Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Jeep Wrangler owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while refueling, fuel spilled out when the automatic shut off activated on the fuel pump. The contact stated that the failure recurred. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The skid plate assembly that retains the fuel tank is very corroded, corroded to the point of the fuel tank dropping out of the vehicle if not repaired as soon as possible. The other part of this issue is when trying to get this part, there is a backorder of approximately 50 of the skid plate assemblys! This information was provided to me by the Chrysler/ Dodge/ Ram /Jeep Dealership from where we purchased the vehicle new, and that has done all of the repair work on this vehicle since we bought it. The 2 things I find to be very concerning with this issue are the potential fire hazard if, and when a fuel tank were to fall out of the vehicle and the issue of a parts back order appears to show there is an ongoing issue with this very serious situation . Also this vehicle has never been used off-road or for any extreme off-road activities, solely on road use. …
When the fuel vents on the top of the fuel cell get old, they are extremally brittle. Washboard roads or a pot hole can jar the fuel tank breaking the connectors that go to the emissions system and the rollover valve. If any of these plastic pieces break, there is a chance for fueling problems and effects the drivability of the vehicle. The 3 connector vent is a non-serviceable part, requiring the gas tank to be replaced. The replacement has the same plastic connectors, leaving the possibility for breakage. These connectors breaking can lead to a multitude of issues, including but not limited to fuel spills while filling, leaking fuel from hoses. I have had 2 tanks in my 2012 jku have this issue and a quick search on jeep forums will show that this is not an isolated problem.
Engine Stalls Randomly while Driving. Will crank over several times and over approx 10-15 min. of cranking(Say every 3-5min) vehicle will and will restart. No check engine lights and no warning. The loss of power can be dangerous since brake and steering assist require engine to be running. Vehicle will be fine for several days local commute and problem will recur without warning, usually on longer commute. Vehicle is unsafe and unpredictable.
Occasionally we would smell gasoline fumes. The occurrence became more frequent to the point we had a mechanic check it out. The mechanic dropped the gas tank and found that there is a steel ring between the tank and the fuel pump flange. This flange had rusted and expanded to the point of cracking the fuel pump flange. Mechanic replaced the flange, seal and fuel pump. I have retained the cracked fuel pump.
While driving making a turn, shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, and vehicle stalls losing all power. The vehicle has been to the deal multiple times and the issue can not be duplicated. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times and there are no known issues. No-fault codes are thrown. I stalled in the middle of a busy intersection, with my children in the car. I had to push the vehicle to safety!
While crossing an intersection the vehicle stalled for no reason. No Codes were posted. Crank No Start, waited 10 min, and the vehicle started. Drove to the dealer to resolve. Dealer has no known reason for stalling while driving
While being towed by our rv on a city street, a fire started under the hood of the Jeep. The transfer case was in neutral. The manual transmission was in neutral. The ignition switch was turned 1 notch to accessory to unlock the steering. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. No police report was filed because the fire was not caused by an accident. Because of the severity of the fire damage, no cause of the fire was determined.
Vehicle engine light came on after starting engine and driving 30 feet from initial parked location. Vehicle was stopped and explosion occurred under the hood while driver was still in vehicle. No previous indication there was any issue with vehicle. Upon driver emergency exit of vehicle, further explosions and large flames engulfed the vehicle resulting in a total loss of vehicle within minutes.
We use this Jeep only for highway travel. It has 48,000 miles. On our way to church, yes unbelievably we had a strong smell of 'gasoline' once we arrived back home there was a steady stream of gasoline running down the bell housing of the transmission to the ground, this was in an area about underneath the front seats or near the rear of the engine. This leak occurred only while the Jeep was idling. Once we turned the engine off, the gasoline stopped leaking or running down the bell housing. The greatly alarmed us due to the potential it could easily have ignited to flames since this was very flammable gasoline leaking was so close to so many other hot exhaust parts. We had to tow the Jeep (obviously not driving it leaking so much gas any longer) to our Jeep dealer service center for further inspection and repair. …
Fuel System complaints in other Wrangler years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2012 Jeep Wrangler?
NHTSA has 45 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2012 Jeep Wrangler, 5% of the model year's 835 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Jeep Wrangler fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for the 2012 Jeep Wrangler, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Jeep Wrangler fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 48,000 miles, and 32% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 3 injuries to fuel & propulsion system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.