2021 Jeep Wrangler

Typical pattern

10% of complaints about the 2021 Jeep Wrangler came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2021 vehicle — around the middle of the 159 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 3.2 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (301 complaints), typically at 3.4 yr or about 23,915 miles.

Complaints: 1,523
Median age at failure: 3.2 yr
Median mileage: 20,000 n=154
Crash / fire / tow: 7.2% of reports
Safety recalls: 10 3 do not drive

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System

0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y

Electrical system

301 reports · 23,915 mi

3.4 yr

7.6%

Steering

248 reports · 19,000 mi

2.8 yr

0.8%

Engine

213 reports · 28,000 mi

2.9 yr

7.5%

Suspension

179 reports · 19,000 mi

3.1 yr

0.6%

Power train

138 reports · 15,000 mi

3.1 yr

10.1%

Other

131 reports · 2,097 mi

3.3 yr

8.4%

Fuel / propulsion

93 reports

3.3 yr

6.5%

Speed control

43 reports · 9,000 mi

3.6 yr

11.6%

Wheels

23 reports · 4,000 mi

2.5 yr

4.3%

Service brakes

23 reports · 6,250 mi

3.8 yr

21.7%

Fuel system

23 reports · 33,000 mi

2.9 yr

4.3%

Collision avoidance

21 reports

3.3 yr

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

26V363000 2026-06-04 Do not drive

Steering:hydraulic power assist:pump

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Jeep Wrangler, Wrangler 4XE, and Jeep Gladiator vehicles. The electric hydraulic power steering pump wiring may overheat and cause a vehicle fire, even when the vehicle is parked with the ignition in the "Off" position.

A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.

25V741000 2025-10-30 Do not drive

Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Jeep Wrangler 4Xe and 2022-2026 Grand Cherokee 4Xe vehicles. The high voltage battery may fail internally and lead to a vehicle fire while parked or driving.

A vehicle fire can increase the risk of injury.

23V787000 2023-11-22 Do not drive

Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. The high voltage battery may fail internally and lead to a vehicle fire while parked or driving.

A vehicle fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

24V676000 2024-09-12

Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2024 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The wiring harness for the rearview camera and the center brake light may short circuit, which can disable the rearview camera image and center brake light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 111, "Rear Visibility" and 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, a center brake light that fails to illuminate can fail to indicate to other drivers that the vehicle is slowing down, increasing the risk of a crash.

24V652000 2024-09-05

Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Jeep Gladiator and 2018-2024 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The instrument panel cluster may experience an internal short circuit and fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Controls and Displays."

An instrument panel that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.

24V572000 2024-08-01

Power train:manual transmission:control module:software

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator vehicles that were previously remedied under NHTSA recall number 23V-116. The software for the powertrain control module may cause an engine stall, which can result in a loss of drive power.

A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

24V111000 2024-02-15

Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Jeep Wrangler and 2022-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. A hybrid control processor (HCP) software error may cause the defrosting and defogging system to be inoperative. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."

An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

23V263000 2023-04-13

Fuel system, diesel:delivery:fuel pump

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, and 2022-2023 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with a 3.0L diesel engine. The high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) may fail.

Fuel pump failure can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

23V191000 2023-03-23

Structure:frame and members

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. A stud on the frame assembly may puncture the fuel tank in a crash, which can result in a fuel leak.

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

23V116000 2023-02-23

Power train:clutch assembly

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Jeep Wrangler, and 2020-2023 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.

Overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Steering mileage not reported 0 mo in service

WANDERING STEERING ABOVE 30 MPH WON'T TRACK STRAIGHT, EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE WHEEL. ORDERED FROM DEALER WENT TO THE SHOP FOR STEERING ISSUES AT 52 MILES AND BACK AGAIN 2 WEEKS LATER, JUST PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER AND STEERING IS WORSE, I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE FOR MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO DRIVE.

Steering 225 mi 2 mo in service

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, HE BECAME AWARE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND FAILED TO STEER THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LINDSAY CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 15605 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, WOODBRIDGE, VA 22191, (571) 200-4754, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE STEERING GEAR TO BE REPLACED AND THE STEERING MODULE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 225.

Steering mileage not reported 0 mo in service

STEERING HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY. SEEMS TO BE MORE NOTICEABLE ON HOT DAYS. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO DRIFT LEADING TO CONSTANT CORRECTION WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS.

Engine 300 mi 1 mo in service

VEHICLE IS BRAND NEW AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONLY AFTER 300 MILES. DEALER DIAGOSED THE PROBLEM WITH O2 SENSOR FAILURE AND VALVE COVER DEFECT. THE VEHICLE RAN VERY ROUGH AND FELT LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO STALL. SEARCH ON JLWRANGLERFORUMS SHOWS THERE ARE OTHERS EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH LESS THAN 500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER.

Other Wrangler model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.