Model year record
2008 Jeep Wrangler 4-Dr 4X2 recalls & problems
The 2008 Jeep Wrangler 4-Dr 4X2 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 35 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is steering (13 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2008 Jeep Wrangler 4-Dr 4X2.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 13 | 35,000 mi |
| Suspension | 8 | 36,500 mi |
| Electrical system | 8 | 110,000 mi |
| Air bags | 5 | 102,730 mi |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 132,500 mi |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 3 | 18,000 mi |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 56,000 mi |
| StructureBody › Roof and pillars; Body | 2 | — |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2 | — |
| Engine | 2 | — |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system
STRONG FUEL ODOR, THIS JEEP ONLY HAS 8.000 MILES ON IT I BOUGHT IT USED, STRONG FUEL ODOR IN AND AROUND JEEP. HAVE IT IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM, I AM AFRAID OF A EXPLOSION THAT'S HOW BAD THE SMELL IS THE FUEL SMELL IS OVERPOWERING, LIKE I SAID MECHANICS AT A JEEP DEALER CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT IT IS AND WITH HAVING ONLY A LITTLE OVER 8,000 MILES IT SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS. THE ODOR OF GAS CAN BE STRONG WHILE DRIVING WITH THE AC UNIT GOING THROUGH THE VENTS AND WHEN IT IS STATIONARY IT IS EVEN STRONGER, SMELL STARTED MAY THE 15TH 2019
- Electrical system
*POSSIBLE TAKATA RECALL* BUT RECALL WAS COMPLETED AND NOW UNKNOWN, REASON I SAY THAT IS THE THE SMOKE SEEMED TO BECOMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE AIR BAG.JEEP WAS STATIONARY AND WAS STARTED UP TO DRIVE AND BEGAN TO SMOKE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVE WAY. THE SMOKE SMOKE CONTINUED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-4 SECONDS AND WAS WHITISH BLUE IN COLOR. AFTER THE HAD DISSIPATED THERE WAS A DISTINCT SMELL OF AN ELECTRICAL BURN. ALL WINDOWS, BLOWER, AC, HEAT CONTROLS WORK AS NORMAL, RADIO AND SPEAKERS WORK AS NORMAL TOO. I'VE HAD MY JEEP SENSE 2012 AND HAVE NEVER SEEN OR EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE BEFORE.
- Fuel/propulsion system
WHENEVER THE GAS TANK IS FILLED, THE GAS WILL SPURT OUT OF WHERE THE NOZZLE IS INSERTED. WHEN THE PUMP STOPS, THE GAS WILL SPURT OUT OF THE TANK AND DRIP DOWN THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.
- Steering
WHEN DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD, SOMETIMES THE CAR GOES INTO A REALLY SERIOUS VIBRATION MODE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED; ALL TIRES WERE FINE, AND I DROVE AWAY LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED THREE SEPARATE TIMES, NOW I MOVE TO THE RIGHT AND SLOW WAY DOWN AND THE VIBRATION STOPS. I'M AFRAID TO TAKE THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY.
- Electrical system
THE FIRST OF MANY TIMES HAPPENED ONE MORNING AS I WAS GETTING INTO VEHICLE. THE HORN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS . THE WIPERS SPRAYED ALL THE FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR. I COULD NOT TURN THESE OFF. AFTER DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK FOR SOME TIME AND THE HORN NO LONGER WORKED. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY HORN AND REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING, HORN AND A FUSE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE HORN, WIPERS AND LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AND I COULD NOT TURN THESE OFF! EVEN AFTER REMOVING THE KEY, THE ENGINE AND ALL THE ABOVE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF! ONCE AGAIN, I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO SHUT THESE COMPONENTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE!…
- Electrical system
WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY AROUND 3PM AND AT RANDOM, ALL ON ITS OWN, TMY JEEPS HORN STARTED BLARING NONSTOP, WIPER FLUID WAS SPRAYING EVERYWHERE UNCONTROLLABLY, WIPERS WERE GOING OFF ON THEIR OWN BUT WERENT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND THE LIGHTS WERE ON WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON, STAYED THAT WAY ABOUT 5 MILES UNTIL WE GOT HOME AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY SINCE THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO TURN EVERYTHING OFF. NEXT DAY, AROUND 10PM, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I HAD MY BEIGHTS TURNED ON, AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS, ALL OF MY LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND THE WIPER FLUID STARTED SPRAYING, WIPERS WERE GOING OFF, HORN STARTED BLARING AGAIN NON STOP, DISCONNECTED BATTERY AGAIN. THIS IS ALL COMING FROM A DEFECTIVE TIPM…
- Electronic stability control (esc)
JEEP RECALL-MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES: HORN, ALARM, WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND FLUID, LIGHTS, LOCKS AND WINDOWS ALL THESE THINGS WILL JUST START WORKING ON THEIR OWN-SOMETIMES JUST BY PUSHING THE UNLOCK BUTTON. THE KEY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN THE IGNITION AND IF IT IS RUNNING AND ALL THESE THINGS START GOING OFF LIKE THE CAR IS POSSESSED, WHEN REMOVING THE KEY EVERYTHING STAYS AND AND WON'T TURN OFF-EVEN THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO RUN-LITERALLY RUN UNTIL IT RUNS OUT OF GAS. VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS ISSUES-THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH. MANY OTHER JEEP OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THESE SAME ISSUES VIA THE WEB AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. DEALERSHIPS ARE ACTING LIKE IT ISN'T A…
- Steering
WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, ALONG WITH TWO TODDLERS IN THE BACKSEAT, AT 50 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING, THE SUSPENSION BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. AS II HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE, MY FIRST INSTINCT WAS TO APPLY THE BRAKES, AS I HAD ABSOLUTELY ZERO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WRONG MOVE! THIS CAUSED THE JEEP TO HOP, AND SKIP , I ALSO LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER. I THEN BEGAN TO PRAY FOR MY BABIES, WHO HAD BEEN ASLEEP IN THE BACKSEAT. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM BRAKES, AND FOUGHT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL UNTIL I COULD CRAWL TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD!!! I WAS SO SHAKEN UP, THAT I FEAR FOR MY TEENAGE SON, WHO I SHARE THIS VEHICLE WITH. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, AND SOME EXTENSIVE…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Air Bag Clockspring Wiring FailureClosedLed to recall 16V288000
On May 10, 2016, Fiat Chrysler America (FCA) submitted a Part 573 Defect Information Report announcing NHTSA recall 16V290 involving 394,258 model year (MY) 2007-2010 Jeep Wrangler vehicles.Under the recall FCA will replace the clockspring and install a steering wheel back cover and steering wheel column shroud.This recall also includes approx. 4,524 MY2007-2010 right hand drive (RHD) Jeep Wrangler vehicles commonly used for rural postal delivery services.In addition 7,180 MY 2011-2016 right hand drive Jeep Wrangler vehicles were also recalled under 16V288, the same remedy repair will be used.Upon review of the 1,942 MY 2007-2010 Jeep Wrangler consumer complaints, 17,195 warranty reports and field returned parts assessment, FCA concluded that a defect exists in the driver side clockspring assembly, a device that both connects (electrically) the driver air bag to the control module and…
- Air Bag Clockspring Wiring FailureClosed
In it's response to ODI's PE15-025 Information Request letter, FCA identified 1,703 consumer complaints, field reports and legal claims responsive to the subject defect condition on the subject Wrangler vehicles.Six of these reports alleged an air bag non-deployment in a crash in which either the air bag warning light was allegedly on or came on afterward the crash, one of which also alleged injuries as a result of the non-deployment.FCA also provided data on other make, model and model year vehicles using the same clockspring.Additionally FCA provided 16,955 warranty claims related to the replacement of the air bag clockspring wiring assembly.It should be noted that FCA initiated an Extended Warranty Program on the left hand drive MY 2007 Wrangler in late calendar year 2011.6,777 of these claims are from the MY 2007 left hand drive Wrangler.FCA advises that some of the warranty claims…
- Totally Integrated Power Module FailureClosed
In a letter dated August 21, 2014, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged failures associated with the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) installed in Chrysler SUV?s, trucks, and vans beginning in the 2007 model year. The petitioner alleges that TIPM defects may result in engine stall, airbag non-deployment, failure of fuel pump shutoff resulting in unintended acceleration, fire, and other symptoms. On September 25, 2014, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened DP14-004 to evaluate the petition for a grant or deny decision. ODI analyzed complaint data provided by CAS as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers. In total, there were 296 complaints submitted by the petitioner in the original petition and five supplements, including 271 complaints related to…
- Airbag Clockspring FailureClosedLed to recall 11V528000
In its July 29, 2011 response to ODI's May 27, 2011 information request letter, Chrysler provided 153 MY 2007-2008 owner reports, additional to the 28 ODI Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs), which related to the illumination of the air bag light (ABL) due to a faulty clockspring (CS) wiring circuit.The right hand drive (RHD) vehicles, which were first produced in MY 2008 and account for only 1% of vehicle production, accounted for 82 of these 181 reports (45%).The MY2007 left hand drive (LHD) vehicle accounted for 61 of the remaining 92 LHD reports and exhibited a higher complaint rate than the MY 2008 LHD vehicles.ODI did not identify any incidents of crashes/injuries attributable to the CS circuit failure.Since May 27, 2011, ODI has received another 32 consumer complaints bringing the total to 213 reports at this closing.In addition, and for comparative purposes, Chrysler provided…
- Fuel Spill During RefuelingClosed
ODI found the rate of warranty claims related to fuel spit back on the subject vehicles is lower than other vehicles previously recalled to correct defects related to fuel spit back.Although the rate of complaints reported to the agency on the subject vehicles is higher than or similar to the rates experienced in previous investigations where safety recalls were conducted, ODI suspects that the NHTSA safety complaints submitted by subject vehicles owners may have been influenced by internet related publicity both before and during this investigation.A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right…
- TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING / FIREClosedLed to recall 09V436000
IN A LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 3, 2009, CHRYSLER GROUP LLC (CHRYSLER), NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 161,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 AND 2008 JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES BUILT WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.CHRYSLER STATED THAT THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE WARNING SYSTEM AND THE OPERATION OF THESE VEHICLES BEYOND THE LIMITS OF REASONABLE USAGE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND IN SOME CASES TRANSMISSION FLUID EXPULSION.THE EXPELLED FLUID COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH A HOT ENGINE OR EXHAUST COMPONENT AND CAUSE A FIRE.CHRYSLER WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO INSTALL A HOT OIL WARNING MESSAGE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND A CHIME INDICATING AN ELEVATED TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE CONDITION.AN OWNER'S MANUAL ADDENDUM STATING THE PURPOSE OF THE HOT OIL MESSAGE AND CHIME TO INCLUDE CAUTION AND…
- TOW BAR ASSEMBLY FAILUREClosed
THE DEFECTIVE TOW BAR ASSEMBLIES INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL WERE SUPPLIED TO CHRYSLER FOR USE ON SOME OF ITS JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES.THE PURPOSE OF THIS INVESTIGATION WAS TO IDENTIFY ANY ADDITIONAL PURCHASERS OF IDENTICAL OR SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLIES AND TO INITIATE ADDITIONAL DEFECT REPORTING AND SAFETY RECALLS AS NECESSARY.TO ACCOMPLISH THIS RMD CONTACTED THE SUPPLIER OF THE ASSEMBLIES, VALLEY TOWING PRODUCTS, AND CONFIRMED NO OTHER SUCH ASSEMBLIES WERE DISTRIBUTED.THIS EQ IS THEREFORE CLOSED.