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2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Diesel
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
647 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 15, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Transmission & drivetrain problems dominate (35% of complaints, typically reported near 20k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
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.
4 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 2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Diesel, plotted where owners report it happening.
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Transmission & drivetrain
35%229 complaints · typically near 20k mi · 2 in the last 2 years
“When driving approximately 45 mph and above the entire car starts to violently shake. I don't know what part causes this problem. I've heard it could be : steering dam…”
Steering
26%167 complaints · typically near 11k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“Air bag light keeps coming on and off while driving . none stop digging....can not seem to Find the problem other them air bags may not work properly”
Engine
22%140 complaints · typically near 37k mi · 5 in the last 2 years
“Loud rattle noise on start up and ticking sound when running. Also using a little antifreeze. There is no antifreeze leaks.”
Electrical system
16%102 complaints · typically near 37k mi · 7 in the last 2 years
“ABS anti lock module stopped working. Vehicle braking system is now compromise. It also send the speed to the transmission, which is causing the erratic drivability.”
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 2013 Jeep WRANGLER UNLIMITED DIESEL beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2013? See how every Wrangler Unlimited Diesel model year scores →
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What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.