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What 1,793 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 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 (1,793)Crash / fire / injury (50)Steering (1,112)Suspension (342)Electrical system (257)Transmission & drivetrain (170)Engine (98)Body & structure (96)Wheels (61)Brakes (59)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (46)Visibility & wipers (42)

96 of 1,793 complaints match · Body & structure · clear filters · page 2 of 4

Apr 28, 2021Body & structure

POOR QUALITY WELDS ON THE WHOLE FRAME OF MY JEEP. NOT ONLY THAT BUT IT IS A 2 YEAR VEHICLE THAT IS RUSTING AWAY. CALIFORNIA VEHICLE KEEP IN MIND SO RUST SHOULD BE VERY MINIMAL. ALSO THE 5' UCONNECT RADIO FREEZES OFTEN AND SHUTS ON AND OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11414367

Mar 13, 2021Transmission & drivetrainBody & structureEngineFire

WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY WIFE AND FIVE YR OLD SON WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD POP UNDERNEATH OUR 2018 JEEP WRANGLER AND INSTANTLY SAW A TRAIL OF SMOKE BEHIND US. WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO FIND TRANSMISSION GUILD GUSHING FROM UNDERNEATH WITH TONS OF SMOKE AS WELL. WE WERE HOPING THE SMOKE WAS PROBABLY JUST FROM FLUID ON THE MANIFOLD BUT WE SMALL FLASHES OF FIRE STARTING AT THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH AREA. I QUICKLY GRABBED MY SON SITTING IN BACK AND WE JUMPED OVER THE CONCRETE BARRIER ON THE SIDE AND RAN AWAY FROM THE JEEP AS IT QUICKLY BECAME ENGULFED. IT STILL HAD THE TEMP TAGS HAVING ONLY HAD IT THREE WEEKS. IT WAS A 2018 WITH 15K MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11402813

Feb 26, 2021Body & structure

MY 2018 JEEP WRANGLER WAS PURCHASED IN JULY 2019 AND THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNING I NOTICED THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE JEEP'S FRAME APPEARED TO BE RUSTY. FIRST OWNER, HAD NOT BEEN THROUGH A MICHIGAN WINTER... YET. RECENTLY THE JEEP STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH LEAKING COOLANT AND ONCE I GOT UNDER THE VEHICLE, I WAS IN COMPLETE SHOCK WITH THE APPEARANCE OF THE FRAME. IT STILL IS RUSTY BUT THE ENTIRE FRAME LOOKED LIKE A 6TH GRADE ASPIRING ENGINEER DESIGNED THE VEHICLE AND USED PARTS FROM GRANDPAS GARAGE TO CONSTRUCT THE FRAME. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE FRAME OF 2018 JEEP WRANGLERS.

NHTSA ODI 11398132

Feb 26, 2021SteeringBody & structureLane Departure

2018 JEEP WRANGLER HAS TERRIFYING STEERING ISSUES. CONSISTENTLY WHILE STEERING A HIGHWAY CURVE AT 40-55 MPH MY JEEP STEERING DISENGAGES AND RESULTS IN AN UNSAFE INABILITY TO MAINTAIN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE STEERING CAN BE DESCRIBED AS LOOSE AND COMMONLY DESCRIBED BY PASSENGERS AS THE UNSETTLING FEELING THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS COMING OFF THE WHEELS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE NOT BEEN INJURED YET BUT IF THIS CONTINUES I DON'T THINK IT WILL REMAIN THAT WAY.

NHTSA ODI 11398134

Nov 8, 2020Transmission & drivetrainBody & structureEngineFire1 injury

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND SAW AN ARC FLASH AND PULLED TO THE SIDE EMERGENCY LANE. I THEN SAW FLAMES DRIPPING FROM MY JEEP AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE JEEP WENT UP IN FLAMES AND CAUGHT FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11373646

Oct 27, 2020Body & structure

WATER INTRUSION IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT - DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOOR AREA.

NHTSA ODI 11366614

Sep 8, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemBody & structureFire

WHILE MY 16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE FL 528/BEACHLINE EXPRESSWAY THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE ASSEMBLY EXPLODED OFF MY VEHICLE. FLUIDS DRAINED AND IGNITED. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS BURNED TO ASHES. THE FULL ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT IS INCLUDED IN THE UPLOAD.

NHTSA ODI 11353833

Aug 19, 2020SuspensionBody & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WELDS ON THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED THROUGHOUT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, SOME WELDS WERE NOT COMPLETED AND NOT CONNECTED TO THE JOINTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHNSON DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM DEALER (481 US-46, BUDD LAKE, NJ 07828), AND AN INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE WARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,000.

NHTSA ODI 11350249

Jun 18, 2020SteeringBody & structure

RUST ON THE FRAME (MAINLY THE WELDS) AND HUBS. THE DOORS LEAK ON DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS FLOOR WHEN OPENED DURING RAIN. STEERING HAS PLAY WHEN GOING THROUGH TURNS WHILE MAINTAINING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329630

Apr 26, 2020Body & structure

A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FRAME WELDS ARE RUSTING LESS THAN 1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASE.

NHTSA ODI 11322306

Feb 14, 2020SuspensionBody & structure

BODY: WATER LEAK FROM HARDTOP (RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER) AND (FRONT CENTER - WHERE HARDTOP MEETS WINDSHIELD PILLAR). MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT (REPLACED ALL SEALS) AND THERE IS STILL A LEAK FROM FRONT CENTER (WHERE HARDTOP MEETS WINDSHIELD PILLAR). SUSPENSION: LOUD 'CLUNK' OR 'THUMP' COMING FROM REAR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM BOTH A DEAD STOP AND WHILE MOVING AT LESS THAN (5) MPH AND ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ODI 11309117

Jan 23, 2020SteeringElectrical systemBody & structure

WELD QUALITY ON FRAME ARE VERY QUESTIONABLE. WHEN MY JEEP TWISTS WHILE OFF-ROADING, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WANTS TO TEAR ITSELF APART AND THE DOORS DONT WANT TO SHUT CLOSE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FULLY FLEXED. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO THE NEWER 2019+ MODELS WITH OBVIOUS BETTER WELDS ON FRAME. IT GETS ANNOYING WITH ALL THE CRUNCHING NOISE THE BODY MAKES WHEN I DRIVE ON UNEVEN ROADS. AGAIN, NOT SEEN ON NEWER MODELS. ALSO, THE STEERING STABILIZER WAS REPLACED AND STILL MY STEERING WHEEL START SHAKING WHEN I DRIVE ON UNEVEN ROADS. I HAVE TAKEN MY JEEP TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES COMPLAINING ABOUT THE RADIO AND IT KEEPS SHUTTING OFF AND VOLUME FREEZING.

NHTSA ODI 11301477

Jan 20, 2020Body & structure

WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED SEVERAL (MANY) WELDS ON THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE THAT WAS VERY POOR. HOWEVER, IN ADDITION TO POOR WELD QUALITY, I NOTICED SEVERAL WELDS THAT WERE POORLY PAINTED/TREATED AND RAW METAL AND RUST ARE VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE. HAVING CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA NO ONE WILL RETURN MY CALLS. I WILL BE PERSONALLY TREATING THE AREAS AND REPAINTING TO AVOID WORSENING CONDITION.

NHTSA ODI 11300580

Jan 9, 2020SuspensionBody & structure

NOTHING HAPPENED PER SAY. SAW A NEWS STORY REGARDING THE INVESTIGATION INTO JEEP FOR POOR WORKMANSHIP ON FRAME WELDS. HAD MY JEEP LOOKED AT AND REALIZED MINE HAS FAULTY FRAME WELDS, AS WELL. SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS.

NHTSA ODI 11298253

Dec 15, 2019SteeringSuspensionBody & structure

HEAVY AMOUNT OF RUST THROUGHOUT THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. RUST IS LOCATED ON FRAME WELDS, SUSPENSION CONNECTION BRACKETS, AND AXEL COMPONENTS. PHOTOS WERE TAKEN 10 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I TOOK THE JEEP BACK AND ASKED THEM TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS SAFE. THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS CRAZY AND SAID YEP THAT IS NORMAL TO HAVE RUST. I ASKED IT IS NORMAL TO HAVE THIS MUCH RUST ON A BRAND NEW CAR. THAT IS CRAZY. THE STEERING JERKS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT CONSTANTLY AND YOU ARE ALWAYS HAVING TO FIGHT IT TO STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I HAVE READ FROM OTHER REPORT THAT THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. I HOPE THIS ISSUE WILL BE RESOLVED. I BOUGHT MY CAR ON 06/29/2019. THE PHOTOS THAT ARE ATTACHED FOR YOUR REVIEW WERE TAKEN ON 07/11/2019 THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11289112

Dec 7, 2019Body & structure

BACK IN OCTOBER 2019, I RENTED A NEW JEEP WRANGLER FROM ENTERPRISE FOR A TRIP TO CHICAGO FOR WORK. WHILE BOTH TRAVELING TO AND FROM CHICAGO, I HAD TWO INSTANCES WHILE TRAVELING ON ROUTE 80 IN OHIO, WHERE I WENT OVER SMALL BUMPS, AND THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. ON THE RETURN TRIP HOME, I ACTUALLY HAD TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND SLOW DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES PER HOUR TO GET THE SHAKING TO STOP. WHEN RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO ENTERPRISE, I INFORMED THEM OF WHAT HAPPENED. THEY THEN STATED THEY GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WRNAGLER AND WOULD TAKE SOME MONEY OFF OF MY BILL. I TOLD THEM THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND, AND THAT THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THAT MY WIFE HAS THE SAME VEHICLE AND IF THIS HAPPENED IN HER CAR, I WOULD NOT ALLOW HER TO DRIVE IT. FAST FORWARD TO THE NIGHT OF 12/6/2019. WHILE TRAVELING TO MY WIFE'S CHRISTMAS PARTY (IN HER 2018 JEEP WRANGLER) ON ROUTE 680 NORTHBOUND AT 60 MPH, I HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. WE THEN HAD TO SLOW DOWN IN ORDER TO GET THIS SHAKING TO STOP. I LOOKED OVER AT HER AND SAID THAT THIS CAN IN NO WAY BE NORMAL. SHE THEN INFORMED ME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HER A FEW TIMES AS WELL. THERE IS NO WAY THIS CANNOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I DEFINITELY DO NOT WANT MY WIFE DRIVING THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11287612

Dec 2, 2019Body & structure

VEHICLE FRAME HAS SEVERAL LOCATIONS WITH POOR WELDS. SPECIFICALLY, EXCESSIVE WELD SPLASH AND POROUS WELDS SIMILAR IN APPEARANCE TO OTHER OWNERS OF 2018 MODEL YEAR JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11286349

Nov 10, 2019SteeringBody & structure

WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 60MPH IF I RUN OVER A POT HOLE OR A BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINT I LOSE MY STEERING .IF I DON'T SLOW DOWN TO 30MPH QUICKLY I WILL NOT HAVE CONTROL. THE PART THAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT I ALREADY WAS SERVICED FOR THE STEERING RECALL .

NHTSA ODI 11279231

Oct 22, 2019Body & structure

THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION TO THE QUALITY AND SAFETY OF THE WELDS ON THE 2018 JEEP WRANGLER JL. I HAVE A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER WHICH IS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS POOR WELDING TO ADD TO YOUR INVESTIGATION. SEE ATTACHED EXAMPLE AS ONE OF THE EXAMPLES OF THE WELDING ON MY JEEP FRAME.

NHTSA ODI 11270227

Oct 4, 2019Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED SEVERAL CRACKS IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS POORLY WELDED AND THE METAL IS CONTAMINATED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH STONERIDGE CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE (2700 STONERIDGE DR, PLEASANTON, CA 94588, 925-479-9090) AND PLEADED WITH THE DEALER TO EITHER CANCEL HIS CONTRACT WITH THE VEHICLE OR ALLOW HIM TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER ONE. THE DEALER REFUSED HIS REQUEST AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CALL HIM BACK. THE CONTACT HAD YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. *DT *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11266104

Sep 29, 2019SteeringElectrical systemBody & structure

STEERING WONDERS AND IS UNRESPONSIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS REQUIRING CONSTANT CORRECTION. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DAMPER OR TRACK BAR, AS I HAVE HAD THESE REPLACED, YET THE PROBLEM PERSISTS (9/29/2019). I ALSO, HAD THE BCM BODY CONTROL MODULE FAIL (7/11/2019) WHILE IN MOTION WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING TO LOCKUP AND THE JEEP NOT RESPOND (THANKFULLY THIS WAS A LOW SPEED INCIDENT).

NHTSA ODI 11258906

Sep 29, 2019SuspensionBody & structure

BOUGHT A 2018 JEEP JLU NEW. HAD IT FOR ONLY 5 MONTHS AND ALL OF THE WELDS ON THE FRAME AND AXLES AND OTHER COMPONENTS HAVE RUSTED. HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN ON THE ROAD AND NEVER SEEN ITS FIRST WINTER

NHTSA ODI 11258899

Sep 26, 2019Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WELDING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR WAS CORRODED, FRACTURED, AND EMITTED A NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI 11258280

Sep 23, 2019SteeringBody & structure

EXCESSIVELY LOOSE STEERING/EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING/DEAD SPOT IN STEERING. 1.5 TO 2 INCHES FROM CENTER IN EITHER DIRECTION IN WHICH STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT ENGAGE TIRES. STEERING JERKS AND HYPER CORRECTS WHEN IT DOES ENGAGE. BECOMES WORSE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DANGEROUS AT HIGHWAY SPEED. EXCESSIVE WANDERING, DOES NOT TRACK STRAIGHT, AT SLOW SPEED STEERING PULLS IN EITHER DIRECTION AS THOUGH IT NEEDS ALIGNMENT. BAD WELDS, VARIOUS LOCATIONS. PURCHASED VEHICLE IN APRIL 2019. ISSUE HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE PURCHASE. HAVE HAD IT AT DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES. WE HAVE A 2019 JL RUBICON THAT DOES NOT DO IT. I HAVE ALSO DRIVEN OTHER 2 DOOR 2018'S THAT DO NOT HAVE THE ISSUE AND OTHER 2018'S THAT DO HAVE THE ISSUE. CHRYSLER CURRENTLY INVOLVED. I HAVE VIDEO AND DEALERSHIP/CHRYSLER RECORDS.

NHTSA ODI 11257479

Sep 22, 2019SteeringBody & structure

MULTIPLE SUB FRAME WELDS ARE INCOMPLETE OR NOT DONE PROPERLY. SEE PHOTOS.

NHTSA ODI 11257219

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Working with the data? Download all 1,793 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 2018 Jeep Wrangler 4-door 4xe verdict →