The Lemon Index2019 Jeep Wrangler.
The 2019 Jeep Wrangler is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 471 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 201, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about steering, it has 9 recalls, and it gets 19 to 24 mpg combined. The best Jeep Wrangler year is 2015.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 746 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Jeep Wrangler year. 2019 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 0K to 16K miles on the car (395 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- steering complaints mostly came at 0K–12K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 6K–76K miles
- suspension complaints mostly came at 4K–17K miles
Recalls 9
- back over prevention 2024
The wiring harness for the rearview camera and the center brake light may short circuit, which can disable the rearview camera image and center brake light.
- electrical 2024
The instrument panel cluster may experience an internal short circuit and fail.
- transmission & drivetrain 2023
The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
Show all 9 recalls
- transmission & drivetrain 2021
The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
- seat belts 2020
In the event of a crash, a front seat belt retractor may not properly slow the occupant's forward movement after locking.
- back over prevention 2020
A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse.
- transmission & drivetrain 2020
The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
- steering 2019
These vehicles have improperly machined steering column stub shafts that may break, possibly causing the steering wheel to detach from the steering column.
- body structure 2018
The front track bar brackets may be improperly welded, which can cause the bracket to separate from the frame, reducing steering capability.
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 837 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Customer complaint includes check engine/MIL light
- Stop Start Inoperative, Auxiliary Battery Low Requires Charging, No Start
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedFrame weld deficiencies2019–2023
- ClosedFrame weld deficiencies2018–2019
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep Wrangler 2 DR 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4 DR 4WD | not rated | ★★★★☆ | not rated | ★★★☆☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2700–3400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Vehicle wanders on the road above 50 mph requiring constant correction.
2019 Jeep Wrangler owner · NHTSA complaint 11266992
More owner reports
Vehicle's steering is too loose, vehicle wanders at highway speeds and needs constant correction to keep the vehicle in the lane and straight. Overall, I feel the vehicle is not 100% safe to be driving on the highway.
NHTSA complaint 11266816
Steering wanders and takes excessive wheel movement to control. Steering box seems to have too much play. Unpleasant to drive and borderline unsafe. Three trips to dealer, several parts replaced, no improvement
NHTSA complaint 11223148
Quick answers
Is the 2019 Jeep Wrangler reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 2× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 201; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Jeep Wrangler year by this measure is 2015.
What are the most common 2019 Jeep Wrangler problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are steering (76%), suspension (20%) and electrical (9%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2019 Jeep Wrangler have?
9 safety recalls (latest: back over prevention). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2019 Jeep Wrangler get?
19 to 24 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2019 Jeep Wrangler problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 200 and 16,000 miles. The middle report was at 4,500 miles, from 395 complaints.
Does the 2019 Jeep Wrangler have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 6% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2019 Jeep Wrangler cost in fuel a year?
About $2700 to $3400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2019 Jeep Wrangler have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
What Jeep Wrangler year is better than the 2019?
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