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The 2023 Wrangler, Jeep says, is “the original icon of adventure,” and “the greatest adventures are electrified.” But when owners experience problems that dealers don’t recognize or can’t diagnose or fix, they are rethinking their adventure options. Complaints include engine shutdowns to the infamous speed wobble caused by steering defects.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Contents
- 1| NHTSA Complaints for the 2023 Jeep Wrangler
- 2| Most Common Problems with the 2023 Jeep Wrangler
- 3| Problems with the Engine
- 4| Steering and Lane Departure Problems
- 5| Transmission Leak Issues
- 6| Problems with the Defroster and Possible Rust Issues
- 7| What to do if your 2023 Wrangler is a Lemon?
- 8| Complaint Data
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NHTSA Complaints for the 2023 Jeep Wrangler
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| Electrical System | |
| Power Train | |
| Steering | |
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | |
| Lane Departure: Lane Keep: Steering Assist | |
| Structure:body |
Most Common Problems with the 2023 Jeep Wrangler
Between November 17, 2022, and January 16, 2023, there have been 5 complaints to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) about the 2023 Jeep Wrangler. These relate to the gasoline and EV models and name a range of components and systems as being faulty, They are the electrical system, engine, powertrain, steering, structure, visibility, and lane departure.
The most serious issues are linked to the engine and steering. But other complaints are also worth mentioning.
Problems with the Engine
Problems with the Wrangler engine shutting down are well-known and widespread. There is even a recall for 62,909 2021-2023 Wrangler 4xe vehicles that are equipped with 2-liter plug-in hybrid electric engines. Issued on November 23, 2022, this warns that a communication loss may cause the engine to shut down. Needless to say, this increases the risk of the Jeep crashing.
There are two engine complaints, both of which appear to relate directly to the recall. But in both cases, dealers were unable to find the problem.
Dealer Can’t Replicate Stoppage
An owner from Pennsylvania says that while driving at about 25 mph in December 2022, the 2023 Wrangler 4xe “came to an abrupt stop.” There was less than 1% reflected on the battery at the time. He placed the vehicle in Park, pressed the brakes, and restarted the Wrangler. The dealership was unable to replicate the problem.
There is no mention of the recall.
Diagnostics and Test Drive Reveal No Problems
An owner from Virginia describes how the engine of his 2023 Wrangler 4xe stalled. There were flashing warning lights and sudden deceleration. This is “a significant safety concern considering I was in a city with cars driving around me. Had they not slowed (down), may have struck my vehicle because it decelerated so quickly. I attempted to push on the gas to accelerate, and nothing happened. After pulling over, I turned the vehicle off and back on again, and the problem was no longer there.”
Since then, the Wrangler’s engine tends to over-rev when he accelerates more than 3,500 RPM to increase speed by 10-15 mph with a normal to light touch on the gas. There has also been “a jerkiness to acceleration and shifting of gears” since this occurred. Additionally, when he turns the Jeep on, the engine revs up to 2,000 RPM “without me touching the gas to accelerate.” And it idles around 2,000 RPM “until I drive or turn it off.”
Aware of the 2023 Jeep Wranglers 4xe recall, he states that it only applies to 2023 models manufactured before his.
The Jeep dealership ran diagnostics and took it for a test drive in December 2022, but couldn’t find anything wrong. “This is a safety concern, because if I am driving on the interstate or highway at appropriate speeds and my engine stops working like this again, I may be struck or cause an accident that could cause myself or others harm. The fact that 2021-2023 Jeep wrangler 4xes manufactured prior to mine are going to be recalled in January with this same issue is concerning.”
Steering and Lane Departure Problems
Steering problems rank high on the subject line of NHTSA complaints, just as they do for previous models. And it’s all got to do with what is now known as the Wrangler’s “death wobble.”
A total of 432, which is nearly half of the complaints about the 2018 model relate to steering issues. At 360, more than half the complaints about the 2019 model are about steering defects. This pattern continues with 160 out of 256 for the 2020 model. The percentage drops to 68/222 for the 2021 model, and 15/51 for the 2022 model. But all the numbers remain high and will inevitably continue to increase as time passes.
An owner of a 2023 Wrangler from South Dakota describes the defect as causing the Jeep to sway from side to side. The dealer maintained that “the steering was operating as designed.” Adding to this, the dealer said “the electronic control module that communicated with the steering box and the steering wheel could override intended steering.” Nothing was done to fix the problem.
Transmission Leak Issues
A powertrain-related complaint involves fluid loss and leakage from the automatic transmission and/or the transfer case. The complaint is from an owner in Illinois, who says this has been happening since the Jeep was delivered from the factory. While the dealers are unable to diagnose or fix the problem, the owner is concerned about the possible implications. The complaint states that this issue “can cause transmission components to be improperly lubricated, causing excessive heat, wear, and in rare cases, fire.”
Problems with the Defroster and Possible Rust Issues
A complaint filed under Visibility/Wiper and Structure is from an owner in Pennsylvania who describes how systems failed. The defroster only “blows straight up about the width of the rearview mirror, causing my windshield to fog or ice, and I (am) not be able to see.” Additionally, the undercoating of the frame of the Jeep “is already coming off, making me very concerned about rust down the road.”
This fear is compounded by the fact that there is “a fair amount” of porosity in the welds of the frame. The owner is concerned that if the vehicle was ever in a collision, the frame may not “hold up.” The other concern is that the porous welds may harbor salty water causing the welds to rust. This, the complaint says, would cause the strength of the already weak, porous weld to be weakened further.
Lodged with the NHTSA on November 17, 2022, the complaint states that the “dealer will not look at it until the 14th of December.” They were also “unwilling to provide a safe loaner in the meantime.”
What to do if your 2023 Wrangler is a Lemon?
If you think your 2023 Jeep Wrangler is a lemon, do something about it. The law makes Wrangler pay the legal fees for lemon-related legal fees, so it’s not going to cost you anything to pursue a settlement through a lemon lawyer.
Lemberg Law has helped thousands of lemon vehicle owners get settlements from various manufacturers. So, if we can help you prove you have a lemon, you might get a replacement Wrangler or a cash refund. If you’d like us to assess your 2023 Jeep Wrangler problems free of charge, call our Helpline or fill out a contact form and we’ll get back to you.
Complaint Data
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Mar 04, 2023 |
| State | PA |
| Description | While on the highway, vehicle engine simply went off without warning. Loss of power and ability to accelerate. Vehicle message indicated to turn off vehicle. Was able to safely pull the vehicle over and turn it off and back on. Brought vehicle to dealer to get checked out and they could "find no issues with the vehicle." concerned with driving vehicle now as this could happen again. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine, Power Train |
| Date | Mar 02, 2023 |
| State | CT |
| Description | Was driving my one week old 2023 wrangler sahara xe. Came to a stop. I started to drive and my engine completely shut down. Rendering me stuck in the middle of a roadway in traffic. The message on the dash read that there was a shut down on my vehicle and stated something about the transmission . There was no warning, the engine just shut down and put itself in park! I have three children.. This is scary . I contacted the dealer and dropped the vehicle off for the day where it was inspected but no code was found as a fault. I see thousands of other jeeps (xe's) have the same engine shut down issue. I presented these facts to the dealer. They dated that they can't do anything without a code! Please help fix this. Too many are experiencing this very real and dangerous issue! |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 22, 2023 |
| State | NH |
| Description | The front defrost fails to blow any air on the windshield directly in front of the drivers seat, causing visibility issues in winter weather or whenever the windshield fogs up. The vehicle was brought to the dealer and the dealer indicated that the defrost is working as normal and that they just don't blow air anywhere but in the center. Even when explaining that a windshield that ices up is a safety issue when driving, they indicated there is nothing that can be done. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine |
| Date | Feb 19, 2023 |
| State | PA |
| Description | Vehicle shut off at highway speed. Msg was charge fault. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Feb 15, 2023 |
| State | TX |
| Description | The contact was an attorney who was filing a complaint on behalf of his client, who owned a 2023 jeep wrangler. The contact stated that while his client was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The failure caused his client's vehicle to be rear-ended by another vehicle. No air bags were deployed upon impact. The contact's client was transported to the hospital for a brain bleed and neck and back injuries. The client suffered a recurring concussion. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer on three separate occasions because the vehicle failed to start. The contact related the failure to nhtsa campaign number: 22v86500 (engine) however, the vin was not included in the recall. the failure mileage was approximately 1,000. |
| Category | Steering |
| Date | Feb 10, 2023 |
| State | CA |
| Description | I was driving 65 on the freeway when the steering suddenly goes out &stiffens so hard I could not turn the car. It was very heavy. Fortunately all the cars were going in the same direction &I managed to merge over but was at that point going about 40 on the freeway, which is dangerous in itself there was a major warning light that went on, but of course, bc I was struggling w/the car, I couldn't read what it said, & then after I pulled over, I noticed another smaller warning light of the stop/start system, but from what I understand there could be any number of issues under that warning light the dealer has had my car for over a week they can't find anything specific on the car. I have been looking at the wrangler forums and heard similar complaints and similar incidences for over 6 yrs of dealers “fixing†this and that when in reality, it could be the 2 batteries in the car which are considered by many jeep owners substandard coming from the factory, and it has been suggested I have them replace with mopar batteries, (not the same factory batteries ) but apparently the factory will not reimburse the dealers for the batteries so they avoid placing batteries at 700.- a pop when that could be the issue 75% of the time (that comes from experienced jeep owners on this forum) if I had been in cross traffic, or if I had to avoid an oncoming collision or a side collision I would not have been able to maneuver the car and it could've been a disaster I doubt their ability to pinpoint the exact cause of this as they said they've never seen this kind of an incident before they were able to replicate the loss of steering, but they don't know how they did it if they could replace this and that, but there's no telling unless the incident happens again if it was really fixed, and I find this is too dangerous a chance to take as I could've been killed. No inspections of the component has been checked by anybody cause they don't know what component is malfunctioning |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine, Power Train |
| Date | Feb 03, 2023 |
| State | OH |
| Description | Vehicle completely shut off on highway 70mph. Service charging system, d selector was flashing pulled to a stop and had to restart ignition. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Feb 01, 2023 |
| State | GA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2023 jeep wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light and service battery warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided to a case manager, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 1,488. |
| Category | Steering |
| Date | Jan 25, 2023 |
| State | TX |
| Description | No incident yet, but too much play in the steering. Constantly correcting from left to right to stay middle of the road. |
| Category | Electrical System, Power Train |
| Date | Jan 22, 2023 |
| State | IL |
| Description | Purchased the 2023 jeep wrangler on jan 20th. The next day the vehicle could not start. Displaying a charging system error. Had to be towed to dealer for repairs with on 285 miles on the odometer. Upon review it appears the jeep 4xe are die just driving down the road. Frightening dangerous |
| Category | Engine, Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Date | Jan 20, 2023 |
| State | MD |
| Description | Jeep wrangler 4xe car engine died for reason unknown while traveling at a steady speed of ~40mph. Dashboard and car lights remained powered on, but the engine suddenly became unresponsive and the car began to coast. An error message appeared on the dashboard display but disappeared before it could be written down. About 5 seconds prior to the engine dying the cruise control, which had been engaged a few minutes earlier, but which was not believed to be active at the time, was toggled. It was a very dangerous situation, but no injuries resulted from this event. Car dealer could not replicate the problem. No error messages found stored on the car computer were found by the dealer. The problem has not occurred again, but the car has not been driven much since the event. Cause of the problem remains unknown. |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Jan 16, 2023 |
| State | IL |
| Description | Automatic transmission and/or transfer-case fluid loss and leakage from factory. Dealers unable to diagnose and fix. Can cause transmission components to be improperly lubricated, causing excessive heat, wear and in rare cases, fire. |
| Category | Lane Departure: Lane Keep: Steering Assist, Steering |
| Date | Dec 27, 2022 |
| State | SD |
| Description | The contact owns a 2023 jeep wrangler. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle was swaying from side to side. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the steering was operating as designed. The dealer also informed the contact that the electronic control module that communicated with the steering box and the steering wheel could override intended steering. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000. |
| Category | Engine, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Dec 26, 2022 |
| State | VA |
| Description | I was driving approximately 30-35 mph when my vehicle engine no longer would accelerate. On the dashboard, the "d" to signify I was in drive was flashing in red, as opposed to being lit in white as usual. There was another warning light flashing in red, which was a lightning bolt with the characters ) ( around it. My car was dinging an alert sound. I was able to turn my flashers on and coast over to the side of the road. There was a significant safety concern considering I was in a city with cars driving around me, and had they not slowed, may have struck my vehicle because it decelerated so quickly. I attempted to push on the gas to accelerate, and nothing happened. After pulling over, I turned the vehicle off and back on again, and the problem was no longer there. Following this, my engine over-revs when I accelerate (3,500 + rpm to increase my speed by 10-15 mph with normal to light touch on the gas). I have noticed a jerkiness to acceleration and shifting of gears since this occurred also. Another issue is I will turn my car on and the engine will rev up to 2,000 + rpms without me touching the gas to accelerate. It will idle around 2,000 rpms until I drive or turn it off. I purchased this jeep brand new. I see on consumer report there will be recalls in january 2023 on jeep wranglers 4xe manufactured a few months prior to the one I purchased with the same issue that I am having. I brought it in to the jeep dealership where I purchased it. They ran diagnostics but said they were unable to find any issues. They took it for a test drive and were also unable to decipher anything wrong with it. This is a safety concern because if I am driving on the interstate or highway at appropriate speeds and my engine stops working like this again, I may be struck or cause an accident that could cause myself or others harm. The fact that 2021-2023 jeep wrangler 4xe's manufactured prior to mine are going to be recalled in january with this same issue is concerning. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Dec 24, 2022 |
| State | PA |
| Description | Engine turned off and vehicle came to an abrupt stop. Battery level showed less than 1% on the 4xe at the time of the stoppage. I was driving about 25 mph when it occurred. Placed the vehicle into park, pressed brakes and restarted vehicle. Went to dealership to complain and they said they could not replicate the problem. |
| Category | Structure:body, Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Nov 17, 2022 |
| State | PA |
| Description | Systems that failed, my defroster only blows straight up about the width of the rear view mirror. Causing my windshield to fog or ice and I not be able to see. Dealer will not look at it until the 14th of dec. They are unwilling to provide a safe loaner in the meantime. No warning lamps my frame undercoating is already coming off making me very concerned about rust down the road the welds on my frame have porosity in a fair amount of welds. This worries me if I would ever be in a collision that the frame would not hold up. Also, longterm I'm worried about the porous welds harboring salty water and rusting out the welds. Causing the strength of the weld to be weakened. Not to mention a porous weld in general is a weak weld |
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About the Author:
Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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