2001 Jeep Wrangler
The Verdict
The 2001 Jeep Wrangler has 174 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (64 complaints) and electrical (53 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 59/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Jeep Wrangler, consider the 2003 model year which has 41% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2003 has 41% fewer complaints
View the 2003 Jeep Wrangler dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 1
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WATER AND IMPURITIES CAN ENTER INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT.
Risk
THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH A REDESIGNED SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE ...
Reported Aug 3, 2002
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 117 | 14 | 38 | 36 | 72 |
| 2001 | 64 | 3 | 53 | 31 | 23 |
| 2002 | 56 | 7 | 20 | 12 | 13 |
| 2003 | 46 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 19 |
| 2004 | 112 | 16 | 16 | 25 | 23 |
| 2005 | 97 | 12 | 21 | 485 | 34 |
| 2006 | 128 | 20 | 23 | 507 | 51 |
| 2007 | 292 | 45 | 228 | 414 | 75 |
| 2008 | 251 | 53 | 511 | 332 | 91 |
| 2009 | 127 | 12 | 143 | 132 | 41 |
| 2010 | 105 | 33 | 208 | 279 | 59 |
| 2011 | 97 | 25 | 185 | 140 | 35 |
| 2012 | 116 | 36 | 216 | 211 | 248 |
| 2013 | 113 | 52 | 122 | 163 | 194 |
| 2014 | 91 | 59 | 106 | 338 | 53 |
| 2015 | 75 | 108 | 98 | 138 | 35 |
| 2016 | 86 | 121 | 90 | 101 | 53 |
| 2017 | 70 | 62 | 56 | 74 | 42 |
| 2018 | 1268 | 48 | 204 | 114 | 148 |
| 2019 | 485 | 18 | 96 | 53 | 69 |
| 2020 | 307 | 7 | 154 | 86 | 39 |
| 2021 | 357 | 15 | 153 | 255 | 83 |
| 2022 | 112 | 3 | 88 | 124 | 36 |
| 2023 | 87 | 4 | 91 | 118 | 27 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
The airbag clock spring has failed causing an airbag light and shut down of airbag system. The part, Airbag clock spring with speed control has been discontinued by Jeep and nobody makes the 2001-2002 clock springs aftermarket.
There is a known problem with the electrical wiring to the climate control panel including the blower motor fan switch. The wiring attached to the assembly gets too hot and melts the blower motor fan switch. When this happens, you are unable to turn on any heat/ac/air speeds. You are not able to select any speed to turn on the air which means you can’t use it to defrost the windshield. This can lead to a poor visibility situation. I am the original owner of my 2001 TJ and I’ve had to have this problem fixed multiple times. There are several videos & discussions about this problem in Jeep forums. Chrysler should’ve recalled it years ago..
MY JEEP WAS MAKING GRINDING SOUNDS WHEN I SHIFTED GEARS. AT FIRST IT WAS JUST A QUICK GRIND (METAL AGAINST METAL). THEN IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS THIS LAST WEEK WENT BY. IT BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND IT WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD.LUCKILY I DIDN'T DRIVE IT MUCH. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID I WAS LUCKY- MY TRANSMISSION(?) WAS TILTED AND SITTING ON SOMETHING AND THAT WAS CAUSING THE NOISE (THE LUCK WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T FALL ALL THE WAY DOWN). THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM FROM PRESTIGE HI-TECH IS "CHECK FOR NOISE/ GRINDING IN DRIVETRAIN. FRAME BADLY RUSTED OUT, CROSS MEMBER UNDER TRANSFER CASE, BOLTS PULLED OUT OF RUSTED FRAME." I WAS THEN TOLD IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VISUALLY IT IS IN GREAT CONDITION WITHOUT RUST ON THE BODY. PRESTIGE SAID BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME ARE RUSTED THROUGH BECAUSE OF POOR DESIGN. THERE WERE NO HOLES FOR TRAPPED WATER TO ESCAPE THROUGH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JACKSONVILLE CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM ARLINGTON (9600 ATLANTIC BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32225) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, YEARS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,468.
FRAME ROTTED BY TRAIL ARMS AND CENTER BY SKID PLATE WHY DID CHRYSLER NEVER RECALL THESE FAULTY FRAMES?
FRAME BEGAN ROTTING OUT AT ROUGHLY 100,000 MILES. I DISCOVERED THIS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON MY COMMUTE HOME FROM WORK. WHILE ACCELERATING I FELT A SUDDEN POWER LOSS. THIS WENT ON FOR ANOTHER ROUNDTRIP THE FOLLOWING DAY. UPON RETURNING HOME THE FOLLOWING DAY I SAW SOMETHING HANGING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS THE SKID PLATE, HANGING BY THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BOLTS, SUPPORTING THE ENTIRE WEIGHT OF THE DRIVETRAIN. THE DRIVESHAFT BEING AT THAT UNNATURAL ANGLE IS WHAT CAUSED THE LOSS OF POWER. TO THINK THAT I HAD DRIVEN 100 MILES THAT WAY WAS SLIGHTLY UNSETTLING. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE FRAME WELDED, WHICH RAN $1,200. I HAVE SINCE HAD THE REAR RAILS (BEHIND REAR WHEELS) REPAIRED FOR AN ADDITIONAL $400. MY FRONT BODY MOUNT HAS ALSO ROTTED OUT, WHICH I FIXED MYSELF FOR $10, BUT SHOULD PROBABLY BE WELDED BY A PROFESSIONAL. BOTH MECHANIC AND WELDER SUGGESTED THAT FRAME ROT OCCURRED DUE TO LACK OF HOLES FOR WATER TO DRAIN OUT AND THAT THE SITTING WATER AND SALT JUST ATE AWAY AT EVERYTHING. THE CAR NOW HAS 215,000 MILES ON IT. I AM OTHERWISE HAPPY WITH THE CAR, BUT IT UPSETS ME THAT I COULD HAVE HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF THE FRAME. SEEMS STRANGE THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A FIX FOR THE ISSUE, NOR A RESPONSE FROM CHRYSLER TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT PEOPLE CAN DIE AS A RESULT OF THE FRAME ROTTING OUT. MAYBE THAT'S WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN FOR A FIX?!? AT 200,000+ MILES YOU WOULD THINK I WOULD GO STRAIGHT BACK TO A WRANGLER ONCE THIS ONE BITES IT, BUT I WILL NEVER BUY A JEEP AGAIN BASED ON THIS ISSUE. I BOUGHT THIS AS A 25 YEAR OLD WITHOUT KIDS. WITH A 2 AND 4 YEAR OLD AT HOME, I WOULD NOT TRUST A JEEP TO TRANSPORT THEM (TOO BAD, AS MY SON LOVES MY JEEP DESPITE NEVER BEING IN IT). I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST, SO RUST/ROT EXPECTED TO AN EXTENT. MY BROTHER OWNS A FORD F-250 USED FOR PLOWING..SAME YEAR, SAME MILAGE...NO ROT!
SPONTANEOUS VEHICLE FIRE WHILE PARKED FOR TWO WEEKS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP WRANGLER. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME WAS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
THE FRAME ROTTED OUT WHERE THE SUSPENSION CONNECT TO THE FRAME
MY JEEP FRAME RUSTED OUT, FORCING US TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE IN 2015. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, FEMALE, NEVER WENT OFF-ROAD WITH IT AND IT WAS GARAGE KEPT. LESS THAN 90,000 MILES ON IT TODAY. UPSET THAT I CANNOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF THE FRAME AND CANNOT FIND FRAME TO REPLACE IT. I STILL OWN IT AND STILL WAITING TO FIND A FRAME FOR IT. NOW SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. EXCELLENT CONDITION, EXCEPT FOR THE FRAME! SEE PHOTO AS PROOF.
DEFINITELY HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH THE DEATH WOBBLE IN MY JEEP ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I FEEL THE PAIN IN BACK AND NECK. WILL HAVE TO GO TO DOCTORS TO GET THAT CHECKED. I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 83 WHEN I HIT A BUMP ON THE ROAD NEAR CONSTRUCTION AREA WHEN JEEP BEGAN TO WOBBLE OUT OF CONTROL. LUCKILY ANOTHER JEEP ON THE ROAD SAW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND MADE SPACE FOR ME TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. I CALLED THE TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED. *DSY
ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTED CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FALL OUT. ALMOST MADE MY SON CRASH INTO A TREE AFTER LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
FRAME ROTTING FROM INSIDE OUT.THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY CONCERN.THIS IS A PROBLEM RELATED TO CERTAIN YEARS OF WRANGLERS. THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM SHOULD RESULT IN A RECALL AS HAS BEEN WITH OTHER MANUFACTURERS WITH SAME PROBLEM TO RESOLVE THIS VERY UNSAFE CONDITION.
TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP WRANGLER--- SPOKE WITH CHRYSLER --- CHRSYLER STATED NO RECALLS ON VEHICLE---HORN IN VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK AT ALL AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON... CONTACT WAS GIVEN NUMBER TO JEEP REGARDING AIR BAG LIGHT....0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN
FRAME RUSTING FROM INSIDE REAR CONTROL ARM FELL OFF CAUSING WRECK
FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED ONLY 90K MILES. THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED BECAUSE THE STRUCTURE HOLDING IT UP WAS BOLTED TO THE FRAME AND BECAUSE THE ENTIRE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED IT CANT BE FIXED. ITS SO BAD A NO BODY SHOP WILL FIX IT, RUST KIT IS NO HELP WITH HOW BAD THIS FRAME IS RUSTED. THIS IS COMPLETELY RIDICULES THAT A FRAME IS THIS BADLY RUSTED AT 90K MILES.
I WAS DRIVING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON WHEN I SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC, THEN SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE AIR VENTS. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER ABOUT 15 MIN THE SMELL DISSIPATED AND I CONTINUED ON WITHOUT THE AIR CONDITIONING. LATER I REMOVED THE COVERS AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A FIRE IN THE PLUG THAT GOES TO THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR
FUEL LEAKS FROM UNDER TANK AFTER FILLING UP WITH GAS AT GAS STATION
THIS 2001 JEEP WRANGLER TJ FAILED NY STATE SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO FRAME RUST. PURCHASED NEW ON 06/01/2001 FROM A JEEP DEALERSHIP IN LINDENHURST, NY AND ONLY HAS 116,097 MILES ON A 4.0 ENGINE. THIS TUBULAR FRAME RUST IS PREMATURE DUE TO LACK OF "WEEP HOLES" THAT ALLOWS WATER TO EXIT THE FRAME, THEREBY PROMOTING RUST FROM THE INSIDE, OUT AND IS COSTLY TO REPAIR (SEE ATTACHMENT). NOTE... TOYOTA HAS HAD SIMILAR "RUSTY FRAME" ISSUES, BUT TOYOTA HAS DONE THE "RIGHT THING". SEE WRITE-UP AND VIDEO HERE: HTTP://AUTOWEEK.COM/ARTICLE/RECALLS/TOYOTA-FRAME-SETTLEMENT-COULD-COST-COMPANY-34-BILLION ... I LOVE MY WRANGLER, BUT IF JEEP REFUSES TO HELP WITH THIS (WIDE SPREAD) RUSTY FRAME ISSUE, I MAY VERY WELL MAKE A TOYOTA MY NEXT PURCHASE! THIS IS NOT JUST A CUSTOMER SERVICE ISSUE, THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE!!!
COMPLETE CORROSION THROUGH THE FRAME JUST BEHIND THE REAR UPPER AND LOWER TRAILING ARMS MOUNT LOCATIONS. TWO LARGE HOLES APPROXIMATELY 1" IN DIAMETER. STRESS CONCENTRATIONS DUE TO CORRODED METAL AND CYCLICAL FATIGUE HAS CAUSED CRACK PROPAGATION AND CONNECTION OF THE TWO HOLES WITH ONE ANOTHER.
174 total