR MODS OUTSIDE OF MOPAR (OEM). CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND SERVICE BY PUTNAM JEEP IN BURLINGAME. NO OFFROAD USAGE EITHER.

NHTSA ODI 11123225

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING 55 MPH AND A HUGE GUST OF WHITE SMOKE CAME THRU THE DASH VENT SYSTEM SO I PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF MY JEEP SAHARA AND NOTICED A BIG MASS OF WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD... 2 MINUTES LATER, FIRE STARTED AND WITHIN A COUPLE MINUTES MY WHOLE FRONT PART OF THE JEEPS ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THAN FROM THERE IT BURNED UP THE REST OF THE JEEP.. THIS VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED IN A MATTER OF 10-15 MINUTES.. I WAS DRIVING ON A PAVED ROAD IN THE COUNTRY ..

NHTSA ODI 11091505

GAS SHOOTING BACK AT ME WHEN I FILL UP. HORRENDOUS AND A SAFETY ISSUE. ALL OVER MY CHILD NEXT TO ME. I WANT TO SUE JEEP.

NHTSA ODI 11064294

I WAS DRIVING AT UNDER 10 MPH, ON A TEXAS STATE ROAD WHEN THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY WITH SOME TYPE OF ADHESIVE FAILED. THIS DROPPED THE FUEL LINE DIRECTLY ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH MELTED THE FUEL LINE CAUSING A FIRE THAT SPREAD TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. APPARENTLY THIS IS AN ISSUE ON THE 4 DOOR MODEL WRANGLERS AS THE 2 DOOR WRANGLERS HAVE A PLATE PREVENTING THIS. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE LOOKED AT ON ALL 4 DOOR MODELS, RANGING FROM 2008 THROUGH AT LEAST 2013. I HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER 4 DOOR JEEPS AND SEE THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME POTENTIAL ISSUE THERE IS NOTHING THAT PREVENTS THE FUEL LINE FROM COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 10992206

WHILST PARKED ON DRIVEWAY WAITING FOR THE ELECTRIC GATE TO OPEN TO CONTINUE ON TO WORK (ENGINE RUNNING WITH HEATED SEATS ON AND REAR WINDOW HEATER ON), FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BURNING JEEP WRANGLER 2011 RUBICON TO THE GROUND. JEEP WAS A DAILY DRIVE, ONLY MODIFICATION WAS 2" LIFT WHICH WAS ON THE JEEP WHEN PURCHASED FROM PERKINS MOTORS COLORADO SPRINGS CO. PERKINS MOTORS ARE A CHRYSLER DEALER, JEEP WAS FULLY INSPECTED AND UP TO DATE WITH ALL RECALLS, SERVICES AND OIL CHANGES

NHTSA ODI 10969573

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSING ACCIDENT AND RISK OF LIFE !

NHTSA ODI 10865809

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS TO BECOME ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LOWER BACK AND NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CRASH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO LIMP MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ODI 10823925

MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2016 4:21 PM TRANSMISSION FIRE. 2011 JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON WITH 81K MILES ALL MAINTENANCE. NO MODIFICATIONS AND NO OFF ROADING. LOST POWER ON AN INCLINED ROAD. THEN THE CAR SHUT OFF AFTER ALL THE PANELS WENT CRAZY AND THEN BLACK SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF THE HOOD AREA. ONLY THING THAT KEPT MY CAR FROM GOING UP IN FLAMES WAS IT WAS POURING DOWN RAIN AND I WAS ON AN INCLINE. THE 100000 MILE / 5 YEAR POWER TRAN WARRANTY ENDED THE DAY BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. AT THE TIME I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS AN ENGINE FIRE DO TO THE RAIN AND ALL THE BLACK SMOKE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NO HELP AND BOTH DID NOT EVEN MENTION FIRE UNTIL I DID FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND HAD A PRIVATE MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF WAITING ON AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER TO COMPLETE THEIR INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA ODI 10819542

WHILE FRWY. DRIVING AT APPROX. 72 MPH / 2600 RPMS AND WITHOUT WARNING OR INDICATION OF MALFUNCTION, WE HEARD A POP, AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE UNDERSIDE AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT. MY FAMILY IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE VEHICLE AND I USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE THAT WAS ENGULFING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE JEEP. AFTER EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE, I WAS ABLE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED A LARGE HOLE IN THE LOWER ENGINE BLOCK JUST BEHIND THE OIL PAN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. ADDITIONALLY, THE METAL HEAT SHIELD THAT SITS JUST TO THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE WAS BENT BACKWARD. IT APPEARS THAT THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED AND THREW A BEARING OR OTHER ENGINE PART THROUGH THE OUTER MOTOR CASING RELEASING OIL AND CAUSING THE RESULTANT FIRE AND DAMAGE. HOWEVER, I CAN NOT RULE OUT A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE VS. PURE MECHANICAL ENGINE FAILURE. IT HAS BEEN OVER TWO WEEKS SINCE THE INCIDENT AND CHRYSLER HAS JUST INFORMED ME THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIRS UNDER THE EXISTING 5 YEAR/50,000 MILE DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY THAT HAD NOT EXPIRED AND WAS PROVIDED AS PART OF THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE AGREEMENT IN JULY 2011. THEIR RESPONSE WAS "WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE INSPECTION REPORT AND MUST INFORM YOU THAT WE ARE NOT LED TO BELIEVE THAT THE INCIDENT WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING RESPONSIBILITY."

NHTSA ODI 10734864

I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 JEEP WRANGLER ABOUT 5-8 MPH WHEN I HEARD A POP TYPE OF NOISE. I THEN SAW A FLAME UNDER THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY THROTTLE LOCKED UP AND MY CAR WOULDNT STOP. I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES, BUT MY TIRES KEPT SPINNING. MY ELECTRICAL WAS LOCKED UP AND I COULDNT GET THE JEEP OUT OF DRIVE AND INTO PARK. MY BOYFRIEND RAN OVER, JUMPED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE TO TRY TO GET THE JEEP INTO PARK, AS I COULDNT GET IT TO MOVE. HE FRACTURED HIS HAND IN TWO PLACES GETTING THE GEARSHIFT TO GO INTO PARK. AT THIS POINT THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE UNDER THE HOOD. HE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT INTO PARK. AT THAT POINT HE HELPED PULL ME OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE JEEP AS THE FIRE/FLAMES WERE STARTING TO COME THRU THE DASHBOARD INTO THE INSIDE OF THE JEEP. IT TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR TO GET THE FIRE OUT, THEN APPROX. 15-20 MIN LATER THE FIRE STARTED AGAIN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.

NHTSA ODI 10721669

I, THE MOTHER OF THE CHILD THAT OWNED THE JEEP WRANGLER, MAILED PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES, AS WELL AS, COPY OF PURCHASE OF WRANGLER. I ALSO ENCLOSED A DETAILED LETTER TO THE NHTSA OF THE INCIDENT. I AM UPDATING MY RECENT INFORMATION THAT I HAD MAILED, BECAUSE I HAVE REALIZED THAT I CLOSED THE LETTER WITH MY OLD PHONE NUMBER. I HAD RECENTLY CHANGED MY NUMBER, AND I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THE CORRECT NUMBER. I APOLOGIZE FOR MY STUPIDITY. I WILL ENTER THE PERSONAL INFORMATION CORRECTLY. SEEING THAT I AM THE INDIVIDUAL THAT SENT THE INFORMATION VIA THE POSTAL SERVICE, I WILL ENTER MY NAME AND E-MAIL INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI 10713248

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 JEEP WRANGLER. AFTER DRIVING 35 MPH AND PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE. MOMENTS LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

NHTSA ODI 10705680

I WAS TRAVELING NORTH IT HAD SNOWED THE DAY PRIOR ROADS WERE SLICK OR SO I THOUGHT THE JEEP WAS STEERING STRANGE I WAS TRAVELING UP A SMALL INCLINE AND TOOK THE FIRST OF TWO TURNS I MADE THE FIRST AND LOST ALL CONTROL GOING INTO THE SECOND IN TO THE DITCH MISSING A LARGE TREE AND BOUNCED OUT OF THE DITCH AND DOWN THE DITCH ON THE OTHER SIDE. WITH MY SEAT BELT ON I WAS STILL THROWN ALL AROUND THE CAB OF THE JEEP IN PAIN STILL THANK YOU. AFTER GETTING A TOW TRUCK WE FOUND THE STEERING BAR COMING OFF THE STEERING BOX WAS OFF AND WHEN WE LOOKED CLOSER THE SHAFT ON THE STEERING BOX HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY OFF. I FIND THIS HARD TO BE LEAVE THAT SHAFT IS OVER A HALF INCH THICK. SO TO SUM IT UP I AM VERY LUCKY I HAD NOT MADE IT TO THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD NO HAVE BEEN A GOOD THING FOR MYSELF AND ANY OTHER DRIVERS ON THE HIGHWAY THAT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10668615

USING MY 2011 JEEP WRANGLER (RIGHT HAND DRIVE), I DELIVER MAIL FOR THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. WAS DELIVERING MAIL ON MY RURAL ROUTE. DATE WAS 4TH OF FEB.2014. THE PROBLEM WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WIRING HARNESS , MANY OTHER WIRES, COMPARTMENT PLASTICS ,AND GAS LINE. THE CAUSE APPEARS TO BE HOT OIL FROM THE TRANSMISSION DIPPING ONTO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION . I ONLY SEE THAT THE FILL TUBE ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE LEAK. I HEARD A FIRE IGNITE , OPEN THE CAR HOOD AND SEEN THE BLACK SMOKE I THEN PUT OUT THE FIRE. IT IS NOW THE DATE-MARCH 18 ,2014. I HAVE NO SUPPORT FROM CHRYSLER CORPORATION FOR REPAIR OF MY PROBLEM. THEIR INVESTIGATION STATED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT FOUND NO MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE INCIDENT ON 2-3-2014. I HAVE NOW TURNED THIS OVER TO MY CAR INSURANCE COMPANY . THEY SAY I SHOULD USE THE LEMON LAW. THIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR A BAD TRANSMISSION IN NOV. OF 2013. I DO NOT SEE WHY I SHOULD OF HAD MORE PROBLEMS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY COST TO REPAIR IS $5000. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER FOR THE JEEP ,A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD COST ME PERSONALLY $5000. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10573180