2013 Jeep Wrangler Problems, Recalls & Reliability

1,045 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2013 Jeep Wrangler, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 43/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 24,322 miles.

1,045Complaints
43/100Trouble index
7Recalls
51,000Typical trouble mileage

Below average

Where 2013 sits among all Wrangler years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Transmission & drivetrain 230 complaints (22%) · typically ~24,322 miles
“Tl-the contact owns a 2013 jeep wrangler. The contact received a recall notification of nhtsa campaign id number 13v234000 (power train , steering) and stated that the vehicle have not been serviced under the recall because the needed part would become available until thirty eight weeks. The…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Wrangler
Steering 168 complaints (16%) · typically ~27,600 miles
“Driving on highway and the engine shut off for no apparent reason. When the engine is off there is a loss of power steering etc. This has happened several times. Starting at about 32,000 miles. The dealership has tried to fix it but the vehicle still has this problem.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Wrangler
Engine 144 complaints (14%) · typically ~63,500 miles
“Motor rocker arm failed possibly damaged motor. Engine oil cooler cracked. Leaking oil over my exhaust. Possibly causing fire.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Wrangler
Electrical 112 complaints (11%) · typically ~54,000 miles
“Jeep stalls on occasion. Very annoying. Usually starts right up and no check engine light.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Wrangler
Other 94 complaints (9%) · typically ~60,000 miles
“My left hand drive jeep unlimited wrangler has a clock spring issue too that cannot be resolved. All jeeps need to be on the recall, not just the right hand drive jeeps.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Wrangler
Airbags 72 complaints (7%) · typically ~58,306 miles
“Had to replace the airbag clock spring as the light came on the dash and there's a recall on some but not all??”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Wrangler

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 553 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 51,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 20,000 and 75,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (7)

SEAT BELTS 19V680000 2019

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…

AIR BAGS 19V018000 2019 Do not drive

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…

AIR BAGS 18V021000 2018 Do not drive

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…

AIR BAGS 16V288000 2016

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…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14V631000 2014

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…

STEERING 13V234000 2013

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.…

EQUIPMENT 13E010000 2013

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…

Federal defect investigations

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture EA21002 opened 2021 · still open
Seat belt buckle bracket failure PE19008 opened 2019, closed 2019

Led to recall campaign 19V680000.

Electrical overstress EA19001 opened 2019, closed 2024

Led to recall campaign 20V024.

Totally Integrated Power Module Failure DP14004 opened 2014, closed 2015

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2013peak 330 in 20142026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2013 Jeep Wrangler reliable?

The 2013 Jeep Wrangler drew 1,045 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 43/100, scored against the model's worst year (2008).

What are the most common 2013 Jeep Wrangler problems?

The top reported problems for the 2013 Jeep Wrangler are transmission & drivetrain (230 complaints), steering (168), and engine (144).

At what mileage do 2013 Jeep Wrangler problems show up?

Owners most often report 2013 Jeep Wrangler problems around 51,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 20,000 and 75,000 miles.

Does the 2013 Jeep Wrangler have recalls?

7 recall campaigns apply to the 2013 Jeep Wrangler. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.

← 2012 Wrangler All Wrangler years 2014 Wrangler →
Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

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.