Most common 2004 Jeep Wrangler problems
Share of the 192 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Jeep Wrangler complaints by model year
Best Wrangler years: 2017, 2015. Years to avoid: 2024, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2019. Compare all years →
2004 Jeep Wrangler recalls (1)
Equipment › Other › Labels
On certain sport utility vehicles, due to a recent software programming error, the tire, wheel, and inflation pressure information was inadvertently omitted from the vehicle certification label.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with a corrected tire certification label. Owner notification began on March 1, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
What 2004 Jeep Wrangler owners say
Steering all 67 →
Hit a regular bump in the road, at 35 miles per hour on a strait stretch of road and the attachment point for the front suspension pulled away from the frame and I lost control of the Jeep, upon further inspection I discovered that the entire center section of the frame is rusted from the inside out on both sides, the frame should be the last thing to fail on any vehicle, this Jeep has only 65,000 miles on it and has never been off roaded or abused. For a vehicle that is known to last 200K miles plus to have frame failure at 65K miles is not only negligent on chryslers behalf but it also poses a real safety hazard to the general public, imagine how many people are driving these jeeps down the road at 70-80 miles per hour with a frame that could fail at anytime. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while exiting her driveway carport going 10 MPH, without warning the vehicle accelerated and the contact could not control the steering wheel which seized. The contact attempted to depress the brakes which failed causing, the contact to crash into the carports pole allowing the vehicle to come to a complete stop. No emergency brake was applied. No injuries, no police report filed, no medical attention, no damage's to the vehicle, the dealer was not contacted, and no diagnostic test was performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
Suspension all 59 →
Hit a regular bump in the road, at 35 miles per hour on a strait stretch of road and the attachment point for the front suspension pulled away from the frame and I lost control of the Jeep, upon further inspection I discovered that the entire center section of the frame is rusted from the inside out on both sides, the frame should be the last thing to fail on any vehicle, this Jeep has only 65,000 miles on it and has never been off roaded or abused. For a vehicle that is known to last 200K miles plus to have frame failure at 65K miles is not only negligent on chryslers behalf but it also poses a real safety hazard to the general public, imagine how many people are driving these jeeps down the road at 70-80 miles per hour with a frame that could fail at anytime. …
The driver's side lower control arm mount on our 2004 Jeep Wrangler broke off from the frame while driving. While accelerating on a city street, there was a loud bang noise from underneath the vehicle, and the Jeep became extremely difficult to control and started wandering all over the road. Upon pulling over and looking underneath the vehicle we found that there were extreme amounts of rust and corrosion inside the frame that was visible from the outside. This rust caused the entire lower control arm mount to break off from the frame. Another rot hole was found further up the frame near the transmission skidplate/cross-member assembly as well.
Transmission & drivetrain all 26 →
I driving my Jeep and was hit on the drivers side by a Mercedes that was moving 35mph. I watch the whole scene coming through my front soft top glass window. My face hit the soft top window and broke my nose pretty bad according to dr. Charles shaffer (my surgieon). By the way the soft top and upper door halfs were the factory equipped "willy's edition" model specific which are supplied to dailmer Chrysler by hertz. Blood was everywhere and took 3 hours to completely stop the bleeding. I was wearing my seat belt by the way. I had to have surgery to my nose and several follow up sessions. I feel very lucky that it was a Mercedes that hit me because they are able to crush very well. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Jeep Wrangler. While driving 30 MPH and attempting to shift from first to second gear, the vehicle jerked forward without warning. The failure recurred intermittently. Additionally, while downshifting, the vehicle shifted roughly and jerked forward. The vehicle downshifted independently while stopped. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic again who diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact spoke to lake elsinore Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (31400 auto center dr, lake elsinore, ca 92530) who scheduled an appointment, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
2004 Jeep Wrangler engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 19 / 17 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 19 / 17 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Jeep Wrangler a good car?
Based on 192 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Wrangler rates better than average: 61% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Wrangler at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Jeep Wrangler?
The steering — 67 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year, most often about gear box (other than rack and pinion). Next are the suspension (59) and transmission & drivetrain (26).
How many recalls does the 2004 Jeep Wrangler have?
There is 1 recall for the 2004 Jeep Wrangler, the most recent from February 3, 2004 (labels). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Jeep Wrangler?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2018, 2021, 2023 and 2019. See the full Jeep Wrangler years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Jeep Wrangler problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 46,000 miles; 56% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.