Home · 2012 Jeep Wrangler 4-door 4xe · Complaints

What 828 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Jeep Wrangler 4-door 4xe

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (828)Crash / fire / injury (47)Transmission & drivetrain (282)Steering (204)Engine (172)Electrical system (147)Airbags (128)Fuel system (45)Brakes (44)Visibility & wipers (41)Body & structure (30)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (30)

Newest first · 828 complaints · page 3 of 34

Feb 10, 2023Airbags

I noticed that the air bag light came in about 6-12 months ago. I am very concerned because, my Jeep is in excellent shape, however, I transport my 94 yo mom around, so this really bothers me. I have seen several recalls regarding air bags in my model, so I wanted to see if this would be part of one of the recalls. I had my mechanic review and to replace would cost me about $800, which I do not have. If this is due to a failure on Jeeps part, I would like this taken care of.

NHTSA ODI 11506594

Jan 23, 2023Fuel system

The skid plate assembly that retains the fuel tank is very corroded, corroded to the point of the fuel tank dropping out of the vehicle if not repaired as soon as possible. The other part of this issue is when trying to get this part, there is a backorder of approximately 50 of the skid plate assemblys! This information was provided to me by the Chrysler/ Dodge/ Ram /Jeep Dealership from where we purchased the vehicle new, and that has done all of the repair work on this vehicle since we bought it. The 2 things I find to be very concerning with this issue are the potential fire hazard if, and when a fuel tank were to fall out of the vehicle and the issue of a parts back order appears to show there is an ongoing issue with this very serious situation . Also this vehicle has never been used off-road or for any extreme off-road activities, solely on road use. I did contact Chrysler in regards to my concerns, but other than attempting to get the part shipped sooner, I was told the vehicle is out of warranty and there is no recall on it so there is nothing they can do.

NHTSA ODI 11503251

Jan 21, 2023Fuel system

Occasionally we would smell gasoline fumes. The occurrence became more frequent to the point we had a mechanic check it out. The mechanic dropped the gas tank and found that there is a steel ring between the tank and the fuel pump flange. This flange had rusted and expanded to the point of cracking the fuel pump flange. Mechanic replaced the flange, seal and fuel pump. I have retained the cracked fuel pump.

NHTSA ODI 11502922

Jan 17, 2023SteeringElectrical systemBrakes

The vehicle will die while driving it, it is a automatic so you loose power steering power brakes and the engine is completely shut off you have to safely pull over and not get hit to put vehicle in park sometimes it starts in park, sometime it just turns over and you have to wait 10 to 15 minutes for vehicle to start. Dealer keeps telling me there is no issue with the vehicle, and they cannot replicate issue. I fear for me and my family's life every day in my jeep wrangler.

NHTSA ODI 11502083

Jan 16, 2023

I bought a 2012 Jeep Wrangler with 97,000 miles on it in December 2022. It was brought in for service due to some issues with the dash screen lighting, right blinker, and the heater. They first told me that all parts were on back order. I looked up the parts myself as I have a wholesale account and I showed that they were not on back order. I let them know this and conveniently, they were able to get all parts within a week. They called me when the vehicle was done for repairs and when I was driving it home, I noticed that the odometer was off by 23,000 miles. When I drove my vehicle home after having work done, it was at 74,355 miles. The dealership told me to bring it in right away. I brought it in the next day at 4:30pm. After a week, they told me that Chilson's Jeep dealership gave them the wrong information when they were replacing the cluster for the dash lights and they did not reprogram it correctly. They asked me how long I was planning on keeping the vehicle because if I kept it for a while, then I would be okay if I went over the initial 97,000 miles and no one would know. They also gave me the option for them to buy it back. This was on 1/9/23. I called them on 1/11/23 and told them I did not want to keep the vehicle as it was a liability and illegal to roll back an odometer in a vehicle and the title would have to be changed along with other risks that are incorporated with it. I talked to my insurance company and other dealership owners in the area and no one was comfortable with me keeping the vehicle due to legalities and risks associated with this. Chippewa Valley Mazda Sales Managers Adam and Nariah both told me they would only give me the purchase price and would not pay for anything over that. If they bought it back then I would need to come in with the vehicle and a check for over $6,000+. There is an open DOT Investigation on this. Adam stated today, 1/16/23 that they need my vehicle off their lot because it can't stay there and the loaner back

NHTSA ODI 11501989

Jan 10, 2023Airbags

The air bag light has come on and off for years now and even after the recall and paying to have it fixed there is still the light on the dash. Using Jeep forums and web pages this is a very common issue with the JK wrangler apparently. I do not have the funds to have fixed Code B1C2D circuit open

NHTSA ODI 11500975

Dec 28, 2022Fuel system

The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while refueling, fuel spilled out when the automatic shut off activated on the fuel pump. The contact stated that the failure recurred. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11499226

Dec 26, 2022AirbagsCrash2 injuries

Front-end crash resulted in airbags busting instead of inflating. Current back and neck injuries.

NHTSA ODI 11498920

Dec 8, 2022Speed controlBrakes

ABS, Traction control and Brake lights came on. Veh has 45000 miles on it. Was advised the ABS module is bad. Part is no where to be found, and no dealer can order it. Basically the vehicle braking system is questionable on the road without ABS or traction.

NHTSA ODI 11496543

Dec 7, 2022Engine

CAM SENSOR FAILED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT APPEARED. REPLACED AND SAME PROBLEMS OCCURRED. MAY BE WIRING OR CAM/ROCKER ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11496427

Dec 4, 2022Body & structure

The secondary hood latch failed, and was not securing the hood. In the event of a primary hood latch failure, the hood could release and strike the windshield while driving, obscuring vision and potentially causing bodily harm. My research indicates that this is not an isolated incident.

NHTSA ODI 11495955

Nov 17, 2022Engine

The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal burning odor around the vehicle. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH and other various speeds the burning odor was still present. The check engine warning light illuminated with the temperature gauge rising from normal to hot. An audible alarm was heard during the failure. The vehicle was driven to the residence and then towed to a dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed and determined that the radiator needed to be replaced. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who determined that coolant was leaking into the cylinder head. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11494026

Jul 28, 2022Transmission & drivetrainCrash

The vehicle would take a minute to click into gear when at a light and also when driving on the freeway, the vehicle will only go up to a certain speed (40mph) and would not switch gears (automatic) after that, the RPMs just kept going higher until I had to pull over.

NHTSA ODI 11476274

Jul 15, 2022Airbags

Airbag light mostly on all the time last few days. Years ago cruise control would go out and fix was to blow horn 15 seconds and it would work (true) due to bad clock spring that jeep knows is bad. They did a recall but stopped the year before my jeep even though have the same spring and no dust cover. It's over a thousand dollars to repair, which I cannot afford. Just hoping it doesn't blow up on me while driving. Jeep dealer charges hundreds just to scan codes here.

NHTSA ODI 11474189

Jul 12, 2022Transmission & drivetrainEngine

While driving the car randomly stalls. I lose power steering and braking. The car will not restart. This issue has been recorded by the dealer. The vehicle was last inspected on July 5th. I have been issued a Jeep Care case manager, case # 82963828. There are no warnings, while driving makes a left-hand turn the car just stalls!

NHTSA ODI 11473598

Jul 4, 2022Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

Starting out at a stop light, engaging the clutch to start moving, I depressed the clutch to shift into second gear while making a turn, the vehicle stalls, losing all power.

NHTSA ODI 11472273

Jul 4, 2022Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

Starting out at a stop sign. engaging the clutch to start moving, while shifting into 2nd gear while turning the vehicle stalls. Losing all power steer and brakes. I try to re-start the car i get a crank no-start scenario. Wait 3-5 min, retry starting the vehicle starts.

NHTSA ODI 11472274

Jul 4, 2022Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

While driving making a turn, shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, and vehicle stalls losing all power. The vehicle has been to the deal multiple times and the issue can not be duplicated. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times and there are no known issues. No-fault codes are thrown. I stalled in the middle of a busy intersection, with my children in the car. I had to push the vehicle to safety!

NHTSA ODI 11472276

Jul 4, 2022Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

While driving making a turn, shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, and vehicle stalls losing all power. I had a crank no-start scenario! The vehicle has been to the deal multiple times and the issue can not be duplicated. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times and there are no known issues. No-fault codes are thrown. I was able to cost to a safe location, and wait. after 3-5 min the vehicle restarted.

NHTSA ODI 11472278

Jul 4, 2022Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

While driving making a turn, shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, and vehicle stalls losing all power. I had a crank no-start scenario! The vehicle has been to the dealer multiple times and the issue can not be duplicated. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times and there are no known issues. No-fault codes are thrown. I was able to cost to a safe location, and wait. after 3-5 min the vehicle restarted.

NHTSA ODI 11472279

Jun 26, 2022EngineFire1 injury

I was driving on the highway and the engine caught fire. I’ve been looking for an engine to rebuild and all of them had previously been on fire. I believe the engine is defective for the jeeps that year, make and model.

NHTSA ODI 11471058

May 28, 2022Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

While driving the car stalled. Loss of power steering and braking. I was able to coast to a safe location. I tried to restart, but Crank- No Start.

NHTSA ODI 11466515

May 24, 2022Seat beltsSeats

Both the front drivers side and front passenger side seat belts no longer retract fully. The mechanism and surrounding areas seems to be free of debris. Additionally the airbag light comes on and off when anyone sits in the front passenger seat. I travel in the vehicle alone mostly. The fact that the seat belts and airbag systems are not working properly caused me to call a local dealership about repair and they told me the could not assist for more than a month.

NHTSA ODI 11465858

May 18, 2022SteeringElectrical systemAirbags

Becoming the new owner in 2021, I was issued a recall for the passenger airbag inflator replacement. After repairing this recall, the vehicle air bag light came on and has not turned off since. I made several attempts with dearlership to access the problem and in May 2022 the dealership diagnosed the problem stating it was the airbag clockspring. This clockspring had a recall on it in June 2016 and was replaced in September 2016. The dealership along with another AMS certified mechanics shop stated the clockspring that was replaced in 2016 is defective. This is causing multiple safety issues with the vehicle. The anti skid system activates, the anti lock braking is activated, the cruise control will not operate, along with the fact the air bags are inoperable or not operating at full capacity as they are required to.

NHTSA ODI 11465221

May 17, 2022Tires

The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Wrangler equipped with Duraturn tires, Tire Line: Travia A/T, Tire Size: LT285/70/R17, DOT Number: UFWMFLC3416, UFWMFLC1916, UFWMFLC0216, UFWMFLC2016. The contact stated that one of the tires experienced tread separation and the set of tires were replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20T016000 (Tires). The vehicle and tire failure mileages were unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11464998

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Working with the data? Download all 828 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 18, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Jeep Wrangler 4-door 4xe verdict →