Jeep Owners Complain The Most About These Common Problems – Jalopnik

As a automobile proprietor, coping with car issues is sort of inevitable. Loads of issues, from mechanical or electrical faults to environmental components, could cause points over time. Often, it is merely put on and tear. But in some instances, the issues you encounter are tied to the model itself.

Jeep is a kind of manufacturers you will have to concentrate to. While it’s extensively revered for its versatile and rugged off-road autos, it does not appear to essentially stand out in reliability. Over the years, sure recurring issues have turn into intently related to its autos, particularly widespread fashions just like the Jeep Wrangler and Cherokee.

To perceive these points higher, we reviewed complaints shared throughout Jeep boards and studies compiled on platforms like CarComplaints. Based on what homeowners are saying, a number of issues persistently stand out. So should you personal a Jeep, there is a good likelihood you have skilled at the least one in all these or heard different homeowners speak about them. With that stated, listed here are the widespread issues Jeep homeowners complain essentially the most about.

Excessive oil consumption could be attributable to many components, equivalent to leaking gaskets, worn piston rings, and even the engine design. For many Jeeps which can be plagued with this challenge, the two.4L Tigershark engine has been labelled the wrongdoer. Some clients report dropping a quart of oil each 1,000 miles, which most would think about extremely inefficient and costly.

This downside impacts the fifth-generation Jeep Cherokee, second-generation Jeep Compass, and first-generation Renegade. Despite the host of complaints, the corporate initially maintained that the oil consumption was regular, and this ultimately led to a category motion lawsuit. Later, the FCA launched Customer Satisfaction Notifications clarifying that the difficulty was attributable to the Interactive Deceleration Fuel ShutOff (IDFSO) software program. Basically, the IDFSO stops fueling throughout deceleration, however this could create a vacuum that pulls oil into the cylinder, rising oil consumption.

While the difficulty was mounted for some car homeowners, others nonetheless complain that they’ve bother getting it resolved. One proprietor commented, “Following up 8 months later and numerous oil consumption tests over and over. I still do not have a resolution to my car losing oil.”

Imagine cruising on the freeway or alongside a mud street, and immediately your steering wheel begins to shake so violently that it seems like it will be ripped out of your arms. This unusual and scary challenge is called “the death wobble.”And whereas it’s not unique to the model, many Jeep fashions undergo from this challenge, particularly the Jeep Wrangler.

The dying wobble impacts automobiles which have stable entrance axles, however there are various issues that might set off it, from worn suspension elements to poor alignment and uneven tire stress. These components can decide how straightforward or troublesome it’s to repair the difficulty, however many drivers nonetheless report struggling to discover a everlasting resolution. One driver, whereas reporting the difficulty, acknowledged, “I go in for inspection on suspension and was told all is fine and to replace the steering gearbox. I do. It doesn’t fix nothing”. Another reported altering the sway bar hyperlinks, brakes, and steering dampener, with nonetheless no decision.

When Jeep launched the ZF 9-speed transmission in 2014, it was anticipated to supply cutting-edge expertise and in the end improve the driving expertise. But it did not take lengthy earlier than it began amassing complaints and guarantee claims.

From surprising shifts to impartial to sudden shutdowns and energy loss, this part has been a supply of complications. The downside was initially discovered on the 2014 to 2015 Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Renegade fashions, and attributed to a producing defect. Although a recall was issued, the issue did not go away. Even subsequent mannequin years, from 2016 to 2019, have been discovered with the identical challenge.

Ever since, proprietor studies have reiterated how troublesome it’s. For the 2015 Jeep Cherokee, Car Complaints studies over 400 complaints relating to the transmission alone. The scenario is not far off on the Jeep Renegade. One Renegade Sport proprietor complained in 2021 that his ZF 9-speed transmission had not labored appropriately for the reason that 1st day he purchased it new in July 2015.

Some Jeep fashions have been infamous for experiencing engine shutdowns. It’s unclear what the reason for these shutdowns is, however studies counsel that it’s linked to different part defects. An proprietor who complained about this challenge on his Jeep Compass was knowledgeable by the supplier that it was a security characteristic to forestall harm to the engine.

Another proprietor describing the same challenge acknowledged, “…my 2018 Jeep Compass engine would seize while I was driving. It would shut off and automatically put on the parking brake. I would no longer be able to accelerate, I’d lose power steering, and then it would struggle to restart.”

Engine shutdowns might be as a result of many issues, like engine overheating or lack of gasoline, however in 2022, when Jeep issued a recall for this challenge, the corporate highlighted that the basis reason behind the shutdown was unknown. It was, nevertheless, linked to the transmission management module and auxiliary hybrid management processor, which might be mounted by way of an up to date software program calibration. This recall protection was restricted to the Jeep Wrangler 4xe. As a consequence, many different Jeep homeowners proceed to indicate frustration over this harmful defect and the way it may be remedied.

Having faulty window regulators could be such a ache. When your automobile home windows are unhealthy, it’s important to cope with safety points, climate considerations, and structural integrity issues. On many Jeep fashions, this challenge appears persistent and troublesome to treatment. The most affected autos, nevertheless, are the 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty fashions.

With complaints pouring in from a number of homeowners, the corporate ultimately responded by extending the guarantee interval for the affected Liberty automobiles to seven years from the unique guarantee date. Unfortunately, since many homeowners had been unable to get their autos mounted below the guarantee, they find yourself having to repair or exchange these elements themselves.

Even when changed, nevertheless, many homeowners discovered that the substitute elements had been simply as problematic. One proprietor sharing his frustration stated, “At the beginning of the month, my window regulator broke for the fifth time! I called Chrysler, and of course, they won’t do a damn thing. I’ve been replacing these things every year. Hundreds of dollars, cold rides to work on the highway, and they do nothing.”

Jeep’s Uconnect is the central hub for its autos, controlling automobile settings, Bluetooth, navigation, and many others. It serves because the infotainment system in most trendy fashions, and whereas it is an progressive and helpful characteristic, it has generated quite a few complaints from homeowners.

Many Jeep homeowners have reported recurrent points with the Uconnect, together with freezing, failure to attach, and extreme, persistent lag. For these causes, navigating with the platform, particularly every day, could be very irritating. These complaints have surfaced on Jeep Wrangler boards, and a few homeowners have discovered that the issue could also be linked to the auxiliary battery and, due to this fact, suggest having this half changed with aftermarket choices.

It did not assist when Jeep initiated an over-the-air software program replace for the UConnect in October 2025. This replace created its personal set of issues, inflicting automobiles to lose energy when driving. This challenge primarily affected 2023-2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe autos. Even although Stellantis shortly canceled the software program rollout, the harm had already been executed for a lot of homeowners.

If you are a Jeep proprietor, you have most likely come throughout the infamous water leak challenge that exhibits up on a number of fashions. Several homeowners report having water leaks from the dome gentle, however some homeowners additionally report water leaks by way of the aspect door. Unfortunately, this downside begins to happen fairly early into their buy. Some studies point out leaks a couple of days after buy, whereas others expertise it a couple of months later. It can be not restricted to any mannequin. Owners of the Jeep Wrangler, Patriot, and Liberty have reported this challenge.

In one Wrangler discussion board, an proprietor shared: “Had this issue in our 2011 Wrangler JK unlimited. After three years and 40k miles and multiple trips, the water leak was so bad my carpets got moldy and water was going behind the dash, shorting out the radio.”

There are many components that might contribute to this challenge, however the design of the autos is probably going a significant factor. Many Jeeps use detachable entrance tube doorways, which permit water and moisture to seep in additional simply. Both hardtops and softtops may additionally trigger elevated leaks as a result of their materials construct or mode of set up. In different instances, it might be dilapidated seals or clogged cowls. Either method, if in case you have this downside, listening to the supply of the leak would assist you handle it fast.

Jeep has additionally gotten a bunch of battery-related complaints, particularly on the Jeep Wrangler 4xe autos. The plug-in hybrid engine on this mannequin has been the supply of main concern. Recently, Jeep issued a recall overlaying 2021-2023 fashions. This recall was prompted by the chance of battery-related fires after the corporate obtained studies of fires originating from these autos and two ensuing accidents.

However, even previous to this, Jeep homeowners had been complaining about battery drainage. Sharing his expertise, an proprietor acknowledged: “I purchased a 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe about two weeks ago, but every time I leave my vehicle plugged in for too long, the 12V battery gets completely drained. As a result, I’m unable to start my car if I leave it charging overnight. I’ve already taken my vehicle to the dealership twice, but they are unable to identify the issue.”

This challenge will not be restricted to Wranglers, as Cherokee homeowners have additionally raised a bunch of battery-drainage complaints. However, this downside seems to be restricted to current fashions.