2007 Jeep Wrangler 4-DR 4X2 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a violent front-end shake at highway speed, usually triggered by a bump, along with a cluster of complaints about abrupt power loss or stalling and about fuel spitting back during refueling. Reports span a wide mileage range, from near-new vehicles to well over 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Steering

   Front-end shimmy or violent wobble at speed

   • 23 complaints (34%)
   • median 53,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • filed 2007–2018

   Owners describe the steering wheel and front end shaking violently, often after hitting a bump, pothole or bridge seam at roughly 40-65 mph, and say the shaking stops only when they slow to about 20-30 mph or stop completely. Some report it happening on smooth pavement with no impact. Complaints mention dealers checking alignment, tires and bushings, and replacing the steering damper or stabilizer, sometimes more than once, with the shake returning afterward; several say the dealer could not reproduce the problem. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 180,000 miles, most commonly at highway speeds around 40-65 mph after a bump or surface change.

   What to check: Drive the vehicle at highway speed and over bridge seams and small bumps to see whether the shake appears; ask whether the steering damper or stabilizer and front-end bushings have been replaced, and have the front end inspected before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving and the vehicle hits roughly 55 MPH the vehicle starts shaking violently. The steering wheel nearly snatches out of my hand in a violent matter. The vehicle feels as though it is about to crash. I have to slam on breaks, hoping no one is behind me, to slow the vehicle to stop the violent shaking. The shaking is known as the death wobble .”

   NHTSA complaint #10721327, filed 2015-05, 89,000 miles

   “The front end began an uncontrollable wobble at about 55 miles per hour. The only way to stop it was to gradually slow down to a stop. There was no apparent reason for it to began. I did not hit anything. The road I was traveling was an improved smooth paved road. The car could not be controlled.”

   NHTSA complaint #10464554, filed 2012-07, 30,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Momentary loss of power or stalling while driving

   • 16 complaints (24%)
   • median 5,415 mi at 0.7 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • filed 2007–2016

   Owners describe the engine cutting out for a few seconds at speed, with dashboard lights flashing and electrics such as the radio, wipers or interior lights dropping out, then power returning on its own or after restarting. Some report the vehicle refusing to start intermittently and repeated dealer visits where no fault code could be found; one complaint notes an ignition switch replacement and another a fuse replacement. Mostly reported under about 15,000 miles, often at 55-70 mph and in some cases in rain with lights, wipers and radio running.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch, battery and charging system have been checked, and whether any intermittent no-start or stalling has been diagnosed; a service bulletin covers battery and charging system testing procedures.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2007 Jeep wrangler unlimited sahara suddenly lost power to my turn signals, interior lights, and windshield wipers multiple times during a long road trip. One time it occurred during a storm and I couldn't see out of my windshield and I couldn't communicate that I needed to pull over because my turn signals wouldn't work.”

   NHTSA complaint #10270111, filed 2009-05, 35,000 miles

   “During normal driving, my vehicle will stall. Has happened twice since I have owned it (5 months). Total loss of all power steering, brakes, and electrical in the vehicle. Dealer told me on both occasions that since the vehicle did not report a code in the computer, there was nothing they could do.”

   NHTSA complaint #10188042, filed 2007-04, 6,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel spits back or overflows when refueling

   • 13 complaints (19%)
   • median 46,900 mi at 4.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2018

   Owners report gasoline gushing or spitting back out of the filler when the pump shuts off automatically, spilling onto the body, tire cover and ground, even when fueling slowly or at different stations. Some avoid the problem by filling only to three-quarters. One complaint says a dealer identified a fractured rollover valve in the fuel tank and treated it as a warranty matter rather than repairing it. Reported across the mileage range, from a few thousand miles to about 140,000, and repeatedly at multiple gas stations.

   What to check: Refuel the vehicle and watch whether fuel spits back as the nozzle shuts off; ask whether the fuel tank filler and rollover valve have been inspected or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Each time I add fuel from a gas pump, once the pump stops automatically, the fuel spits out fuel, as if there is too much air getting into the tank and pushing out the fuel. This happens all the time, and gas gets all over my tire cover, Jeep body, and even sometimes on me, if I am holding the pump.”

   NHTSA complaint #11131468, filed 2018-09, 140,000 miles

   “I was fueling my Jeep. While the pump was active I was washing the windows. I heard ans smelled fuel splashing and had to run back and manually disengage the nozzle. The left rear of the vehicle and the ground were covered with gas. Thinking it might be a gas pump (gas station) problem, I ignored the problem. When it happened two more times at different locations, I got repairs done at a local garage. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10496868, filed 2013-02, 84,227 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and non-deployment

   • 5 complaints (7%)
   • median 87,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2016

   Owners report the airbag warning light staying on, and in one case a collision in which the airbag did not deploy; a dealer reportedly told one owner the airbag was no longer functional. Other complaints mention waiting for parts under a Takata airbag recall notification. Reported from about 40,000 to 87,000 miles, including one case after a collision at 35-40 mph.

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning light goes out after startup and ask whether any open airbag recall or warning-light diagnosis has been addressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall; s33/ NHTSA 16v-290. While travelling forward at approximately 35 to 40 MPH in a straight direction, a vehicle turned left in front of me and our vehicles collided. Unable to apply any sort of braking, my Jeep's front center and front left side struck the left front, left front quarter-panel, and driver's side door of the other vehicle. My Jeep spun approximately 45 degrees to the left before coming to a stop with the other vehicle. My airbag did not deploy as a result of the crash. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10883691, filed 2016-07, 81,512 miles

   “As I was driving my air bag light came on it still comes on, th his has never happened but I'm worried if it's a faulty air bag? Or something that might be harmful later, since I have 2 kids just being concerned because I saw in the news that there is a recall on airbags from I think tataka air bags manufacturer and saw chrysler as one of the companies using these airbags on their vehicles!!?? Thank you for all the hard work! Best regards”

   NHTSA complaint #10649003, filed 2014-10

Buying note. Inspect the front end and drive at highway speed over uneven pavement before buying, since the shake is the most frequently described problem and may not appear in a short test drive. Also check the oil level, refuel the vehicle once, and confirm the airbag warning light behaves normally.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 55 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.