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2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Phev
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
828 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 15, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Transmission & drivetrain problems dominate (34% of complaints, typically reported near 40k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
6 open NHTSA defect investigations on file for this model year, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Phev, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Steering (204) · Fuel system (45)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Transmission & drivetrain
34%282 complaints · typically near 40k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“My Oil pump and oil sensor keep going out every 4,000 miles. I have already had to replace it once. I don’t want to have to do it again. Clearly something is causing t…”
Steering
25%204 complaints
“I have experienced on a number of occasions, when traveling on the highway at speeds greater than 60 MPH and the vehicle his a bump in the road (expansion joint, potho…”
Engine
21%172 complaints · typically near 26k mi · 9 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but…”
Electrical system
18%147 complaints · typically near 25k mi · 5 in the last 2 years
“THE 2012 Jeep 4 door Wrangler had the ABS Control Module internal error failure, this makes the car unsafe to drive. The dealer cannot get repair parts, the car is un-…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2012 Jeep WRANGLER UNLIMITED PHEV beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every Wrangler Unlimited Phev model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Phev against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.