2009 Jeep Wrangler Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Frontal
  4

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  86%
• 25k–50k
  3526%
• 50k–75k
  4231%
• 75k–100k
  2619%
• 100k–150k
  2216%
• 150k+
  32%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Jeep Wrangler owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

I was driving approximately 55mph 10/22/2024 on a two-lane roadway in my 2009 Jeep Wrangler X (VIN: [redacted] ) when another vehicle pulled out in front of me. I struck that vehicle in a frontal collision. The force of the impact caused my Jeep to ride up and over the vehicle, enter the opposite lane of travel, and roll over a second vehicle before continuing to roll down the road. Despite the high-speed frontal impact and subsequent rollover, none of the airbags in my vehicle deployed, including the driver frontal airbag. The other vehicles involved in the crash did experience airbag deployment. The crash resulted in significant vehicle damage, including roof deformation consistent with rollover forces. Given the severity of the impact and rollover, I believe the airbags should have deployed. The failure of the airbag system may have contributed to the injuries I sustained. …

The contact owns a 2009 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V290000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer informed the contact that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the cruise control was engaged but failed to respond. The contact stated that the cruise control button was located on the side of the steering wheel. The contact also stated that the steering wheel would make abnormal clicking and grinding sounds while turning. The ABS warning light, stability control warning light, and the parking brake warning light were illuminated. …

oN 5-22-26 I was involved in a MVA. I was in a head on collision. My airbags did not deploy. I suffered a brain bleed and now have an aneurysm thought to have been caused by the trauma. My head hit the windshield. The vehicle is in my warehouse and has not been tampered with since the accident. I feel that the airbag should have deployed and in the very least the seatbelt should have kept me from hitting the windshield.

The contact owns a 2009 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 10V236000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), 16V290000 (Air Bags), and 18V021000 (Air Bags); however, the parts required to complete the recall repairs were not available. The contact stated that the dealer had been contacted several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available and were on back order. The dealer informed the contact that parts for NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V23600 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); had been discontinued. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the parts were discontinued. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact had not experienced a failure.

The contact owns a 2009 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 18V021000 (Air Bags) and 16V290000 (Air Bags); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not yet available. The dealer had been waiting for parts for over a month and a half for parts to repair another vehicle. The contact called several other dealers; however, parts were not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

The contact owns a 2009 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V290000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Jeep Wrangler 4-dr 4x4. The contact stated that the driver crashed into a pole while driving at an unknown speed. The air bags failed to deploy. The air bag warning light illuminated. A police report was not filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V290000 (air bags) and 16V352000 (air bags), but the parts were unavailable for the repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 10/18/16 the consumer stated as the repairman was attempting to park the vehicle, he hit a steel rail, damaging the bumper. The hit was hard enough to deploy the air bags. Updated 10/26/16.

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Jeep Wrangler. The owner stated that the vehicle was stolen and the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed causing the vehicle roll over several times. During the crash the front end was severely damaged but the air bags did not deploy. The cause of the failure was not determined. No further info was available. A police report was taken at the scene. The local dealer was not notified. The vehicle was towed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 80,000.

Tl* the contact owned a 2009 Jeep Wrangler. While driving 35 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the driver side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained a head bump, but did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to the dealer's collision body shop. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 91,000.

There is a known issue with the Jeep Wrangler clock spring in 2007+ models. Currently a recall has been issued for 2007 and 2008 left hand drive models, and 2007-2012 right hand drive models. A recall should be made for all model years and configurations as this issue can lead to the airbags not deploying in the event of a crash. The current recall is as follows: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 right hand drive (rhd) Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured from February 1, 2007, through October 10, 2011. Some vehicles May be equipped with driver's airbag clockspring assemblies that could experience a compromised airbag circuit resulting in an airbag lamp illumination, which indicates that the airbag May not deploy. …

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other Wrangler years