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What 451 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Jeep Wrangler

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 (451)Crash / fire / injury (48)Brakes (125)Engine (88)Airbags (77)Transmission & drivetrain (72)Electrical system (55)Speed control (34)Steering (27)Body & structure (18)Fuel system (14)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (13)

4 of 451 complaints match · Body & structure · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

May 2, 2020Body & structure1 injury

MY DAUGHTER HAD HER RIGHT HAND PINKY FINGER TOP SEMI AMPTUATED WITH A TUFT FRACTURE WITH THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR OF THE STRIKER AND LATCH. THIS HAPPENED ON JAN 2019 AND WE PAID OVER 10K IN MEDICAL BILLS AND HER PINKY IS DISFIGURED. WE HAVEN'T REACH OUT TO LAWYERS BUT WE DO SEE A FLAW WITH THE STRIKER AND DOOR SETUP WITH THE 4 DOOR JEEPS THAT A REDESIGN OR COVER WOULD HELP. THE ISSUE IS ANY BOOSTER SEAT OR CHILD CAR SEAT PUTS A TODDLER OR KIDS HAND/FINGERS AT RISK WHICH FALL WITHIN 1-2 INCHES FROM THE BRACKET OF THE DOOR OF THE ARM REST OF MOST MAJOR BRAND SEATS. THIS SITS LEVEL TO THE STRIKER AND LATCH. THE PROXIMITY OF THE SEATBELT AND THE LEVEL AT THE DOOR STRIKER IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR LITTLE ONES SITTING IN BACK. THERE IS NO GUARD OR BARRIER TO PREVENT FROM TINY FINGER BEING CAUGHT IN THE STACK AND BEING STRUCK BY THE DOOR OR STRIKER. FROM THE INSIDE, WITH THE DOOR CLOSED, YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THE REAR DOOR STRIKER AND LATCH. NOT ONLY FINGERS BUT HAIR TOO IS A PROBLEM. THIS IS CONCERNING TO US EVERY TIME WE PUT OUR LITTLE ONES IN THE BACK. IF NEED BE I CAN SEND A VIDEO OF IT AND REPLICATE THE RISK. I DID CONTACT A NEWS AGENCY BUT WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM.*DT*JB*DT*JS*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11323036

Dec 31, 2019Body & structureWheelsFire

CONTACT STATED VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. WEEK BEFORE, ANTI SKID AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON BUT SHUTS OFF. DRIVING ON A PAVED ROAD WHEN ENGINE DIED. FIRE BROKE OUT INSTANTLY FROM THE FRONT RIGHT CONSUMING ENTIRE VEHICLE. WE HAD JUST LEFT A DIRT ROAD ONTO THE PAVED ROAD, DROVE ABOUT 200-300 YARDS WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11292328

Sep 4, 2017Body & structureCrash

MY 2016 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED WAS PARKED IN AN ALMOST PERFECTLY FLAT PARKING LOT, LOCKED, WITH NO ONE IN THE VEHICLE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT ON. THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE. IT BEGAN TO ROLL AWAY BACKWARDS OVER A HILLSIDE, ABOUT A 20 FOOT DROP, INTO THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROADWAY. THE JEEP LANDED ON THE BACK BUMPER/BACK DOOR.

NHTSA ODI 11021370

Oct 4, 2016Body & structure1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PANEL WAS EXTREMELY SHARP AND CONTINUOUSLY INJURED THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER UPON EXITING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112. UPDATED 01/05/2017*CT

NHTSA ODI 10913661

Working with the data? Download all 451 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 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 2016 Jeep Wrangler verdict →