Jeep Wrangler years to avoid— and the best years
8 Wrangler model years ranked on what NHTSA holds for each one: recalls and owner complaints per year on the road, with critical recalls and standing advisories ahead of everything else. The current model year is left out, as are the 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027: too new for a record. This ranks the paperwork, not the car in front of you — a specific car’s history and service record still decide it.
Every Wrangler model year, ranked
Source: NHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings; the arithmetic in each rowCleanest record first. /yr is the count divided by the years that model year has been on sale (2026 minus the model year, at least 1), because raw counts condemn the oldest year on the page for having been around longer.
| Year · rank | Safety Signal | Years on road | Recalls | Complaints | Crash | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 #1 | C | 9 | 5 · 0.6/yr | 309 · 34/yr | not rated | |
| 2019 #2 | F | 7 | 9 · 1.3/yr | 742 · 106/yr | not rated | 4 critical |
| 2018 #3 | F | 8 | 14 · 1.8/yr | 1,823 · 228/yr | not rated | 4 critical |
| 2016 #4 | D | 10 | 5 · 0.5/yr | 460 · 46/yr | not rated | Advisory |
| 2022 #5 | F | 4 | 16 · 4/yr | 400 · 100/yr | not rated | Advisory |
| 2023 #6 | F | 3 | 16 · 5.3/yr | 369 · 123/yr | not rated | Advisory |
| 2020 #7 | F | 6 | 13 · 2.2/yr | 610 · 102/yr | not rated | Advisory |
| 2021 #8 | F | 5 | 17 · 3.4/yr | 947 · 189/yr | not rated | Advisory |
The Wrangler years to check hardest
last 2 of 8 ranked years2021 Jeep Wrangler
The 2021 Wrangler: a standing park-outside or do-not-drive advisory, which outranks every other figure here; 17 recalls in 5 years on the road (3.4 a year, 6 critical: electrical system, power train, steering) — also fuel/propulsion system ×2; 947 owner complaints to NHTSA, 189 a year (most often electrical (310) and steering (252)); owners reported 20 crashes, 27 fires, 15 injured; NHTSA investigation PE24024 (became recall 26V363, steering); NHTSA investigation RQ24012 (open, engine); NHTSA investigation EA23001 (open, fuel/propulsion system).
2020 Jeep Wrangler
The 2020 Wrangler: a standing park-outside or do-not-drive advisory, which outranks every other figure here; 13 recalls in 6 years on the road (2.2 a year, 6 critical: power train, electrical system, fuel/propulsion system); 610 owner complaints to NHTSA, 102 a year (most often steering (238) and electrical (179)); owners reported 16 crashes, 12 fires, 7 injured; NHTSA investigation PE25014 (open, electrical system); NHTSA investigation PE24024 (became recall 26V363, steering); NHTSA investigation EA23001 (open, fuel/propulsion system).
The Wrangler years the record favours
first 2 of 82017 Jeep Wrangler
The 2017 Wrangler: 5 recalls in 9 years on the road (0.6 a year) — seat belts, electrical system, exterior lighting; 309 owner complaints to NHTSA, 34 a year (most often brake (76) and engine (63)); owners reported 19 crashes, 21 fires, 21 injured; NHTSA investigation EA21002 (open, air bags); NHTSA investigation PE19008 (became recall 19V680000, seat belts); NHTSA investigation EA19001 (became recall 20V024, air bags).
2019 Jeep Wrangler
The 2019 Wrangler: 9 recalls in 7 years on the road (1.3 a year, 4 critical: power train, steering) — also exterior lighting, electrical system; 742 owner complaints to NHTSA, 106 a year (most often steering (446) and electrical (151)); owners reported 10 crashes, 10 fires, 8 injured; NHTSA investigation PE19012 (closed, structure); NHTSA investigation DP18004 (closed, structure).
How this ranking is made
Source: the same rule the nameplate page has used since v0.28- For each model year, NHTSA’s recall campaigns and owner complaints filed against it are counted from the public files, as on its own page.
- Each count is divided by the years the model year has been on sale (2026 − model year, at least 1): a 2016 has had 10 years to collect filings, a 2023 only 3.
- The years are then ordered: a standing park-outside or do-not-drive advisory first, then the number of critical recalls, then recalls per year, then complaints per year; a newer year wins a tie.
- The current model year and any year under 3 on the road are left out — a half-finished record should not win a ranking on a blank sheet.
What it cannot know: whether a given car had its recalls done (NHTSA’s VIN lookup and the maker’s own settle that), its mileage, its trim, or how it was kept. A recall is a repair at the maker’s expense, not a verdict on the design; a complaint is an owner’s unverified report. Every figure above links to the page that lists the filings behind it.
Common questions about Wrangler years
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhat Jeep Wrangler years should I avoid?
On the filed record the 2020, 2021 rank lowest of the 8 Wrangler model years WhichTrim can rank (2016–2023): the 2021 — a standing advisory, 17 recalls in 5 years (3.4 a year), 6 critical, 947 complaints (189 a year); the 2020 — a standing advisory, 13 recalls in 6 years (2.2 a year), 6 critical, 610 complaints (102 a year). The year pages list every campaign, its severity and whether a repair exists.
What is the best Jeep Wrangler year to buy used?
The 2017 Jeep Wrangler has the cleanest record of the ranked years: Safety Signal C, 0.6 recalls a year on the road and 34 complaints a year. The 2017 Wrangler: 5 recalls in 9 years on the road (0.6 a year) — seat belts, electrical system, exterior lighting; 309 owner complaints to NHTSA, 34 a year (most often brake (76) and engine (63)); owners reported 19 crashes, 21 fires, 21 injured; NHTSA investigation EA21002 (open, air bags); NHTSA investigation PE19008 (became recall 19V680000, seat belts); NHTSA investigation EA19001 (became recall 20V024, air bags). That ranks paperwork, not condition.
Is the 2021 Jeep Wrangler reliable?
WhichTrim does not score reliability; it counts what was filed. The 2021 Wrangler: a standing park-outside or do-not-drive advisory, which outranks every other figure here; 17 recalls in 5 years on the road (3.4 a year, 6 critical: electrical system, power train, steering) — also fuel/propulsion system ×2; 947 owner complaints to NHTSA, 189 a year (most often electrical (310) and steering (252)); owners reported 20 crashes, 27 fires, 15 injured; NHTSA investigation PE24024 (became recall 26V363, steering); NHTSA investigation RQ24012 (open, engine); NHTSA investigation EA23001 (open, fuel/propulsion system). That is the weakest record on this page once the counts are put on a per-year footing. A specific car with its recalls done and a service history can be a sound buy; the record says what to check.
How many recalls does the Jeep Wrangler have?
Across the 8 ranked model years (2016–2023) NHTSA has posted 95 recall campaigns against the Jeep Wrangler, and owners filed 5,660 complaints. Across every model year on file (2016–2027) the nameplate page carries the full count.
Why divide by years on the road?
Recalls and complaints accumulate with time: a 2016 has had 10 years to collect filings and a 2023 only 3, so raw counts condemn the oldest year every time. Dividing by the years on sale puts them on one footing. A standing advisory and critical recalls still come first, because no rate makes those smaller.