2012 Jeep Wrangler Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,285 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2012 Jeep Wrangler, alongside 10 recall campaigns and 6 defect investigations. It scores 55/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 20,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2012 Jeep Wrangler sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1990–1995, 1998–2004.
Avoid
Where 2012 sits among all Wrangler years
What owners report
“While driving making a left-hand turn, crossing an intersection the vehicle stalled. Lossing all power, no power stirring or breaks. When trying to re-start vehicle will not re-start.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Wrangler
“Steering was shaking and car was shaking at a very low speed after driving on cobblestone street.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Wrangler
“Cam sensor failed. Check engine light and traction control light appeared. Replaced and same problems occurred. May be wiring or cam/rocker issues.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Wrangler
“Sentry light and tire pressure light flash intermittently while driving at normal speeds.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Wrangler
“There has been numerous safety recalls for this Jeep on the airbag. The airbag warning light came on and now the horn does not work.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Wrangler
“Horn and all other steering wheel functions don’t work. Appears to be clock spring”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Wrangler
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 712 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 44,451 miles. Half of those reports fall between 20,000 and 71,756 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (10)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2018 Jeep Wrangler right hand drive vehicles. The driver's seat belt buckle mounting strap may fracture and separate from the seat frame.
Fix: FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt buckle, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed November 19, 2019. Owners will…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air…
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,…
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009…
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Right Hand Drive Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to May 2, 2016. The clockspring assembly may become contaminated with dust and cause the air bag circuit to fail.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clockspring, wheel back cover, and column shroud, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer…
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to July 19, 2013. Corrosion in the exterior heated power mirror electrical connector may result in an electrical short.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will move the exterior mirror power feed to a separate connector, free of charge. Chrysler issued an interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The…
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Jeep Wrangler vehicles equipped with a 3.6L engine and an automatic transmission and manufactured January 23, 2011, through February 23, 2013. The power steering line may contact and…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering return tube assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.…
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Jeep Wrangler right-hand drive vehicles manufactured February 1, 2007, through October 10, 2011. The affected vehicles have airbag clockspring assemblies that could experience broken…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clockspring and add a steering wheel dust shield, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at…
Quadratec, Inc. is recalling certain aftermarket accessory, driver-side, Ultimate Floor Liners part numbers 14254.0301 07, 14254.0301 08, 14254.0301Q, 14254.0302 07, 14254.0302 08, 14254.0302Q, 14254.0303 07, 14254.0303 08, 14254.0303Q, 14254.0309 07,…
Fix: Quadratec will notify owners and either exchange the liners or provide them with a hook guard kit to help secure the driver-side mat, free of charge. The recall began on April 4, 2013. Owners may…
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2012 RIGHT HAND DRIVE (RHD) JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2007, THROUGH OCTOBER 10, 2011. SOME VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH DRIVER'S AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLIES THAT COULD EXPERIENCE A…
Fix: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REMEDY THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. CHRYSLER WILL MAIL TO OWNERS AN INTERIM NOTIFICATION DURING MARCH 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 19V680000.
Led to recall campaign 20V024.
Led to recall campaign 16V288000.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2012 Jeep Wrangler reliable?
The 2012 Jeep Wrangler drew 1,285 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 55/100, scored against the model's worst year (2008).
What are the most common 2012 Jeep Wrangler problems?
The top reported problems for the 2012 Jeep Wrangler are transmission & drivetrain (285 complaints), steering (204), and engine (179).
At what mileage do 2012 Jeep Wrangler problems show up?
Owners most often report 2012 Jeep Wrangler problems around 44,451 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 20,000 and 71,756 miles.
Does the 2012 Jeep Wrangler have recalls?
10 recall campaigns apply to the 2012 Jeep Wrangler. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.