Model year record
2008 Jeep Wrangler 4-Dr 4X4 recalls & problems
The 2008 Jeep Wrangler 4-Dr 4X4 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 614 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is fuel system, gasoline (164 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2008 Jeep Wrangler 4-Dr 4X4.
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* |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap; Storage › Tank assembly | 164 | 36,000 mi |
| Air bagsFrontal | 140 | 77,265 mi |
| Electrical systemIgnition › Anti-theft › Control module; Software | 101 | 75,050 mi |
| SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar; Linkages › Tie rod assembly | 84 | 45,500 mi |
| SuspensionFront; Front › Stabilizer bar | 69 | 39,800 mi |
| Power trainManual transmission; Automatic transmission | 43 | 31,000 mi |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 33 | 66,194 mi |
| Engine | 28 | 86,500 mi |
| Unknown or other | 24 | 78,550 mi |
| StructureBody; Body › Roof and pillars | 22 | 20,550 mi |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 16 | 94,000 mi |
| Wheels | 14 | 55,260 mi |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Steering
PURCHASED 2008 JEEP WRANGLER AND AT AROUND 3600 MILES NOTICED SEVERE STEERING ISSUES. STEERING WAS WANDERING AND HAS BECOME ERRATIC. EXCESSIVE SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT, EXCESSIVE JIGGLES ON SMALL BUMPS AT LOWER SPEEDS. DANGEROUS STEERING AT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY TO THE EXTENT THAT VEHICLE SWERVES INTO NEXT LANE UNEXPECTEDLY. JEEP REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH 2008 AND 2009 STEERING ISSUES THAT INVOLVESTEERING GEAR BOX, SHAFTS AND BALL JOINTS. SECOND OPINION FROM OUTSIDE AGENCY STATED GEAR BOX IS JUNK, SHAFTS NEED REPLACEMENT DUE TO FAULTY ENGINEERING FROM CHRYSLER. MANY MANY JEEP OWNERS ARE HAVING THESE ISSUES AND INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS TO DUE TO THE FAULTY STEERING ON THESE VEHICLES.…
- Structure › Body
HOOD BOUNCES ( FLUTTERING ) DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. REALLY NOTICEABLE WITH GUST OF WIND FROM PASSING CARS
- Structure › Body
HOOD FLUTTERS WHILE DRIVING
- Unknown or other
I HAVE MASSIVE HOOD FLUTTER WHILE DRIVING MY JEEP. ITS FLUTTERED SO MUCH THE PAINT ON WHERE IT RUBBED IS GONE. I'M HONESTLY AFRAID MY HOOD WILL FLY UP WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT FLUTTERS SO MUCH. I JUST PICKED A DATE BUT IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME.
- Structure › Body
VEHICLE IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HOOD MAKES A FLUTTERING MOTION AS IF THE LATCHES WILL GIVE WAY RESULTING IN THE HOOD COMING IN CONTACT WITH ROOF AND FRONT WINDSHIELD. THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT TO MAKE THE HOOD ANY TIGHTER WHEN CLOSED.
- Power train
I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE STICK SHIFTER THAT IS STICK CONSTANTLY CAUSES IT TO POP OUT OF FIRST AND SECOND GEAR WHEN I AM DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY AND HAS BEEN A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THOSE BEHIND ME IN TRAFFIC, AT A LIGHT OR IN A FOUR WAY STOP BELIEVE I AM ACCELERATING WHEN IN FACT I HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT OF EITHER GEAR BACK TO NEUTRAL. I HAVE HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS WITH VEHICLES ALMOST REAR ENDING ME AND FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND THOSE OF OTHERS I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. USUALLY, I WOULD ADDRESS THIS MYSELF BUT AFTER READING COUNTLESS BLOGS AND CONCERNS THIS IS WORTHY OF A RECALL COMPLAINT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS CONCERN REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS…
- Electronic stability control (esc)
ISSUES STARTED WITH VEHICLE NOT ABLE TO START AND INABILITY TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. BATTERY WOULD TEST GOOD. AFTER DISCONNECTING BATTERY, VEHICLE WOULD START AS USUALLY. ISSUE BEGAN TO ESCALATE WITH OIL LIGHT AND ESP LIGHT RANDOMLY LIGHTING UP ON THE DASH. FINALLY, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND ESP LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND ACCELERATOR WAS UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. I HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS WITH NO RESOLUTION. I AM NOW REPLACING THE COMPUTER IN HOPES THAT IT WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUES. I HAVE HAD THE JEEP IN FOR AUTO SERVICE 5 TIMES SINCE JANUARY.
- Steering
DRIVING 40 MPH OR OVER WILL CAUSE CAR TO HARSHLY SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE. COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON A FREEWAY AS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR TO STOP SHAKING IS TO COMPLETELY STOP. BECAUSE OF ALL THE SHAKING CAUSES OTHER SUSPENSION AND WHEEL PROBLEMS. BOLTS ON SUSPENSION AND WHEEL START TO LOOSEN UP CAUSING ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR JEEP WRANGLERS FROM 2006 TO PRESENT.
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.