The Lemon IndexCylinder 2 is not firing properly, so the engine runs rough and loses some power. Full P0302 page
11 owner complaints · the #3 code Jeep Wrangler owners name · 5% of Jeep Wrangler complaints that name a code (every car: 2.7%)
Middle of 63,000 miles · most between 30,000 and 86,000 (6 owners gave it)
Jeep Wrangler owners named P0302 in 11 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2012, 2018 and 2016 model years, at a middle of 63,000 miles. The part they name most is the head gasket (6 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Jeep Wrangler model years that report P0302
Owner complaints naming P0302, by model year. Raw counts: years that sold more get more complaints, so this is each model year's record, not a failure rate.
Mileage when it happened
63,000 miles is the middle of what 6 owners entered. Half were between 30,000 and 86,000 miles.
The mileage on the complaint form, when the owner gave one.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the head gasket, in 6 of the 11 complaints (55%). 4 of those mention it being replaced or repaired, and 3 say the problem came back afterwards. Next: spark plugs (4) and ignition coils (3).
- Head gasket or coolant in a cylinder6 complaints4 mention a repair or replacement, 3 of them say the problem came back · what owners paid
- Spark plugs4 complaints4 mention a repair or replacement, 3 of them say the problem came back · what owners paid
- Ignition coils3 complaints3 mention a repair or replacement, 2 of them say the problem came back · what owners paid
3 complaints mention a recall and 4 mention a warranty.
Counted from the owners' own words: a part counts when a sentence names it with a cause or repair word. What owners wrote, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause before replacing parts.
Symptoms owners describe with P0302
45% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires64%7 of 11 complaints
- Loses power or goes into limp mode18%2 of 11 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P0302 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
P0300 2
Other codes named in the same Jeep Wrangler complaints, and in how many.
Keep going
- P0302: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Jeep Wrangler reliability by year
- 2012 Jeep Wrangler problems and recalls
Other codes Jeep Wrangler owners report
P0302 on other cars
Ford Escape (81) · Ford Edge (63) · Ford Fusion (35) · Honda CR-V (19) · Honda Accord (15) · Dodge Grand Caravan (14) · Honda Odyssey (12) · Kia Soul (10)
The details
How we count
We read every owner complaint in the NHTSA file whose text names this trouble code, and count the ones filed about this model (matched by the make, model and model year on the complaint). Mileage is what the owner entered on the form.
Parts: a complaint counts for a part when one of the owner's own sentences names that part together with a cause word (failed, bad, diagnosed, caused by, leaking ...) or a repair word (replaced, repaired, new, reprogrammed ...). "Came back" means the same complaint also says the problem returned or the repair didn't fix it. These are counts of what owners wrote, not a diagnosis, and one complaint can name several parts.
Complaints are reports, not proof of a defect, and most owners never file one. Popular models get more complaints, so the counts are not a failure rate. The code meaning is the standard SAE J2012 definition in our own words, or the carmaker's meaning where we verified it for that make.
What P0302 means
Cylinder 2 is not firing properly, so the engine runs rough and loses some power. A flashing check engine light means the misfire is serious enough to damage the catalytic converter, so slow down and get it checked right away.
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
- Spark plug or ignition coil on cylinder 2
- Fuel injector on cylinder 2
- Vacuum leak near that cylinder
- Low compression (valve or piston ring problem)
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11749969, 11748922, 11702534, 11656900, 11491858, 11352590, 11268279, 11258029, 11152421, 10484086, 10325044.
Quick answers
What does P0302 mean on a Jeep Wrangler?
Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected. Cylinder 2 is not firing properly, so the engine runs rough and loses some power. A flashing check engine light means the misfire is serious enough to damage the catalytic converter, so slow down and get it checked right away.
Which Jeep Wrangler years have the most P0302 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2012 (4), 2018 (2), 2016 (2) Jeep Wrangler named P0302 most (11 complaints in all, 2005–2018). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0302 on a Jeep Wrangler?
Owners most often name the head gasket (6 of 11 complaints), then spark plugs and ignition coils. That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
At what mileage does P0302 show up on a Jeep Wrangler?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 63,000 miles; half were between 30,000 and 86,000 (6 owners).
Can I drive my Jeep Wrangler with P0302?
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints that name P0302 on the Jeep Wrangler, counted by The Lemon Index; NHTSA recalls; repair bills owners named. Meanings: SAE J2012 in our own words. Owner reports, not a diagnosis or repair advice for your car.