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

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

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

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 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

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

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

NOTICED A BURNT CLUTCH SMELL. COULD NOT ACCELERATE AFTER CLUTCH BURNT OUT. CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN TRYING TO TRANSITION AND ACCELERATE AND THE CLUTCH STARTED BURNING AND SMOKING AND THE GAS PEDAL STOPPED ACCELERATING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327676

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN APPROX 30MPH ON A CITY ROAD WHEN A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND LUCKILY A STRANGER FOLLOWING BEHIND QUICKLY ESCORTED THE DRIVER OUT AS THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY WENT UP IN FLAMES. METAL CHUNKS AND PIECES COULD BE HEARD FALLING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION THE TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETELY EXPLODED AND EJECTED THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY SHEARING THE INPUT SHAFT AND RUPTURING A FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS A COMPLETE TOTAL LOSS WITH FLAMES IMMEDIATELY ENTERING THE PASSENGER CABIN IN SECONDS. IF IT WAS NOT FOR A BRAVE BYSTANDER SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. THIS IS A NEW TRANSMISSION INTRODUCED IN THE NEW JL WRANGLER AND GLADIATOR AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE AND MORE. IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT JEEP REFUSES TO LOOK INTO AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY. TRANSMISSION EXPLOSION TO THIS DEGREE NOT ONLY CAN RESULT IN A FIRE BUT ALSO METAL PROJECTILES HITTING BYSTANDERS AND COMING THROUGH THE FLOOR BOARDS AND POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. IF YOU ARE READING THIS AND HAVE A MANUAL JEEP WRANGLER HAVE IT CHECKED IMMEDIATELY! THIS WAS A COMPLETELY UNKNOWN PROBLEM SHOWING NO SYMPTOMS WHATSOEVER.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11307999

MY FIVE WEEK OLD MANUAL JEEP WRANGLER JL WITH APPROXIMATELY 1500 MILES ON IT WAS IN MOTION TRAVELLING WESTBOUND ON A 55 MPH ROAD WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE JEEP HAD BEEN IN MOTION FOR APPROXIMATELY 1/4 OF A MILE WHEN IT WAS SHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR AND PART OF THE TRANSMISSION FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHIFTED INTO 4TH GEAR, AGAIN MORE PARTS FELL FROM BENEATH THE JEEP. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE GEAR CHANGE THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH ALL LIT UP AND BLACK SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE SEEN SIMULTANEOUSLY ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE JEEP WAS IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE 911 WAS CALLED. THE FIREFIGHTERS FOUND PIECES OF THE TRANSMISSION HUNDREDS OF YARDS FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 11257077

VEHICLE DRIVEN FO APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES WITH NO APPARENT ISSUES. AVERAGE SPEED ABOUT 40 TO 50 MPH. DRIVER SMELLED A CONCERNING ODOR, PULLED INTO A PARKING, GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND NOTICED A FLAME. SHE CALLED 911AND VEHICLE BECAME FULLY ENGULFED. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH JEEP.

NHTSA ODI 11140284