2009 Jeep Wrangler 4-DR 4X4 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2009 Wrangler 4-door most often describe an airbag warning light that comes and goes, linked by dealers and mechanics to the steering-column clock spring, and a fuel filler that pushes gasoline back out at the end of a fill-up. A third common theme is a violent front-end shake after hitting a bump or pavement seam at highway speed, which owners frequently call the "death wobble." Most reported mileages fall between roughly 25,000 and 75,000, though the airbag light and the fuel spill are reported from very low mileage up to past 130,000.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light / clock spring

   • 37 complaints (22%)
   • median 66,590 mi at 5.6 yrs old (36 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2016

   Owners describe the airbag warning light coming on, often intermittently at first and then staying on, sometimes with a chime. Several say a dealer or independent mechanic diagnosed a failed clock spring in the steering column and quoted several hundred dollars to replace it, and some note the light responds to turning or pushing on the steering wheel. Complaints frequently point out that recalls covered earlier model years while this year was told it was not included; one owner also reports the horn and cruise control stopped working around the same time. Reported from about 40,000 miles upward, with many in the 60,000-130,000 mile range.

   Recall 09V118000

   What to check: Turn the key to on and confirm the airbag light comes on briefly and then goes out; have the clock spring and steering-column wiring connector checked, and ask whether the driver airbag squib connector recall work was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2009 Jeep wrangler rubicon. The airbag light has recently come on along with a beeping every few minutes. We took it to the dealer and they told us it sounds like a bad clock spring, an estimated $500-$600 to fix. There have been recalls on this part in 2007 and we believe it needs to be recalled for newer models as well.”

   NHTSA complaint #10616145, filed 2014-07, 36,000 miles

   “My airbag lights keeps turning off and on at different times. Looked online to see Jeep has issued a recall on most veichles air bag clockspring. I called my dealer and I was told I am not covered under the recall due to where my Jeep was made. So that being said a company that took our tax payers dollars and got bailed out cant help make sure a jeeper owners airbags will work!”

   NHTSA complaint #10562663, filed 2014-02, 71,056 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Front-end shimmy or violent shake over bumps ("death

   • 37 complaints (22%)
   • median 38,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (36 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2017

   Complaints describe the front end starting to shake after hitting a bump, pothole or bridge seam, usually at highway speed, escalating to a violent wobble that requires braking and slowing to near a stop to recover. Owners of unmodified vehicles report repeat occurrences, and several say dealers replaced the steering damper, track bar or stabilizer without a lasting cure; some were told the vehicle was operating normally or that repairs were not covered. Reported from as low as about 1,000 miles up to around 110,000 miles, most commonly between 25,000 and 70,000 miles at highway speeds.

   What to check: Drive the vehicle at 50-65 mph over expansion joints and small bumps; ask for service records on the steering damper, track bar, ball joints and tire balance, and check for a lift kit or oversized tires that can aggravate it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving on the highway around 65 MPH I encountered a bump in the road and the front of the car began to shake uncontrollably. I had to come to a complete stop on the highway to regain control of the vehicle. I got out of the vehicle and checked for any visible issues, but found nothing, so I continued with my trip. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10564331, filed 2014-02, 44,400 miles

   “I hit a bump in the road and the front end began shaking so badly I had to slow down to almost a complete stop to get it to quit. Since then this has happened a number of times but it is very random when it happens and tyically I need to slow down to almost a stop to get it to quit. This will be very dangerous if it happens on a busy roadway and I have to slowdown to almost a stop to get it to quit.”

   NHTSA complaint #10504264, filed 2013-03, 33,500 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel spits back out of the filler neck

   • 39 complaints (24%)
   • median 37,500 mi at 3.9 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2019

   Owners report that when the pump shuts off, gasoline forcefully backs out of the filler neck onto the vehicle, the ground and sometimes the person fueling, and that slowing the flow manually does not always prevent it. Some dealers replaced the filler tubing or the fuel tank, and one owner reported a clogged charcoal canister blocking the tank vent. Complaints often note that earlier model years were recalled for the same symptom while this year was not covered, and several mention the problem appearing at different stations and pumps. Reported from about 18,000 to 75,000 miles, with some at lower mileage; a few owners say it happens at every fill-up and appears more in cooler months.

   What to check: Fill the tank during the test drive and watch the filler neck as the nozzle clicks off; ask whether the filler tube, tank or evaporative canister has been replaced and keep an eye on the filler area for fuel residue.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Every time I fill my Jeep up, it will overfill and spill out of the hose and onto the fender. I can stop for a couple of seconds before it gets full and add gas slowly and it will stop. I wipe it off every time but it still leaves residue on the fender and side of my Jeep. It also leaves a small puddle in the ground. This is a very bad issue and needs to be fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10583998, filed 2014-04, 89,480 miles

   “Fuel spills out of the fuel filler neck as fueling is near completed. This has happened on several occasions since august and I have tried various solutions and nothing seems to solve the problem. My Jeep wrangler now has 37,257 miles and is no longer under warranty. Apparently this is a common problem with Jeep wranglers.”

   NHTSA complaint #10432866, filed 2011-10, 34,480 miles

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.