What 885 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4-door

I am filing this safety complaint regarding my 2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara Altitude. The vehicle is experiencing a fuel gauge/fuel reading malfunction. The gauge does not accurately reflect the amount of fuel in the vehicle, which creates a serious safety concern because the vehicle may run out of fuel unexpectedly while being operated on public roads. This defect places me and other drivers at risk, especially if the vehicle stalls in traffic, on a highway, or in an unsafe location. I am requesting that NHTSA review this issue as a potential safety defect.

NHTSA ODI 11749389

My 2021 Jeep Wrangler 3.0L EcoDiesel experienced a failure of the engine oil cooler that allowed engine oil and engine coolant to cross contaminate. The oil cooler on this engine sits between the oil and coolant passages, so an internal failure of that component mixes the two systems. The failure first occurred in September 2025 while the vehicle was in use, and coolant intrusion into the oil system has recurred in 2026. This condition is a safety concern because it can cause engine overheating and sudden loss of engine performance or engine failure while driving. On one occasion the vehicle overheated within approximately one mile of leaving a service facility. Low oil pressure was also observed (as low as 9 psi), which risks engine damage and loss of power in traffic. The manufacturer (FCA US LLC / Stellantis) initial XXX November 7, 2025 the arbitrator ruled in my favor, finding the oil cooling system failure "was more likely a result of a Manufacturer defect" and that my modifications "did not cause the oil cooling system failure," and ordered the manufacturer to repair it. FCA's own [XXX] owner dashboard showed the Powertrain Limited Warranty active (expiration 10/07/2026 or 100,000 miles) as recently as May 18, 2026; yet by XXX a Stellantis dealership reported the vehicle under a complete vehicle restriction and refused to diagnose it, leaving a known engine defect unrepaired. I am reporting this so the potential safety defect in the EcoDiesel oil cooler and the resulting engine overheating and failure risk are on record, and because the manufacturer has not repaired a defect that an arbitrator determined to be a manufacturing defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11747870

Fire hazard. NHTSA recall 26V363 When is the repair going to be available? Dealer doesn’t seem to know.

NHTSA ODI 11747661

There is a known urgent recall with no remedy after 1 month to over 1 million vehicles. Crystar, Mopar, and FCA have done nothing to update owners on when repairs can be made. The website to "Request to be notified when parts become available" does not work.

NHTSA ODI 11747702

While driving, regardless of whether at neighborhood or highway speeds, my Jeep Wrangler 4xe suddenly loses drive power without warning. Electric propulsion drops in stages — to about 50%, then 25% — then the dash displays "Electric Mode Temporarily Unavailable" and the vehicle forces itself into hybrid mode. When this happens, I press the accelerator and get little or no response for several seconds before the gas engine engages. This is a serious safety hazard when merging or pulling into traffic. I have had a couple of close calls due to the lack of acceleration. It is repeatable and occurs during normal driving. This all began after having the 68C recall performed. Also, while driving in electric mode at highway speeds, the engine constantly starts and stops, causing a lurching each time. In other instances, when the acceleration is lagging, and the engine does start and engage, the vehicle accelerates more than expected, which could be a serious safety risk.

NHTSA ODI 11747105

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact discovered from a news report that the vehicle might be included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V363000 (Steering). Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11747138

I went to start my Wrangler 4XE today and had a "Service Charging System" error. The gas part of the Jeep was running, so I proceeded to drive it. I noticed when I came to a stop, the car would not accelerate, then when it did it was violent and bucking. At a stop light it sounded like it was going to stall so I turned it off and then it would not turn back on at all. I finally got it to turn back on and drove it a little further, at one point I went to accelerate and had the pedal all the way to the floor and it would not advance. I brought it to Auto Zone and had a new 12V battery put in, but it did not fix the issue. After a quick search, it seems like this is a common problem with Jeep 4XE High Voltage Battery systems. Jeep has recalled the battery at least 3 times now and I've taken it for the first two recalls already. It was extremely distressing to try to accelerate and it not move, and could have seriously been a safety issue if I continued to drive the car. I was in another state, Jeep has no 24/7 service to call other than roadside assistance, so I had it towed to Brubaker Jeep in Lancaster PA, but I live in Virginia and had to rent a car to get home.

NHTSA ODI 11747065

Since the 68C recall from Jeep, my vehicle has not been functioning properly. The 68C recall was issued because the high-voltage battery cells have a defect that causes them to short-circuit and catch fire. To avoid replacing hundreds of thousands of expensive batteries all at once, Jeep implemented a "fix" via a software flash. The new software "fix" heavily restricts how much power can be drawn from the high-voltage battery to keep it from getting warm. If you push the pedal enough to draw more than roughly 40–50% power—or if the battery temperature hits a strictly lowered threshold—the software abruptly chokes the electric motor and fires up the ICE engine to compensate. Because the electric motor just lost its punch, the computer frantically fires up the gasoline engine to make up the difference. Because there is an inherent delay while the gas engine starts up and matches the transmission speed, it engages with a sudden, frustrating lurch or surge. This is just one of the many problems i have found since jeeps "fix" has been implemented. Basically Jeep elected to reduce the capacity of the battery to avoid costly replacement of the real issue with the battery. This has resulted in a driving safety concern with the surging and hesitation. Also now I can no longer drive exclusively in the electric mode; electric mode is basically non-existent.

NHTSA ODI 11746609

I took my car to the dealership to complete the 04b recall. When I got my car back from this recall: 1. The car says driving in electric mode but it uses gas. 2. The car while driving on the highway will hesitate for a split second.. very dangerous. 3. When going on a small hill(example: bridge on turnpike over griffon road) will all of a sudden hesitates and will not get any more power. 4. Multiple times when getting off the turnpike the car slowed to 20mph and would not go any faster for about 15 seconds.. all this while in electric mode.. even more dangerous... I took the jeep back to the dealership, they have had the car for 6 weeks and acknowledge the problems..but Stellantis keeps saying this is normal.. not normal, did not happen before the recall.

NHTSA ODI 11746682

1. The vehicle caught fire during normal operation. It is a 2021 Jeep Wrangler (VIN [XXX]) subject to FCA US Recall 21D / NHTSA Campaign 26V363000, which identifies the electric hydraulic power steering (EHPS) pump and its wiring as a fire source that can overheat and ignite. The exact failed component has not yet been confirmed by diagnostic, but the fire is consistent with the defect described in that recall. The vehicle is intact and available for inspection — it was towed to Waxahatchie Jeep, an authorized Stellantis dealer in Waxahachie, TX, on June 19, 2026 and remains in their custody under repair order [XXX]. 2. The vehicle caught fire while being driven on the highway between Waxahachie and Ennis, Texas, with two occupants returning from a Boy Scout trip, my husband, the driver, and our [XXX] son. The driver was forced to take evasive action, steering off the roadway into a service station to get the occupants clear and stop the fire from spreading further. This created a serious risk of burns, of a collision during the evasive maneuver, and of harm to the occupants and other motorists. 3. Has the problem been reproduced…? No. No diagnostic has been performed. The vehicle has been in the authorized dealer’s custody since June 19, 2026 ([XXX]), but the manufacturer has not completed an inspection or diagnostic. The underlying defect is the subject of an active recall (21D / 26V363000) affecting more than one million 2021–2025 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles, for which the manufacturer has stated no remedy is yet available. 4. The vehicle was towed by AAA to Waxahatchie Jeep on June 19, 2026 and has remained there since. It has not yet been formally inspected or diagnosed by the manufacturer. 5. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the fire. The first indication of a problem was smoke from the engine area at which point the driver immediately pulled off the road and saw a plume of smoke coming from the exhaust. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11746110

I am reporting a safety concern involving my vehicle’s steering system, front-end condition, and a recall I was not informed about. I brought the vehicle in for a routine tire rotation, at which time I was informed that the front camber was out of specification and that there was uneven wear on the front tires. An alignment was recommended. In addition, the vehicle is experiencing abnormal steering behavior. The steering wheel has a noticeable shake and does not feel normal during operation. This suggests a possible issue with the power steering system or related suspension components. The combination of uneven tire wear, improper camber, and a shaking steering system presents a significant safety risk. These issues may affect vehicle stability, steering control, and tire integrity, increasing the risk of loss of control while driving. I have also recently learned that there is an active recall affecting this vehicle, of which I was not previously notified. The fact that this recall was not communicated raises additional safety concerns, especially given the steering-related symptoms currently present. These conditions were identified during a recent service visit, and the underlying cause has not yet been resolved. I am concerned that this may represent a broader defect involving the steering or suspension system that could impact vehicle safety and that proper recall notification procedures may not have been followed.

NHTSA ODI 11746270

Summary of Issue: The vehicle exhibited a repeatable dangerous steering oscillation after encountering road irregularities at speed. This occurred multiple times and is consistent with the known Wrangler “death wobble” condition for which a class action settlement exists on prior MY vehicles. Context: The wobble occurred several times during 2025, always on the highway. The violent oscillation (which seemed harmonic in nature) occurred when driving 65-70mph after running on a bumpy stretch of road (which basically describes most of Michigan right now). The only remedy was for the driver to immediately hit the warning lights, brake and slow down to around 20-25mph to reduce the oscillation, thereby regaining control. The Jeep service shop replaced all four shocks and the steering stabilizer, in addition to checking wheel alignment/balance etc. Additional Technical Context: I believe the Wrangler 4xe’s unique mass distribution may be contributing to the oscillation behavior, likely resulting in it acting differently to gas-powered Wranglers, The 4xe uses the same solid axle front suspension architecture as the gas powered Wrangler, but the hybrid model carries approximately 500–800 lbs of additional mass, much of it located low in the chassis and near the axle line. This added mass increases the effective unsprung and “near unsprung” inertia the suspension must control when the axle encounters a road disturbance. This higher inertia increases the energy transmitted into the track bar, tie rod ends, ball joints, and steering damper, reducing the system’s tolerance for even minor compliance, wear, or alignment deviation. It is my belief that the 4xe’s additional mass can amplify oscillation behavior after a bump, making the vehicle more susceptible to steering shimmy or ‘death wobble’ if any component is marginal.

NHTSA ODI 11745849

The 3.5-inch instrument panel cluster (IPC) in my Jeep has completely failed and gone blank. This is the exact safety defect described in NHTSA Campaign Number 24V652 (FCA Recall 30B). Because the screen is completely blank, I am entirely unable to see critical safety information while driving, including my speedometer, fuel gauge, and warning lights, which significantly increases the risk of a crash. Despite my vehicle experiencing the exact internal short circuit defect outlined in the official recall report, my vehicle is being excluded from free repairs because the manufacturer narrowed the scope based on the vehicle's "time in service." A local Jeep dealership has diagnosed the vehicle and confirmed the cluster needs to be replaced, but quoted me out-of-pocket costs to fix it. I believe the parameters for Recall 24V652 are dangerously narrow and need to be expanded to include my vehicle, as the defective component is actively failing and posing a hazard on the road.

NHTSA ODI 11745923

Tires display severe weather checking in the tread and sidewalk. Tires have less than 10000 miles. It was not garage kept and was used in college, so was not driven much during the winter. Notified Nexen and they were very rude. I told them they were take offs and they responded that they were technically used. I said they were taken off a brand new Jeep and were stored inside. They were only off the vehicle for about a month. Seller said he has not seen the issue with these tires and stores them in accordance to manufacturers recommendation. I explained to Nexen, “who cares if you call them used, they are less than 2.5 years old and are coming apart. That should be concerning.” I saved 2 of them for evaluation. They do not care.

NHTSA ODI 11745496

The contact owned a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with a right-hand steering wheel and was used as a mail carrier vehicle. The contact stated that after parking and dropping off mail, the contact returned to the vehicle and noticed that the vehicle was overheating, and the battery warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact noticed an abnormal popping sound and smoke coming from under the hood. The contact turned off and exited the vehicle. The contact called 911, and the Fire truck arrived 10 minutes later; however, the fire had already started under the hood. The contact stated that the vehicle burned significantly from the front-end to the front seats. Additionally, mail inside the vehicle were burned. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. There was no injury sustained. A fire report was filed, and additionally, a Police report was filed. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The vehicle was towed to Copart's. Upon conducting a VIN search on the NHTSA.gov website, the contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V363000 (Steering). The dealer was notified of the failure and stated that the recall only applied to electric vehicles. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

NHTSA ODI 11745024

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle would suddenly shut off with no warning. The contact also stated that the vehicle felt sluggish prior to the stalling condition. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a new battery assembly was scheduled to be installed as part of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V741000 (electrical system) however, the remedy battery was not installed, and no explanation was provided by the dealership. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 71,000.

NHTSA ODI 11745127

The wiring to the power steering caused several lights to come on in the vehicle and the Jeep stopped running in the middle of the road. My jeep only runs when the wire for the power steering is unhooked leaving me with no power steering. Wire is also HOT. I'm trying to get the KNOWN recall completed at a dealership so I'm not without my vehicle. It has already been 2 weeks trying to figure out the problem. Jeep does not want to authorize the repair because there is no known fix for the recall yet and they have not issued instructions to the dealership. This is unfair that I should pay for this repair or diagnostic when there is a know problem the dealership should be capable of accessing. I need my vehicle fixed ASAP.

NHTSA ODI 11744428

The forward collision/emergency brake engages when it is not needed, necessary or appropriate, and even when the brake pedel is already being pressed. I have adjusted the sensitivity of the emergency braking and forward collision system and I still have this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11743872

There has been an extreme loss of power after the 68c recall making it very unsafe when trying to accelerate. Eventually the car just died and was towed to the dealer.

NHTSA ODI 11743389

COMPONENT/SYSTEM THAT FAILED — AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION: The electrical system failed at the under-hood fuse box / power distribution center (the component sometimes referred to as the TIPM), located near the battery. The vehicle started roughly, shut off within about 3 seconds, would not stay running, and emitted a plastic/electrical burning smell from that area. The vehicle is currently at Oxendale Jeep in Cottonwood, AZ and is available for inspection upon request. A photo of the damage from service advisor Jason Smith and a dealer pre-service inspection document are also available. HOW SAFETY WAS PUT AT RISK: The vehicle would not run and stranded me in an unfamiliar parking lot in Jerome, AZ. The electrical burning smell created a fire risk. A responding firefighter, a police officer, and online guidance all advised not to restart the vehicle due to the danger of fire. REPRODUCED/CONFIRMED BY DEALER: Not fully. Oxendale's pre-service inspection states they could not perform actual diagnostics due to the mechanical damage and burnt components. The dealer documented the damage but has not reproduced or confirmed a root cause. INSPECTED BY MANUFACTURER, POLICE, INSURANCE, OR OTHERS: A local firefighter and a local police officer observed the burning smell at the scene. The jeep dealership service advisor inspected and documented the damage. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer or an insurance representative. WARNING LAMPS/MESSAGES/SYMPTOMS BEFORE FAILURE: No prior warning lamps or messages before the incident. Symptoms first appeared at the time of failure on Friday, [XXX]: a rough start, immediate shut-off, and an electrical/plastic burning smell. Dash lights and electrical power stayed on with info on dash don’t remember wording, but the vehicle would not remain running. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11743588

Unknown Our 2021 Jeep Wrangler caught fire in our garage destroying our home as well. The vehicle had been sitting for over 10 hours before suddenly catching fire. When I open the garage door, the engine compartment was completely engulfed in flame. I used four fire extinguishers that I had at my house and workshop trying to put out the fire. Then I had to wait for the fire department. When the fire department got there, they fought the flames and opened up the rest of the house because this fire has spread through the attic of the garage by that time. Then they also had a towing company come and pull the vehicle from the garage so that they could continue fighting the flames. We feel there had to be a manufactured defect to cause such a situation.

NHTSA ODI 11743233

My vehicle suffers from severe electrical/hydraulic failures matching recall 21D (NHSTSA ID 26V363000) for the electrical hydraulic power steering pump (EHPSP). Despite Stellantis acknowledging a 1.07- million vehicle fire hazard for this 2.0L turbo, my VIN shows "0 unrepaired recalls" due to a database omission. The vehicle is available for inspection. Safety risk: Active Electronic Stability control (ESC) faults and "service start-stop" dashboard warnings are present. This defect causes severe voltage fluctuations and sudden heavy steering loss while driving, creating an immediate crash hazard and spontaneous under hood fire risk while parked. Dealer history & warranty abuse: certified jeep dealerships have repeatedly failed to fix the root cause. Elm Grove Jeep (Wheeling WV) misdiagnosed the system and repeatedly billed my third-party warranty for thousands of dollars to fix cascading mechanical damage instead of the underlying defect. Parts replaced is 4 consecutive sets of rear shocks, front shocks, a steering clock spring and a drag link pitman arm boot. when elm grove failed to resolve it Stellantis corporate instructed me to take it to another dealer for a star case to be opened there. I took it to Steubenville Jeep (Ohio) with an active ASC light and failed rear shocks and was told "couldn't replicate" the issue and dismissed it. A few weeks ago, the service "start-stop" safety light triggered. Stellantis had corporate knowledge of this ongoing defect for months via prior state Attorney General case but refused to cooperate and waited knowing AG wouldn't keep it open past a certain number of days and replied a day outside of the window. They are leaving an active fire hazard on the road, omitting my VIN from the database rollout, and depleting my personal warranty's financial limits. I request a federal audit to force the inclusion of my VIN.

NHTSA ODI 11742944

When accelerating the vehicle will not go or it will start to move then essentially stop, seconds later it starts moving. There is a delay and it’s extremely dangerous when there is oncoming traffic and/or the drivers behind you don’t realize what is happening. My jeep is a 4xe and this does happen frequently since the last “fix” for the recalls

NHTSA ODI 11743025

I am reporting a serious safety defect involving my 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (VIN: [XXX]). The most significant issue occurred at approximately 50,000 miles when the vehicle experienced a violent steering and suspension instability event commonly referred to as "death wobble." While traveling at approximately 60 mph on a highway, the vehicle suddenly began shaking violently from side to side. The steering wheel became extremely difficult to control, and I had to fight to maintain control of the vehicle while slowing down in active traffic. The event was severe enough that I genuinely feared the vehicle could roll over or cause a collision. Prior to my experience, my wife experienced a similar incident while driving the same vehicle. The safety risk extends beyond my family to surrounding motorists who could be involved if the driver loses control. Immediately following the incident, I contacted the servicing dealership, Jeep Chrysler of Somerset, Massachusetts. The dealership informed me this was a known issue and instructed me not to drive the vehicle above 55 mph until it could be inspected. After inspection, I was advised that the steering damper was defective and that additional suspension-related components could also be contributing factors. The steering damper was replaced, but I was required to pay for the repair. The dealership further advised that instability could continue and recommended changing to smaller tires to reduce the issue. I also reported concerns through Jeep/Stellantis customer service channels and have documented multiple service visits regarding this and other vehicle issues. Despite repairs, the vehicle has never driven the same. My family avoids highway travel in the vehicle, and we do not feel comfortable transporting our children on long trips due to concern INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11743030

Jeep death wobble, terribly! Starting when going over 55mph, now happens often and anytime the road has a bump, uneven, or hole.

NHTSA ODI 11742715