2015 Jeep Wrangler Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2015 Wrangler most often describe ABS, brake and traction-control warning lights, often alongside a failed ABS module and limited or no replacement parts availability. A second common theme is oil leaks from the plastic oil filter/cooler housing and upper-engine ticking or lifter noise, with some reports tying a housing leak to clutch trouble on manual-transmission vehicles. Airbag warning lights and clockspring failures, electrical no-start and battery-drain complaints, and a highway-speed steering shimmy after bumps round out the picture.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake, ABS and traction-control warning lights

   • 90 complaints (19%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 5.4 yrs old (33 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe the ABS, brake and traction-control warning lights coming on together while driving, sometimes with a message that cruise control is unavailable. Several owners say a dealer or independent shop traced it to the ABS module or pump module, and many report the replacement part was on back order for weeks or months, so the vehicle went unrepaired. A few describe the pedal feeling seized or brakes applying unexpectedly. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 110,000 miles, at highway and around-town speeds alike.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Scan for stored ABS and traction-control codes before buying, and ask whether the ABS module has ever been replaced or is on order.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the ABS, BRAKE, and traction control warning lights illuminated, and the cruise control became inoperable. The dealer was contacted and the vehicle diagnosed with ABS failure. The contact was informed that parts were not available for the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 97,159.”

   NHTSA complaint #11768098, filed 2026-09, 97,159 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated. While driving, the vehicle experienced a loss of traction, a pulsating or pumping sensation in the brake pedal, and skidded easily upon heavy brake application. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, Jeep models were not included in the recall parameters. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11748635, filed 2026-07, 128,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Oil leaking from filter/cooler housing

   • 46 complaints (10%)
   • median 47,140 mi at 5.2 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,400 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe oil pooling under the vehicle, a burning oil smell or smoke from under the hood, traced by mechanics to a cracked plastic oil filter/cooler housing. Several say the part was on national back order, leaving the vehicle parked for weeks. One complaint links an oil leak from the housing to clutch slippage on a manual-transmission Jeep. Typically described between roughly 40,000 and 110,000 miles; some owners note the housing sits under the intake and is disturbed at every oil change.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look for oil residue or fresh leaks around the filter housing and on the bellhousing, and check the service record for a prior housing replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Oil cooler assembly has started leaking badly after 60,000 miles and is a fire hazard. This assembly is too fragile and requires taking off the intake manifold to access and replace, so it should not be a plastic part. It contains the oil filter which causes it to have torque applied every oil change and causes it to break prematurely. This is very common problem and I was told by the dealer that there were 25,000 of these assemblies on back order nationwide and he could not tell me when it would be in stock. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11397108, filed 2021-02, 60,000 miles

   “I was driving my keep and started smelling oil and had smoke coming from under my car. I notice on my garage floor large oil leak. I picked up my disabled son and noticed it had gotten worse. I was forced to stop by my mechanic and was told my oil cooler adaptor housing was broken and leaking badly. I had purchased a mopar protection plan directly from company. When I called Jeep dealership they said I would have to bring it and let them diagnose it before they could decide if it was covered by my mopar care plan. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11389535, filed 2021-01, 55,469 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine ticking, lifter and rocker noise

   • 47 complaints (10%)
   • median 48,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe a clicking or tapping from the engine that gets louder over time, which shops have traced to worn lifters, rocker arms or camshafts; some had lifters, rockers and camshafts replaced, others a cylinder head. Owners often point out that similar noise was reported on earlier model years. A few describe misfires on individual cylinders alongside the noise. Most reports fall between about 30,000 and 90,000 miles, often noticed shortly after an oil change.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen to a cold start with the hood open for ticking from the upper engine, and check for valve-train repairs on the service history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Apologies if this complaint is a repeat, but I keep getting a submission error notice whenever I try to submit this form. The Jeep 4.0 liter six cylinder engine has a known defect with respect to the rocker arm bearings that causes a loud ticking noise in the engine and failure of the exhaust and intake camshafts. This happened to our 2015 Jeep in january 2020 when it had only 31,000 miles but was one month out of warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11415187, filed 2021-05, 40,867 miles

   “My car is as 54090 miles, dealership changed housing thermostat and replaced the thermostat housing adaptor. Stated my car has internal engine noise from worn rockers and lifters. Was safe to drive. Got a second option, my car has rocker noise coming from the right bank and can wear. Also some cylinder heads had to be replaced. This was an issue with the 2012 and 2013 models so chrysler should be taking these issues seriously and extended and recalling all 2015 jeeps to do a maintenance check. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11360623, filed 2020-09, 54,088 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and clockspring failure

   • 40 complaints (8%)
   • median 67,200 mi at 5.1 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners report the airbag warning light staying on while driving, sometimes together with the horn and steering-wheel controls going dead; several say the clockspring was the cause. One owner had it replaced under a prior recall and had to pay for a second one. Some complaints concern the passenger-side airbag sensor or an airbag that did not deploy in a frontal impact. Scattered from about 35,000 to 140,000 miles, in everyday driving.

   Recall 19V018000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 16V288000

   What to check: Confirm with a scan tool or by key-on that the airbag light behaves normally, test the horn and steering-wheel buttons, and ask whether the clockspring recall work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Horn, and all controls on my steering wheel went out. Not sure about my airbag. I thought it may be due to airbag recall but when I went to my dealership to have the recall work done, they told me it was the passenger side airbag only but that it could be the clockspring because they have had several jeeps come in for that same issue. I was actually driving, trying to avoid a car coming into my lane when I found out I had no horn! That's how I found out.”

   NHTSA complaint #11377703, filed 2020-12, 73,000 miles

   “Clock spring is bad and caused failure of all electrical components on the steering wheel and horn no longer works. Clock spring fuse is good. The horn does not work at the steering wheel at all. Horn works when depressing the panic button. Almost been involved in an accident with my child in the car due to no audible alarm.”

   NHTSA complaint #11308544, filed 2020-02, 72,400 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Intermittent no-start and battery drain

   • 35 complaints (7%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe the dash lighting up but the engine not cranking, sometimes daily, even after a new battery. One owner reports the battery draining overnight whenever the doors are removed and the door connectors are unplugged. Another had the vehicle quit while driving and a failed starter diagnosed. Reported from about 25,000 to 140,000 miles, with some vehicles affected at very low mileage.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask about any history of no-start events or battery replacements, and if the doors are regularly removed, check the door wiring and battery voltage after an overnight sit.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Intermittent starting issue very frequent . It happens at least once a day even after I installed a new battery. When I turn the key on everything lights up but car wont start.”

   NHTSA complaint #11299492, filed 2020-01, 45,000 miles

   “While driving, the vehicle loses propulsion; the rpms go to zero for about 3 seconds and then return to normal and acceleration is regained. No check engine light or code is given. This occurred randomly for the last year. In june of 2020 I took it to Jeep dealer who was not able to replicate the problem and said that no code was given. Then in december of 2020 the issue became worse to where the vehicle would completely shut down and not regain power unless restarted. On one occasion it would not restart, leaving me stranded. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11388700, filed 2021-01, 66,630 miles

Buying note. Have a used 2015 Wrangler scanned for ABS and airbag codes and inspected underneath for oil leaks around the filter housing, since parts for the ABS module have often been scarce. Service records for lifter or rocker work and for the airbag recalls are worth asking about before purchase.

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.