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

Engine spontaneously caught fire. It had been parked for hours before it happened. Everything under the hood was totaled

NHTSA ODI 11639631

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

NHTSA ODI 11498920

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

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

Farmers Insurance reporting - customer brought in vehicle for repair after an auto accident. The airbag did not deploy in the accident, but while being worked on the airbag deployed and caused severe injury to the employee of our insured policy holder. Contractor determined the airbag deployed due to the clock spring error.

NHTSA ODI 11436680

AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11360267

THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE BETWEEN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE AND THE FIREWALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ALL FIRE SUPPRESSION EFFORTS FAILED AND THE VEHICLE BURNED TO THE GROUND. THIS VEHICLE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER BEING SERVICED FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE A LONG HISTORY OF MECHANICAL DEFECTS REQUIRING SERVICE, ALL OF WHICH WAS DONE AT A JEEP DEALERSHIP. SHORTLY BEFORE THE FIRE BEGAN IT LOOKS LIKE THE VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. IT WAS BEING OPERATED AT ABOUT 50MPH ON A PAVED ROADWAY JUST PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN PULLING TO A STOP AND PARKING AFTER LEAVING THE MAIN ROADWAY AND PULLING INTO A PRIVATE DRIVE OF A RESIDENCE. A TRAIL OF FLUID WAS FOUND ON THE MAIN ROADWAY BEGINNING JUST PRIOR TO THE TURN INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND ENDING AT THE JEEP. THIS JEEP HAD NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE SUSPENSION OR DRIVE TRAIN AND HAD STOCK SIZE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS UP TO DATE ON ALL RECALL SERVICE WORK. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WAS THE INITIAL SOURCE OF IGNITION BUT I DID SEE TRANSMISSION FLUID FEEDING THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11220480

MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE PARKED IN SLIGHTEST INCLINE WITH PARKING BRAKE PULLED UP ROLLED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. TWO OF WHICH THE DRIVER WAS OUT OF THE CAR AND UNABLE TO STOP FROM ROLLING. VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE WHEN FINALLY WAS STOPPED BY TREE/BUSHES. OTHER OCCASIONS DRIVER WAS INSIDE VEHICLE BUT UNABLE TO GET PARKING BRAKE TO HOLD VEHICLE FROM ROLLING. FORCED TO TURN ENGINE OFF AND LEAVE IN GEAR TO KEEP VEHICLE STATIONARY. FIRST OCCURRENCE WITH DAMAGE JAN 2014. TAKEN TO DEALER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. DENIED ANY PROBLEM FOUND. BLAMED POSSIBLY VEHICLE DRIVEN WITH BRAKE PULLED UP.

NHTSA ODI 11195308

THE OIL FILTER HOUSING HAS A MANUFACTURE FLAW, WHICH CAUSES ENGINE OIL TO LEAK IN THE ENGINE BAY AND ONTO THE EXHAUST. THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE IN THEIR JEEP WRANGLERS. IT DOES NOT MATTER THE AGE OR MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MALFUNCTION HAS ACCRUED IN JEEP WRANGLERS WITH AS LITTLE AS 2K MILES ON THEM. THE MALFUNCTION IS NOT ONLY A HEALTH BUT SAFETY RISK TO DRIVERS AND THEIR PASSENGERS. WHEN DRIVING THE CABIN FILLS UP WITH SMOKE FROM BURNING OIL AND HAS A HIGH POTENTIAL TO IGNITE AND CAUSE A FIRE. WHEN JEEP REPAIRS THIS ISSUE THEY USE A NEW PART NUMBER, AND NOT THE STOCK APPLICATION. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I'M FINDING THIS IS THE CASE WITH A NUMBER OF CHRYSLER FIATS BRANDS WITH THE PENASTAR 3.6L MOTOR. I MY HAVE THIS ISSUE NOW, AND HAVE HAD IT ON BOTH OF MY 2012 AND 2013 JEEP WRANGLERS. AGAIN, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPAROTA ONLINE WITH JEEP OWNERS WITH THE 3.6L PENASTAR MOTOR. 2012-2014. THE ISSUE WAS FIXED BY JEEP ENGINEERS IN MID 2015.

NHTSA ODI 11181489

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES, GRAY SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THE HARNESS (THAT GOES AROUND THE BATTERY) ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER (GEORGIA CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP, 12114 US-301, STATESBORO, GA 30458) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ODI 11111838

2012 JEEP WRANGLER WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE. WITH NO WARNING AND WHILE MY FOOT WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PETAL THE JEEP BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE BRAKES DID NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE AND IT PROCEEDED FORWARD AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT.

NHTSA ODI 11105065

TAKATA RECALL; I GOT INTO CAR ACCIDENT AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOST. I THINK I HAD TAKATA AIR BAGS.

NHTSA ODI 11047418

I WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 10/2/2015 INVOLVING 2012 JEEP WRANGLER, MY VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT SUDDENLY CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL. THE JEEP WAS JERKED OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH ON THE RIGHT, HIT THE FRONT END OF THE DITCH AND WAS LAUNCHED AIRBORNE, THEN CRASHED ON THE CEMENT WALL OF A SECOND DITCH, BOUNCING TWICE BEFORE LANDING IN THE DITCH AND HITTING THE FRONT END OF THAT DITCH. I REPEATEDLY SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT ENGAGE. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY SEAT BELT TENSIONER DID NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING ME TO BE THROWN FORWARD AND BACKWARDS REPEATEDLY. I SUFFERED A CLOSED HEAD INJURY AND HERNIATIONS TO MULTIPLE DISCS IN MY NECK AS WELL AS TRAUMA TO THE FACET JOINTS IN MY NECK, RESULTING IN SEVERE FORAMINAL STENOSIS AT MULTIPLE LEVELS THAT REQUIRES NEUROSURGICAL INTERVENTION. I SLAMMED MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL 4 TIMES, MY CHEST ONCE. THIS ACCIDENT FOREVER CHANGED MY LIFE. I HAVE REPEATEDLY CALLED FCA TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT, AM ALWAYS TOLD SOMEONE WILL CALL ME BACK. IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS AND NO ONE HAS CALLED ME BACK. I WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER AND TOLD SOMEONE WOULD COME LOOK AT MY VEHICLE TO INSPECT IT, NEVER HAPPENED. AS I FACE URGENT SURGERY TO MY SPINE WITH PAIN TO MY NECK RADIATING DOWN MY RIGHT ARM, ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT IS CHRYSLER. THEY RECALLED 2016-2017 JEEP WRANGLERS FOR FAULTY WIRING OF THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE, AS WELL AS JEEP PATRIOTS AND COMPASSES MADE THE SAME YEAR AS MY VEHICLE ALONG WITH MILLIONS OF OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES. FCA REFUSES TO RETURN MY PHONE CALLS, HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE THEY IGNORING? THEY NEED SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY DON'T RECALL ALL VEHICLES BUILT WITH THE SAME COMPONENTS, KNOWING THERE ARE MORE VEHICLES NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THAT POSE A SAFETY RISK.

NHTSA ODI 11024190

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG ABRUPTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT OR WARNING WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE CONTACT HEARD A TICKING NOISE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE LEFT ARM, LEFT EAR, BACK, AND NECK, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (PASSENGER AIR BAG). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA ODI 11018899

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A STRONG BURNING ELECTRIC ODOR WAS PERCEIVED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (WATERFRONT JEEP IN MORGAN TOWN, WV) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THE THAT THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF COIL FAILURE OR AN ENGINE MISFIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,386. UPDATED 10/24/17*LJ *TR

NHTSA ODI 10995879

I WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 10/5/15, TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, WHEN MY JEEP SUDDENLY JERKED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING IT TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A DITCH. THE JEEP HIT THE FRONT END OF THE DITCH AT AN ANGLE THAT LAUNCHED IT AIRBORNE, THEN LANDED ON THE CEMENT WALL OF A CULVERT APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET AWAY. THE JEEP BOUNCED TWICE ON THE CEMENT WALL, CRACKING THE FRAME IN TWO PLACES, THEN LANDED IN THE CULVERT, HIT THE FRONT END OF THE CULVERT, THEN HIT A SMALL POLE WHERE IT FINALLY STOPPED. DESPITE SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES THE ENTIRE TIME, NOTHING IN THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE WORKING. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEATBELTS DID NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING ME TO SLAM MY FOREHEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL WITH EACH IMPACT (3-4 TIMES, I HONESTLY DON'T RECALL) AND HITTING MY CHEST ONCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I CALLED CHRYSLER TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AFTER THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING, AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER AND TOLD I WOULD BE CONTACTED. AFTER A NUMBER OF FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THEM, THEY HAVE REFUSED TO RETURN MY CALLS OR ACKNOWLEDGE MY COMPLAINTS. I AM NOW AWARE OF A NUMBER OF RECALLS REGARDING THE ORC MODULE IN MANY CHRYSLER VEHICLES, AND WONDER IF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN MY ACCIDENT. I SUFFERED A SEVERE CONCUSSION AND WAS OUT OF WORK FOR THREE MONTHS. I HAD TO QUIT MY SECOND JOB, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL STRAIN ON MY FAMILY. I HAVE SINCE HAD CHRONIC NECK PAIN AND MIGRAINES, AN MRI SHOWED TRAUMATIC DISC HERNIATIONS AT C2-6, FOR WHICH I HAVE TO SEE A NEUROSURGEON. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INJECTIONS AND OTHER PROCEDURES ON MY NECK SINCE THE ACCIDENT, BUT CONTINUE TO HAVE PAIN DAILY. AT MY REQUEST, MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS KEPT THE TOTALED JEEP, UNTOUCHED, IN A SECURED LOT, UNTIL I CAN FIND SOMEONE TO HELP ME DETERMINE WHY THE SEATBELTS FAILED TO PROTECT ME.

NHTSA ODI 10981445

WHILE TURNING TO PARK THE ENGINE THROTTLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED & JEEP JUMPED THE CURB, CRASHED THRU A FENCE & ENDED UP IN THE OCEAN. WE WERE RESCUED BY DANA POINT HARBOR PATROL.

NHTSA ODI 10947624

WHILE BEING TOWED BY OUR RV ON A CITY STREET, A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE JEEP. THE TRANSFER CASE WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED 1 NOTCH TO ACCESSORY TO UNLOCK THE STEERING. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BECAUSE THE FIRE WAS NOT CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT. BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE FIRE DAMAGE, NO CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED.

NHTSA ODI 10926270

STARTED WITH A WINDOW LEAKING ON OCTOBER 2, 2012. THEN PROCEEDED TO TRACTION LIGHT COMING ON ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT.. WELL ON MAY 26, 2014 I WAS WORKING.. I WORK FOR USPS AND IT IS A RIGHT HAND JEEP I NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS OF MY JEEP.. I STOPPED LOOKED UNDER HOOD SEEN NO FIRE. SCARED TO DEATH AND NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS GOING ON.. I SIT THERE FOR A WHILE AND IT STOPPED. CALL DEALERSHIP AND TOOK IT TO THEM AND THEY RETURNED TO ME WITH "NO OBVIOUS PROBLEM". APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS LATER IT HAPPEN AGAIN. SMOKE COMING FROM VENTS.. THIS TIME MY JEEP CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND!! I LATER DISCOVERED, AFTER THE FIRE, THAT MY VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL THAT I NEVER RECEIVED.. I BECOME AWARE OF THE RECALL FROM A COWORKER WHOM HAD BOUGHT HER JEEP 1 MONTH AFTER ME...

NHTSA ODI 10906448

FIRE

NHTSA ODI 10904711

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND LOST ALL POWER. ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THERE WAS LITTLE ABILITY TO STEER. AS SOON AS I PULLED OVER SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM THE SIDES OF THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE NEAR THE FIREWALL. LUCKILY A POLICE OFFICER HAPPENED TO BE DRIVING BY. HE QUICKLY PUT OUT THE FIRE USING AN EXTINGUISHER FROM HIS PATROL CAR; HAD HE NOT BEEN THERE THE CAR WOULD HAVE QUICKLY BEEN CONSUMED. THIS HAPPENED A FEW DAYS AGO. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND I HAVE BECOME AWARE THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH WRANGLERS FOR MANY YEARS NOW. IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT CHRYSLER HAS NOT FIGURED OUT WHAT CAUSES THESE FIRES; HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY THE LACK OF STEERING ABILITY COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN THE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH OF NOT JUST ME BUT OTHER DRIVERS AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 10883888

I JUST LEFT WORK AND HAD TRAVELED LESS THAN A MILE WHEN MY ENGINE SHUT OFF. I WAS ONLY TRAVELING 20MPH AND COASTED INTO THE FIRST OPEN DRIVEWAY I COULD FIND. I OPENED THE HOOD TO A LOT OF SMOKE AND A SMALL FIRE FROM MY WIRING HARNESS. MY 2012 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT IS COMPLETELY STOCK AND ALWAYS MAINTAINED THROUGH MY LOCAL JEEP DEALERSHIP. THE OFFICIAL WORD FROM JEEP WAS THAT MY STARTER SHORTED OUT WHICH CAUSED MY WIRING HARNESS TO OVERHEAT AND CATCH FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 10865124

I WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE COLLISION, WITH "MULTIPLE FRONT END IMPACTS" AND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT I HYDROPLANED (THIS IS MY BEST GUESS AND VEERED TO THE SHOULDER. THE STREET IS NARROW, WITH ONLY A VERY THIN SHOULDER. THE JEEP THEN WENT OFF THE ROAD, DROVE THROUGH A DEEP RAIN-FILLED DITCH, HIT THE FRONT END OF THAT DITCH, LAUNCHING THE JEEP AIRBORNE. DURING THAT IMPACT, THE FRONT AXLE WAS RIPPED OFF. I THEN LANDED IN ANOTHER DITCH (A CULVERT WITH 2 CEMENT WALLS), WHERE THE JEEP BOUNCED TWICE ON THE CEMENT WALL, CRACKING THE FRAME EACH TIME, THEN LANDED IN THE DITCH, WHERE I KEPT GOING UNTIL I HIT A SMALL CONSTRUCTION POLE. MY JEEP HAD THE ADDITIONAL SIDE AIRBAG PACKAGE. DESPITE THE SEVERITY OF THE CRASH, MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND MY SEAT BELT NEVER TIGHTENED. THIS RESULTED IN ME BEING THROWN FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS MULTIPLE TIMES (AT LEAST 3 THAT I RECALL). I SUFFERED A TBI, AND MISSED 2.5 MONTHS OF WORK. I HAD TO QUIT MY SECOND JOB. I HAVE ALSO HAD ONGOING NECK PAIN, INITIALLY THOUGHT TO BE MUSCULAR. AN MRI RECENTLY COMPLETED SHOWS DISK HERNIATION OF C3-C6.

NHTSA ODI 10862120

3RD GEAR DROPS INTO 4TH GEAR VERY EASILY AT TIMES WHEN STANDING STILL. IN 4WD LOW IF YOU THINK YOU IN NEUTRAL BUT ARE IN 4TH GEAR WHEN RELEASING THE CLUTCH WHICH MAKES THE VEHICLE DRIVE FORWARD. THIS COULD BE LIFE THREATENING.

NHTSA ODI 10837071

2012 JEEP WRANGLER WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL AND STARTED WITH THE EBRAKE UP. I LET UP ON THE CLUTCH AS I EXITED THE VEHICLE. AS SOON AS MY FEET HIT THE GROUND, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED AND DROVE 60 FT, CRASHING COMPLETELY THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND RIPPING IT OFF. JEEP CLAIMS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PROPERLY FUNCTIONING CONDITION SINCE THEY CANNOT REPEAT THIS INDEPENDENT ACCELERATION.

NHTSA ODI 10836269