What 1,793 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Jeep Wrangler 4-door 4xe

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Jeep started on fire and is still at a tow yard in Belchertown, MA How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The Jeep started on fire while I was driving. I pulled over as the engine was smoking and then it burst into flames while I was still inside. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Not that I know of. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, we gave permission for our insurance agency and Jeep to inspect the burned out vehicle. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? While I was driving, the engine temp and coolant warning lights shot way up and then the engine began to smoke. I pulled over and before I could exit the vehicle, fire was coming into the cab through the air vents.

NHTSA ODI 11745771

Was stopping at red light. Got to about 5mph when Jeep accelerated to about 35mph. I was standing on the breaks but the Jeep kept accelerating until impact struck the car in front me which was stopped. I have video.

NHTSA ODI 11739609

My wife and I were at a stop light behind a box truck in our 2018 Jeep Wrangler, about 15 feet between us. I had slowed to stop and had my foot on the brake. All of the sudden the Jeep reved up (idle increase), did not see the tachometer, and with my foot on the brake accelerated into the box truck in front of us. When it started to accelerate, I pushed the brake peddle to the floor to stop the Jeep but it did not do a thing. I see 2 problems her: 1. The acceleration when stopped 2. The brake did not hold. There were no injuries or damage to the box truck. We were able to drive the Jeep about 20 miles to the dealer we bought at. It is ow being worked on in the body shop. The Jeep dealer technicians did a computer check on any codes that were activated, but unfortunately all after the fact.

NHTSA ODI 11711717

UNKNOWN what failed because it burned to the ground. August 8, 2025 The Jeep was running and driving normal. I pulled over into Robert Louis Stevenson Park parking area to let my kids (ages 3 and 4) out for a potty break. I left the vehicle running since it was hot and the AC was on. As I was getting my first child out smoke started pouring out of the passenger side wheel well and hood, coming from the engine compartment. I got my kids out in a hurry and there were flames within about 45 seconds. The Jeep was fully engulfed within about 2 minutes. Fire department took 12 minutes to arrive on scene and extinguish the Jeep fire and accompanying tree that had caught on fire. All of my belongings inside the vehicle were destroyed and not covered under the vehicle insurance policy. I am grateful I managed to get my kids out of the car and to safety and that we are all okay, but this was an extremely dangerous situation and we are lucky we pulled over where we did. I reached out to Stellantis, and they sent out an investigator, but he was bound by privacy rules with them, and nobody ever told me what they found other than Stellantis sending a letter saying "they are not led to believe it was a manufacturing responsibility." Additionally, there was a police report filed with Napa, CA California Highway Patrol Office, as another car was melted a bit during the incident. There were ZERO warnings that anything was wrong with the vehicle while driving. Nothing to indicate that something catastrophic was about to happen or that anything was wrong at all. The Jeep only had 27,000 miles on it and had been dealer serviced its entire life and only 1,000 miles prior to this incident as well.

NHTSA ODI 11710924

The check engine light came on in my car. I was waiting for the dealer to call me to fix it for the 3rd time. I was on my way home when every electrical option on the vehicle turned on- wipers, lights, dash lights, brake- which caused the car to brake- then it turned off and I had no brakes, the car had no steering, it accelerated and I went off the road.

NHTSA ODI 11670910

My vehicle will randomly have the check engine light come on, a service shifter light come on, and then lose the ability to steer. I have taken it to the dealership twice and told it was fixed. Now it is back at the dealership for the third time. As a result of this issue I was involved in a car accident when a van came into my lane and I was unable to avoid impact and they were able to leave the scene. This is a safety issue for not only myself and anyone in my car but also anyone on the road around me. I did not file a police report regarding the accident as my situation involves a language barrier and I was so upset I just wanted to get home and be safe. Now I am in a state of fear anytime I drive my vehicle. I did have passengers and witnesses for two different instances where our lives were put in jeopordy because of this issue. On a separate occasion we were on a busy highway lost steering and were unable to get out of first gear. If I end up in a court situation I have several witnesses that would all be willing to make statements on my behalf as their lives were also put in jeopardy. I'm very upset as this vehicle was expensive and I bought it brand new. Now I've been out of a car for weeks and am being told I may have to pay for something that is clearly an ongoing issue. I have read several forums and articles and complaints from fellow jeep owners, many the same year, who have experienced the same issue. This is horrendous! My service records are all on file with Auto Centro Caguas in Puerto Rico.

NHTSA ODI 11642497

As I was driving this vehicle alone on [XXX] , I smelled a burning smell and the clutch seemed to have trouble shifting gears. I was driving approximately 40 mph, attempted to shift gears, heard a loud bang and saw fire at my feet, looked in the rear view mirror and saw fire in the back. I pulled the emergency break and jumped out of the car. It then burst into flames and incinerated the car with all my belongings in it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11631662

During a high-speed collision/accident the vehicle had a high speed impact and rolled several times during the accident. The airbag system did not deploy as it should have the airbags in the seats for the sides, and the back did not deploy the driver of the vehicle myself was injured severely and ejected from the vehicle due to the airbags, not deploying, I sustained multiple injuries the only airbag that deployed was from the steering wheel which cause multiple rib fractures, and no other airbags were deployed The drivers seatbelt was locked, and could not be removed, unable to open the seatbelts.

NHTSA ODI 11583812

My vehicle defrost was on for the back defroster on my way to work as it was one of the coldest days where I live. I work for the fire department and work 48 hrs on. The second day of my shift one of my coworkers noticed the back window broken out on my jeep. Upon looking at what caused it there is burn marks where the rear defrosters touch the window. I initially called the police but they agreed the window was broken due to the rear defroster wires burning the window causing it to break out. Jeep sent out an engineer and is denying all liability. There are TONS of people reporting this on the jeep forums/blogs. I have pictures to prove the burn marks. It appears it happens so often that a jeep sales company “Quadratec” is sold out of replacement rear windows. One guy posted on the Jeep Forum it happened while he was driving 70 on an interstate. Another gentleman posted it happened two times to him as his rear window just broke out. There are tons of pictures on the Jeep blog as well. I have several pictures of mine and it’s still broken. I’m due to get it repaired on Monday Jan 29, 2024. I can forward all my pictures if need be.

NHTSA ODI 11566476

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, he noticed an abnormal melted metal odor. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that he inspected the hood and underneath the vehicle, but no issues were found. The contact stated that the odor persisted as he was driving back to his residence. The contact also stated that while changing gears, the clutch went down to the floorboard and failed to rise. Additionally, the gear shifter was loose, and the transmission seemed to be on neutral (N). The contact stated that another driver then alerted him that there was fire in the front of the vehicle. The contact immediately pulled to the side of the road. The contact then saw fire coming from the cowl. The contact and his partner immediately exited the vehicle. The contact then remove his belongings from the rear seats. The contact stated that he opened the hood and noticed that there was fire in the engine compartment. The contact stated that the fire extended from underneath the engine compartment to underneath the front driver's and passenger's seats. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with two cases of water bottles. The fire department later arrived at the scene and filed a report. The contact was unsure whether a police report was filed. The contact stated that he sustained minor burns on the left wrist and on the right hand. The contact did not seek medical assistance. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The insurance company then towed the vehicle to a tow lot to be investigated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V116000 ( Power Train). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11555237

The contact owned a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle had lost power and had shifting issues with the manual transmission. The contact noticed smoke from under the hood and tried to pull to the side of the road. While pulling to the side of the road, under the hood had caught on fire. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road safely. The automatic shift warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a scrapyard. The origin of the fire was unknown. The fire was located under the hood. The fire department had extinguished the fire. A fire department report was not filed. A police department report was not filed. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000

NHTSA ODI 11549801

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated after parking and turning off the vehicle, she saw smoke exiting from the hood. The contact stated she removed her two infants from the vehicle before locating the fire extinguisher she had available in the vehicle. The contact stated the fire extinguisher was broken but was able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher that was provided by a school bus driver that was in the area. The fire department did arrive at the location after the fire was extinguished and filed a fire report. The contact was not aware if the police deputy at the scene filed a police report. The contact stated she burned her right middle finder while extinguishing the fire but did not seek medical attention for her injury. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,800.

NHTSA ODI 11523829

The contact's son owned a  2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, there was a fire coming from the rear end underneath the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11514249

I had the Y03 recall done on August 30, 2021. My 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL Sahara Unlimited has 53,00 miles. On my way home from vacation, June 4, 2022, my clutch plate overheated, exploded through the bell housing and transmission, burnt the wire casing, and melted the fuel line. I had to leave my Jeep in NC and get a rental car to make it home. After being at a dealership 7 hours away from home for a week in Jacksonville, NC, I am told by the dealer that Chrysler will not honor my Powertrain warranty because the clutch is not a covered component; however, the issue that occurred with the clutch and how it occurred is exactly what both the Y03 and W12 recall said could happen. The W12 recall is still showing "incomplete in every location I've checked, including Chrysler and Mopar; however, I am being told that the simpler fix noted in the Y03 recall supersedes the W12 recall instructions - which required service techs to perform a hydraulic clutch system bleed and also perform of clutch health check procedure; whereas the Y03 skips these steps. I spoke to someone at MOPAR who told me that all components related to the recall (i.e. the clutch) have a 2-year warranty after the recall is completed, but any other components affected by the clutch failure are not covered. How can Jeep/Chrysler know there is an ongoing clutch issue specifically with the clutch plate and not honor/cover repairs that result because of it? And, how can a wire sheath and software update guarantee the potential failure is resolved if the clutch is never inspected to make sure the clutch plate hasn't already been compromised because of excessive heat? I have already filed a complaint with NHSTA, spoken to Chrysler Corporate (without any luck). Chrysler and Mopar should stand by their parts/vehicles when something catastrophic like this happens. Had the fuel line caused a fire, my Jeep could have exploded or caused a serious accident/death/injury.

NHTSA ODI 11472253

The steering wheel is loose/has too much play. The Jeep wanders when holding the wheel straight. When driving, turning the wheel 2-3 inches in either direction produced not movement at all in my tires. This was not an issue before steering recalls were done. Unfortunately, with Covid and working from home, I did not drive a lot, and definitely not need to take it on highway. April 9th was the first time taking it on the highway for a trip (Connecticut to Kentucky). I did not make it. I was in an accident when a vehicle appeared to be to coming to close. I recall turning the wheel and not getting any response…then jerking more out of fear which was to much and I ended up smashing into a guardrail. I had to leave it in Pennsylvania at a collision center for repairs. May 26 - Can repairs complete so I picked it up in PA and drove to Louisville. A 7hr trip took 2-days. I has to drive slow, and so way could I drive it while it was raining. It was wandering and all over the highway and the steering was not responsive. June 3 -I brought it into Cross Jeep as soon as they had an opening. They rotated the tire and test drive it. I was told they did not notice anything out of the ordinary. The loose steering is how Jeeps drive. I was told to take it home and see how things were after the tire rotation. June 6 - First thing Monday I called to bring Jeep back in because it was driving the same. I left message with the answering service and I texted, but was unable to reach someone to make an appointment. June 7 - Got in touch with service and scheduled and appointment for their soonest opening (June 13) June 13 - Brought Jeep in and explained loose Staring and wandering is still an issue in the vehicle does not feel safe and is not safe because it caused me to crash. I showed them a video on the loose steering. I was told there is nothing they can do. That’s how “Jeeps” drive. I insisted they look further and I also file a complaint with Jeep.

NHTSA ODI 11468970

The Jeep Wrangler JL Sport S (2018), has been having steering issues (death wobble) while driving at highway speeds whenever it encounters a bump or potholes at speeds greater than 60mph. The only remedy is to break and slow down to 40mph, this poses a safety hazard on interstates and highways as the vehicles behind have limited time to react and operating this vehicle while it is vibrating is extremely hard and dangerous in traffic. Myself and my wife have been victims of several road rash incidents as the vehicle's behind don't know what is going on when we slow down to stop vibrating, they have honked us and have even followed my wife for 5 miles harassing her on the interstate. We have an infant at home and are concerned for his safety as he travels with us in the Jeep. The car dealer continues to recommend replacing the "steering dampener" as a remedy but having replaced it twice has not fixed the issue. We need FCA to fix this as soon as possible as operating this vehicle in this condition is not acceptable.

NHTSA ODI 11468684

The back seat in my vehicle came off it's mounting points and partially exited the back window during a rear end accident. The seat was folded forward at the time so no one could have been sitting in it in that configuration but: - I don't have confidence that in the regular position it would have held in place with passengers , and - If I had the top off the rear seat would have left the vehicle, possibly injuring others around the crash.

NHTSA ODI 11467098

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, his wife noticed a strong burning odor coming from underneath the vehicle. . The contact's wife drove the vehicle out of the garage and parked outside. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch was fractured, had failed, and had a burning smell. The dealer also diagnosed that the engine RPMs rev up between shifts of the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact became aware that the recall for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V028000 (POWER TRAIN) was completed on the vehicle in 2021 to prevent transmission clutch failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that the dealer would need to disassemble the transmission and the clutch further for proof that the failure is related to the recall for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V028000 (POWER TRAIN). The manufacturer also advised the contact that he would need to commit $600 before the dealer disassemble the transmission and clutch. The contact declined. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.

NHTSA ODI 11452228

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked in the garage for 10 days. The contact stated that as he opened the garage door, he saw smoke. The contact looked around but he could not determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that he opened the hood of the vehicle and noticed that the fuse box and the fuse wires had burned. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was not filed. The independent mechanic arrived at the contact's residence and diagnosed that the fuse box and the fuse wires had burned. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and sent an investigator who diagnosed the vehicle. The manufacturer sent a letter to the contact stating that based on the investigator report, no issues were found and the failure was not a manufacturer defect. The dealer informed the contact that the fuse box and fuse wires needed to be replaced and he would be responsible for the cost of the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 1,100.

NHTSA ODI 11441735

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

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A GAS STATION IN A RIGHT HAND TURN TO ENTER A HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN PLACE IN THE RIGHT TURN AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN BACK TO THE LEFT AND CONTINUED IN THE RIGHT HAND TURN INTO THE BARRICADES. IT WAS PHYSICALLY LOCKED.

NHTSA ODI 11394782

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS CLIENT WHO OWNED 2018 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE CLIENT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE OFF THE LOT, WHEN HE SAW SMOKE EXITING THE HOOD. THE CLIENT WAS ABLE TO PARK SAFELY ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CLIENT ALSO STATED HE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS DEEMED TOTAL LOSS FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CLIENT DID NOT HAVE ANY INJURIES. THE CLIENT INFORMED THE DEALER REGARDING TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED UPON INVESTIGATION, THE VIN WAS ASSOCIATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V124000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,033.

NHTSA ODI 11387566

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

I HAVE A LEMON JEEP THAT HAS CAUSED ME MANY ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE STEERING ISSUE AND ENGINE OVERHEATING AND LEAKING OIL WHICH I ALMOST STARTED A WILDFIRE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MOUNTAINS HIGHWAY 299. UNACCEPTABLE, FCA DOESNT CARE ....

NHTSA ODI 11364775

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