Jeep Wrangler years to avoid
The Jeep Wrangler years to avoid are 2018, 2021, 2024, 2012, 2008, 2019, 2013, 2010, 2006, 2014, 2007, 2020, 2005, 2015, 2011, 2022, 2016, 2023, 2009, 2017 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 1985 is the cleanest year on record.
22,920
Total complaints
99
Recall campaigns
1984–2026
Years covered
20
Years to avoid
Complaints by model year
Wrangler years to avoid
| Year | Why | Complaints | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | High complaints + open investigation | 2,637 | |
| 2021 | High complaints + open investigation | 1,520 | |
| 2024 | High complaints + open investigation | 1,448 | |
| 2012 | High complaints + open investigation | 1,288 | |
| 2008 | High complaints + open investigation | 1,254 | |
| 2019 | High complaint rate | 1,083 | |
| 2013 | High complaints + open investigation | 1,045 | |
| 2010 | High complaints + open investigation | 907 | |
| 2006 | High complaint rate | 852 | |
| 2014 | High complaints + open investigation | 852 | |
| 2007 | High complaints + open investigation | 792 | |
| 2020 | High complaints + open investigation | 790 | |
| 2005 | High complaint rate | 757 | |
| 2015 | High complaints + open investigation | 687 | |
| 2011 | High complaints + open investigation | 682 | |
| 2022 | High complaints + open investigation | 653 | |
| 2016 | High complaints + open investigation | 649 | |
| 2023 | Open safety investigation | 588 | |
| 2009 | Open safety investigation | 496 | |
| 2017 | Open safety investigation | 423 |
Every Wrangler year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 16 | 3 | |
| 2025 | 117 | 4 | |
| 2024avoid | 1,448 | 11 | |
| 2023avoid | 588 | 14 | |
| 2022avoid | 653 | 15 | |
| 2021avoid | 1,520 | 15 | |
| 2020avoid | 790 | 12 | |
| 2019avoid | 1,083 | 9 | |
| 2018avoid | 2,637 | 14 | |
| 2017avoid | 423 | 5 | |
| 2016avoid | 649 | 5 | |
| 2015avoid | 687 | 3 | |
| 2014avoid | 852 | 4 | |
| 2013avoid | 1,045 | 7 | |
| 2012avoid | 1,288 | 10 | |
| 2011avoid | 682 | 11 | |
| 2010avoid | 907 | 11 | |
| 2009avoid | 496 | 7 | |
| 2008avoid | 1,254 | 9 | |
| 2007avoid | 792 | 10 | |
| 2006avoid | 852 | 3 | |
| 2005avoid | 757 | 2 | |
| 2004 | 281 | 3 | |
| 2003 | 130 | 4 | |
| 2002 | 139 | 6 | |
| 2001 | 235 | 7 | |
| 2000 | 311 | 5 | |
| 1999 | 262 | 5 | |
| 1998 | 401 | 6 | |
| 1997 | 548 | 7 | |
| 1996 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1995 | 259 | 3 | |
| 1994 | 184 | 4 | |
| 1993 | 134 | 5 | |
| 1992 | 100 | 6 | |
| 1991 | 100 | 8 | |
| 1990 | 105 | 7 | |
| 1989 | 86 | 7 | |
| 1988 | 55 | 6 | |
| 1987 | 51 | 8 | |
| 1986 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1985 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1984 | 0 | 0 |
Common questions
What are the worst Jeep Wrangler years?
Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the Wrangler years to avoid are 2018, 2021, 2024, 2012, 2008, 2019, 2013, 2010, 2006, 2014, 2007, 2020, 2005, 2015, 2011, 2022, 2016, 2023, 2009, 2017. The cleanest year on record is 1985.
What is the best year for the Jeep Wrangler?
By complaint volume, 1985 has the cleanest NHTSA record among Wrangler years with enough data to compare.
How many recalls does the Jeep Wrangler have?
Across all model years, the Wrangler has 99 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 22,920 consumer complaints on file.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through August 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated August 28, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.