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EnginePart report

2018 Jeep Wrangler Engine Problems

Complaints
99about this part
Share
5%of 1,827 total for the year
Median mileage
15,050miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 99 complaints about the engine of the 2018 Jeep Wrangler, 5% of the 1,827 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 15,050 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 8 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“As I was exiting the highway I noticed that flames were coming out of the Jeep. I merged two lanes over to try to turn on a side street and lost control of the steering. I put the Jeep in park, turned it off, and exited the vehicle. We ran up a near by hill, turned around and the entire Jeep was engulfed with flames. It burned for an hour. It is a complete loss.”

NHTSA complaint #11083854, filed 2018-04, 735 miles

“When I first turn on the heater on cold morning, a maple syrup smell like antifreeze comes out of the dash vents. My coolant overflow tank looses about 1/4 coolant in 2000 miles. I believe there is a pin hole leak in the heater core. The dealer did a pressure test, but the leak must be too small to detect. The smell is nauseating and I understand antifreeze vapor is toxic..”

NHTSA complaint #11161884, filed 2018-12, 2,000 miles

“While braking the Jeep, the braking system didn't override the engine. Jeep kept going in drive instead of stopping. I had to put it in neutral to get the Jeep stopped. I almost went into a busy highway in front of truck going 60mph. Could have been hurt or killed.”

NHTSA complaint #11323442, filed 2020-05, 18,700 miles

“When the in motion the motor has a strong noise like the piston where broken, I have take to services dealer and they said it normal, then second time the had to clean the piston that I paid for $390.00. The noise continued you feel like the motor is going to exploded. I will take it back for the fourth time. I worry for my safety. This is a new car that I bought I o mileage. I will like my money back if the no solution.”

NHTSA complaint #11286853, filed 2019-12, 14,352 miles

“I was driving on the interstate highway when I heard a loud pop and saw an arc flash and pulled to the side emergency lane. I then saw flames dripping from my Jeep and the entire front end of the Jeep went up in flames and caught fire.”

NHTSA complaint #11373646, filed 2020-11, 60,959 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202618%
20252940%
202441756%
202310829%
20229323%
202122223%
2020569%
2019456%
2018995%
20176220%
20168819%
201512827%
201432249%
201314021%
201217221%
2011367%
2010386%
2009185%
2008374%
2007336%
200691%
2005193%
200442%
200311%
200244%
200121%
200094%
199910%
199721%
199011%

Other parts of the 2018 Jeep Wrangler

Steering
1,117 complaints
Suspension
343 complaints
Electrical system
268 complaints
Other or unknown
213 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
177 complaints
Body and structure
97 complaints
Brakes
68 complaints
Wheels
61 complaints
Electronic stability control
46 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
43 complaints
Vehicle speed control
24 complaints
Fuel system
21 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology