2021 Jeep Wrangler
The Verdict
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler has 931 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (377 complaints) and engine (289 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 5/100, it earns a "Total Klunk" rating. If you're shopping for a Jeep Wrangler, consider the 2003 model year which has 89% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2003 has 89% fewer complaints
View the 2003 Jeep Wrangler dashboard →
Klunk Score: Total Klunk
Among the most complained-about vehicle years on record. Strongly consider alternatives.
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 6
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. The high voltage battery may fail internally and lead to a vehicle fire while parked or...
Risk
A vehicle fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised not to recharge their vehicles, and to park outside and away from structures, until they are repaired. Dealers will update the high voltage battery pack software and replace the...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, and 2022-2023 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with a 3.0L diesel engine. The high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) may fail.
Risk
Fuel pump failure can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the HPFP and replace additional fuel system components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC ...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vehicles equipped with 2.0L Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle engines. A loss of communication may cause an engine shutdown.
Risk
An engine shutdown can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
There is more than one involved component and calibration software. Updating the calibration software in the Transmission Control Module, Hybrid Control Processor and Auxiliary Hybrid Control Proc...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Ram 1500, Jeep Gladiator, and 2021 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The front seat belt retractors may have an improperly welded micro gas generator, which ...
Risk
A seat belt with pretensioner failure may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the front seat belt retractors. free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 8, 2022. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chry...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator vehicles. The electric hydraulic power steering pump wiring may overheat and cause a vehicle fire, even when t...
Risk
A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures, until their vehicle is repaired. Dealers will inspect and replace affected parts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification lette...
Reported Apr 6, 2026
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator vehicles that were previously remedied under NHTSA recall number 23V-116. The software for the powertrain control ...
Risk
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 15, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-14...
Reported Jan 8, 2024
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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 | 486 | 34 |
| 2006 | 128 | 20 | 23 | 507 | 51 |
| 2007 | 292 | 46 | 230 | 414 | 75 |
| 2008 | 251 | 53 | 512 | 332 | 91 |
| 2009 | 127 | 13 | 146 | 132 | 41 |
| 2010 | 105 | 34 | 209 | 279 | 59 |
| 2011 | 98 | 27 | 186 | 140 | 35 |
| 2012 | 116 | 43 | 216 | 211 | 248 |
| 2013 | 113 | 58 | 124 | 163 | 195 |
| 2014 | 91 | 67 | 108 | 338 | 53 |
| 2015 | 75 | 125 | 100 | 142 | 36 |
| 2016 | 86 | 129 | 90 | 102 | 54 |
| 2017 | 70 | 68 | 56 | 75 | 42 |
| 2018 | 1276 | 56 | 215 | 118 | 155 |
| 2019 | 492 | 25 | 102 | 57 | 70 |
| 2020 | 310 | 8 | 164 | 94 | 40 |
| 2021 | 377 | 15 | 160 | 289 | 90 |
| 2022 | 121 | 4 | 92 | 145 | 39 |
| 2023 | 88 | 4 | 96 | 150 | 29 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
Steering damper and drag link and drag link ends.
I have owned this vehicle since August of 2021 and consider myself very familiar with the normal operation and performance of the vehicles propultion system. From August of 2021 through December of 2025: - I could operate the vehicle at highway speeds in full electric mode - I could reliably tell when the vehicle would transition to the internal combustion engine and how the vehicle would respond when it transitioned (a smooth transition) - I could have confidence in how the vehicle would accelerate when the gas pedal was pushed. I had the 68C recall performed on 12/23/25 and since the recall, the vehicle's propultion system has not been the same to the point where it is a safety concern. - I cannot operate the vehicle at highway speeds in full electric mode and in many cases cannot operate in electric at lower speeds. - When the vehicle transitions to internal combustion, the engine climbs to an unsafe RPM, then reduces RPM in stages until transitioning back to full electric. This process repeates iteslf over and over as if the vehicle is trying to find the right balance between electric and gas. These transitions cause unreliable fluctuations in speed and power and put unecessary strain on the engine. - There are times when I will go to accelerate and nothing will happen for a couple of seconds. This is particularly dangerous at intersections. - There are times when I will go to accelerate and the vehicle will start in electric for a second and then immediately jump to 4500 RPM on the internal combustion engine, jetting the vehicle forward in an unsafe manner. The dealership noted the behavior, but cannot identify any codes and the official message from Jepp is that this is "Normal Operation." I've driven this vehicle for over 5 years and over 60,000 miles. I can confirm that this is not normal, this is not how it always has been, and there has been a change made to the performance of the vehicle since the recall. I have videos of the behavior.
My 2021 Jeep 4XE is not safe after the 68C battery recall, this recall has caused the combustion engine to start intermittently even though I am in hybrid or electric mode, when this happens, the jeep will not respond to the accelerator pedal for a few seconds while the computer figures out what to do, when pulling away from a stop sign or turning left in traffic this lag has made it very difficult to drive in traffic. I feel the 68C recall has made this vehicle unsafe to drive unless you know it's going to lag and make driving corrections because of it. At this point I will not let anyone but myself drive it for fear they will experience the lag and end up in an accident because of it. I have had it back to the dealer 2 times and they acknowledge my complaint but since it has no codes they can't or don't know h0w to fix it. They have contacted Stellantis and they advise the jeep is operating as designed. It didn't do this prior to the 68C recall. Not sure what to do at this point but I now have a vehicle that I bought because I liked the performance of the Hybrid system but now that performance is compromised to the point, I feel it's not safe, and Jeep cant seem to rectify the issue even though the dealer acknowledges its and issue
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the rear seat head restraint fractured, preventing the headrest from remaining in the locked, upright position. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V472000 (Seats); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where technicians confirmed that the failure was related to the defect described in the recall; however, the dealer stated that the recall remedy could not be applied because the VIN was excluded, despite the vehicle utilizing the same component. The failure mileage was 39,000.
Vehicle shuts down and looses all power and battery controls without warning. My [XXX] daughter was driving the jeep when this happened. Was unable to get vehicle into N for over an hour. Fuses and relays inside the under hood fuse block were extremely hot. After finally getting it into N, we removed from the travel lanes of the 4 lane highway. I had jeep towed to house and waiting to hear back from dealer as to when I can have it towed in. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I purchased my 2021 used with 29k miles in April 2024. Since then I have had to deal with three recalls but one of particular concern- 68c, meant to reduce the incidence of fire caused by the battery cell separators. Since then I have experienced a very noticeable change in how the Jeep drives. There is a large gap in available power, the gas engine sometimes kicks in unexpectedly at high RPM, other times I press the accelerator to the floor with no response, and at times there is a severe lag between the time I need to accelerate and the time that power is available. Overall not only did the recall fundamentally change the vehicle I purchased it also introduced unsafe driving characteristics because it is less predictable in its response.
After the Jeep 68C recall fix since January 2026: • Aggressive Battery Throttling & "Bogging": The updated software heavily restricts power output (often capping electric draw around 40–50%) to keep the battery cool. This causes a sudden loss of acceleration or a "bogging" sensation. The loss of motive power is a severe safety issue that did not exist before the software update. • Violent Engine Surges: When the electric motor loses power, the gasoline engine suddenly kicks in with a noticeable delay, lurching or surging. • Unreliable Electric Mode: Vehicles frequently drop out of full-electric mode—even with high battery charge—or struggle to maintain highway speeds on slight inclines. In warmer weather, lower temperature thresholds force the gas engine on after only 5 to 10 miles. Constance on and off operation of the engine in electric mode. The engine turns on only a few seconds, then turns off. This cycle will repeat till the battery is fully depleted. Jeep has NOT acknowledged the problem or given dealership guidance how to resolve the issue with the 68C software update.
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at highways speeds, the vehicle vibrated violently, and the steering wheel became firm stiffen and difficult to turn. The vehicle was pulled over and slowed down before the contact continued driving. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
I was driving on interstate going 75 mph in the passing lane when my steering wheel locked completely up. My car started drifting to the right, but I was unable to turn the steering wheel. I almost hit the guardrail. The car is now being towed to Jeep dealership for fixing of the active recall.
In electric mode vehicle loses battery power (at 25% power draw)and several seconds later starts the gas engine to compensate. It does this at least once within every full charge (about 28 miles)-usually when the remaining charge is between10-20%, but on occasion it happens at around 50% and at least once when the battery showed 80%. When it happens at lower charge, it continues until the charge is 0 and it switches to hybrid mode. When the remaining charge is higher it will continue to lose power/start engine and then shut engine off for several miles and then revert to acting normally again. There is no indication on the dash that there is a problem. The jeep does not revert to hybrid mode -it stays in electric mode. This is repeatable. It happens at least once every full charge...usually while accelerating from a stop. I've had it lose power while accelerating through an intersection for several seconds before the engine starts...UNSAFE. Jeep dealer said no fault codes/software is up to date -so nothing they can do. On the phone, the rep said they have no way to troubleshoot this problem.
After application of the most recent battery recall/Software update, 68C, the vehicle operates differently than it previously did. In fact, it now nearly stalls while climbing a hill to my home when the battery charge indicated is less than about 35%. Vehicle speed drops from 25 to nearly 5mph, independent of accelerator pedal position, before the engine starts abruptly. Not only am I creating a traffic hazard for those behind me, but the cold gas engine engages at full load. Secondly, the overall response to accelerator input seems to be much slower, both in time and power, than before the software update. This causes issues when pulling out into traffic and is especially alarming when the Jeep won't respond as it did for the previous 50K miles.
This vehicle has become unsafe to drive and no longer has the performance that it had when originally purchased since the 68C recall. In electric mode, I experience low power and the acceleration is almost non-existent. This has caused significant safety issues when merging onto highways and maintaining flow of traffic speeds on hills. In electric mode, after about 10-15 mins, it will also abruptly start the engine and spike at 4K RPM (even when the vehicle is not under strain or accelerating), then drop to 1K RPM, then spike back up to 4K RPM, then go back down, then up, over and over, causing concern over engine wear and gas mileage impacts. It will not go back into electric mode when this happens until the vehicle is turned off and back on again. We have reported this repeatedly to the dealership, and they have stated that since there are no codes, their hands “are tied”, and there is nothing they can do. I do not want a buy-out or money settlement; I simply want this vehicle to operate the way it did prior to the 68C update.
My Hydraulic power steering pump system has a leak. My 2021 jeep wrangler only has 42,000 miles on it. It has been diagnosed by a jeep mechanic specialist independently. The problem appeared in May 2026. With the Jeep only having very little miles already with a leak from the hydraulic power steering pump system is a major concern.
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that at start-up the instrument panel was blank. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the instrument panel had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V652000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); as a possible cause for the failure. The failure mileage was 91,000.
I was driving and had a sudden loss of power. My gas pedal would not respond. I had to put my car in park and out of hybrid so my gas engine would come on.
After 68C my Jeep doesn't respond the way it used to, theres reduced power when staying with the flow of traffic or climbing hills. It seems to be unsafe bc I can't accelerate like I used to, I think Jeep is limiting the power
Manufacturer corporate and its dealer network are failing to provide a safe, timely remedy for a vehicle subject to high-voltage battery fire recalls (Recall 68C / NHTSA Campaign 25V-741) and a power steering fire recall (Recall 21D / NHTSA Campaign 21V-363). The vehicle has an active check engine light, a disabled hybrid propulsion system, and has now suffered a catastrophic electronic brake booster failure on a college campus, rendering the brake pedal rock-hard like compressed air and leaving the vehicle unable to stop normally. This is a direct, recurring safety failure of Diagnostic Trouble Code DTC C0580-00 (Brake Booster Motor Circuit Low), which was officially documented by a franchise dealer in June 2026. The vehicle also has an extensive history of severe manufacturing defects, including an extraordinary 72-day out-of-service period at a dealership in Miami, FL for a disintegrated rear axle bearing that destroyed the differential housing, alongside advanced structural body rust on hinges found to be unsafe. The manufacturer was formally notified of this active safety emergency and loss of vehicle utility on Sunday, September 27, via email and corporate phone logs, but failed to respond or secure the vehicle. We are formally demanding an expedited manufacturer repurchase/buyout due to total loss of vehicle utility, structural housing conflicts under 'park outside' directives, and severe physical safety liability.
After completing the Jeep Wrangler 4XE '68C' recall, my Wrangler started having erratic RPM / engine surges. Moreover, the powertrain system will jump between electric and hybrid gas (ICE) modes while driving at highway speeds when in 'Electric' mode. It actually does this in Hybrid mode but Electric mode is far worse. The Jeep did not do this before completing the 68C recall. The safety issue is erratic RPM and engine surges. The battery will have plenty of charge and should not need to jump back to hybrid mode. It did not do this before the 68C recall update. My car has not lost 'full' power but I've heard of others that have lost full power or have had major dead spots during acceleration. I have noticed reduced power and loss of acceleration (also a safety issue), as well. My theory is the battery and maybe the hybrid system is faulty. The battery used in the 4XE has been confirmed to have fire risk issues and the 68C seems to have changed the driving function by software update to keep it from over heating but they have created new safety issues with this patch and did not actually correct the original problem (only hide it). Not to mention, the Jeep does not function as originally sold from a powertrain standpoint. My EV battery was replaced after 68C recall but my 'new' battery has the same chemistry and cells so it still has the same fire risk as before but now with the powertrain problem meant to keep to battery cool to hide the fact that nothing was actually corrected (beyond creating new safety issues). If Jeep says that this is functioning as intended that is not correct. This car did not do this before the 68C updates and they have created new problems. Not to mention, possible engine problems resulting with this behavior.
Since the 68C recall, my 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe has not behaved normally and has become increasingly unpredictable. Even with a mostly or nearly full battery, it frequently will not operate in pure electric mode at lower speeds, particularly on even slight inclines. The gas engine can suddenly start when I am expecting electric operation, sometimes accompanied by hesitation, lurching, or an abrupt change in power delivery. I have genuine safety concerns with the vehicle because I cannot reliably predict how it will respond to accelerator input. There have been instances of reduced or delayed power followed by sudden engagement, which is especially concerning when pulling into traffic, crossing an intersection, merging, or maneuvering on a hill. These problems began following the 68C recall, and the vehicle's current behavior does not feel normal, consistent, or safe.
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist, causing a more difficult steering effort. The vehicle was restarted to correct the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the CAN bus connector, but the failure persisted. While driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle almost crashed into a guardrail. The contact sustained body soreness. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V363000 (Steering). The vehicle was towed to the second dealer, Nielsen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram of East Hanover (175 NJ-10, East Hanover, NJ 07936), who informed the contact that the electric hydraulic power steering pump needed to be replaced; however, the dealer refused to perform the recall repair and stated that the failure was not related to the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
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