2021 Jeep Wrangler Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 24,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

The vehicle has lost power multiple times and have been at the dealership now twice due to it first time the check engine light went off before the dealership could find an issue and they couldn’t find anything second time after losing power on the expressway. They check engine light came on for a few days and went off by time my…Owner complaint, filed 2026

On September 20, 2026 I came outside to find the charging port on my 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe smoking and extremely hot to touch. It had been plugged into a level 1 (120v) charging cable to charge overnight outside our garage. I immediately unplugged the charging cable and placed it on the ground. While inspecting the charging port on my…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 18,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at highways speeds, the vehicle vibrated violently, and the steering wheel became firm stiffen and difficult to turn. The vehicle was pulled over and slowed down before the contact continued driving. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 5,000 miles

I was driving on interstate going 75 mph in the passing lane when my steering wheel locked completely up. My car started drifting to the right, but I was unable to turn the steering wheel. I almost hit the guardrail. The car is now being towed to Jeep dealership for fixing of the active recall.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 27,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

At 47000 miles the oil cooler cracked, although the technician stated it did not cause the crankshaft: harmonic balancer pulley to be damaged, the mat issue did occur and documentation from other sources state one can cause the other. Replacement cost was substantial for a low mileage vehicle. Documented issues with the oil cooler…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The harmonic balancer on the motor failed and flew off the motor causing catastrophic damage to the radiator. The failure resulted in immediate disabling of the vehicle, which could have happened at high speeds or on a highway with limited access. The part that flew off the motor was also a large piece of solid metal that luckily landed…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 18,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

On the highway, at Highway speeds of 70 mph, going over small bump my jeep goes into a death wobble. Both tires bouncing erratically steering wheel racing back-and-forth. To stop the death wobble I Have to let off the gas and slowly break to a complete stop before the death wobble stops. The frustrating part is, the Jeep Wrangler, is…Owner complaint, filed 2026

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 15,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

In electric mode vehicle loses battery power (at 25% power draw)and several seconds later starts the gas engine to compensate. It does this at least once within every full charge (about 28 miles)-usually when the remaining charge is between10-20%, but on occasion it happens at around 50% and at least once when the battery showed 80%.…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The vehicle is not performing as it did when first purchased. Through a series of recalls related to the main drive battery, the vehicle now lacks power when in electric mode pulling out on highways, passing on highways, or even driving at speeds over 40mph or so. I went to pull out on the highway this morning, for example, in electric…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 38,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

This vehicle has become unsafe to drive and no longer has the performance that it had when originally purchased since the 68C recall. In electric mode, I experience low power and the acceleration is almost non-existent. This has caused significant safety issues when merging onto highways and maintaining flow of traffic speeds on hills.…Owner complaint, filed 2026

After 68C my Jeep doesn't respond the way it used to, theres reduced power when staying with the flow of traffic or climbing hills. It seems to be unsafe bc I can't accelerate like I used to, I think Jeep is limiting the powerOwner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was driving and had a sudden loss of power. My gas pedal would not respond. I had to put my car in park and out of hybrid so my gas engine would come on.Owner complaint, filed 2026

While driving my 2021 Jeep Wrangler on the highway, the vehicle displayed a warning indicating a malfunction with the Electronic Throttle Control system. Immediately following the warning, the vehicle experienced a significant loss of acceleration and would not respond normally to accelerator pedal input. The vehicle subsequently began…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

I have had a brake problem since September 2025. The symptom is a hard brake pedal that does not stop the vehicle at low speeds. There is a similar problem with other Wrangler models that do have a recall issued. It was related to a software update around the same time my problem started. I have had it back to the dealer (Hoover CDJR in…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Vehicle went in for repair of no power boost to brakes. Dealership replaced brake booster, no change. Dealership replaced vacuum pump, fixed issue. After 64 miles vacuum pump failed, no power brakes. Dealership replaced vacuum pump 2nd time said part was faulty from parts supplier. Problem was resolved. Around 100 miles later vacuum pump…Owner complaint, filed 2025

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The tread on all 4 tires wore down faster than it should have, traction in the rain and snow was terrible, tire rotations were done at home, balancing was done at my local shop in town. I had the LT285/70r17 and replaced them as soon as the recall came out. I had the tires replaced at Moffits Ford in Boone, Iowa. They disposed of them…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 20,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the soft top was not clear enough to see well out of the rear of the vehicle, especially while reversing in inclement weather. The contact informed the dealer of the issue the day the vehicle was purchased. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 42,000 miles

The contact owns a 2021 JEEP Wrangler. The contact stated that while opening the vehicle's rear swing gate, they noticed that the rear windshield defroster grid was completely burnt and melted, with a scorched power wire leading directly to the glass terminal. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: (24V111000 (VISIBILITY) however…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 57,140 miles

Parts named most: Adaptive cruise control (8), Warnings (7), Automatic emergency braking (7).

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

I had the most recent incident driving Westbound in the evening hours shortly before Sunset around October 10, 2024. It appears the sunlight from the setting sun triggered my adaptive cruise control and forward collision alert and triggered an alarm sound and activated emergency braking at the same time. I have had two previous incidents…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Traveling about 55 mph and a car in front of me, exited to the right in a different lane. My jeep slammed on the brakes as I was in the lane beside the turning car. Scared me to death, there was nothing in front of me and thankfully, there was no car behind me. Very scary feeling and almost lost controlOwner complaint, filed 2022

Parts named most: Body (16).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

I'm reaching out to complain about the corrosion issue on Jeep Wrangler JLs. I own a 2021 Wrangler JLU Sport with 56,000 miles and recently discovered the corrosion on my vehicle. I brought it in to my local dealer, who looked at the vehicle, explained the large issue they're seeing, and submitted a claim for my vehicle. I found I was…Owner complaint, filed 2026

I'm reaching out to complain about the corrosion issue on Jeep Wrangler JLs. I own a 2021 Wrangler JLU Sport with 56,000 miles and recently discovered the corrosion on my vehicle. I brought it in to my local dealer, who looked at the vehicle, explained the large issue they're seeing, and submitted a claim for my vehicle. I found I was…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

High impact six car pile up, vehicle at a complete stop and hit at a high rate of speed. Front passenger side front impact as well as rear impact, no airbags deployed.Owner complaint, filed 2023

I was involved in a car accident I was hit on the driver back side vehicle Jeep rolled over several times no airbags deployedOwner complaint, filed 2023

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat failed to lock into position and was sliding back and forth. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The contact related the failure…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 16,000 miles

While driving on the highway in heavy traffic, the whole highway came to a dead stop which meant I had to slam on my brakes and when I did the rear bench seat flipped forward and threw one of my dogs onto the floor. After getting home I checked the seat and realized that there is no latch to hold the seat in place.Owner complaint, filed 2022

What to check before you buy

• Ask for a hybrid battery health report from a dealer or hybrid shop.
• Watch for warning messages at startup and on the test drive, and confirm the car switches between gas and electric smoothly.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while stationary at a traffic light, multiple warning lights were illuminated and the vehicle failed to shift out of park(P). The contact stated that a Police Officer assisted in manually moving the vehicle out of the street. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 6,700 miles

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the PHEV mode failed to function as designed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 12,000 miles