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Model file · JeepUpdated · 15 sources

Selling a broken or junk Jeep Wrangler

Steering is what Wrangler owners complain about most. NHTSA's file held 18,750 Wrangler complaints on October 10, 2026, and 2,661 of them name the steering. On the 2018 model year alone, 959 of 1,824 complaints do. If your Wrangler wanders, won't start or has rusted past saving, you can sell the whole car as it sits. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US.

A dark blue two-door Jeep Wrangler TJ Sport with a hardtop, round headlights and gray fender flares, parked across yellow lot lines
Photo: Bull-Doser · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Complaints to NHTSA, all years
18,750
Most-named component
Steering (2,661)
Year with the most complaints
2008 (1,904)
Recall campaigns
97
Generations
YJ, TJ, JK, JL
Replaced
The Jeep CJ, in 1986

Four Wranglers, four sets of complaints

Wikipedia dates the generations by production: YJ from March 1986 to December 1995, TJ from January 1996 to July 2006, JK from August 2006 to April 2018, and JL from November 2017 on.

YJ (1987-1995): fuel system and parking brake

The Wrangler replaced the CJ in 1986. It was built first at Brampton, then at Toledo South. The YJ years hold 843 complaints. From 1987 through 1994 the gasoline fuel system is the component named most every year. On the 1995 it's the parking brake: 50 of 202 complaints.

Recall 02V041 fits that. It covers SUVs with manual transmissions whose parking brake can release by itself, listed for 1990-1995 Wranglers. Its 316,148 vehicles may include other models. Recall 92V148 covered 1987-1992 models because the front brake hoses can wear from contact with the wheel opening splash shields.

TJ (1997-2006): engines early, fuel late

The TJ years hold 3,101 complaints. On the 1997, engine and cooling lead with 99 of 411, and 6 complaints that year report a death. By the end the fuel system takes over: 344 of 650 complaints on the 2005 and 353 of 730 on the 2006. Recall 02V104 adds a manifold shield on 2000-2002 4.0-liter engines so debris can't collect at cylinder 3. That campaign's 1,115,322 vehicles include the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee.

JK (2007-2017): the air bag years

The JK is the biggest group, with 8,861 complaints. The 2008 has the most of any Wrangler, 1,904, and 515 of them name the air bags. Recall 16V290 replaces the clockspring on 2007-2010 Wrangler JKs; dust can get inside and upset the air bag circuit.

Three passenger air bag inflator recalls on the JK carry a do-not-drive warning: 16V352 (listed for 2007-2012), 18V021 (2009-2013) and 19V018 (2010-2016). Those campaigns run from 328,177 to 4,648,270 vehicles and cover Chrysler, Dodge and Ram models too. Later JKs shift to the engine and power train: 304 of 654 complaints on the 2014 name the engine.

JL (2018 on): steering complaints, then fire-risk recalls

The 2018-2026 years hold 5,942 complaints so far. Steering leads the 2018, 2019 and 2020. The 2024 has 952 complaints, with 385 naming the electrical system and 245 the engine. The latest model years are still young, so their totals will keep climbing.

The JL also carries three park-outside recalls. Recall 23V787 covers 2021-2023 Wrangler plug-in hybrids whose battery may catch fire, 32,125 vehicles. Recall 25V741 covers 2020-2025 Wrangler 4xe batteries in a 320,068-vehicle campaign that includes the Grand Cherokee 4xe. Recall 26V363 covers power steering pump wiring that may overheat and start a fire on 2021-2025 Wranglers, the 4xe and the Gladiator, 1,076,999 vehicles across all three.

Should you fix it first?

Price the repair on paper first. Next, check the price a running Wrangler like yours sells for. If the repair eats up most of that, selling it broken makes more sense.

  • Look for open campaigns with your VIN on NHTSA's site. Several JK air bag recalls carry a do-not-drive warning, so the Jeep shouldn't be driven to get one fixed.
  • Loose or wandering steering? Front-end parts can add up fast. Our broken suspension guide covers when it stops being worth it.
  • Air bags already went off? See airbags deployed.
  • Frame rusted through? A rotted frame is often the end of an older Wrangler. Read rotted frame before paying for an estimate.

Wrangler complaints and recalls by model year

Tallied October 10, 2026. Because one campaign usually spans more than one model year, the recall figures overlap and their sum isn't 97.

Model yearNHTSA complaintsCrashes reportedRecallsTop component
1986100Fuel system
19873815Fuel system
19885043Fuel system
19896254Fuel system
19907964Fuel system
19917646Fuel system
19927764Fuel system
199310893Fuel system
1994151142Fuel system
1995202271Parking brake
1996200Electrical, steering
1997411323Engine and cooling
1998265232Engine and cooling
1999217151Engine and cooling
2000256171Power train
2001170173Structure
2002108152Structure
200310280Power train
2004192171Steering
2005650101Fuel system
200673073Fuel system
20071,749378Fuel system
20081,904237Air bags
2009650137Air bags
20106861510Fuel/propulsion
20114851310Air bags
2012834229Power train
2013654146Power train
2014654214Engine
2015474153Service brakes
2016461285Service brakes
2017310195Service brakes
20181,8242214Steering
2019742109Steering
20206121713Steering
20219502017Electrical
20224031416Electrical
20233711116Electrical
20249521414Electrical
20257856Electrical
20261013Fuel/propulsion

How to sell a Wrangler whole

  1. Have on hand your VIN, mileage, what broke and whether it can roll.
  2. Get an offer online or call (877) 421-6008.
  3. Describe the spot it's in and confirm the doors, top and wheels are still on it. Lifted or modified? Say so; our modified cars guide explains why it matters.
  4. Don't strip it. Leave the hardtop, doors, wheels and converter on. Missing parts change the offer.
  5. Give the driver the title and keys. Plate rules differ by state; see after you sell.

Comparing Jeeps? See the Grand Cherokee, Cherokee and the older CJ, or every Jeep we cover.

Questions people ask

Why do so many 2018-2020 Wrangler complaints mention steering?
NHTSA's file shows it but doesn't explain it. On the 2018, 959 of 1,824 complaints name steering; on the 2019, 362 of 742; on the 2020, 209 of 612. You can read the owner write-ups for your year at nhtsa.gov and look up open recalls by VIN there too.
My Wrangler 4xe has an open battery recall. Can I still sell it?
Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US. Tell us which recall is open. Both 23V787 and 25V741 say to park it outdoors away from structures and not to recharge it until a dealer finishes the repair.
Which Wrangler years have the most NHTSA complaints?
In the October 10, 2026 tally, the 2008 tops the list at 1,904, ahead of the 2018 at 1,824 and the 2007 at 1,749. The newest Wranglers haven't been driven long enough to reach similar totals.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.

  1. NHTSA datasets and APIs: complaints flat file FLAT_CMPL.zip (downloaded October 10, 2026) nhtsa.gov
  2. NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
  3. NHTSA recall 92V148: front brake hoses, 1987-1992 nhtsa.gov
  4. NHTSA recall 02V041: parking brake self-release, manual transmissions nhtsa.gov
  5. NHTSA recall 02V104: 4.0L manifold debris at cylinder 3 nhtsa.gov
  6. NHTSA recall 16V290: clockspring, 2007-2010 Wrangler JK nhtsa.gov
  7. NHTSA recall 16V352: passenger air bag inflator, do not drive nhtsa.gov
  8. NHTSA recall 18V021: passenger air bag inflator, do not drive nhtsa.gov
  9. NHTSA recall 19V018: passenger air bag inflator, do not drive nhtsa.gov
  10. NHTSA recall 14V631: heated mirror connector, 2011-2013 nhtsa.gov
  11. NHTSA recall 23V787: Wrangler PHEV battery, park outside nhtsa.gov
  12. NHTSA recall 25V741: 4xe high-voltage battery, park outside nhtsa.gov
  13. NHTSA recall 26V363: power steering pump wiring, park outside nhtsa.gov
  14. EPA fuel economy data (model years, powertrains) fueleconomy.gov
  15. Wikipedia: Jeep Wrangler (generations, production dates, plants) en.wikipedia.org