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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2018 Jeep Wrangler Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
177about this part
Share
10%of 1,827 total for the year
Median mileage
27,294miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 177 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2018 Jeep Wrangler, 10% of the 1,827 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 27,294 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 13 a fire, according to the filers. 4 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

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

“Bought a certified used 2018 Jeep Wrangler jku with 41300 miles after a month and about 1200 miles locked 4x4 in driving in my field to check my cattle got back on road took 4x4 out drove about a mile heading home smelt burning smell from tranny smelt like clutch heard bang motor reved up quit moving piece of clutch came threw tranny”

NHTSA complaint #11360470, filed 2020-09, 41,600 miles

“While my 16-year-old daughter and I were driving on the fl 528/beachline expressway the entire clutch pressure plate assembly exploded off my vehicle. Fluids drained and ignited. The entire vehicle was burned to ashes. The full accident investigation report is included in the upload.”

NHTSA complaint #11353833, filed 2020-09, 25,000 miles

“Axle locker system has failed, I get a continuous warning that it has failed. This is a problem nation wide that I came to realize as I research it online. It obviously is a problem that is effecting a lot of 2018. Can you please look into this, thank you”

NHTSA complaint #11376874, filed 2020-11, 72,000 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

“This was found during a tire replacement. The left rear brake was coated with oil that I was told came from the rear transmission seal next to the wheel leaking. The vehicle was, at times, hard to stop. I was forced to slam on the brakes to get vehicle to stop. The anti-lock brake feature seemed to stop working and I would skid to a stop. There was no consistency in the occurrence of this symptom. The dealer told us that they were replacing the rear axle assembly to fix the problem.”

NHTSA complaint #11218455, filed 2019-06, 5,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202618%
20251318%
202417924%
20235114%
20226817%
202114916%
2020478%
20198011%
201817710%
20175016%
20167416%
20155111%
20148813%
201323035%
201228234%
2011408%
20106810%
2009349%
2008678%
2007468%
2006578%
2005416%
20042614%
20032222%
20021413%
20012314%
20007028%
1999209%
19983312%
19975313%
19953216%
19941913%
19931312%
19921114%
1991811%
199056%
1989711%
198824%
198725%

Other parts of the 2018 Jeep Wrangler

Steering
1,117 complaintsSuspension
343 complaintsElectrical system
268 complaintsOther or unknown
213 complaintsEngine
99 complaintsBody and structure
97 complaintsBrakes
68 complaintsWheels
61 complaintsElectronic stability control
46 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
43 complaintsVehicle speed control
24 complaintsFuel 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 31, 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