The Lemon Index2005 Jeep Wrangler.
The 2005 Jeep Wrangler is worse than average by owner complaints: 70 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 128, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about suspension, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 14 to 17 mpg combined. The best Jeep Wrangler year is 2015.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 650 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Jeep Wrangler year. 2005 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 30K to 68K miles on the car (531 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- fuel system, gasoline complaints mostly came at 35K–65K miles
- fuel or ev drive system complaints mostly came at 39K–77K miles
- steering complaints mostly came at 21K–72K miles
Recalls 2
- brakes 2006
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- transmission & drivetrain 2005
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 42RLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE CUP PLUG THAT RETAINS THE PARK PAWL ANCHOR SHAFT MAY BE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Jeep told dealers about
Jeep sent dealers 51 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Power steering fluid contamination
- Steering shimmy
- The oil pump drive gear on about 16,000 of the above vehicle may wear out prematurely and…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side — · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3800–4600 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Purchased 2005 Wrangler rubicon unlimited on january 14th returned vehicle to dealership for steering shudder and awful front end handling on january 17th and dealership found bad steering stabilizer from the factory.
2005 Jeep Wrangler owner · NHTSA complaint 10116089
More owner reports
2005 Jeep Wrangler right side tire wear out unevenly.
NHTSA complaint 10226152
2005 Jeep Wrangler front brakes were severely worn and ball joints need replacing.
NHTSA complaint 10150806
Quick answers
Is the 2005 Jeep Wrangler reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.3× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 128; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Jeep Wrangler year by this measure is 2015.
What are the most common 2005 Jeep Wrangler problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are suspension (21%), steering (20%) and brakes (20%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2005 Jeep Wrangler have?
2 safety recalls (latest: brakes). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2005 Jeep Wrangler get?
14 to 17 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2005 Jeep Wrangler problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 30,000 and 68,500 miles. The middle report was at 50,000 miles, from 531 complaints.
Does the 2005 Jeep Wrangler have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 16% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2005 Jeep Wrangler cost in fuel a year?
About $3800 to $4600 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2005 Jeep Wrangler have?
2.4L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl.
What Jeep Wrangler year is better than the 2005?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2015, 2017 and 2011.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works