VehicleVerdict

1990 Jeep Wrangler problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Worth extra scrutiny

The 1990 Jeep Wrangler is a recall-heavy year with an otherwise ordinary complaint record: 7 NHTSA recall campaigns apply, yet its 105 owner complaints run below the Wrangler median. The recalls matter more than the complaint count here — verify every campaign was completed before buying. Reports tied to this model year include 2 deaths and 3 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

Brakes leads the complaint categories with 29 reports (28% of the total).

105

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

10

Investigations

6

Crash-involved

6

Fires reported

3

Injuries

2

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 1990 compare to other Wrangler years?

See all Wrangler years to avoid →

What are the most common 1990 Jeep Wrangler problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes2928%
Fuel System2221%
Seats1211%
Engine1110%
Seat Belts77%
Transmission55%
Tires & Wheels44%
Electrical System44%
Visibility & Wipers33%
Suspension33%
Body & Structure22%
Steering22%
Other11%

Does the 1990 Jeep Wrangler have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

07E064000Fuel SystemAugust 27, 2007 · 34,000 units

Defect

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.

Consequence

A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.

Remedy

FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.

06E026000LightingMarch 23, 2006 · 61,944 units

Defect

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

04E041000OtherJune 7, 2004 · 80 units

Defect

BESTOP AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS,MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 27 AND MAY 20, 2004, DESIGNED FOR USE WITH THE BESTOP HARDTOP MADE FOR THE 1986-1995 AND 1997-2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK BECAUSE THE LATCH BRACKET MISPOSITIONS THE ROTARY LATCH TO THE COCKPIT COVER. AS A RESULT, THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE ROOF RACK. THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.

Consequence

SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE COCKPIT COULD CAUSE INJURY BY STRIKING PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE OR COULD BECOME A DISTRACTION OR AN OBSTACLE TO OTHER DRIVERS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

BESTOP WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BESTOP CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT (800) 845-3567.

02V041000BrakesFebruary 7, 2002 · 316,148 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE PARKING BRAKE CAN SELF-RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING.

Consequence

THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY WITH A STRONGER PAWL RETURN SPRING. OWNER NOTIFICATON BEGAN SEPTEMBER 30, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

98V005000BrakesJanuary 12, 1998 · 293,369 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, OR WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS CAN EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED FOR AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD IN THE "SALT BELT." IF THE ROTORS ARE NOT REPLACED, THE CORROSION CAN EVENTUALLY COMPROMISE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER HUB SECTION OF THE ROTOR.

Consequence

THE REDUCED STRENGTH CAN ALLOW THE CAST IRON WEAR SURFACE TO SEPARATE FROM THE HUB, REDUCING THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ROTORS WITH ROTORS THAT ARE COATED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION.

94V106000Fuel SystemJune 9, 1994 · 230,000 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC FUEL TANKS. THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT GASKET CAN CRACK CAUSING FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAKS.

Consequence

FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAKED FROM THE FUEL TANK CAN RESULT IN FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy

REPLACE THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT GASKET.

92V148000BrakesOctober 14, 1992 · 280,000 units

Defect

ON 1987 THROUGH EARLY 1990 MODELS, BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES CAN WEAR DUE TO DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL OPENING SPLASH SHIELDS. ON THE LATE 1990 THROUGH 1992 MODELS, PERIODIC RUBBING CONTACT OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE CAN OCCUR DUE TO MOVEMENT OF THE SPLASH SHIELD IN CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS.

Consequence

EITHER CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF FRONT BRAKE SYSTEMFUNCTIONS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND AN INCREASED RISK OFVEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy

THE 1987 TO 1990 MODEL VEHICLES WILL HAVE BOTH SPLASH SHIELDS REPLACED AND BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES REPLACED AS NECESSARY. ALL AFFECTED LATE 1990 THROUGH 1992 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL FASTENERS INSTALLED TO FURTHER SECURE THE LEFT SIDE SPLASH SHIELD. ALSO, THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

MY 1990 JEEP WRANGLER WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE RELEASED ON ITS OWN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE PARKED AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY. DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO BOTH VEHICLES. I WAS LATER NOTIFIED BY MAIL OF A RECALL ON THE PARKING…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · November 25, 2002 · crash

ONCE PARKED AND WALKED AWAY, SEVERAL MINUTES LATER WAS TOLD VEHICLE ON FIRE. RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 11/16/95 MFG #624/625. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · fire

FRONT SEATBACKS BROKE, CAUSING THE OCUPANTS TO FALL BACK AND THE BOLTS HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK BOTH FRONT SEATS HAVE BROKEN AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TO BODY BRACKET HAS COME APART. *MJS

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Seats

RECALL 617 WAS NOT REPLACED. E BRAKE CABLES NOT REPLACED. DID NOT REPLACE BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS. I HAD TO GET, TWO NEW DIFFERENTIALS AND CLUTCH IN LESS THAN A YEAR. WITH THE NEW RECALLS LISTED IN THE PAPER WHAT ABOUT MY GAS TANK? THIS IS ANOTHER SAFETY MEASURE TO KEEP MY VEHICLE SAFE ON THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · August 14, 2014

SHOULDER BELTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER 'S SIDE DON'T WORK, THEY WON'T RETRACT. CONSUMER CAN'T DERTERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Seat Belts · January 12, 1990

1990 Jeep Wrangler — common questions

Is the 1990 Jeep Wrangler reliable?

Its record is better than the model's norm: 105 NHTSA complaints, below the typical Wrangler year, with 7 recalls and no open investigations.

What are the most common 1990 Wrangler problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (29 complaints), fuel system (22 complaints), seats (12 complaints).

Does the 1990 Jeep Wrangler have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 1990 Jeep Wrangler. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1990 Jeep Wrangler under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 10 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Jeep Wrangler years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Wrangler years to avoid are 2018, 2021, 2024, 2012, 2008, 2019, 2013, 2010, 2006, 2014, 2007, 2020, 2005, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2022, 2023, 2009, 2017. The cleanest record among Wrangler years belongs to 1985.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.